Monday, September 21, 2026
Deskside Report
Straight Down the Middle
World · Lead Story

The War Paused for a Month. Then It Didn't. Now Iran Has Named Its Price.

A monthlong lull in the U.S.-Iran war broke in late August with new strikes, tanker attacks, and a deadly hit on a home in southern Iran. Now Tehran's security chief has laid out, publicly, what it would take to end the fighting — and how far that is from what Washington has said it wants.

More From the Desk

Economy

12-0, Against the President's Wishes: The Fed Raises Rates for the First Time Since 2023

A unanimous Federal Reserve raised rates Sept. 16, defying a year of pressure from President Trump to cut them.

Sept. 21, 2026
Politics

Both Parties Redrew the Map. The Supreme Court Let Both Maps Stand.

Texas redrew its map to help Republicans. California redrew its to help Democrats. The Court declined to block either one.

Sept. 21, 2026
Culture

It Wasn't Her Body. It Was Her Face. AI Ads Have Arrived in Down-Ballot Races.

At least 164 political ads this cycle have been produced or enhanced with AI — and Congress can't agree on what, if anything, to do about it.

Sept. 18, 2026

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Opinion
"Two-thirds of the country isn't extreme. It's just unrepresented. Every cycle, the loudest voices on both sides mistake a narrow primary electorate for a mandate — and every cycle, the rest of us are asked to pick a side in a fight neither of us started."

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