How an AI slowdown could hit the economy and Supreme Court blocks Trump on mail-in voting: Morning Rundown
Matthew Rhys, star of Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” and the Netflix miniseries “The Beast in Me,” made Emmys history as the first man to win two lead acting categories in the same night.Kevin Mazur / Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSept. 15, 2026, 7:04 AM EDTBy Elizabeth RobinsonWhat hitting the brakes on AI could mean for the U.S. economy. The Supreme Court blocks Trump’s plan to restrict mail-in voting weeks before the midterms. And Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” wins big at the Emmys.
Add to GoogleTrump calls concerns over A.I. destroying humanity a 'hoax'02:18Calls to put some brakes on AI development are raising questions about whether a tech slowdown could rein in the momentum that has been powering U.S. economic growth.
The topic of AI safety spilled into broader view last week with the resignation of multiple engineers at leading companies. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei set off a wave of calls among other AI executives to “pace the frontier” — though what exactly that means isn’t entirely clear.
But President Donald Trump flat-out rejected the idea of placing guardrails on the technology, saying yesterday on Truth Social that the safety concerns are a “hoax” and that “the only one happy about it is China.” He reiterated his stance when he called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang yesterday and was put on speakerphone during a company all-hands meeting.
AI-related investments, broadly defined, have been responsible for nearly half of growth over the past year, one economist said. And analysts with Goldman Sachs have attributed about 50% of recent earnings growth in the S&P 500 to AI. Credit ratings agency Fitch said in an analysis that the economy would go into a recession if an AI-related sell-off were to cause stock prices to fall by 35% over six months.
The U.S. economy’s reliance on AI may help explain in part why Trump so strongly opposes the discussion.
Add to GoogleSupreme Court denies Trump’s mail-in voting restrictions02:19The Supreme Court prevented a U.S. Postal Service regulation on mail-in ballots from going into effect, rejecting an emergency application in which the Trump administration sought to block a lower court ruling that said the regulation was likely unlawful. The 7-2 ruling, with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissenting, cast a decisive blow against Trump’s hopes of exercising federal control over midterm elections.
Under the new rule, states would have to submit lists of eligible voters to the Postal Service, which would then verify that ballots were being sent to people on that list before it delivered them. Typically, the Postal Service has no role in imposing election regulations.
How the fight reached the Supreme Court.
Add to GoogleWatch highlights of the 2026 Emmy Awards in 3 minutes03:05Apple TV’s horror-comedy “Widow’s Bay” won big at the 2026 Emmy Awards, taking home six prizes for the night for outstanding comedy series, as well as for acting, writing and directing. The show’s star, Matthew Rhys, also took home an award for his role in the Netflix miniseries “The Beast in Me,” making him the first man in Emmys history to conquer two lead acting categories in the same night.
“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert received a standing ovation when accepting the award for outstanding variety series, “The Pitt” won outstanding drama series and Rob Reiner and Dolly Parton received emotional tributes.
See more top moments from the night. And see photos of the winners, including Sally Field and Jason Bateman, picking up their trophies.
People swim in Hampstead Heath, London.Ben Whitley / PA Images via Getty ImagesLondoners are breathing a sigh of relief this week as rain finally returns. This summer was one of the hottest and driest seasons on record, according to the UK’s Met Office, and finding a place to cool off was no easy task.
The city’s outdoor pools and wild swimming locations offer a tempting, momentary escape. But securing a coveted spot at one has become a herculean effort. Online tickets sell out rapidly, and people are often turned away from mammoth queues.
There have been calls for London authorities to open more “blue spaces” recently, and I wanted to understand why swimming is such an important part of heat-proofing a major city. I spoke with some of London’s open-water swimmers who told me their ideas for making the capital more swimmable. — Isabella Colletta, London-based desk editor
This sunrise alarm clock makes waking up so much easier — and it’s currently 30% off. Plus, Nintendo is saying thank you to shoppers by kicking off their Customer Appreciation Sale with dozens of games and bundles discounted until Sept. 26.
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