the friday brief — 9.11.26

3 things that matter

america marks 25 years since september 11

twenty-five years after the september 11 attacks, families are gathering at ground zero to read the names of those killed, alongside commemorations at the pentagon and the flight 93 national memorial. for the first time, the annual new york ceremony includes a seventh moment of silence honoring those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses. near the pentagon, plans are also moving forward for a long-awaited visitor center, which would create a permanent educational space at the only 9/11 attack site still without one.

trump is becoming the centerpiece of the republican midterm campaign

at the republican party’s first national convention devoted specifically to a midterm election, president trump urged voters to approach november as though he were on the ballot himself. the strategy reflects an effort to mobilize supporters who have historically been harder for republicans to turn out when trump is not running. but interviews with republican officials and candidates also revealed unease about relying so heavily on the president in competitive races, where independent voters and concerns about the economy could prove especially important.

the global economy may be entering another inflation problem

after years spent trying to bring inflation down, central banks are confronting another round of price pressure. u.s. inflation remained above the federal reserve’s target in august, the european central bank raised rates this week, and markets are increasingly watching for further tightening in europe, japan and the united states. higher energy and commodity prices are adding to the strain, while borrowing costs have risen across major economies. the concern is becoming increasingly global: inflation may be proving harder to leave behind than policymakers had hoped.

1 thing to know

the long aftermath of september 11

nearly 3,000 people were killed in the september 11 attacks, but the human toll continued long after that morning. first responders, recovery workers and people who lived or worked near the world trade center have developed illnesses linked to exposure to toxic dust and debris, and hundreds of members of the fdny alone have since died from 9/11-related diseases. this year, the annual ground zero commemoration formally recognizes that toll with an additional moment of silence.

the attacks also reshaped american government and daily life. the united states went to war in afghanistan, created the department of homeland security, expanded counterterrorism and surveillance powers, and transformed aviation security. the years that followed also brought the war in iraq, while muslim, arab and south asian americans faced increased hate crimes, discrimination and scrutiny in the post-9/11 security environment. twenty-five years later, for a growing share of the country, one of the defining events of modern american history is something learned rather than personally remembered.

1 thing to try

spend time with an oral history

consider listening to someone who experienced september 11 firsthand. the 9/11 memorial & museum preserves accounts from survivors, family members, first responders, recovery workers and others whose lives were changed by the attacks. hearing one person describe what they saw, lost or carried forward offers a way to mark the anniversary and to understand the day through the people who lived it.