Edition, 18 stories.

Morning NOISE, Sep 16

Tech, 07:00, 5 sources.

Lawmakers admit no AI use amid split over regulation

Axios reports that more than two dozen lawmakers and governors say they rarely or never use AI, even as they face pressure to regulate it. The Guardian cautions that letting AI firms collude to "pace the frontier" is dangerous, citing a recent safety breach by OpenAI agents. Industry leaders are divided, with Nvidia's Jensen Huang calling the battle over AI innovation and safety a false choice.

Signal read, tense. Waterfall gorge. Illustration: NOISE.

Reporting used

AxiosAn aging Congress attempts to regulate AI without using it GuardianAllowing AI firms to collude to ‘pace the frontier’ is a dangerous proposition

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Signal read

Tense

Rate anxiety, wartime strain, shifting alliances and uneven technology oversight shape an uneasy day.

Sep 10, Tense. Sep 11, Tense. Sep 12, Tense. Sep 13, Turbulent. Sep 14, Turbulent. Sep 15, Tense. Sep 16, Tense, latest.

Sep 10Sep 16

Markets	Last	Change
S&P futures	7,680.25	+0.32%
Dow futures	52,671.00	+0.28%
Nasdaq futures	29,410.75	+0.56%
CRWD	242.49	+3.02%
AMZN	248.42	-2.02%
SPCX	143.49	-3.15%

U.S., 4 stories

07:19 Fed rate hike expected; Kennedy Center board votes to close NPR reports the Fed is expected to raise interest rates for the first time in three years, and the Kennedy Center board voted to close the historic center. The New York Times notes that elevated rates have raised borrowing costs without slowing consumer spending. Wire reports indicate rising tension between President Trump and the Fed over rate policy.

3 sources

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NPRFed expected to raise interest rates. And, board votes to close Kennedy Center NYTWhy the Fed Might Raise Interest Rates When Borrowing Costs Are Surging

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02:43 Billionaires bankroll Republicans' election push According to the Financial Times, US billionaires are lining up to bankroll Republican election efforts. The ultra-wealthy overwhelmingly support Donald Trump's party over Democrats, with money flooding into the midterm race.

3 sources

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FTUS billionaires line up to bankroll Republicans’ election push

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07:35 Hegseth faces mounting criticism as Iran war drags on Bloomberg reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces increased criticism. The criticism comes as the Iran war drags on and controversies mount.

1 source

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BloombergPete Hegseth’s Main Character Energy Draws Bipartisan Critics

06:00 Florida ballot measure would slash property taxes and hurt local budgets The Washington Post reports that a Florida ballot measure would drastically reduce property tax revenue, affecting local services. Governor Ron DeSantis argues there is fat to cut, but local officials warn that libraries, parks, and emergency services would suffer.

1 source

Reporting used

WaPoBallot measure would slash Florida property taxes and batter local budgets

World, 4 stories

07:03 EU chief backs Canada as first associate member European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the EU's first associate member, a striking overture as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs push Ottawa closer to Europe, NPR reports. The BBC notes Canada is seeking closer ties with the EU after a breakdown in relations with the U.S., highlighting the potential for deeper EU-Canada alignment amid trade tensions.

4 sources

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BBCEU chief backs plan for Canada to become 'associate member'NPREU's Ursula von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become an associate member

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05:57 Kosovo's ex-president Thaci convicted of war crimes, sentenced to 25 years According to NPR, a European Union-backed court convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci of war crimes committed during Kosovo's war for independence from Serbia and sentenced him to 25 years in prison. The conviction holds a former head of state accountable for wartime actions.

2 sources

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NPRKosovo's ex-President Thaci convicted of war crimes, sentenced to 25 years in prison

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Tue 22:55 Interceptor supplies strained as House votes to limit Iran strikes The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. has expended 70 or more Patriot and THAAD interceptors to counter an attack on Jordan, straining its supply. Meanwhile, CBS News notes the House passed a measure limiting Trump's power to strike Iran, with seven Republicans defecting.

2 sources

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WSJThe U.S. Is Burning Through Its Supply of Interceptors to Counter Iran’s Attacks

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07:15 US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say Full text unavailable at press time.

1 source

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Business, 4 stories

05:04 European stocks advance as yields, oil ease ahead of Fed Update Bloomberg reports European stocks snapped two days of losses as bond yields and oil eased ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision. CNBC says the 10-year Treasury yield hovers above 5% as investors await what is widely expected to be a rate hike. Wire reports note that yields reached 19-year highs overnight and that a Fed rate hike is widely expected.

3 sources

Follow-up to Dollar near two-week high as oil surge lifts yields, Fed hike bets, September 15

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BloombergEuropean Stocks Advance as Bond Yields and Oil Ease Ahead of Fed CNBCYield on 10-year Treasury hovers above 5% as investors await Fed decision

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07:36 SK Hynix explores options after report of Intel tie-up Bloomberg reports that SK Hynix said it is exploring options to boost its global competitiveness. This follows a report that the company may team up with Intel Corp. to make semiconductors in the US.

2 sources

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BloombergSK Hynix Says Exploring Options After Report of Intel Tie-Up

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05:02 Global wariness of US grows as debt and sanctions pile up The New York Times reports that America's position as a pillar of global economic stability is weakening as the Trump administration increases debt and tightens sanctions. This is making the world economy increasingly wary of relying on the US.

1 source

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NYTThe World Economy Is Becoming Wary of the U.S.

07:42 Mortgage demand drops 19% as interest rates surge According to CNBC, mortgage rates have surged to the highest level since the start of 2025, causing a major pullback in mortgage demand. The abrupt increase in interest rates has driven homebuyer mortgage demand down 19% from a year ago.

1 source

Reporting used

CNBCMortgage demand from homebuyers drops 19% from a year ago, as interest rates surge abruptly higher

Tech, 3 stories

07:07 Chinese hacking firm uses AI to enhance cyber-spying, WSJ reports According to a WSJ report, internal company materials show a Chinese hacking firm using AI to make pilfered foreign government documents digestible for police, with targets including Russia and Pakistan. The AI-powered effort highlights how hackers leverage artificial intelligence to supercharge cyber-spying, raising cybersecurity concerns.

2 sources

Reporting used

WSJHow a Chinese Hacking Firm Tapped AI to Supercharge Cyber-Spying

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02:49 Meta now lets AI agents handle WhatsApp Business setup TechCrunch reports that Meta now lets AI agents handle the boring parts of WhatsApp Business setup. The new MCP server enables AI coding agents like Claude, Cursor, Codex, and ChatGPT to manage messaging templates, testing, and troubleshooting.

3 sources

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TCMeta now lets AI agents handle the boring parts of WhatsApp Business setup

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06:30 Hackers stole Flock camera software, revealing tracking of cars and people According to 404, while people across the U.S. tear down Flock cameras, one group of hackers went a step further by extracting the camera's software.

2 sources

Reporting used

404Hackers Stole Flock’s Camera Software, Revealing How the Company Tracks Cars and People

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Sports, 2 stories

05:51 Barcelona, Real Madrid monitoring JJ Gabriel situation at Man United - sources Full text unavailable at press time.

1 source

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Tue 21:23 Source: Chargers signing Valdes-Scantling to practice squad Full text unavailable at press time.

1 source

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