The Washington Times AI News Desk

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ reboot drops new trailer ahead of Christmas debut

HBO has released a fresh, longer trailer for its television adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," offering the most detailed look yet at newcomer Dominic McLaughlin's Harry navigating his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

September 2, 2026

Washington mom sentenced after prosecutors say she kidnapped her son and took him to Panama

A Bellingham woman was sentenced to 10 months in prison for making a false statement on a passport application as part of a scheme to kidnap her 4-year-old son and take him to Panama, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced.

September 2, 2026

Singer Christopher Cross apologizes to Canadians, blasts Trump amid trade rift

Singer CHRISTOPHER CROSS apologizes to Canadians for Trump: "I want to tell you how much we love your country and appreciate your country very much. And I'm very sorry and embarrassed that we have an a--hole for a president."

September 2, 2026

Jury convicts former AFGE union president in $1 million embezzlement case

A federal jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, convicted Kimberly Goodwin, 54, of Bowie, Maryland, of participating in a wire fraud conspiracy and eight counts of money laundering, the Justice Department announced.

September 2, 2026

Detroit Tigers’ reported $4 million bet on a 12-year-old tests baseball’s youngest frontier

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly struck a pre-agreement with a 12-year-old international prospect that would eventually be worth $4M, a deal that, if it holds up over the next several years, would rank among the youngest and richest handshake commitments in the sport's history.

September 2, 2026

Experts confirm the one thing you should always do if you wake up in the middle of the night

Many of us handle a 3 a.m. wake-up the same way. We lie still, close our eyes, and wait. When that fails, we reach for the phone. Sleep specialists say the first instinct is the bigger mistake.

September 2, 2026

U.N. panel says nations legally bound to weigh slavery reparations

The United Nations' top anti-discrimination body said that states parties to a binding 1965 anti-discrimination treaty are legally obligated to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, escalating a fight that has already landed in a federal courtroom in Illinois.

September 1, 2026

Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ hits record 20th week at No. 1

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" has become the longest-running non-holiday No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100 history, logging its 20th week atop the chart this week. The only song with a longer reign is Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," at 22 weeks, a total that typically grows each December as the song returns to the chart during the holidays.

September 1, 2026

Mark Ruffalo faces antisemitism claims, wins backing of 170 Jewish figures

More than 170 Jewish entertainment figures, including Hannah Einbinder and filmmaker Joel Coen, have signed an open letter defending actor Mark Ruffalo against accusations that he invoked antisemitic tropes while attacking the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

September 1, 2026

Michigan’s AG urges Jewish Democrats to put world above own safety

Michigan AG Dana Nessel, who is Jewish, told a private gathering of Jewish Democrats last weekend that they carry "a moral imperative to place the needs of the world above even our own self-interest."

September 1, 2026

Gal Gadot defends AI film after lengthy talks to protect her performance

Actress Gal Gadot is defending her decision to star in an upcoming film that uses artificial intelligence to generate its sets and lighting, saying Hollywood has no choice but to adapt to the technology. "It's either you're going to work with it, or be out of the game completely," she said.

September 1, 2026

Honeywell Aerospace to pay $2 million to settle cybersecurity fraud claims

Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Justice Department announced.

September 1, 2026

HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ actor says Kamala Harris lost over race, gender

"Lanterns" actor J. Alphonse Nicholson on Kamala Harris' loss: "Could you imagine where we would be right now if Kamala got up in there? Could you imagine how it would've been? It'd be a lot different. So we're experiencing the consequences of not trusting a black woman."

September 1, 2026

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope begins million-mile journey for dark matter, dark energy and exoplanets

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched Sunday at 7:26 a.m. EDT aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, according to NASA.

September 1, 2026

Silver Spring man pleads guilty to $250,000 D.C. Medicaid mental health fraud

A Silver Spring, Maryland, man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme that billed D.C. Medicaid for mental health services that were never provided or were grossly inflated, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced.

September 1, 2026

Michigan Dems’ land acknowledgment stumbles at state convention

A land acknowledgment meant to open the Michigan Democratic Party's state nominating convention on a note of unity instead turned into an awkward public correction session on how to pronounce a Native tribe names.

September 1, 2026

Nine charged in federal racketeering case tied to Bloods-linked gang

Nine alleged gang members are facing federal racketeering charges following the unsealing of a second superseding indictment, according to the Justice Department.

September 1, 2026

Andrew Garfield stands by belief that Spider-Man could be gay

Actor ANDREW GARFIELD says anyone can be Spider-Man: "You don't see skin color, you don't see gender, you don't see sexuality; anyone can project themselves into that suit."

September 1, 2026

Olive Branch, Mississippi mayor declines to lower flags for Dolly Parton

The mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is refusing to lower flags at city buildings in honor of Dolly Parton, arguing that the tradition of flying the flag at half-staff should be reserved for a narrower set of circumstances than celebrity deaths.

September 1, 2026

Does supporting ‘gender ideology’ make you more likely to justify violence?

A federal study finds that people who most strongly support "gender ideology" are more likely to justify political violence, based on reactions to events including Charlie Kirk's killing. Researchers tie the pattern to several real-world cases -- and have a name for what they say is driving it.

September 1, 2026