A Republican senator wants answers about alleged foreign money surrounding Donald Trump Jr. Today, I break down John Curtis's demand, Trump's U.N. pressure campaign, Zelensky's peace offer, America's chip fight, and a six-goal night in Los Angeles.

American militiamen captured British Major John André on September 23, 1780. Papers hidden in his boot exposed Benedict Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British.

Question: Which constitutional amendment reserves undelegated federal powers to the states or the people?

Answer at the very end of today's briefing.

Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis wants an investigation involving Donald Trump Jr. and World Liberty Financial, the Trump-linked cryptocurrency venture. Curtis pointed to reports that a private-island celebration was funded by a Russian oligarch connected to Vladimir Putin. The reported foreign funding has raised questions about access, gifts, crypto investments, and possible influence around the president's family. Curtis made his position public on September 22.

He said an oligarch-funded celebration deserves more scrutiny than an ordinary political dispute.

Curtis is not a Democrat chasing another cable-news scandal. He is a Republican senator demanding facts about the president's eldest son. That matters. Conservatives spent years watching federal investigators stretch foreign influence claims into political weapons.

We should not answer that abuse by ignoring credible allegations when a Republican family is involved. Apply one standard. Identify who paid, how much they paid, who attended, what business followed, and whether anyone sought action from the Trump administration. Crypto transactions and private companies can make money trails harder to follow, but they do not erase the public's right to know. If the reports are false, an investigation can establish that. If they are true, Congress must determine whether money purchased access.

What to watch next: whether Curtis seeks subpoenas, hearings, or financial records tied to the event.

Americans gave 135,000 shelter animals permanent homes during NBCUniversal's annual adoption campaign. The effort also raised $480,000 for more than 1,000 participating shelters. That means fewer crowded kennels and more families welcoming a new companion.

For more stories like this, follow @feelgoodnewsusa — real good news, no partisan spin.

President Trump used his U.N. address to pressure Iran and Russia, signal an opening with China, and declare America's intent to lead in "superintelligence." He also signed an Arctic security pact as Moscow and Beijing seek greater reach near North America. Trump treated AI, shipping routes, energy, and military access as parts of the same contest. That is the right frame. Technology leadership now determines economic and battlefield power.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned U.N. leaders against a global "law of the jungle" and urged stronger adherence to international law. His September 22 speech followed Trump's defense of national sovereignty and citizen-first government. The disagreement is bigger than rhetoric. Macron wants international institutions to carry more authority, while Trump rejects giving foreign bodies control over American borders, energy, trade, or military decisions.

Mahmoud Khalil appeared at a September 21 Yom Kippur gathering that reportedly turned toward attacks on Israel, President Trump, and Jewish institutions. Yom Kippur is Judaism's holiest observance, marked by roughly 25 hours of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Political activists had countless other venues available. Using a sacred service as an ideological platform showed contempt for Jews who came to worship, mourn, and reflect.

BlazeTV host Sara Gonzales argues that apocalyptic AI predictions distract from the fight over advanced chips. Her argument followed an Anthropic researcher's resignation and warning that AI could kill humanity before 2030. AI requires semiconductors, data centers, electricity, and controlled supply chains. If Washington freezes American development while China keeps building, Beijing gains the computing power, industrial capacity, and military applications that come with it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is prepared to meet Putin and pursue an end to the war. Zelensky also met President Trump, who is pressing both countries to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Russia has not accepted either proposal. A direct meeting would test whether both leaders want negotiations or simply want the world to blame the other side for continued war.

Oppo launched the Find X10 Pro Max in China with three 200-megapixel sensors across its rear camera system. The company claims its DeepPix main sensor delivers 17 stops of dynamic range. Oppo has not announced U.S. pricing or availability. Buyers should ignore the giant number and inspect real photographs. Low-light performance, motion handling, lenses, and processing matter more than the megapixel count printed on a box.

TechCrunch is promoting five AI safety panels featuring Anthropic, Nvidia, AWS, and autonomous trucking company Waabi. The sessions will focus on building, testing, and deploying AI products. Safety standards created by major corporations often become contract terms, insurance requirements, and regulatory templates for smaller firms. Founders need a seat in that debate before giants write rules that protect their own market positions.

The Pine Tree Pirates have reached the Texas high school football playoffs for three consecutive seasons. After four 2026 games, coaches say the Longview team needs cleaner execution on offense and defense. Effort has not been the problem. Missed assignments, turnovers, and stalled drives decide district games. Pine Tree now wants more than another postseason berth. November success will require complete games against stronger opponents.

The Utah Mammoth defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a 6-3 score at Crypto.com Arena on September 22. Utah produced six road goals against a Western Conference opponent. Los Angeles scored enough to remain competitive but could not contain Utah's attack. The result gives the Mammoth an early offensive marker. It gives the Kings defensive film they will not enjoy watching.

Most Americans do not understand how the federal system actually works. They know the names of the branches, but not who controls spending, how agencies gain power, or where citizens can apply pressure. The Government 101 Field Guide is your $19 digital field manual for understanding the machinery behind Washington.

An Anthropic researcher resigned earlier this month and warned that AI could kill humanity before 2030. The warning went viral, but the debate quickly shifted toward dramatic extinction predictions instead of the physical systems powering AI.

Now Sara Gonzales is putting chips back at the center of the argument. China does not need killer robots to beat America. It needs control over semiconductor production, computing capacity, electricity, and supply chains. The scary headline faded. The industrial contest did not.

Today's trivia: Which amendment reserves undelegated federal powers?
Answer: The Tenth Amendment reserves those powers to the states or the people.

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Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee