The Republican Party will hold an unusual midterm convention. And Canada’s retaliatory tariffs take effect

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Republicans will hold an unconventional midterm convention in Dallas this week. Such events are usually timed to coincide with presidential election years. While midterm conventions are rare, one fact stands out: President Trump will be the main attraction of the show as Republicans decide whether to participate. As polls show Democrats more energized ahead of the midterm elections, the president is urging his party’s voters to act as if he is on the ballot to get them to vote.

In this file photo, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico speaks during a campaign rally Aug. 31, 2026, in Kerrville, Texas. Labor Day often marks the unofficial start of the general election campaign.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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• 🎧 The convention was called “Trumpapalooza”. NPR’s Tamara Keith reports Up first. The President is set to headline both nights. Vice President Vance will speak on the first night, Wednesday. Organizers say the event will focus on key mid-term issues such as reducing costs, increasing revenue, securing borders and protecting American values. Fewer than half of the Republican candidates in competitive House and Senate races are on the speaker’s ticket, which Keith said reflects how challenging this midterm is for some politicians.
• ➡️ Less than two months left until Election Dayhere’s what you should pay attention to.

All five people died in Amazon cargo plane crash The occupants were in vehicles on the ground at Miami International Airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Five more people were injured as a result of the accident. NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy, sharing preliminary findings, called the disaster “utter devastation.” The NTSB investigation is ongoing.

• 🎧 The NTSB is expected to share more information about Sunday’s crash. today, says NPR’s Chandelis Duster. First responders found the crash site difficult to see, Homendy said. Recovery efforts have been hampered because fuel remains at the crash site that must be cleaned up. Homendy said the agency has recovered a flight data recorder and a cockpit data recorder, and teams are looking at various factors, including the crew’s flying experience and weather conditions. Homendy has not yet provided an update on the condition of the plane’s crew.

Canada’s latest tariffs on American goods took effect at midnight. Prime Minister Mark Carney has imposed taxes of up to 50% on about $20 billion worth of American goods imported into the country. The dollar-for-dollar retaliation comes after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods following the collapse of talks between the two countries last month.

• 🎧 Reporter Peter Armstrong says there was concern when talks collapsed that countries would fall into a cycle of escalation—and that’s exactly what happened. Experts expect the US to respond to Canada’s latest tariffs. Armstrong says Canadians feel angry and betrayed not only by the latest tariffs, but also by the overall situation between the countries. Trump has openly stated that he wants Canada to become the 51st US state, and even suggested that he would use economic power to achieve this. Canadians hear this, see his actions and believe their country’s independence is under threat, Armstrong says. The two countries are currently not in communication and there are no plans to resume trade talks.