Washington Stunned: Former FBI Director Comey Charged Amid Trump Retribution Push (Bloomberg)

A little after 6:30 PM last night, news broke that a federal grand jury in Virginia indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two felony charges stemming from his congressional testimony in September 2020 about the FBI’s investigation into links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, according to Politico. 

The news triggered alarm both inside and outside the Justice Department that Trump “had effectively ordered the prosecution of a political adversary, exacting retribution against a longtime foe he blames for his own years of criminal prosecution and impeachment,” as Politico reports. 

Trump allies have called Comey's remarks perjury, despite a 2018 Justice Department Inspector General report finding no such authorization.

Comey, who has long clashed with Trump, denies the allegations and says he looks forward to vindicating himself in court, casting the prosecution as political retribution.

In response, Comey posted an Instagram video expressing his innocence, adding that he and his family "have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump. But we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either," as shared by Axios AM. 

Announced by a Trump-appointed US attorney, the indictment marks a sharp escalation of Trump’s drive to pursue legal action against perceived political enemies.

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Many on the left saw it as a Rubicon-crossing moment, according to Politico.

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“The Justice Department we have long known is dead,” said Matthew Miller, the Obama-era DOJ veteran. “As in many authoritarian states, it now exists as an arm of the government to punish the president’s enemies, regardless of the law. A tragedy for the country with lasting implications, even if this case is dismissed.”

Hope for the Climate

Hard-Fought Treaty to Protect Ocean Life Goes Into Effect in January (Bloomberg)

As climate impacts multiply, a landmark United Nations treaty to protect ocean life will go into effect in January after Sierra Leone and Morocco provided the final of the 60 votes needed to ratify the accord.

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When the high seas biodiversity treaty enters into force in early 2026, it will transform how countries, corporations and scientific organizations do business in the 60% of the ocean beyond any nation’s jurisdiction. Its ratification was hailed as a historic moment by environmental and conservation advocates.

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The treaty is the most far-ranging ocean agreement since the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which regulates activities in international waters, including seabed mining.

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Under the treaty, marine genetic resources — which include marine molecules, bacteria and algae — are designated as the common heritage of humankind whose bounty is to be shared among nations.

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The High Seas Alliance, representing 70+ NGOs, applauded global leaders’ swift action, alongside philanthropic partners like the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, which continues to support implementation of the Treaty.
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"This milestone shows what’s possible when governments, civil society, and philanthropy work together with urgency and determination," said Antha Williams, who leads the Environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies.

US Education Latest

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Student Score Alarm: Significant Declines in Math and Reading Scores Now Being Felt in Workforce (New York Times)
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New national test results for 12th graders, released this month, showed significant declines in US students’ math and reading abilities since 2019, results that are now being felt in college and the labor market.
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Scores were the lowest in decades, with reading at a 30-year low and math at its weakest since 2005, partly due to pandemic disruptions and increased screen time.

The skill gaps are straining colleges, technical programs, the military, and employers, who report students and young workers struggling with basic reading, writing, and math needed for higher-level training and career advancement.

While some industries prioritize on-the-job skills over test scores, experts warn that limited academic ability hampers upward mobility, pushing employers and nonprofits to step in with foundational learning programs.

The results highlight long-term risks for US competitiveness, as other nations better equip students with essential skills in an era where critical thinking and accuracy matter even more alongside AI and automation.

What I'm Reading

Forgetting Science: RFK, Jr. Says US Rejects Global Health Goals (New York Times) 
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Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday said the United States would reject a United Nations declaration on chronic diseases, because it ignored “the most pressing health issues,” and more broadly because the Trump administration takes issue with policies that he described as promoting abortion and “radical gender ideology.”

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Kennedy, who gave his remarks to a U.N. meeting on preventing and combating chronic illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, did not elaborate on the issues he said had been ignored. The text of the U.N. declaration does not mention reproductive rights or gender ideology. The word “gender” appears several times in the document, but only in the context of the specific health challenges facing women.

UN Week Recap: Thanks to Trump’s Attack, the UN Might Have Rediscovered a Voice (Bloomberg)

For all the speeches and theatrics, the UNGA proved its relevance — not as a crisis fixer, but as a forum where diplomacy, symbolism, and chance encounters still matter.

Erdogan at the White House: Trump Urges Turkish President to Cut Russia Oil Buys, Floats F-35 Deal (Bloomberg)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, their first White House meeting in six years.

Trump urged Erdogan to halt oil purchases from Russia as part of his broader push to cut Moscow’s energy revenues and pressure Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.

The two leaders also discussed Turkey’s potential reentry into the F-35 fighter jet program, though Trump stopped short of making any commitments.

Zelenskiy Says: Russian Officials Must End War or Find Bomb Shelters (Axios)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Axios that Ukraine is prepared to hit Russian infrastructure and even centers of power if Moscow refuses to end the war, warning Kremlin officials to know their nearest bomb shelter.

Zelenskiy said Trump explicitly supported Ukraine responding “tit for tat” to Russian strikes on energy and arms facilities, and that a new US weapons system under discussion could pressure Vladimir Putin into negotiations.

Watch the full interview here.

'Secretary of War' Summit?: Hegseth Summons Top Military Officers to a Gathering Next Week (Bloomberg)

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has called an unusual meeting of top US military commanders at Quantico just before the end of the fiscal year and amid a potential government shutdown, though the agenda has not been disclosed.

The timing and secrecy of the gathering add to scrutiny over Trump and Hegseth’s broader effort to expand the military’s role in domestic affairs and rebrand the Pentagon as the Department of War.

Airspace Breach: Denmark Investigates Potential Russia Link After Drone Attacks at Multiple Airports (Bloomberg)

Daily Read Podcast: Prefer audio over text? Check out today’s AI-powered podcast companion to this newsletter—now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

Market Warning: Fed's Lisa Cook Warns Supreme Court of Market 'Chaos' If She's Fired (Bloomberg)

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s attorneys urged the US Supreme Court to let her stay on the job while she fights President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her, warning that even her temporary removal risks “chaos and disruption” in financial markets.

Today in Recruiting: Goldman President Criticizes Barriers to Migration Amid H-1B Row (Bloomberg) 

Goldman Sachs President John Waldron criticized growing global barriers to movement, as US firms worry over the Trump administration’s $100,000 visa fee.

“We have a very big global footprint and need talent worldwide — the more barriers we put up, the harder it is for companies like ours,” he said at a Financial Times event in New York.

Last Chance to Visit: London Sculpture Week Concludes This Weekend (LSW)

London Sculpture Week celebrates the city’s creative spirit, filling public spaces with outdoor works from a wide range of artists.
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On through Sept. 28, the program offers free tours, performances, and workshops that explore how sculpture connects people and places.
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Launched in 2022, the festival brings together London’s leading public art programs for nine days of discovery, giving Londoners and visitors alike the chance to experience sculpture across the capital, from landmark commissions to hidden gems.
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Explore LSW on Bloomberg Connects' free digital guide, where you’ll find audio tours, interactive maps, a family activity pack, and the full program in one place. Learn more and download the Bloomberg Connects app here. 

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Weekend Streaming Guide

Ryder Cup (NBC, USA Network, Peacock)
The 2025 Ryder Cup, the ultimate golf showdown between the US and Europe, tees off today through Sunday at the legendary Bethpage Black in New York, featuring the game’s biggest stars and drawing fans from around the world.

Ocean with David Attenborough (Hulu)
David Attenborough, the world’s leading natural historian, presents a feature-length documentary sharing a lifetime of insight on restoring Earth’s interconnected waterways—and how audiences can help save the seas.

The Paper (Peacock)
In “The Paper,” the fictional documentary crew of “The Office” are headed to the Midwest to document the struggles of a local newspaper and its staff members.

And in case you missed it earlier this week: 

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (YouTube)
In his returning monologue, Jimmy Kimmel delivered a fiery and emotional monologue, blasting President Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr over what he called a “dangerous, anti-American” attempt to cancel his show.
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Best of Late Night

On the aftermath of President Trump’s appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York which was marked by an incident where his escalator malfunctioned mid-ride:

“Are we going all in on the president being a victim of escalator sabotage? Because the deep state wants him to get his steps in?”
– Jordan Klepper

“The White House is now looking into who would have a grudge against Trump, and so far they’ve narrowed it down to 189 countries.”
– Jimmy Fallon

“So, just to recap, Trump will not release the Epstein files, but we will be doing a thorough investigation into who stopped his escalator.”
– Jordan Klepper

And from The Late Show: Stephen Colbert welcomes California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was in New York City for Climate Week, talking about outplaying President Trump on social media, the Democrats’ strategy going forward, and even his new line of merchandise. Click the photo below to watch. 
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