Salem News Channel

HONOLULU (AP) — Damaging winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Lowell have pelted Hawaii’s western islands, causing widespread power outages. The storm's center passed west of the islands early Tuesday and now is moving away from Hawaii. There's still the threat of floods and mudslides. The island of Kauai has widespread power outages. Officials there are asking everyone to stay off the roadways so emergency crews can get out. One resident on Kauai says a beachside road was ripped apart and a friend's house had been destroyed. On Oahu, crews are clearing sand and rocks from a major route along the island's western edge.

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CAIRO/WASHINGTON/DUBAI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. sank five Iranian oil tankers, in the biggest declared wave of tit-for-tat attacks on shipping by both sides since the start of the six-month-old war. The attacks sent the price of oil surging, with benchmark Brent crude futures breaching $100 a barrel for the first time since July. At least one seafarer aboard a tanker was reported killed and another listed as missing. Iran also said it had fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces in Jordan. Attacks by both sides since the end of August have shattered a month of relative calm, with the U.S. and Iran hitting military, shipping and energy assets. The Revolutionary Guards said they would sharply escalate their response to any further attacks, hitting 20 targets if the enemy struck two or three. Iran would soon release maps of a new, enlarged off-limits zone at sea that would extend as far as Chabahar on the far reaches of Iran's coast near Pakistan, the Guards said. Recent days have also seen an escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, a second theatre of war that threatens global energy supplies from the Middle East. VIDEO SHOWS IRANIAN TANKERS ABLAZE The Americans said they destroyed five Iranian oil tankers overnight, releasing video of ships ablaze before they sank. The U.S. military's Central Command called its attacks a response to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting a U.S. Navy warship twice with ballistic missiles over the previous two days. No Americans were harmed, the U.S. said. Washington has announced a new policy of attacking Iranian tankers in retaliation for fire that threatens its warships, and says it has hit 10 so far over the past week. "Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia. Iran said it fired on two U.S. ships and eight tankers in response. One seafarer was killed aboard the oil products tanker Hercules Star while at anchorage off Dubai and another crew member was missing, the vessel's charterer, Peninsula, said. Maritime security sources said it may have been hit by a drone. The British maritime security agency UKMTO described a vessel in the vicinity that was listing, possibly taking on water after being struck by a projectile. Reuters could not immediately determine whether this referred to the same ship.Two Iraqi port officials said a tanker carrying 2 million barrels of fuel oil, the New Andros, had caught fire after being struck by a drone in Iraqi waters. There were no reports of casualties among the 22 crew. The Iraqi government confirmed the incident and said the tanker had been used for storage. The UKMTO said it had received reports of several merchant ships struck by disabling fire in the northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman, on either side of the strait. Iran also threatened oil tankers in Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, according to a statement carried by state media. A maritime security source reported a liquefied natural gas tanker was damaged in the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan. The IRGC also said on Wednesday it had fired ballistic missiles at a base used by U.S. forces near Al Azraq, in eastern Jordan. Jordan said its air defences had intercepted 18 of the 20 Iranian missiles, with two falling harmlessly in unpopulated areas. A U.S. official said Iran’s strikes in Jordan were ineffective and all American troops were accounted for. STRAIT CHOKED OFF In recent weeks Washington had boasted of increasing success guiding tankers through the strait, which carried a fifth of oil supplies before the war. But any such gradual reopening appears to have been set back by a resumption of fighting this month. Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at consultancy Rystad Energy, said flows through Hormuz had fallen back as low as 2 million barrels per day, having reached as high as 8 million to 9 million bpd in the week before fighting resumed on August 30. Even more severe than the rise in crude prices has been a surge in the cost of the fuels refined from it. The politically sensitive average retail price of U.S. diesel hit a fresh all-time high on Wednesday above $5.94 a gallon. Gasoline is also more expensive than ever at this time of the year. Escalating combat between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls most populated parts of Yemen has created additional uncertainty for energy markets. On Tuesday, the Houthis launched an attack on four cities in Saudi Arabia, causing huge fires visible from space at oil installations. Saudi authorities said 73 people were wounded. The Saudi Press Agency released footage showing homes damaged and injured patients in hospital. Saudi authorities announced alerts on Wednesday in two of the cities hit the previous day, but later said the threat had passed. A Saudi-backed government based in the south of Yemen has launched a multi-pronged assault on areas controlled by the Houthis, who have threatened Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.

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WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The November battle for an open U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire will pit former Republican Senator John Sununu against Democratic Representative Chris Pappas, in a race that could determine which party controls the chamber. Sununu and Pappas swamped their respective primary opponents on Tuesday night and were projected winners within an hour of polls closing in the small northeastern state. Pappas, a moderate, had been the Democratic frontrunner since entering the race in April 2025, shortly after three-term incumbent Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement at the beginning of January. He easily extinguished a late surge by progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist who is a member of the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter. Sununu, who garnered President Donald Trump's endorsement in February, served a single six-year Senate term starting in 2003 before losing to Shaheen in 2008. He previously held a U.S. House seat for six years. Sununu is the son and brother of former New Hampshire governors. He defeated several Republican candidates, including Scott Brown, who served a short stint as a U.S. senator representing Massachusetts several years ago. But for all his name recognition across the state, Sununu could be hampered by the declining political fortunes of Trump, whose approval ratings have been hurt by inflation and the war with Iran. Pappas and Sununu each have millions of dollars in their campaign coffers, and with one of only a handful of open Senate seats up for grabs, the race is likely to attract plenty of outside spending. THE BIG PICTURE Meanwhile, Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of the retiring senator, eked out a victory against ex-Marine Captain Maura Sullivan in the Democratic primary to replace Pappas in his House seat. Shaheen bested Sullivan by 1,701 votes out of 76,675 votes cast among nine Democratic candidates and write-ins. Shaheen, a former member of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, cit council will face Anthony DiLorenzo, an auto dealer who was projected by media outlets to win the Republican primary. New Hampshire's Democratic and Republican primaries were among the last in this election cycle, setting the stage for a frenzied final two months of campaigning across the nation. Currently, Republicans hold a 53-47 edge over Democrats in the Senate and are clinging to an even narrower advantage in the House of Representatives. In taking on Pappas, Manzur had hoped to build on the momentum of progressive Democrats, who have scored a string of upsets in primaries in Michigan, Colorado, Florida and elsewhere. But Pappas skated to victory with the backing of Democratic establishment figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Shaheen and Senator Maggie Hassan. New Hampshire voters, notorious for their close attention to elections, have split their party allegiances. The state's two Senate seats and two House seats are held by Democrats while the governor's post and state legislature are in Republican hands. In the 2024 presidential race, Democrat Kamala Harris beat Republican Donald Trump, 50.9% to 48.1%, in New Hampshire. But with 31.9% of voters registered as Republicans, 28.1% as Democrats and 39.9% as independents, according to the Independent Voter Project, elections in the state can be suspenseful. In the state's other congressional Democratic primary race, Representative Maggie Goodlander defeated state legislator Paige Beauchemin. Goodlander's fall opponent will be Republican Lily Williams, a real estate investor who is running for the seat for a third time. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte easily defeated two opponents to win the Republican primary and is favored to defeat Democrat Cinde Warmington, running unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the general election.

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In this reflective program, Mark Davis takes a moment to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, examining how they are remembered and discussed today. He discusses the significance of the event and its impact on American culture and history. Davis questions how the event is taught and remembered, emphasizing the importance of truthful and respectful discourse. He reflects on the current political climate and the election of a Muslim mayor in New York City, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing the legacy of 9/11. The program includes a poignant look back at President Bush’s visit to Ground Zero, underscoring the importance of unity and vigilance in the face of tragedy.

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For years after 9/11, saying goodbye stopped at the checkpoint. A limited new program called "Gateside by TSA PreCheck" now lets vetted family members go all the way to the plane—so a child flying to grandma doesn’t have to leave mom and dad at security. It’s a small, overdue step back toward the ordinary life airports used to allow.

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GOP organizers are betting a first-of-its-kind midterm convention and the president’s unmatched political showmanship can drive turnout the way a recent targeted rally delivered a 70% local win. Mainstream networks appear uninterested (and football is on), even as supporters argue the event is part of a years-ahead plan to hold Congress—and avoid the chaos they say Democrats have already previewed.

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This discussion marks 25 years since the September 11th attacks, featuring insights from Nick Freitas, a Green Beret combat veteran and former Virginia delegate. Freitas shares his perspective on America's current mindset regarding the jihadist threat, emphasizing a growing awareness of the ideological opposition to Western values. He highlights the emergence of public discourse articulating the nature of the threat, despite ongoing challenges. Freitas also addresses the issue of cultural infiltration and the dangers of friendly immigration, which he believes seeks to undermine American values. He discusses the relationship between leftist ideologies and Islamist movements, pointing out how leftists often enable radicalization without facing consequences. Freitas calls for honest conversations and the reassertion of American ideals, advocating for a return to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to ensure the nation's safety and integrity.

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In this discussion, Congressman Andy Harris from Maryland addresses the recent Maryland Supreme Court ruling that allows a redistricting amendment to proceed to voters in November. The court also ordered changes to the ballot language, which they found could mislead voters. Harris argues that the Democrats on the Supreme Court are attempting to subvert the Maryland Constitution by suspending the Declaration of Rights to facilitate partisan redistricting. He emphasizes the fundamental nature of individual liberties and the government's role in serving the people. Harris points out that this partisan gerrymandering could result in illegal redistricting under federal law, potentially leading to legal action in federal courts. He also discusses the potential for mid-cycle redistricting and the inadequacy of the last census data, which could affect the accuracy of future district boundaries. Harris concludes by expressing hope for a pushback against such partisan practices and a move towards non-partisan redistricting.

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This week marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a pivotal moment in American history. On this somber day, we reflect on the nearly 3,000 lives lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on flight 93. Over the past quarter-century, America has undergone significant changes, including military engagements, enhanced intelligence and security frameworks, and a steadfast commitment to preventing another large-scale attack. Though the threat landscape has evolved, it persists. Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council, joins the discussion to provide insights into the current state of America's counterterrorism efforts. Dr. Gorka discusses the significant strides made under recent administrations, including the rescue of over 110 American captives and the elimination of numerous high-profile terrorists. The conversation also delves into the evolving nature of threats, highlighting the complex alliance between traditional terrorist groups and leftist extremists. Dr. Gorka emphasizes the importance of public awareness and understanding of these threats, advocating for continued vigilance and support for ongoing counterterrorism initiatives.

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Cal Thomas reflects on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, sharing his personal experiences and insights. Living near the Pentagon in Alexandria, Virginia, he vividly recalls the moment he realized America was under attack, witnessing the first plane hitting the New York tower and later seeing the smoke from the Pentagon. His son, a firefighter at the time, was involved in the rescue efforts, emphasizing the personal toll of that day. Thomas discusses how the attacks served as a wake-up call, leading to changes in security measures such as the establishment of Homeland Security and TSA. However, he argues that the nation has not fully grasped the gravity of the religious war at play. He criticizes the perception of Islam as solely peaceful and highlights the need to confront the intentions of Muslim extremists. Additionally, Thomas touches on political topics, including the Republican midterm convention, the potential for party unity, and the challenges of addressing the national debt and entitlement programs. He advocates for a shift in mindset towards personal responsibility and the role of government, emphasizing the need for practical solutions rather than empty promises.

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In this discussion, Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, critiques the Smithsonian's approach to American history. He argues that the institution has focused excessively on the nation's negative aspects, such as slavery and oppression, overshadowing its positive achievements. Gonzalez highlights the influence of Lonnie Bunch, the former head of the Smithsonian, who he believes has led the institution astray by embracing movements aiming to dismantle American heritage. Gonzalez sees hope in recent developments, such as the departure of Bunch and a pushback against what he calls "wokeness." He suggests that reclaiming American history in educational institutions and museums is crucial for preserving the nation's values and exceptionalism. The conversation emphasizes the importance of presenting a balanced view of history to maintain America's identity and global leadership.

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Larry Elder discusses the absurdity of contemporary societal beliefs and the challenges of engaging with those who hold opposing views. In a conversation with a caller from St. Paul, Minnesota, Elder reflects on personal anecdotes, including an encounter with two elderly Jewish women who voted for Gavin Newsom despite their concerns about the state's policies. He emphasizes the importance of dialogue and understanding across political divides, sharing a story of a pleasant interaction with strangers who had never spoken to a Republican before. Elder’s insights touch on the broader issue of societal divisions and the potential for meaningful conversations to bridge gaps.

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Larry Elder shares a powerful story about his father's life journey, emphasizing the importance of hard work and perseverance. His father, who faced significant racial barriers and was kicked out of home at 13, eventually became a staff sergeant in the Marines and later a successful businessman. Despite numerous obstacles, he accumulated substantial wealth and taught his family the value of effort and resilience. Elder passionately counters the notion that poverty is a personal failure, arguing that societal structures often fail individuals. He highlights the contrast between his own hardworking approach to politics and the perspectives of those who advocate against the "cult of hard work." This conversation underscores the significance of individual effort while also acknowledging systemic issues.

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CHICAGO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The secretary of the Smithsonian Institution announced on Tuesday that he was retiring after months of accusations from the Trump administration that the national museums he led portrayed a skewed and divisive version of the United States. Historian, curator and author Lonnie Bunch has led the Smithsonian as its secretary since 2019. Under President Donald Trump he has been seen as a diplomat navigating a difficult relationship with the administration as he leads the Smithsonian's 21 museums and galleries, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, and a number of research and education centers. “It is time for my next chapter, a chapter that will allow me to continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation,” Bunch said in a statement. He is expected to step down by the end of the year. Bunch, the Smithsonian's first Black leader, took the top role after developing and opening the Smithsonian's popular National Museum of African American History and Culture, which has been vilified by Trump and long targeted by conservatives. Bunch also held positions at the institution's National Museum of American History. The Trump administration had been steadily increasing pressure on Bunch and the Smithsonian in what critics fear is part of a broader campaign to tell America's story from a conservative and even white supremacist point of view. On July 4, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the White House posted on its website a report by its Domestic Policy Council that suggested "it would benefit most Americans, especially parents bringing their children for a tour, if the Smithsonian’s flagship history museum had a label at every entrance that reads: 'Warning: the exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don’t want you to love your country.'” Bunch sent a memo to his staff a few days after the report was released saying that "while there will always be room for improvement, this report is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History." Trump has written on Truth Social that the "Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future." The New York Times said on Tuesday that Bunch said in an interview that the pressure from the White House had not led to his departure. But he acknowledged the strain of the role. “And at a certain point, I’d like to wake up in the morning and not look at my cellphone,” he told the Times. Historian David Blight, head of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, described Bunch as an "indispensable voice in our collective defense of the historical crafts under attack from the Trump administration." "Lonnie has been a leader like no other in this fight and it is far from over," Blight said. John Dichtl, president and CEO of the American Association for State and Local History, said Bunch "knew when to fight and he knew when to give in and move on and survive to fight another day." In an essay marking the 250th anniversary in the Smithsonian Institution's flagship magazine, Bunch did not shy from stances that Trump has made controversial, including lauding the contributions to the nation made by immigrants and by those who arrived enslaved and their descendants. He said the latter two saw in the U.S. "the potential to eventually become the land of freedom." "An incomplete telling of our past, with rough edges smoothed, inhibits the country’s ability to forge a better shared future," Bunch wrote. Trump announced in May 2025 that he was firing Kim Sajet, the first woman to direct the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, accusing her of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. It was unclear whether Trump had the legal authority to fire her. Sajet resigned the next month. Trump signed an executive order in March directing Vice President JD Vance, who sits on the Smithsonian's board of regents, to remove "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution. The order singled out the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Conservatives have depicted museums with an ethnic lens as inherently divisive. Bunch said in a memoir about developing the African American history museum that his goal was a museum about African Americans that helped all Americans understand that they had a shared if fraught history and common hopes for a better future.

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The legal team for Lindsay Clancy appeals to former President Donald Trump to consider a pardon for their client. The discussion highlights Lindsay Clancy's repeated pleas for help and the circumstances surrounding her case. The lawyer emphasizes the challenges Clancy has faced and urges Trump to take these factors into account. The conversation also touches on the mistrial that occurred and the potential for a new trial with a different jury. For in-depth analysis and the latest updates, tune in to Salem News Channel.

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President Donald Trump is marking 25 years since the September 11th terror attacks with a message of American strength and remembrance.

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In this discussion, Mark Davis delves into the complexities surrounding the trial and subsequent mistrial of Lindsay Clancy. Marlow explores the public's reaction, the potential influence of postpartum psychosis, and the societal devaluation of life. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by the jury and the broader implications of such high-profile cases on public perception and justice. Marlow also examines the role of defense attorneys and the emotional toll this case has taken on all involved, particularly the victims' families. This thought-provoking analysis is part of the Salem News Channel's commitment to providing insightful and informative commentary.

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In this episode of Hugh Hewitt, Hugh Hewitt examines how the United States’ response to September 11 initially united the country but eventually deepened political divisions. He discusses changing attitudes toward the wars in Iraq and Iran, including among former supporters of military action. Through interviews and analysis, Hewitt explores how these shifts have shaped American politics and policy. The episode reflects on the lasting political impact of 9/11.

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President Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 9/11 hero Welles Crowther, the “Man in the Red Bandana.” The medal was accepted by his mother, Alison, and sister, Paige. Trump addressed the crowd by saying "we will never forget" about the September 11th attacks.

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