Upshot: Trump’s stairway to nowhere is back

August 24, 2026

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

The Case of the Disappearing, Reappearing White House Ballroom Stairs

Derided by architects as serving no purpose, a grand staircase was never approved by a planning commission but appears back in President Trump’s plans.

By Emily Badger and Junho Lee

The New York Times

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 22, 2026

Can you sort 8 historical events?

By Marina Wang

Consider subscribing to Science Times.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Some States Banned the Use of Food Stamps to Buy Soda. Did It Work?

A study shows a modest decline in soda purchases, but it’s not clear that the results will hold up in the long run.

By Ben Blatt

An illustration of heads of lettuce being processed in a facility.

Morgane Fadanelli

9 Vulnerable Moments in the Life of a Bagged Salad

During its journey from farm to table, there are many opportunities for harmful microbes to invade.

By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi and Kevin Draper

The New York Times

A.I. Is Everywhere in China. See For Yourself.

Take a walk with us through Beijing, where everyday A.I. can be useful, gimmicky, or unexpectedly funny.

By Agnes Chang, Vivian Wang, Jiwoong Hong, Aaron Byrd and Qilai Shen

POLLING AROUND THE NATION

President Trump’s Approval Rating: Latest Polls

Track the latest approval rating and polls on Americans’ approval of President Trump.

By Annie Daniel, Jon Huang, Ruth Igielnik, Jasmine C. Lee, Alex Lemonides, Jonah Smith, Caroline Soler, Albert Sun and Rumsey Taylor

Tracking Competitive Races in the House and Senate

Here are the places that are expected to decide the midterm elections, according to the most recent ratings by the Cook Political Report.

By Ashley Wu, Eric Rabinowitz and Shane Goldmacher

The New York Times

The Race for Congress: Latest 2026 Polls

Track the latest Congressional ballot surveys that ask who Americans plan to vote for in the 2026 midterm election.

Midterm Test

This question comes from a recent Times article. Click an answer to see if you’re right. (The link will be free.)

Democrats in this state think they have a shot at ending a nearly century-long drought in Senate races. As their nominee, they chose the pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation.

Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Send feedback to dear.upshot@nytimes.com.

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for The Upshot from The New York Times.

To stop receiving The Upshot, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your Email Privacy Policy Contact Us California Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018