By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Fat Bear Week has a new winner. Backpack seems like a worthy champion, even though he’s a nepo baby. Let’s get to the news.

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	Jack Smith defended his derailed efforts to prosecute President Donald Trump.

• At a congressional hearing: The former special counsel clashed with senators, saying he stood by his decision to charge Trump in two felony indictments before the 2024 election.

• One exchange went viral: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) accused Smith of lying after he denied going to an Atlanta Hawks game in 2024. It seems Schmitt mixed up two teams.

An Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after an onboard altercation.

• This morning: A jet carrying 180 passengers to Tel Aviv from Dubai issued a hijacking distress signal. The plane nose-dived 18,000 feet over Saudi Arabia, flight data showed.

• According to reports in Israel: The brawling parties were the pilots. In interviews, passengers described a struggle in the cockpit and said people’s clothes were bloodied.

The Kennedy Center’s finances have collapsed under Trump’s leadership.

• Nineteen months ago: Trump took over the D.C. institution, saying it was in a dire financial situation, but things are now worse. To explain why, we examined 15 years of records.

• This week: Lawmakers tried to pass a bill aiming to ban the demolition of presidential memorials, including the Kennedy Center. The effort was blocked by one Republican senator.

Trump urged the public to trust the AI industry to police itself.

• At a White House event yesterday: Trump stood with the world’s most powerful tech leaders and said they signed an agreement to develop AI safely. Trump also launched a chatbot.

• The dangers of AI: Some experts warn the tech could destroy humanity. It is also disrupting the jobs market. Some workers are going back to school to AI-proof their careers.

• Is your job threatened by AI? Look it up here.

House members’ expenses have surged under a program that doesn’t require receipts.

• Last year: House lawmakers spent $6.7 million of taxpayer money on meals and lodging, a 21% increase over 2024, a Post analysis found. See who spent the most here.

• What caused the surge? Without receipts, it’s hard to know. It could be rising housing costs, more members using the program or potential abuse of the system.

The era of male birth control may finally be nearing.

• For almost 50 years: Indian doctor Sujoy Guha has worked to perfect a male contraceptive. Now, his idea is gaining momentum and could revolutionize how birth control is practiced.

• How does it work? Guha says an injectable hydrogel can block the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. Companies in the U.S. are working on their own versions.

We tried the infamous $60 rye bread lighting up the internet.

• This month: Rye, a buzzy new bakery, opened in New York City. It sells a namesake loaf that has had rave reviews, but haters have been quick to point out it is very, very expensive.

• Is it worth the price? Food critic Elazar Sontag shared his thoughts here. He found the loaf delicious, arguing it represents everything that’s right and wrong with New York.