---
title: "The Briefing: 9.10.2026"
description: "The Briefing ☀️ Happy Thursday! The Briefing is your guide to the world of news and information. Sign up here! In today’s email: 🔥 Featured story This week marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Even a quarter century later, the vast majority of Americans who were age 10 or […]"
date: "2026-09-10"
authors:
  - name: "Emily Tomasik"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/the-briefing/the-briefing-9-10-2026/"
---

# The Briefing: 9.10.2026

September 10, 2026

## The Briefing

---

**☀️ Happy Thursday!** *The Briefing is your guide to the world of news and information. [**Sign up here!**](https://www.pewresearch.org/sign-up-for-the-briefing/)*

**In today's email:**

- **Featured story:** 25 years after 9/11, most Americans still remember where they were when they heard the news

- **In other news:** Pentagon used polygraphs to investigate leaks to journalists

- **Looking ahead:** Can AI help identify false narratives on social media?

- **Chart of the week:** Most Americans say it’s important to stay informed on key issues, but fewer feel highly informed themselves

### 🔥 **Featured story**

This week marks the **25th anniversary** of the terrorist attacks on **Sept. 11, 2001.**

Even a quarter century later, **the vast majority of Americans** who were age 10 or older at the time (93%) say they **remember exactly where they were or what they were doing the moment they heard the news** about the attacks, according to a [recent Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/03/9-11-memories-remain-vivid-in-the-us-25-years-later/).

In 2016, about three-quarters of U.S. adults (76%) named 9/11 as one of the [top 10 historic events](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2016/12/15/americans-name-the-10-most-significant-historic-events-of-their-lifetimes/) that occurred in their lifetime that had the greatest impact on the country – a far higher share than named any other event.

### 📌 **In other news**

- **Pentagon** [gave polygraph tests](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/top-military-officials-polygraphs-leaks-pentagon-weapons-hegseth-trump/) to top military officials over **leaks to journalists**

- **China’s restricted reporting** in Tibet [raises questions in flooding aftermath](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/07/nx-s1-5960357/nepal-floods-questions-over-chinas-reporting)

- [Tensions rise](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/08/media/peter-navarro-maria-bartiromo-fox-news-trump) between **White House** and **Fox News** after **Maria Bartiromo** ouster

- [Reflecting on the media’s role](https://www.wbur.org/upnext/2026/09/09/lindsay-clancy-trial-reflection) in the **Lindsay Clancy trial**

- **Gloria Steinem,** who died last week at 92, [left an impact on the media](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/business/media/gloria-steinem-ms-magazine.html) through **Ms. magazine**

- **60 Minutes** [prepares for return](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/business/media/60-minutes-nick-bilton-bari-weiss.html?unlocked_article_code=1._lA.tKLq.9xeXxGYZJNrI&smid=url-share) after summer of big changes

- **AP** [says it will not change style](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/09/09/ap-says-it-will-refer-lake-ontario-by-its-original-name-despite-trumps-order/) from **Lake Ontario** to **Lake America**

- **NOTUS** [relaunches as The Washington Sun](https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/journalism/washington-sun-launch-staff-washington-post-veterans/) with many former **Washington Post** staff

- **Australian** [lawmakers propose bill](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-08/labour-s-social-media-algorithm-choice-duty-of-care-bill/107130100) that would require social media platforms to **let users turn off algorithms**

- **Jimmy Kimmel's** interview with **James Talarico** [won't air on ABC](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-live-james-talarico-youtube-fcc-1236856911/) due to **FCC** concerns

### 📅 **Looking ahead**

An [emerging tool](https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/09/two-years-ago-meta-killed-crowdtangle-can-a-new-ai-tool-fill-the-void/) known as **Arbiter** seeks to **use artificial intelligence to analyze social media trends and help journalists identify false or misleading narratives.** The nonprofit behind the tool is independent from social media companies and has begun to partner with news organizations around the world.

Although trust in information from news organizations has [declined in recent years](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/29/how-americans-trust-in-information-from-news-organizations-and-social-media-sites-has-changed-over-time/), Americans have consistently expressed even **lower levels of trust in information from social media sites.** In 2025, 37% of U.S. adults said they had at least some trust in the information they get from social media.

In a [2024 Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/06/12/how-americans-get-news-on-tiktok-x-facebook-and-instagram/), we found that most people who get news on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok said they at least sometimes see news on these sites that seems inaccurate. [Another 2024 survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/07/many-americans-find-value-in-getting-news-on-social-media-but-concerns-about-inaccuracy-have-risen/) asked people who get news from social media what they dislike the most about it. A lack of accuracy was the most common answer by far.

### 📊 **Chart of the week**

Americans overwhelmingly say it’s **crucial for people to stay informed** on various topics, according to a [March survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/06/05/americans-say-keeping-up-with-key-news-topics-is-crucial-but-fewer-say-theyre-highly-informed-themselves/). But **far fewer say they’re highly informed** about these topics themselves.

For example, large majorities of U.S. adults say it is extremely or very important for individual Americans to stay informed about the healthcare system (82%), immigration and citizenship policies (76%), and economic and tax policies (75%). But well below half say they are extremely or very informed about these topics.

### Most Americans say it’s important to stay informed on key issues, but fewer feel highly informed themselves

*% of U.S. adults who say …*

|  | They are extremely or very informed about ... | It is extremely or very important for individual Americans to stay informed about ... |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The healthcare system | 34 | 82 |
| Voting and election processes | 50 | 82 |
| What the president can and cannot do | 36 | 80 |
| Immigration and citizenship policies | 39 | 76 |
| Economic and tax policies | 24 | 75 |
| Social Security | 31 | 72 |
| U.S. foreign policy | 23 | 71 |
| Gun regulation | 33 | 69 |
| Childhood vaccine policies | 31 | 69 |
| Federal regulation of technology and media companies | 15 | 52 |
| Marijuana regulation | 23 | 31 |

Note: Other responses for the question on how informed people are about each topic include “Somewhat informed,” “Not too informed” and “Not at all informed.” Other responses for the question on how important people think it is for individual Americans to stay informed about each topic include “Somewhat important,” “Not too important” and “Not at all important.”

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted March 6-9, 2026.

*👋 That's all for this week.*

The Briefing is compiled by Pew Research Center staff, including Naomi Forman-Katz, Christopher St. Aubin, Emily Tomasik, Joanne Haner, and Sawyer Reed. It is edited by Michael Lipka and copy edited by David Kent.

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