The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 to address high inflation. This quarter-point increase brings the rate to about 3.9% and could lead to higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. The move comes just seven weeks before the midterm elections, where affordability is a key issue. Meanwhile, the U.S. House has voted again to end the war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution that would halt President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action without congressional approval. No such resolution has reached Trump for an almost certain veto. A Trump-aligned board has decided to close the Kennedy Center after a federal judge again blocked Trump’s name from appearing on the iconic performing arts venue.