Why Trump can't stop renaming things after himself

Plus: Is your step count too low? Try this  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Olivia-Anne Cleary | September 10, 2026     Hello, readers. In news that made me smile, the Girl Scouts are launching their first cookies for dogs in the new year. A Stateside treat for man’s best friend—and they are fully deserving, if you ask me! Elsewhere, in today’s edition of The Brief, we’re looking at Trump’s habit of renaming things and building monuments to himself—and his reasoning behind it. Also, if you don’t know where to start when it comes to recycling, we’ve got you covered on the dos and don’ts. (Because, let’s face it, we could all do a little better in that department.) Lastly, we’re taking a peek at the tech news that’s got everybody buzzing. IN TODAY’S BRIEF A financial pledge Recycling doesn’t have to be a headache Are your boots made for walking? Trump’s big renaming spree $100 oil surge A phone that folds like a book         READ THIS FIRST Trump promises $5,000 dividend if Republicans win House and Senate Tasos Katopodis—Getty Images President Donald Trump promised a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the coming midterm elections. Trump made the promise of a so-called “Trump dividend” at the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday night. He said the money would have to be spent in the U.S., although he did not offer details on how that restriction would be enforced. The President previously floated the idea of sending $2,000 tariff dividends to Americans. The Democratic National Committee said Trump and Republicans have repeatedly promised rebate checks that never materialized. Trump’s pledge comes at a low point for his popularity in his second term. His approval rating fell from 47% at the beginning of the term to 33% in mid-August, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. —Miranda Jeyaretnam         NEED TO KNOW Everyday recycling mistakes you're making—and what you should do instead Curtoicurto—Getty Images Public confidence and trust in recycling systems is on the decline. While 87% of Americans say recycling is important, only about 32% of household waste is recycled or composted, according to 2025 data. More Americans believe that recycling feels harder today than it did four years ago. Although what is recyclable varies greatly depending on where you live, there’s typically a simple rule you can follow, experts say. “Think about your bottles, cans, and containers that are in your laundry, kitchen, and bathrooms… and paper and cardboard,” says Cody Marshall, chief programs officer at The Recycling Partnership, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a better recycling system. “Those are things that are recyclable.” Avoid recycling things like plastic bags, which can jam machinery, and batteries, and refrain from bagging your recycling in trash bags. Also refrain from what experts call “wish-cycling,” the practice of putting something in the recycling bin and hoping it's recyclable. —Simmone Shah         THE CONTEXT Is your step count too low? Try walking faster Olena Ruban—Getty Images You don’t need to take 10,000 steps a day to improve your health. Studies have shown that much smaller step counts can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Now, researchers have found that the intensity of your walk matters just as much, and that walking quickly—even for brief periods—lowers a person’s risk of death about as much as walking more slowly for a longer period of time.  Their results, published September 8 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggest that for people looking to improve their health without walking more, walking faster is a good option. But how can you tell if you’re walking fast enough? “If you go with someone and try to keep up a conversation, keeping up that conversation is not easy,” says Borja del Pozo Cruz, an author of the study. “Or, if you are by yourself and you are walking, if you try to sing a song, and you find that difficult, that means you are probably looking at 90-100 steps per minute, which is where we see the peak benefits.” —Veronique Greenwood         SPONSORED Factor is America's #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service. Chef-Crafted, Dietitian-Designed Meals Ready in 2 Minutes. Get 50% off your first Factor box. Try Factor Now         IN FOCUS Trump can’t stop renaming things after himself or America Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images President Donald Trump irked lawmakers on both sides of Lake Ontario when he signed an Executive Order in late August renaming it “Lake America.” Similar to Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico last year, the order applies to U.S. federal references of the lake and does not determine how Canada, or others, refer to the body of water. On Sept. 2, Trump turned his attention to a waterway in the Middle East, suggesting the Strait of Hormuz be renamed “Trump Strait.” The maritime chokepoint is at the center of the renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, making Trump’s floating of a new name even more politically charged. Trump turned his sights to the state of New Mexico earlier this week, sharing several maps that referred to it as “New America,” instead. The President admittedly appears to be on a renaming spree, but for those who have been paying attention, this is not a new trend. Trump has made extensive efforts to add his name and likeness to buildings across Washington, D.C. and beyond. In December, the State Department added Trump’s name to the U.S. Institute of Peace to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation's history.” That same month, Trump’s name was added to the Kennedy Center, sparking a lengthy legal battle. His name was removed from the building’s facade in June after a court order, but the center’s board voted in August to reinstate it. Beyond attempted name changes, those frequenting D.C. will by now most likely be used to seeing Trump’s likeness displayed on federal buildings. At its headquarters earlier this year, the Department of Justice unveiled a giant banner bearing the President’s face. Some of Trump’s desired changes will have far more permanence than a banner. He’s hoping to break ground in the coming weeks on his proposed “Triumphal Arch,” a 250-ft structure that has been labeled a “vanity project” by Democrats. In an interview with New York Magazine last week, Trump agreed with the assertion put forth by a Democratic Senator, who said the President is building monuments to himself as no one else will. “That’s true,” Trump said. “Nobody will do it once I’m gone. When I leave here, nobody will.” —Olivia-Anne Cleary         ONE NUMBER $100 Oil prices soared above $100 a barrel again Wednesday for the first time since July as the U.S. and Iran exchanged tit-for-tat strikes amid renewed hostilities. SOURCE: TIME         A VIRAL MOMENT The first folding iPhone Apple joined the foldable phone race on Wednesday with the unveiling of its new iPhone Duo. It’s the thinnest iPhone ever, according to the company.         SPONSORED Your K-Cups Sat in a Warehouse for Months Grocery store pods spend months going factory → warehouse → truck → shelf, losing the flavor oils that make coffee taste like coffee. Angelino's roasts, packs, and ships within days — 50+ flavors, compatible with Keurig®, from 39¢ a cup. New customers save 15%, no code needed. Try Fresh-Roasted Pods       Linked In this addictive word-association game, find the steps that will unite two seemingly unrelated words in just four moves. PLAY NOW       ALSO WORTH YOUR TIME IDEAS 9/11 and the Substitute Mother ENTERTAINMENT  How Two Citizen Sleuths Spent Decades Trying to Solve the Double Homicide of A Killer Story     EMAIL US: thebrief@time.com More Newsletters from Click to sign up. D.C. BRIEF +FUTURE PROOF +HEALTH MATTERS +INSIDE TIME +IN THE LOOP +WORTH YOUR TIME + Connect with TIME   PRIVACY POLICY     © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved. 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