Russia’s New Push to Torment Kyiv, and a Whistle-Blower’s Warning on Mail-In Voting

September 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Russian forces have changed their aerial assault on Kyiv, sending jet-powered drones so fast that civilians no longer have time to hide. Over four days last week, Russia launched nearly 1,500 drones into Ukraine, including one that struck a weapons depot in the Kyiv suburbs, killing at least 37 people. The shift in tactics has fundamentally altered daily life in the capital, where residents now monitor live drone-tracking maps and have grown accustomed to the constant sound of explosions overhead, even as they walk their dogs or eat at outdoor restaurants. Shavan O'Grady, a Times reporter in Kyiv, noted that the attacks have become so relentless that the city feels paralyzed economically and low on morale. At a press conference, Vladimir Putin threatened that strikes on cities, energy infrastructure, and Black Sea ports could spark a financial crisis in Ukraine, compounding warnings from Ukrainian officials that they are running dangerously low on interceptors for ballistic missiles.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:30) **Russia’s New Tactic to Torment Kyiv** - Russia shifts from overnight drone waves to constant, fast-moving jet-powered drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
2 (02:46) **Whistleblower Warns of USPS “Catastrophic Failure” on Mail-In Voting** - A U.S.P.S. official alleges the agency is secretly pushing ahead with a blocked plan to exert federal control over mail-in voting.
3 (04:20) **Global Bond Market Volatility and Rising Yields** - Investors are selling off government bonds, pushing yields on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds to a two-decade high.
4 (06:29) **U.N. Report Declares Paris Agreement Goal a Failure** - A new U.N. report states the world has failed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
5 (07:50) **91-Year-Old Sets Record as Oldest to Hike the Appalachian Trail** - Dale Sanders, known as “Graybeard,” reclaims the record as the oldest person to complete the 2,000+ mile trail.
6 Standout Quotes
7 “So long as we fail to find political will, we will be marching past every target we put out there.” — Expert on the U.N. climate report (07:33)

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Show Notes

Plus, hiking 2,190 miles at age 91.

Here’s what we’re covering:

Russia Torments Kyiv With New Tactic of Nonstop Waves of Drones, by Siobhán O’Grady and Yurii Shyvala
Putin Pledges Increased Strikes in Ukraine and Support for Iran, by Paul Sonne
Whistle-Blower Says Trump Officials Are Defying Court Orders on Voting by Mail, by Chris Cameron
More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Cycle, and They’re Getting Tossed, by Adam Sella and Nick Corasaniti
Bond Sell-Off Threatens to Squeeze Borrowers Around the World, by Eshe Nelson
U.N. Says World Will Miss Its Climate Target, Warming Must Be Reversed, by Chico Harlan
At 91, He Just Reclaimed His Age Record on the Appalachian Trail, by Chris Cohen

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