U.S. Debt Tops $40T, mRNA Cancer Vaccine & Prince Harry Moving Back - Thursday, August 20, 2026

**Erica Mandy** (0:00)
Today is Thursday, August 20th. We'll tell you how the US national debt hit a record $40 trillion and what it could mean for everyday Americans. Also, what we know about President Trump's pick to lead the FDA and about a new melanoma vaccine that could be on the market as soon as next year. Plus, where temperatures have broken all-time records, why some US soldiers are being offered time off to play a video game, and how the NFL plans to expand overseas. Those stories and a lot more news to know next.
Welcome to The NewsWorthy, all the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here. Let's do this.
For the first time, America's national debt has topped $40 trillion.
It's been a long time coming since for decades, the debt has ballooned under both Republican and Democratic presidents. You may remember when President Trump first ran for the White House in 2016, he promised to eliminate the national debt within eight years. Well, since then, the debt has actually doubled. A lot of the increase happened during two years of frantic government borrowing for the COVID-19 response under both Trump and former President Biden. But the US has also been borrowing to pay for the rising costs of the military, social safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and President Trump's tax cuts. And this year alone, the US is on track to borrow more than 2 trillion more to help pay for its obligations. Budget watchdog groups have issued warnings about a full-blown debt crisis, making inflation worse and leaving the country vulnerable to emergencies. And they're urging lawmakers to confront the problem by raising taxes, cutting spending or both. Already, there are signs some foreign investors are becoming less interested in lending money to the US. For one, they're now demanding higher interest rates to buy long-term US government bonds. And already, interest payments cost the US about $1 trillion a year.
This can also push up interest rates on things regular Americans borrow money for, like mortgages, car loans and business loans. Still, President Trump once again called for lower interest rates yesterday. And when asked whether Americans should worry, Trump said no, that a strong economy and lower interest rates will help the country manage its debt.
There are new reports out about a covert US military effort to ease one of the biggest pains from the Iran War for Americans, higher oil prices. News outlets like the New York Times and Axios cite US officials who revealed details about an operation happening in the Strait of Hormuz. The US is apparently helping empty tankers safely enter the Gulf, pick up oil from countries in the region, and then get back out, despite Iran attacking any ship that crosses the Strait without its permission. American officials say the operation is helping keep millions of barrels of oil moving every day.
Meanwhile, President Trump is threatening to unleash what he's calling an economic D-Day against Iran and anyone else that does business with the Iranian regime. The president hasn't said exactly what new measures he plans to impose, but he says they'll make up the quote, most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country. Already this week, the United Arab Emirates announced it was suspending financial and economic transactions with Iran. But the Iranian government still does have economic ties to other Middle Eastern countries, and its largest trading partner is China.
Ultimately, Trump administration officials told news outlets that they hope the Iranians become economically desperate enough it could push them toward a breakthrough in talks. Stay tuned.
President Trump has chosen who he wants to lead, the FDA. He's nominating Dr. Heidi Overton. Right now, she's the deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, but she's also a medical doctor who trained at Johns Hopkins. And she's been closely involved in the Trump administration's health agenda. She's a strong opponent of abortion rights and has called for more controls over prescribing abortion pills. Overton also recently stood with Trump as he announced an order to cut down the number of vaccines recommended for children. But she could face a tough road to confirmation. Then even if she is confirmed, Overton is expected to face some big challenges. The agency has been without a permanent director for months. And over the last year, the agency has lost more than 3,000 employees, including division heads. The FDA is also under pressure to rebuild confidence among industry and public health groups. To be continued.
The Trump administration's push to change how teens learn about sex and pregnancy has hit a roadblock in court. This week, a federal judge blocked the administration from imposing new requirements on organizations that get federal teen pregnancy prevention grants. Earlier this summer, the White House ended funding for most programs that teach children and teenagers how to prevent pregnancy and STIs. And they issued new guidance requiring programs to teach abstinence, minimize contraception education, and include lessons on body literacy and fertility. But certain counties and Planned Parenthood affiliates sued, arguing those requirements conflicted with the program created by Congress. And the judge sided with them, saying the changes were not based on the evidence or analysis you would expect from a federal health program. The ruling now applies to several groups that receive these federal grants, including health departments, universities, and tribal organizations. The Trump administration could appeal the decision, but it hasn't said yet whether it will.