Featured Stories
U.S. Helsinki Commission: Briefing - Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure - Winter, War, and Lessons for the U.S.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, issued the following news release:
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BRIEFING--Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure: Winter, War, and Lessons for the United States
September 28, 2026
Stream live here (https://youtube.com/live/pcZEiH5nZx0?feature=share)
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Ukrainians are expecting another difficult winter of Russian attacks on their energy infrastructure. Last year, Russian forces damaged or destroyed all of Ukraine's power plants. This summer, Russia has expanded attacks to include roadside
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, issued the following news release:
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BRIEFING--Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure: Winter, War, and Lessons for the United States
September 28, 2026
Stream live here (https://youtube.com/live/pcZEiH5nZx0?feature=share)
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Ukrainians are expecting another difficult winter of Russian attacks on their energy infrastructure. Last year, Russian forces damaged or destroyed all of Ukraine's power plants. This summer, Russia has expanded attacks to include roadsidegas stations. Central heating stations, natural gas production sites, power plants, electricity transmission lines, and transformers are all at risk. Ukraine enters this winter with significantly diminished air defense compared to last winter. Meanwhile, Russia has deployed a new generation of jet-powered drones that are harder to intercept than previous strike drones.
Ukrainians are responding by hardening their infrastructure and fielding defensive measures to protect energy assets. Their innovative approaches include lessons for the United States and allies who are now engaged in their own efforts to defend against attacks on critical infrastructure. Panelists will discuss Ukraine's vulnerabilities heading into the winter, examine new developments in how Ukraine is protecting its infrastructure, and discuss how the United States can assist and learn from Ukraine's efforts.
Panelists:
Meredith Berger, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations, and Environment)
Michael Kofman, senior fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Alex Riabchyn, Chief International and Sustainability Officer, Naftogaz Ukraine
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Original text here: https://www.csce.gov/press-releases/briefing-protecting-ukraine-s-energy-infrastructure-winter-war-and-lessons-for-the-united-states
State Dept. Readout: Secretary Rubio's Meeting With Lebanese Prime Minister Salam
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Salam
Readout
Office of the Spokesman
September 28, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam today in Washington, D.C.
The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' strong commitment to supporting Lebanon as it implements the Trilateral Framework, which represents the only path to a durable peace between Lebanon and Israel.
Secretary Rubio commended Prime Minister Salam's government for its efforts to extend
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Salam
Readout
Office of the Spokesman
September 28, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam today in Washington, D.C.
The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' strong commitment to supporting Lebanon as it implements the Trilateral Framework, which represents the only path to a durable peace between Lebanon and Israel.
Secretary Rubio commended Prime Minister Salam's government for its efforts to extendstate authority and reaffirmed United States support for a sovereign Lebanese state outside of the pernicious influence of Hizballah and Iran.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/secretary-rubios-meeting-with-lebanese-prime-minister-salam/
Secretary of State Rubio Issues Statement on Visa Restriction Policy to Resolve International Parental Child Abduction Cases
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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New Visa Restriction Policy to Promptly Resolve International Parental Child Abduction Cases
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
September 28, 2026
Protecting American children abducted across international borders and reuniting them with their parents is a top priority for the Trump Administration. When foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, law enforcement officials, and others intentionally obstruct the prompt resolution of these cases, they prolong family separations
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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New Visa Restriction Policy to Promptly Resolve International Parental Child Abduction Cases
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
September 28, 2026
Protecting American children abducted across international borders and reuniting them with their parents is a top priority for the Trump Administration. When foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, law enforcement officials, and others intentionally obstruct the prompt resolution of these cases, they prolong family separationsand block the return of children to the United States.
Today, I am announcing a new policy to restrict visa issuance to individuals responsible for, or complicit in, impeding the prompt resolution of international parental child abduction cases, as well as their immediate family members. This policy gives the Department a new accountability tool to press non-compliant countries to meet their obligations. The policy includes individuals who intentionally fail to implement or comply with laws, policies, or court orders to resolve these cases and return children to their country of habitual residence.
The Department proactively works to prevent abductions and facilitate the quick and safe and return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence. This policy will add another tool under U.S. law to promote accountability when countries fail to meet their obligations under international law. We are committed to protecting the safety and well-being of all American children.
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These actions are being taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/new-visa-restriction-policy-to-promptly-resolve-international-parental-child-abduction-cases/
Secretary of State Rubio Issues Statement on Turkmenistan Independence Day
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Turkmenistan Independence Day
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
September 27, 2026
On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of Turkmenistan as they celebrate 35 years of independence on September 27.
The United States recognizes Turkmenistan's sovereignty and applauds its commitment to peace and prosperity in Central Asia. The United States is working to expand cooperation with Turkmenistan on trade, investment, energy security, and transportation,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Turkmenistan Independence Day
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
September 27, 2026
On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of Turkmenistan as they celebrate 35 years of independence on September 27.
The United States recognizes Turkmenistan's sovereignty and applauds its commitment to peace and prosperity in Central Asia. The United States is working to expand cooperation with Turkmenistan on trade, investment, energy security, and transportation,including opportunities to strengthen and diversify regional energy supply routes. We appreciate Turkmenistan's leadership within the C5+1 on AI and digitization, as the United States and our Central Asian partners collaborate to advance regional security and economic cooperation.
As Turkmenistan celebrates this important anniversary, the United States looks forward to strengthening our economic partnership and working together to advance security and prosperity across Central Asia.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/turkmenistan-independence-day-2/
Secretary of State Rubio Discusses U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities in Exclusive Interview With Fox News' Sean Hannity
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio With Sean Hannity of Fox News
Interview
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.
September 28, 2026
QUESTION: Anyway, here with a lot more - these are important, critical times historically - Secretary of State Marco Rubio is with us. Sir, great to have you.
First, let's start with this terror --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thanks, Sean.
QUESTION: -- the terror suspects, U.S. air base out of the UK. These guys are out on bail, Mr. Secretary. And I want to get your
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release:
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio With Sean Hannity of Fox News
Interview
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.
September 28, 2026
QUESTION: Anyway, here with a lot more - these are important, critical times historically - Secretary of State Marco Rubio is with us. Sir, great to have you.
First, let's start with this terror --
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thanks, Sean.
QUESTION: -- the terror suspects, U.S. air base out of the UK. These guys are out on bail, Mr. Secretary. And I want to get yourinitial thoughts on what you're hearing, what you're seeing, and how grave a threat that is.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, let me preface by saying that I have to be careful. There's some things I cannot say on the air for a lot of different reasons. Suffice it to say that what happened, what almost happened, what could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It's one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor. I won't get into great detail about that yet. I do want to thank the authorities in the United Kingdom, who have been very cooperative, been on top of it. I know a lot of people are disturbed by the news that some of these people have been released on bail as - some of the people are being investigated, and obviously we're engaging with them on all of that.
But suffice it to say that beyond that, I would argue that they've been very cooperative and very helpful on something that's a very serious incident. And I think it ties us to the reality here, and that is we are dealing with elements in the world - and in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally. We're going to always take that very seriously; there will be repercussions for that if it ever were to happen or even attempted. And - but what happened this weekend could have been - and was, I think - a very serious threat. And I want to thank the UK for their cooperation and their help on it.
There's a lot more news that will come out on this in the days to come, but there's only so much I can say right now at this point about it other than this is a very serious thing and it was responded to appropriately.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, let me ask you about this - and this has been a concern of mine; I've expressed it many times publicly. And that is I see that Western European nations have gotten weak. They have not committed themselves to their own security as individual countries or to NATO or even their own continent. I see that they have adopted climate alarmism, they've adopted socialism, and maybe worst of all, unfettered illegal immigration without assimilation. I never thought, sir, in my lifetime I'd see as many as 100 Sharia courts in Great Britain. I never thought there'd be something called no-go zones throughout Europe, including in France. I never thought that would happen.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. Look, I mean, I think Europe faces some big challenges. I gave a speech about that earlier this year in Munich at the Security Conference. And so much of what we have in our country is a legacy of Europe, whether it's our traditions, our culture, even our democracy, and many of the things that underpin it come from there. So obviously we have a special place in our heart for Europe, and we have very strong alliances. And not every country in Europe is the same, by the way. There are countries in Europe that have been very forward-leaning on some of the things you just pointed to, and there are others that have not so much. And we've all seen the images, for example, of what's happening in Spain.
The truth is this: Whether it's in Europe or in the Western Hemisphere, the United States or whatever it may be, no country - no country in the world that's responsible, governed by responsible people - can allow their borders to just be open and allow anyone that wants to come in to flood in. You can't flood countries with migration. This is a country that was built on immigration. And immigration has to happen through an orderly process in which you get to decide who comes in, you know a lot about them, and you pick and choose how many people - who and how many people can come in every single year. This is proper migration, proper immigration.
What we have seen in the broader West and what we saw in the United States during the previous administration is an uncontrolled flood of people coming in. It's what - an analogy I've always used is: I'm not against rain; I'm against flooding. And that's what I would say about immigration and mass migration. Mass migration is terribly costly for any society. It's simply not sustainable over the long term. I think countries in Europe are learning that now. The United States learned that after four years under the Biden administration. And I think other countries in our own hemisphere are dealing with some of this as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you've been very articulate about the issue over Iran. Every single person that I've interviewed that would know - and there aren't many people that would actually know; you're one of the people that would know. And I'd ask everyone that did know, and they'd all give me the same answer or a version of the same answer, and that is that the President had no choice. The President did not have a choice when it came to Midnight Hammer or Epic Fury. And I ask you this - in light of this - is that if that is true and if everybody's worried about the Strait of Hormuz, what would the Strait of Hormuz look like, what would the Middle East be like if Iran ever achieved their stated goal of getting nuclear weapons?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so here's what - let me take - it's a very basic principle here. What Iran was trying to do is they were trying to build up so many conventional weapons, meaning they'd have so many drones, so many rockets, so many missiles, that nobody could possibly touch them. They would become immune. And behind that shield, behind that conventional shield of weaponry to threaten the entire region, our forces, even Europe, they would then break out towards a nuclear weapon. That was their goal. And what the President had to address is he could not allow them to cross the line of immunity. He could not allow them to reach a point where they had so many missiles, so many drones, and so many weapons that you couldn't do anything militarily about their nuclear program. That's what they were trying to achieve. That's what the President prevented. And he saved the world a tremendous amount of trouble.
Now, look, the only way we would have found out the opposite is to allow it to happen, and then five years from now everyone would be saying: I can't believe they allowed Iran, behind a conventional shield, to build and develop a nuclear weapons program, and now you have North Korea in the Middle East. That's what we were on the verge of. That's what the President has prevented. And that's what he has consistently said from the very beginning of this operation: Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. And that's what this whole endeavor has been about from the very beginning, and that's what he's focused on and continues to be focused on.
If Iran had a nuclear weapon - if Iran had a nuclear weapon - they could do whatever they want with the straits. Think about what we're doing right now, and I think you saw a few minutes ago you were playing videos of Scott Bessent commenting on it. The straits are opened. There is almost as much oil flowing through the straits now as before this conflict, with the exception of Iranian oil, which is not getting out. If Iran had a nuclear weapon with which it could threaten its neighbors and the world, no one would be able to do anything about the straits. They would be able to control the straits, charge a toll, and decide who got energy and who did not get energy on this planet.
That's what they would do if they had a nuclear weapon, and worse. We are talking about a regime that has slaughtered - slaughtered - tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of their own people throughout this so-called revolution. If that's what they're willing to do to their own people, imagine what they would do to Americans or others in the region or Israelis or anybody if they had a nuclear weapon. They have no regard for the lives of anyone else.
And my last point I want to make about it. Oftentimes people make the mistake of equating Iran to a country. It is a country, but the problem with Iran is not the country. The problem with Iran is the revolution, and that's what governs in that country. It's not the government officials you see with the suits on that go on Meet the Press and get this free pass on American media. That's not who we're talking about here. Who calls the shots in Iran are radical Shia clerics with an apocalyptic vision of the future. They believe that it is their religious calling to trigger about the last days of the world and the apocalypse.
I know this sounds - to a lot of people watching it, it sounds like something from a science - from a movie, but it is the reality. It is the stated purpose of their revolution. People like that can never possess a nuclear weapon, because they will use it to blackmail the world and to kill people. It is an unacceptable risk, and President Trump did what other American presidents said but never did, which is prevent Iran from getting one.
QUESTION: Let's go back to Scott Bessent's comments. He said their - the Iranians' ability to raise cash and their ability - or they'll have nothing left to trade in two weeks, while simultaneously the foreign minister of Iran is talking about drawing up a doomsday war scenario plan. And look, they peddle propaganda regularly, but are we that close to seeing the Iranians bankrupt? We know inflation is about 500 percent, half the adult workforce is out of work, and bare necessities are in very short supply. Are they really that close to being bankrupted?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. I mean, I think they are there now, and they're heading there fast to a cataclysm. And they've never been good economically. It's sad, by the way, because Iran is a country with tremendous potential. Its people are incredible people, hardworking people, smart, industrious, with an ancient history to fall back on, and have achieved many things. At one point, Iran was one of the most prosperous countries in the Middle East before the radical clerics took over, so it's a very sad situation. Their economy now is a cataclysm.
But here's the other point people don't realize. This is not simply about imposing economic costs on this regime. Every dollar that Iran has, what they have done over the last 30 years is anytime they get money - be it under Obama's sanction relief, be it under economic selling of oil and gas or whatever - they don't use that money to build hospitals; they don't use that money to build roads. They don't use that money to improve the life of the Iranian people. They use that money to do two things: build weapons for themselves and export the revolution. They use the money to fund Hizballah; they use the money to fund Hamas; they use the money to fund Shia militias in Iraq. That's what they use - they use the money to sponsor terrorism and assassination plots all over the world.
And so every penny that they get into their hands is money that they use for purposes of these malign activities. And so when you're denying them money through oil sales and sanctions, you're not just punishing them. You are preventing them from getting access to money that they will use to try and kill Americans and others around the world and their own people, and build weapons and threaten the world and ultimately break out to a nuclear weapon program.
QUESTION: Let me ask you about President Xi's visit. Look, I'm never going to - I'm never going to trust the communist Chinese. I don't think most Americans will trust them. Their intellectual property theft alone is a clear and present danger. I really worry about those people that would want us to unilaterally disarm when it comes to artificial intelligence, for example. The communist Chinese are not going to stop.
But I want to ask you this. Just prior to the visit, it was announced that the President - and I think people didn't even take him seriously when he was talking about Greenland, but he was able to secure a deal where we can build our military bases and maintain them in perpetuity, even if the island were ever sold off, and simultaneously keeping out our top geopolitical foes, being China and Russia. How did President Xi react to that news?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it didn't come up. We didn't discuss it in the meetings. It didn't come up. But I can tell you it's an extraordinary achievement by the President. He hasn't gotten nearly enough credit for it.
From the very beginning, going back to the first administration under President Trump, but now he's made abundantly clear that the issue of Greenland is not about territorial conquest; it is about national security. Now, Greenland has always been important. It was important during the Second World War, which is why the United States had to secure it during the Second World War to prevent Nazi Germany from taking it over and so forth. It's always played an important role during the Cold War.
It has a more important role today than ever before for two reasons. Number one is because the Arctic region has now become an area of incredible competition. Multiple countries, including countries that are not Arctic countries that call themselves near-Arctic countries like China, are out there operating every single day trying to dominate sea lanes, which are important for global shipping and commerce.
But the other is because of space warfare and because of missile defense. In order to build the sort of missile defense this country needs to protect itself, Greenland is incredibly important for all of North America. And so the fear was and the concern has always been - and we've seen this play out in other parts of the world - is that countries and potential adversaries go into a place and they use investments; they buy a port, they build a port, they build an airport, they build something that has a dual use to it. It looks like an airport, it looks like a seaport, but it's built in a way that looks like a military base. And they begin to access land rights and possession rights in these places, and all of a sudden you wake up one day and you realize that you have an adversary and a competitor that's taken control of the Panama Canal or taken control of some other critical part of the world. And so it's always been about national security.
And what we were able to reach is an agreement with both the Kingdom of Norway[i] but also Denmark that allows us now to have the presence that we need to secure it - Greenland - secure our national security and is good for them as well. Under this agreement which exists now in perpetuity, never will any adversary of the United States have the ability to invest there without our approval and their approval, but also we will have access to building new military facilities that will allow us to build the sort of missile defense shield that all of North America needs. It benefits North America, it benefits Europe, it benefits NATO. So it's an extremely - and it didn't cost the American taxpayer a single penny. An incredible achievement, and I think our allies are happy with it as well.
QUESTION: Before I go to Latin America and Cuba and Venezuela, let me ask you this question: Would we have the ability to get rare earth minerals, for example, that apparently Greenland might be very rich in?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Sure. We will do it in partnership with them. I mean, at the end, I mean, this is an allied country, this is an allied place. They now - now that this is behind us, I think we have the opportunity to make good investments there. We'd do it in partnership with them. It'll be beneficial for them.
That's not why we did it. I mean, the key to Greenland, as I said, is its geography is so critically important to our national security. That's what it's always been about. If there are commercial opportunities that are beneficial for us but also beneficial to Greenland, that's something we'll be able to explore.
What we don't have to worry about is some adversary taking control of that and using it for their own benefit as opposed to the benefit of our allies and ultimately of the United States as well.
QUESTION: Is Cuba about to fall, and can you update us on Venezuela?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the truth is Cuba has already fallen. It's not - it doesn't have a functional economy and it's governed by people who continue to preach about some revolution that has been dead for 20 years that's never worked. And that's the problem they have. The problem that Cuba has basically right now is that it is a failed state in every sense of the word. Now, they may have a government that's capable of jailing and killing people. They have a regime that's capable of and has jailed and killed people. But it's not a functional government and it's not a functional country. It just simply isn't.
And in addition to that, it's one that's fueled by corruption, graft, and theft. The Cuban economy - there is no Cuban economy that benefits the Cuban people. Anything that had a chance of making money in Cuba was controlled by the Cuban military and the Cuban Communist Party to line the pockets of a handful of individuals at the expense of the entire country. You know that since 2021 at least close to 20 percent of Cuba's population has left the country? Has left it because it's a failure, a complete failure.
So we are hopeful that Cuba will choose a different path. We are hopeful that the people that today sort of control the arms and the repressive regime, that there will be some people in there that open their eyes to the reality of what they're facing. What they're no longer going to do as long as Donald Trump is President is they're no longer going to be able to steal money and make money off the backs of the Cuban people. And what we're not going to allow ever under any circumstances as long as President Trump is President is we're never going to allow Cuba to become a base of operation against American interests or pose a threat to our national security. On that we are abundantly clear.
As in every case - you can ask about any country or any problem in the world, and I will tell you that the preference of our President is to solve these things diplomatically and in a way that you can reach an agreement and get Cuba or any country on a path to irreversible, positive change that involves economic freedoms but also involves political freedoms. In fact, you cannot have economic freedom in Cuba if you don't have political freedom first. You have to have both happening at least at the same time. That will require a period of transition. Unfortunately, the people that continue there to chant revolutionary slogans - too many of them - still believe that they could wait out this administration and make no changes or do nothing. They are wrong and they will learn the lesson the hard way if they don't correct.
QUESTION: And the partnership with Venezuela? We have about 30 seconds.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, in Venezuela two things are happening. One, their economy needs to continue to recover because the people of Venezuela have suffered so much. Understand we're talking about 25 or 30 years of corruption and graft. But the other thing that has to happen and we're really focused on is a democratic transition. They need to have free and fair elections in that country. We're working very hard with the 2015 National Assembly to put in place the conditions necessary to have free and fair elections as soon as possible, and then Venezuela will really be on the upswing it deserves to be on.
QUESTION: All right. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, we appreciate your time as always. Thank you, sir.
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Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-with-sean-hannity-of-fox-news-4/
National Gallery of Art: Souvenirs of the Gilded Age - French Landscapes From the Corcoran Collection
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection
September 28, 2026
National Gallery of Art, Washington, March 13, 2027-January 17, 2028
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection presents 19th-century French landscape paintings from the collection of industrialist William A. Clark (1839-1925), one of Montana's famed "Copper Kings" and an ambitious art collector at the turn of the last century. Although Clark collected a wide range of artists
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection
September 28, 2026
National Gallery of Art, Washington, March 13, 2027-January 17, 2028
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection presents 19th-century French landscape paintings from the collection of industrialist William A. Clark (1839-1925), one of Montana's famed "Copper Kings" and an ambitious art collector at the turn of the last century. Although Clark collected a wide range of artistsand media, French landscape paintings like those on view in this exhibition formed a significant part of Clark's collection. This intimately scaled presentation features some 20 paintings by the most celebrated French landscape artists of his day.
Before impressionism came to dominate the collecting tastes of many Americans in the late 19th century, enthusiasm for "modern" French art centered on an earlier generation of landscape painters who captured the natural beauty of the French countryside. For American viewers, their works often evoked memories of European travels and unspoiled vistas. Souvenirs of the Gilded Age features landscapes by artists including Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and other painters associated with the forests of Fontainebleau, among them Jules Breton, Jean-Charles Cazin, Leon Augustin Lhermitte, Theodore Rousseau, Constant Troyon, and Narcisse Virgile Diaz de la Pena.
William A. Clark had a strong affinity for France, where he visited annually and was a member of French cultural organizations. He acquired not only major works by William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Jean-Leon Gerome--painters whose refined academic style appealed to Gilded Age tastes--but also important examples of tapestry, porcelain, and furniture in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI. He also built a trove of thousands of rare volumes, manuscripts, and early printed books, some bound and illuminated with exquisite craftsmanship. Clark's appreciation for Barbizon school and academic painting reflected the aspirations of America's new industrial elite, and his contributions helped shape the foundations of art institutions and library culture in the United States.
Upon Clark's death in 1925, much of his collection--most notably his library and holdings of fine art--was bequeathed to the Library of Congress and to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the first art museum in Washington, DC. The National Gallery subsequently acquired a selection of Clark's French paintings as part of the Corcoran acquisition in 2014, significantly expanding the museum's collection of 19th-century French art.
Exhibition Organization and Support
Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Exhibition Curator
This exhibition is curated by Mary Morton, curator and head of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/souvenirs-gilded-age-french-landscapes-corcoran-collection
Economics Daily: Employer Costs for Employee Compensation in San Jose Area Averaged $75.12 in March 2026
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily:
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Employer costs for employee compensation in San Jose area averaged $75.12 in March 2026
September 28, 2026
Of the 15 largest areas, San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California, had among the highest average compensation costs for private industry workers in March 2026 at $75.12 per hour worked. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had among the lowest average compensation costs at $37.84 per hour.
In the San Jose area, wages and salaries accounted
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily:
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Employer costs for employee compensation in San Jose area averaged $75.12 in March 2026
September 28, 2026
Of the 15 largest areas, San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California, had among the highest average compensation costs for private industry workers in March 2026 at $75.12 per hour worked. Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had among the lowest average compensation costs at $37.84 per hour.
In the San Jose area, wages and salaries accountedfor $50.83 or 67.7 percent of the hourly total, while the remaining $24.29 (32.3 percent) reflected employer costs for benefits.
For the Miami area, wages and salaries accounted for $27.71 or 73.2 percent of the hourly total, while the remaining $10.13 (26.8 percent) reflected employer costs for benefits.
These data are from the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Employer Costs for Employee Compensation -- March 2026" and "Metropolitan Area Estimates: the cost of compensation in American cities." We also have more charts on employer costs for employee compensation.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employer costs for employee compensation in San Jose area averaged $75.12 in March 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/employer-costs-for-employee-compensation-in-san-jose-area-averaged-75-12-in-march-2026.htm (visited September 29, 2026).
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/employer-costs-for-employee-compensation-in-san-jose-area-averaged-75-12-in-march-2026.htm
