U.S. Marines injured in Iran attack and Taylor Swift sets VMAs record: Morning Rundown

U.S. Marines were injured in an Iranian attack that the Pentagon did not disclose. Right-wing conservatives push to drop the D.C. pipe bomb case. And the star quarterback who’s losing his luster. Here’s what to know today. U.S. Marines injured in recent Iranian attack undisclosed by Pentagon Eight U.S. Marines were injured two weeks ago when an Iranian cruise missile attacked the ship they were operating on in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. None were seriously injured, but they sustained smoke inhalation and possibly traumatic brain injuries, as they had symptoms of concussions, such as headaches, the officials said. The Marines returned to duty soon after the Sept. 14 incident, according to the officials. The Defense Department did not disclose any attacks that occurred on that day. Since the Iran war began, there has been increasing confusion over the number of troops who have been injured and killed, unlike in many other overseas conflicts when data is reported routinely. Recently, the Pentagon abruptly lowered the number of dead over the summer after it reclassified how some troops had been killed. Read more of our exclusive reporting here. Right-wing conservatives push to shut down last active Jan. 6 prosecution The Justice Department is pressing forward with its case against Brian Cole Jr., the man accused of planting pipe bombs at the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties in 2021. It’s the last active federal prosecution still tied to the Jan. 6 attack, and some MAGA supporters want to shut it down. Prominent right-wing conservatives have tried to undermine the case by spreading discredited theories about who was to blame, including citing “deep state” actors and accusing the Trump administration of framing Cole. Rep. Thomas Massie recently posted a photo of officials — including Jeanine Pirro and Kash Patel — at the news conference announcing Cole’s arrest and said they were “complicit” in a conspiracy. Here’s what others have said. Recapping the MTV VMAs At the MTV Video Music Awards last night, host Snoop Dogg promised viewers “the biggest party the VMAs has ever seen.” Here are some of the night’s top moments: 🪩 Madonna returned for the first time in 23 years to open the show, with help from Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. 🥇Taylor Swift surpassed Beyoncé to become the most-awarded artist in VMAs history when she brought her Moon Person statue total to 32. ❤️ Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves paid homage to Dolly Parton with a rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” 🎸 Surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear reunited to accept the Video Vanguard Award. Read more about the evening. Drake Maye no longer looks like an AFC champion New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t throw his sixth interception of the 2025 season until Week 12. In 2026, it’s taken only 12 quarters. The defending AFC champions were trampled in a 35-6 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. And Maye, who at one point looked primed to give New England another decade of great play, continued a troubling trend: He kept giving away the ball. Maye had three turnovers in the game, a far cry from his performance last season, when he committed only 11 turnovers in total. “Can’t get out of my own way,” he said after the loss. Here’s what it means for the team going forward. More from NFL Sunday: The first NFL game in Rio de Janeiro, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens, ended with two epic field goals. The Seattle Seahawks lost their franchise-record winning streak in a 33-31 defeat to the Washington Commanders. Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga led the Denver Broncos past the Los Angeles Rams 30-26. Staff Pick: South Africa confronts gender-based violence crisis South African women have suffered a gender-based violence crisis for decades, but that was sharply brought into focus this summer after nine women were murdered in the same area of Johannesburg in a span of just a few months. For this story, I was especially keen to speak with local women on how these murders had impacted their daily lives, and what it’s like to live in fear of carrying out everyday activities that should always be safe. Some of the victims went missing on their routine jogs, others just went about their work. I’ve covered Southern and East Africa for a few years now as a freelancer, and the journalists I’ve met in Johannesburg were immensely generous, helping to put me in touch with victims’ family members, local residents and experts, including women who run shelters that care for victims. Those voices helped elevate the story beyond the devastating statistics that underline the crisis in South Africa. Women are killed at a rate of 12.3 per 100,000 people — nearly six times the global rate, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. — Freddie Clayton, freelance journalist Read All About It Hawaiians have storm fatigue, a local mayor said, as the third hurricane to approach the islands in recent weeks continues to spin offshore. A 27-year-old BASE jumper died after his wingsuit failed when he launched from a 700-foot perch in Utah, authorities said. British police arrested several men on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses yesterday and evacuated homes near a British base that had been used by the U.S. Air Force to facilitate strikes on Iran. Benjamin Satterley, the hard-hitting and high-flying professional wrestler known to fans worldwide simply as Pac, died at 40. NBC Selected: Online Shopping, Simplified Fall has officially arrived, and with the cooler air (in most states) comes a fresh round of seasonal chores. Outdoor furniture gets covered up, sweaters come out of storage, and your window air conditioner needs to come out of the window. If that last task isn’t on your list, it should be. Here’s how to do it properly, according to experts. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Kayla Hayempour. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.