12 to KNOW

SOURCES (ready to paste into show notes):   Eide Bailly — What You Need to Know About New Accounting Standards – 2026 Accounting Standards Updates Issued and Applicable Now    https://www.eidebailly.com/insights/alerts/2026/2026-accounting-standards-updates   Thomson Reuters Checkpoint — Big Four firms show significant improvement in PCAOB audit inspection results for 2025    https://tax.thomsonre...

SOURCES (ready to paste into show notes):   ABC News — Woman arrested for allegedly plotting New York state Capitol attack    https://abcnews.com/US/new-york-state-capitol-attack-thwarted-fbi/story?id=135812339   CNN — Woman charged in ISIS-inspired terror plot to detonate explosive device at New York State Capitol    https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/us/new-york-state-capitol-bomb-threat   NBC News...

SOURCES:   Variety — Taylor Swift Named to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Becoming Its Youngest Inductee Ever    https://variety.com/2026/music/news/taylor-swift-inductee-nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame-1236832080/   Billboard — Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Aug. 1, 2026    https://www.billboard.com/video/billboard-hot-100-top-10-countdown-august-1-2026/   E! Online — Taylor S...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Journal of Accountancy — A new top 5 firm: Grant Thornton acquiring fellow top 10 firm CBIZ    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/jul/a-new-top-5-firm-grant-thor...

SOURCES:   CNBC — U.S. government debt passes $40 trillion, more than doubling in a decade    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/19/us-government-debt-passes-40-trillion-mark-for-the-first-time.html   NPR — The U.S. debt tops a record-shattering $40 trillion. Yes, with a T    https://www.npr.org/2026/08/19/nx-s1-5937552/the-u-s-debt-tops-a-record-shattering-40-trillion-yes-with-a-t   Bloomberg — US Set...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Thomson Reuters — Big Four firms show significant improvement in PCAOB audit inspection results for 2025    https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/big-four-firms-show-significa...

SOURCES:   NPR — Here are Alaska's 2026 primary election results    https://www.whro.org/2026-08-18/here-are-alaskas-2026-primary-election-results   270toWin — 2026 Alaska Primary Live Results    https://www.270towin.com/2026-election-results-live/state/alaska/primary/   CNN — Trump threatens to bomb Oman with Iran war stuck in stalemate    https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-deal...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Capterra — Accounting trends 2026: AI Tools are Shifting Expectations and Skills    https://www.capterra.com/resources/accounting-trends-ai-software-changing-work/   Thomson...

SOURCES:   NPR — Multiple people dead as flooding continues in Indiana    https://www.npr.org/2026/08/16/nx-s1-5934670/indiana-flooding-deaths   NBC News — At least 7 dead from days of heavy rain and record-setting flooding in Indiana    https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/floods/indiana-floods-death-toll-rcna592799   CBS News — FDA upgrades egg recall linked to salmonella to highest health risk level...

SOURCES:   Rolling Stone — Taylor Swift to Be Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-nashville-songwriters-hall-of-fame-1235606729/   Billboard — Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Aug. 1, 2026    https://www.billboard.com/video/billboard-hot-100-top-10-countdown-august-1-2026/   Billboard — Gracie Abrams: How Boyfriend Pa...

SOURCES:   SEC.gov — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Journal of Accountancy — A new top 5 firm: Grant Thornton acquiring fellow top 10 firm CBIZ    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/jul/a-new-top-5-firm-grant-...

SOURCES:   ABC News — Mangione plea discussion expected in federal case Friday    https://abcnews.com/US/luigi-mangione-plea-discussion-expected-friday-federal-case/story?id=135578074   CBS News — Luigi Mangione in discussions about possible guilty plea in federal case    https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/luigi-mangione-possible-federal-plea-deal/   NPR — Kennedy Center Board votes again to shu...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Journal of Accountancy — A new top 5 firm: Grant Thornton acquiring fellow top 10 firm CBIZ    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/jul/a-new-top-5-firm-grant-thor...

SOURCES:   CNN — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaving role, Trump announces    https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/12/politics/karoline-leavitt-leaving-white-house   NBC News — Karoline Leavitt to step down as White House press secretary at end of month    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-step-down-end-of-august-rcna592223   CBS News — U.S. char...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Karbon — The State of AI in Accounting Report 2026 by Karbon    https://karbonhq.com/resources/ebooks/state-of-ai-accounting-report-2026/   Texas State Board of Public Accou...

SOURCES:   NASA Science — Total Solar Eclipse on August 12, 2026    https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/total-solar-eclipse-on-august-12-2026/   BBC Sky at Night Magazine — August 12, 2026 solar eclipse – USA and Canada guide    https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/august-12-2026-solar-eclipse-north-america   NBC News — More than 160 people killed in Colombia's strongest earth...

SOURCES:   Securities and Exchange Commission — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Journal of Accountancy — A new top 5 firm: Grant Thornton acquiring fellow top 10 firm CBIZ    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/...

SOURCES:   NBC News — Trump signs executive order on vaccines with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-congress-2026-elections-iran-live-updates-rcna591658   NPR — Morning news brief    https://www.wkyufm.org/news/2026-08-11/morning-news-brief   WORLD Radio — Tuesday morning news: August 11, 2026    https://wng.org/podcasts/tuesday-morning...

SOURCES:   SEC.gov — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting — The impact of AI on the tax and accounting profession    https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/the-impact-of-ai-on-the-tax-and-accou...

SOURCES:   NPR — Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general    https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/g-s1-137631/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general   NBC News — Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general after weeks of uncertainty    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-attorney-general-weeks-uncertainty-rcna591457   ABC News — Ap...

SOURCES:   SEC.gov — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Accounting Today — Kentucky passes CPA pathway bill    https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/kentucky-passes-cpa-pathway-bill   Thomson Reuters — The impact of AI on the...

SOURCES:   NBC News — FDA approves 1st mRNA flu shot, from Moderna    https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-approves-1st-mrna-flu-shot-moderna-rcna590599   NPR — FDA approves Moderna flu shot made with mRNA    https://www.npr.org/2026/08/06/nx-s1-5923342/moderna-mrna-flu-vaccine   NPR — Cyberattacks hit water systems in at least seven states    https://www.npr.org/sections/news/   PBS New...

SOURCES:   SEC.gov — SEC Establishes Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit in Enforcement Division    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-72-sec-establishes-financial-reporting-accounting-unit-enforcement-division   Accounting Today — A big year for AI in accounting    https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/a-big-year-for-ai-in-accounting   Accounting Today — Kentucky passes CPA pathw...

SOURCES:   WORLD Radio — Thursday morning news: August 6, 2026    https://wng.org/podcasts/thursday-morning-news-august-6-2026-1785945055   ABC News — Iran live updates: Trump insists US has 'massive amounts' of munitions    https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-trump-deal-imminent-iran-oman/?id=135317231   NBC News — Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Democratic...

SOURCES:   PCAOB — PCAOB Seeks Stakeholder Input on Its Standard-Setting and Research Agendas    https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-seeks-stakeholder-input-on-its-standard-setting-and-research-agendas   Texas Society of CPAs — AI in Accounting 2026: From Practical Automation to Strategic Advantage    https://www.tx.cpa/news-publications/todays-cpa-magazine/issu...