12 to KNOW

SOURCES:   The CAQ — Public Policy and Technical Alert | December 2025    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-december-2025   SEC.gov — SEC Rescinds Policy Regarding Denials of Settlements in Enforcement Actions    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-45-sec-rescinds-policy-regarding-denials-settlements-enforcement-actions   Journal of Accountancy — How will accoun...

SOURCES:   CNN — US targets Iranian missile launch sites and boats in 'self-defense' strikes    https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/25/world/live-news/iran-war-us-peace-deal   CNBC — U.S. conducts 'self-defense strikes' in Iran as Trump pushes for peace deal    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/26/us-conducts-self-defense-strikes-in-iran-as-trump-seeks-peace-deal.html   ABC7 — Evacuation zone r...

SOURCES:   Accounting Today — Highlights From the 2025 AICPA Conference – Current SEC and PCAOB Developments    https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/thought-leadership/highlights-from-the-2025-aicpa-conference-current-sec-and-pcaob-developments   Cornerstone Research — SEC Enforcement Against Public Companies and Subsidiaries in 1H FY 2026    https://www.cornerstone.com/insights/research/sec-enforceme...

SOURCES:   NBC News — Republicans cancel votes amid GOP fight over Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-cancel-votes-fight-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna346113   CBS News — Trump lawyer-turned-critic Michael Cohen to apply for anti-weaponization fund    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-cohen-anti-weaponization-fund-claim-tr...

SOURCES:   The CAQ Public Policy Alert — Public Policy and Technical Alert | December 2025    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-december-2025   CPA Trendlines — Outlook 2026: Agentic AI Reaches the Tipping Point in Tax and Accounting Firms    https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/01/10/outlook-2026-agentic-ai-reaches-the-tipping-point-in-tax-and-accounting-firms/   Madras Accountan...

SOURCES:   NPR — U.S. News and National Top Stories    https://www.npr.org/sections/national/   MPR News — Stories from May 21, 2026    https://www.mprnews.org/content/5-21-2026   NPR — Barney Frank, former congressman and gay-rights pioneer, dies at 86    https://www.npr.org/2026/05/20/g-s1-123012/barney-frank   CNN — Barney Frank, liberal icon who regulated a 'too big' financial industry...

SOURCES:   SEC — SEC Rescinds Policy Regarding Denials of Settlements in Enforcement Actions    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-45-sec-rescinds-policy-regarding-denials-settlements-enforcement-actions   KPMG — Q4 2025 new IFRS® Accounting Standards and amendments: Are you ready?    https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/q4-2025-new-ifrs-accounting-standards-amendments-are-you-ready....

SOURCES:   Fox News — Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet delivers major blow to Massie in fiery GOP primary    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-backed-navy-seal-vet-delivers-major-blow-massie-fiery-gop-primary   Washington Post — Trump postpones Iran strike at Middle Eastern leaders' urging    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/   CNBC — Over 47,000 Samsung Electronics workers set to strike...

SOURCES:   CBS News — National Recording Registry adds Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ray Charles and more. See the 2026 list.    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-recording-registry-2026-taylor-swift-beyonce-ray-charles/   Just Jared — Benny Blanco Is 'Not Allowed' to Talk About This Topic Regarding Selena Gomez Marriage    https://www.justjared.com/2026/05/18/benny-blanco-is-not-allowed-to-t...

SOURCES:   Alvarez & Marsal — Highlights From the 2025 AICPA Conference – Current SEC and PCAOB Developments    https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/thought-leadership/highlights-from-the-2025-aicpa-conference-current-sec-and-pcaob-developments   The Irish Times — Big Four firms post more job ads for AI specialists than auditors    https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/05/19/big-four-post-more-...

SOURCES:   CBS News — Trump calls off attack on Iran amid serious negotiations toward peace deal    https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-warning-oil-stock-prices-futures-ceasefire-diplomacy/   NBC News — Rep. Thomas Massie confronts the full force of Trump's wrath in a GOP primary    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/rep-thomas-massie-confronts-full-force-trumps-wra...

SOURCES:   Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance — SEC Enforcement FY2025 Results Signal Shift in Priorities in Direct Critique of Prior Administration    https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2026/05/05/sec-enforcement-fy2025-results-signal-shift-in-priorities-in-direct-critique-of-prior-administration/   Accounting Today — Education Dept. rejects accounting as professional degree    https:/...

SOURCES:   CNN — Judge declares a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial after jury deadlocks    https://edition.cnn.com/   NPR — Sen. Bill Cassidy is one of few remaining Republican senators who voted to convict President Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol    https://www.npr.org/sections/national/   Go Local Prov — World Health Organization on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak...

SOURCES:   Accounting Today — AICPA updates audit confirmation standard    https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/aicpa-updates-audit-confirmation-standard   SEC.gov — SEC Announces Enforcement Results for Fiscal Year 2025    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-34   TheStreet — Big Four firm cuts 100s of jobs as consulting demand slows    https://www.thestreet.com/employment/big-four-fi...

SOURCES:   CNN — Trump-Xi summit ends on cordial note but no breakthroughs announced yet    https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-china-visit-xi-meeting-hnk   Anadolu Agency — Morning Briefing: May 15, 2026    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/morning-briefing-may-15-2026/3937991   Go Local Prov — 5 Big News Stories Overnight - Friday, May 15, 2026    https://www.golocalprov.com/news/5-big-new...

SOURCES:   Thomson Reuters — What to know about the new PCAOB auditing standards for 2026    https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/what-to-know-about-the-new-pcaob-auditing-standards/   Globe Newswire — AI Adoption Accelerates in Accounting, Yet Fragmented Tools Keep Efficiency Just Out of Reach    https://www.globenewswire.com/news-releases/2026/05/12/   ComplianceHub. Wiki — After SolarWinds: What...

SOURCES:   CNN — Live updates: Xi hails new era in US-China relations, but warns Trump on Taiwan    https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-china-visit-xi-meeting-hnk   Washington Post — China gains major edge on U.S. amid Iran war, U.S. intelligence finds    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/13/china-gains-major-edge-us-amid-iran-war-us-intelligence-finds/   NPR — Pent...

SOURCES:   Center for Audit Quality — Public Policy and Technical Alert | December 2025    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-december-2025   Karbon — Karbon State of AI in Accounting 2026 Report shows strategy, training, and governance unlock AI's full potential    https://karbonhq.com/resources/state-of-ai-accounting-2026/   CFO Dive — CPA licensing changes poised to hi...

SOURCES:   CNN — Day 74 of Middle East conflict — Trump says 'I don't think about Americans' financial situation'    https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/12/world/live-news/trump-iran-war-news   Al Jazeera — Iran war live: World watches as Trump and Xi to hold high-stakes talks    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/5/13/iran-war-live-trump-travels-to-china-as-conflict-with-tehran-...

SOURCES:   The CAQ — Public Policy and Technical Alert | December 2025    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-december-2025   Journal of Accountancy — How AI is transforming the audit — and what it means for CPAs    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2026/feb/how-ai-is-transforming-the-audit-and-what-it-means-for-cpas/   Talentfoot — How the CPA Shortage Is Extending...

SOURCES:   CNN — Trump says ceasefire with Iran on 'massive life support' after he rejects Tehran's proposal    https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/11/world/live-news/iran-war-proposal-trump   NBC News — Pentagon releases declassified UFO files including videos and photos held by the government for decades    https://www.nbcnews.com/science/ufos-and-anomalous-phenomena/ufo-uap-files-pentag...

SOURCES:   SEC.gov — SEC's Division of Enforcement Announces Updates to Enforcement Manual    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-20-secs-division-enforcement-announces-updates-enforcement-manual   The CAQ — Public Policy and Technical Alert | December 2025    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-december-2025   Today's CPA Magazine — AI in Accounting 2026:...

SOURCES:   CNN — Day 72 of Middle East conflict — Trump calls Iran response to US proposal 'totally unacceptable'    https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/10/world/live-news/iran-war-news   CNBC — From Singapore to Brussels, world leaders eye Trump-Xi summit from afar    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/trump-xi-summit-beijing-global-leaders-iran-war-taiwan-strait-of-hormuz-.html   Nebraska Medicine...

SOURCES:   Accounting Today — SEC, FASB prepare for semi-annual reporting option    https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/sec-fasb-prepare-for-semi-annual-reporting-option   Morgan Lewis — Securities Enforcement Roundup – January 2026    https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2026/02/securities-enforcement-roundup-january-2026   Journal of Accountancy — How will accountants learn new skills when AI does...

SOURCES:   The Vindicator — Nation and world at a glance for May 8    https://www.vindy.com/news/national-news/2026/05/nation-and-world-at-a-glance-for-may-8/   NPR — Pennsylvania is suing Character. AI over accusations the company's chatbots are violating the state's medical licensing regulations    https://www.npr.org/sections/national/   CNN — Ex-deputy found guilty of reckless homicide...