12 to KNOW

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...

SOURCES:   Bloomberg — Blanche Attorney General Nomination Advanced by Senate Panel    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-04/blanche-attorney-general-nomination-advanced-by-senate-panel   NPR — Senate Judiciary Committee advances Blanche nomination, setting up a final vote    https://www.npr.org/2026/08/03/g-s1-136864/todd-blanche-rescinds-trump-anti-weaponization-fund   NPR — Arson s...

SOURCES:   SEC — Statement on PCAOB 2026 Budget    https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-statement-pcaob-2026-budget-012226   The CAQ — Public Policy and Technical Alert | April 2026    https://www.thecaq.org/public-policy-and-technical-alert-april-2026   Atlas CPA Index — CPA Exam Candidate Numbers 2024-2025: Record Low, Signs of Recovery    https://atlascpaindex.com/news/cpa-ex...

SOURCES:   C-SPAN — Senate Judiciary Committee Votes on Todd Blanche    https://www.c-span.org/event/senate-committee/senate-judiciary-committee-votes-on-todd-blanche-to-serve-as-attorney-general/445701   WORLD Radio — Tuesday morning news: August 4, 2026    https://wng.org/podcasts/tuesday-morning-news-august-4-2026-1785791560   NPR — Photos: Wildfires in Spokane lead to thousands of evacuations...

SOURCES:   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-thornton-acquiring-fellow-top-10-firm-cbiz/   Capterra — Accounting trends 2026: AI Tools are Shifting Expectations and Skills    https://www.capterra.com/resources/accounting-trends-ai-software-changing-work/   McGuireW...

SOURCES:   CNN — Live updates: US-Iran war news; Trump says talks to resume Monday    https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/02/world/live-news/iran-war-trump   CBS News — Live Updates: U.S.-Iran negotiations set to begin Monday, Trump says    https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-strait-of-hormuz-kuwait-jordan-air-base/   ABC News — Police confirm 3 victims killed, 7 injured after shooting...

SOURCES:   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-thornton-acquiring-fellow-top-10-firm-cbiz/   Journal of Accountancy — AICPA updates audit standards related to external confirmations    https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/jul/aicpa-updates-audit-standards-r...

SOURCES:   NPR — Senate panel delays vote on Blanche's nomination as key Republicans withhold support    https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/g-s1-136265/senate-blanche-nomination   CNN — Key committee vote for Todd Blanche postponed in major blow to his nomination    https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/29/politics/todd-blanche-nomination-cornyn   Bureau of Economic Analysis — GDP (Advance Estimate), 2nd Qu...

SOURCES:   Heavy Sports — Newlywed Travis Kelce Gets Emotional Training Camp Welcome From Chiefs Kingdom    https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/travis-kelce-training-camp-welcome/   Everett Post — Happy 'Billboard' chart-iversary, Taylor Swift!    https://www.everettpost.com/music/country-music/happy-billboard-chart-iversary-taylor-swift/   The O'Colly — Introspective, apol...

SOURCES:   Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting — PCAOB unveils draft strategic plan for 2026–2030, seeks public feedback    https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/pcaob-unveils-draft-strategic-plan-for-2026-2030-seeks-public-feedback/   Receipts AI — 110+ AI Accounting and Automation Statistics (Updated June 2026)    https://receiptsai.com/ai-automation-accounting-statistics-2026   Centri Consulting...