Monday, Aug. 31
Despite teasing a third term, Trump comments on life after presidency
President Donald Trump talked about his life post-presidency recently, marking a departure from his usual comments about a potential third term. Trump claimed that the next president will praise him for all his successes, according to the Associated Press.
Brian Kalt, a Michigan State University constitutional law professor, said Trump’s contradictory statements allow him to back up either course of action by something he had said, according to the AP.
Another interpretation of Trump’s recent comments may be that Trump is attempting to cement his legacy due to the approaching midterm elections. That may be evident through many projects occurring in Washington, D.C., including restoring city fountains and adding a Rose Garden patio, according to the AP.
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns
The White House announced on Monday that Dan Driscoll, Army secretary, resigned after 18 months. Driscoll’s departure comes after several high-ranking Army officials’ departures in recent months, according to the AP.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress reacted to Driscoll’s departure with respect for his time as secretary. Democrats commented on his policy knowledge and willingness to work with Congress, according to the AP.
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Whistleblower claims US Postal Service mail-in ballot plan is flawed
A whistleblower statement released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday claimed the system the U.S. Postal Service is building to implement Trump’s executive order limiting mail-in ballots is flawed, according to the AP.
According to the statement, the system, which would normally take a year or longer to build and implement, is being made in three months. The rushed process could disenfranchise millions of voters, according to the AP.
Trump’s executive order would require the development of citizenship lists and only those on the lists would be able to receive a mail-in ballot, according to the AP.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Judge blocks Trump’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against Trump’s executive order which planned to limit birthright citizenship by claiming to target “birth tourism,” according to the AP.
Birth tourism is when someone travels to the U.S. with the intention of giving birth on U.S. soil and getting citizenship for the child. It is currently considered fraud in the U.S., according to the AP.
Immigrant families and advocacy groups worry that Trump’s broad restrictions over who can be granted birthright citizenship will cause unnecessary issues and are unclear, according to the AP.
Friday, Sept. 4
Vance claims Iran conflict is not a ‘war’ as midterms approach
Vice President JD Vance claimed during a White House press briefing on Thursday that the fighting in Iran is not a “war.” Vance claimed that it is not a war because there is no active shooting, according to the AP.
The claim comes after Iran fired at Kuwait, a U.S. ally in the Gulf, on Thursday in retaliation for U.S. missile strikes earlier that week, according to the AP.
Vance avoided predicting whether the conflict will be over before the midterm elections in November, where Republicans are attempting to hold on to a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress, according to the AP.
Sunday, Sept. 6
Iran claims strike on US ship in Strait of Hormuz, US denies
On Sunday, Iran claimed to have struck an unmanned U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. denies the claims, according to the AP.
The alleged attack came one day after the U.S. claimed to have attacked three Iranian oil tankers. The conflict in Iran recently restarted after nearly a month of relative peace, according to the AP.
The U.S. seems to be using a dual-pronged approach in the conflict. They are attacking Iran militarily and financially by going after institutions handling Iran’s money, according to the AP.
