Marine One, Two Problems

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for Aug. 28, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Donald Trump’s administration is appealing a federal judge’s decision to block implementation of his mail-voting rule for the next two weeks.

Lake America? Some Republicans, especially those from northern states that share geographical ties with Canada, say the Great Lakes’ names should be left alone.

Right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, a British national, is currently in ICE custody after being apprehended outside of New Orleans, according to agency records.

THE ADMINISTRATION

The Federal Reserve may yet raise interest rates this year to bring down inflation, Chair Kevin Warsh indicated during a Wyoming speech today.

Trump said he is moving to allow farmers and ranchers to process their own meat — a decision that came days after Glenn Beck proposed the idea to him during a radio interview.

The White House issued an alternative pay plan that would freeze civilian federal workers’ salaries for 2027, while exempting federal law enforcement and military personnel.

Marine One experienced another apparent loss of communication with DCA as Trump left the White House for a trip to Texas yesterday, hours after an investigation found the helicopter went through similar problems in an August incident.

The U.S. military shot down three drones with a laser this week on the southern border, saying the autonomous aircraft were linked to cartels. It was the new technology’s first such use, according to NORTHCOM.

THE HILL

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer urging them to resume trade negotiations with Canada, which shares a “uniquely intertwined” economy with her home state.

House Ethics recommended in June holding two people in contempt of Congress in connection with former Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s case, the committee reported in a new letter today.

THE COURTS

A federal judge blocked the Pentagon’s attempt to blacklist Anthropic by labeling the company a national security risk.

• “The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics,” the judge wrote.

Belgian authorities summoned U.S. Ambassador Bill White this week after he mocked one of the country’s top officials in an incendiary social media post — the second time this year he has been called to answer for confrontational comments.

THINGS CHANGE, OK?

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Brett Bachman and Erik Schutz. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com.