Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for Sept. 3, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!
THE LATEST
JD Vance says the Iran conflict isn’t a “war.” Donald Trump says it is. The vice president’s comments during a White House press briefing today further obscured the administration’s approach to eventually ending the hostilities.
- Vance also batted away a reporter’s question about supporting potential 2028 campaigns by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) or Pete Hegseth: “I’d encourage any Republican, if you care about the country, and I think all of us do, you should be focused not on a job a few years from now. You should be focused on the midterms.”
House GOP leadership canceled the last two weeks of September votes. After members depart the Capitol in mid-September, they will not return until after the midterms — meaning the House will have been in session for just four weeks total between July and November.