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Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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Politics

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll steps down — with a warning

Plus: 🥭 A recall on mangos {beacon} It’s Tuesday. Happy September! We are two-thirds of the way through the year. Hope those new year’s resolutions are two-thirds of the way done! In today’s issue: Driscoll’s parting warning Moulton vs. Markey Johnson backs Miller New CEO at Apple Global bonds selloff Programming note: We’re…

· 1,316 words· updated September 1, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll answers a question during a House Armed Services Committee hearing to discuss the F.Y. 2027 budget for the Army on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll answers a question during a House Armed Services Committee hearing to discuss the F.Y. 2027 budget for the Army on Friday, May 15, 2026.

It’s Tuesday. Happy September! We are two-thirds of the way through the year. Hope those new year’s resolutions are two-thirds of the way done!

Programming note : We’re Joshua Feldstein and Claire Leibowitz filling in for Cate today. Please send your tips, comments and story ideas to jfeldstein@thehill.com or cleibowitz@thehill.com .

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll filed his resignation to President Trump Monday night, but not before speaking his mind about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership.

The Atlantic reports Driscoll issued a parting warning during a meeting with Trump at the White House last week.

He reportedly addressed the number of generals and top officers who had been fired, pushed out or passed over for promotion and argued that these shake-ups were inhibiting military readiness.

Trump was surprised the scale of Hegseth’s firings and blocked promotions, one person told The Atlantic.

Jennifer Griffin, Fox’s chief national security correspondent, posted a statement on the social media platform X by a source familiar with Driscoll’s decision.

“Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surrounding Army transformation and readiness and Hegseth’s blocking those efforts specifically by firing the Generals who were responsible,” the source said.

Growing list: Some of the most high-profile departures in recent months include the Army’s commander in Europe and Africa, Gen. Christopher Donahue , Navy Secretary John Phelan and Gen. Randy George .

Driscoll’s departure leaves the Army without a Senate-confirmed leader, as acting chief of staff Gen. Christopher LeNeve’s confirmation is stalled.

Bipartisan backing: Both Republicans and Democrats have praised Driscoll on his way out.

Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) took to X to say, “The Army is better equipped and prepared to tackle emerging threats because of his leadership that strengthened the force while putting our Soldiers first.”

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger, told reporters it was nice “having somebody who was smart, that knew the policy, that wanted to do the work, that had a background in these issues.”

“It’s unfortunate that somebody like that can’t last in this administration,” he added.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a statement saying: “Secretary Hegseth is cultivating a culture where dissent is punished and competence is secondary to personal allegiance.”

Tuesday marks primary election day in Massachusetts, and all eyes are on Democratic races for the House and Senate.

Age is just a number : The Hill’s Caroline Vakil reports that incumbent Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), 80, is projected to defeat Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), 47, in the Senate Democratic primary.

According to the polling from Emerson College released on Sunday, 60.4 percent of respondents said they would back Markey if the primary were that day, while 32.8 percent said they would back Moulton.

Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) analyst Geoffery Skelley said that “Moulton is arguably the wrong candidate at the right time,” and “another young primary challenger with his kind of elected credentials might have been able to really threaten Markey.”

Different story : In Massachusetts’s 8th Congressional District, Incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch (D), 71, also faces a younger challenger in 39-year-old Patrick Roath . But Lynch may be in for more of a fight than Markey.

Roath, a progressive, served as an aide to former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) and has been very critical of Lynch’s votes on immigration, healthcare and abortion. He has also voiced his frustration on Lynch’s decision to vote against former President Obama’s healthcare package in 2010 and for the Laken Riley Act, according to Vakil.

Elsewhere in Mass: Democrats are also facing off against each other in the 6th Congressional District, looking to fill Moulton’s seat. Dan Koh , a former White House aide, faces off against state Rep. Tram Nguyen for the opening.

On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Gov. Maura Healey is running for a second term with no primary opponents, which means she’ll sit back, relax and watch the GOP nominees duke it out.

CEO of Abiomed Mike Monogue will go up against Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) administrator Brian Shortleeve for the chance to face Healey, who will be heavily favored whichever way it goes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Monday that GOP Rep. Max Miller (Ohio) has been a “great member of Congress,” throwing his support behind the controversial congressman.

“He [Miller] has some issues in his personal life he’s working through. The House Ethics Committee is looking into that and any implications it may have,” Johnson told CNN’s Manu Raju .

Miller is up for reelection in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, but is facing domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno .

Miller won’t drop out : The incumbent Republican has denied Moreno’s allegations, which included him throwing scalding hot water at her, holding a gun to her head and breaking their daughter’s collarbone.

GOP lawmakers, including Miller’s ex-father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), have called for him to resign from Congress and drop his reelection bid.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said the situation “just gives people one more reason to be disgusted with Congress” in an August interview, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told Politico that “when it comes to allegations of domestic abuse, child abuse that’s not what we want in our lawmakers.”

Panorama Produce, a distributor based in New York, has announced the latest food recall in the U.S., this time for mangoes distributed in four states.

The company announced Tuesday that mangoes distributed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination.

No illnesses had been linked to the mangoes as of Friday, when the recall was announced, but salmonella infection symptoms can develop anywhere between six hours and six days after ingesting the bacteria.

What to look for: According to Panorama Produce, the recalled mangoes were shipped in boxes labeled with the brand name “Martina.”

Individual mangoes will have a light blue sticker on them that says “Agrofepac, Produce of Mexico.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy thanked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin for removing the “stop-start” feature in cars.

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett (R) responded to Trump’s statement that communities that oppose data centers want to “end up being backwards and poor.” Burchett suggested data centers could be built in military installations.

Apple’s new CEO John Ternus officially stepped into his role on Tuesday, ending Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure leading the tech giant.

CNN News : Global bonds sell off as Middle East conflict escalates, further stoking inflation fears

Associated Press : Thailand’s Pattaya anticipates USS Abraham Lincoln visit following Middle East deployment

NBC News : NYC unveils new Legionnaires safety measures after 11 deaths in Upper East Side cluster

The New York Times : Apple begins its next balancing act as new CEO takes over

Reuters : At least 2 dead in Grand Canyon flooding; Park Services says 20-plus may be missing

Associated Press: U.S. job openings rise slightly to 7.3 million as labor market remains sturdy despite higher costs

The House is in and Senate is out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EDT)

1:30 p.m.: Trump meets with oil and gas retailers and refineries.

2 p.m.: House Ways and Means Committee on welfare reform.

8 p.m.: Polls close for Massachusetts primary races.

🫂 Celebrate : Today is National Forgiveness Day. And National Burnt Ends Day. Don’t get these two confused — burn your barbecue, not your bridges.

🌴 Peacock premiered the “Love Island” season 8 reunion Monday night. The Venn diagram of Hill readers and Love Island watchers may be two separate circles, so here’s a recap of what you might have missed.

Because you made it this far, here are two kangaroos in the middle of a dramatic fight.

We love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes 🍪 to jfeldstein@thehill.com or cleibowitz@thehill.com .

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