Mark Paoletta, also a close associate of Justice Clarence Thomas’s, has been named by President Trump to lead the National Capital Planning Commission.
Source: [NYT Politics](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/us/politics/paoletta-lawyer-ncpc.html)
Jackson Merrill doubled, tripled, drove in a run and scored another to help Randy Vásquez reach 10 victories as the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep. San Diego has won 12 of 17 and 22 of 31.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering his chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, to succeed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who is eyeing an exit from the Pentagon in the coming months, two sources familiar with the matter told The Hill.
Dr. Adam Kalkstein is suing the U. S.
President Trump said Wednesday that he is "not in a hurry" to resume negotiations with Iran, despite claiming the war will be over soon. Taurean Small reports.
In a fundraising text for the Republican National Committee, Vice President JD Vance encouraged financially strapped supporters to skip donating, saying, "groceries cost what they cost. " Political strategists Kendra Barkoff Lamy and Erin Maguire join with analysis.
Critics say the Trump administration’s focus is disproportionate, as analysts raise alarms about the growing strength of far-right movements.