Sam Marks

News Desk @NewsNation
History buff. Metro rider. Rock Creek runner
Email: [email protected]
Signal: SMarks.53

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

Today marks six months of the war in Iran.

President Trump and Sec. Hegseth have both told me this would only last 4-6 weeks.

President Trump posted this week on his Truth Social a photo of himself with a sign “Mission Accomplished.”

So, I asked his Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller today if the mission is accomplished why are we still there?

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

President Trump was just asked on the tarmac at JBA: "Why aren't you going to New York for 9/11?

He said: "Cause I'm going to the Pentagon instead. I'm going to the Pentagon."

President Trump just posted on Truth Social about the report in the NYT last night that said he wasn't going because he wasn't allowed to do a speech.

Trump responded on Truth saying: "This is more Corrupt News, I’ve been to New York many times over the years, and no one ever speaks, it’s a “solemn ceremony!" Then he criticized the journalist who wrote the piece.

[Joe Khalil @JoeKhalilTV]

Several members of the Congressional Black Caucus now at the mic, led by Chair Yvette Clark

[Joe Khalil @JoeKhalilTV]

Just spoke to 81-year -old Pastor Ralph Canty from South Carolina.

63 years ago today, he was here in this very spot listening to Martin Luther King Jr. deliver the “I Have a Dream” speech. Today he’s here advocating for voting rights.

I asked what he remembers about that day, relative to today.

He said today he feels the same sense of diverse unity- so many different kinds of people from all different backgrounds, here for a common purpose.

[White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool]

📅 President Trump’s Weekend Schedule
Friday, Aug. 28 - Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026

📅 FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026

8:00 AM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time
CLOSED PRESS
📍 Houston, Texas

11:00 AM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in the Congressional Space Medal of Honor Presentation
PRE-CREDENTIALED MEDIA
📍 NASA Johnson Space Center

12:00 PM EDT THE PRESIDENT calls the International Space Station
📍 Houston, Texas

THE PRESIDENT departs Houston, Texas en route the White House
📍 Houston, Texas

THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House
📍 The White House

📅 SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026

8:00 AM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time
CLOSED PRESS
📍 The White House

THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Sterling, Virginia
📍 The White House

THE PRESIDENT arrives Sterling, Virginia
📍 Sterling, Virginia

6:00 PM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in a MAGA Inc. Meeting
CLOSED PRESS
📍 Sterling, Virginia

6:30 PM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in a MAGA Inc. Meeting
CLOSED PRESS
📍 Sterling, Virginia

7:00 PM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in a MAGA Inc. Dinner
CLOSED PRESS
📍 Sterling, Virginia

THE PRESIDENT departs Sterling, Virginia en route the White House
📍 Sterling, Virginia

THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House
📍 The White House

📅 SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2026

8:00 AM EDT THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time
CLOSED PRESS
📍 The White House

Distributed on Aug. 28, 2026

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

Washington DCA Air Traffic Control tower lost communication with Marine One as it departed the Ellipse today with the POTUS on board before communication was restored. @SamMarksReports digs into. @NewsNation

Other helicopters in the D.C. had to communicate with Marine One until direct comms were restored with DCA.

EAGLE 2 TELLS DCA MARINE ONE IS TRYING TO REACH THEM
EAGLE 2: Eagle 2, Marine 1, is trying to reach you at three minutes to lift.
//
DCA TOWER: Oh, I couldn't hear any of that, Roger, Eagle 2, thank you.

DCA TOWER ASKS MARINE ONE BACKUP IF THEY CAN HEAR MARINE ONE
DCA TOWER: Nighthawk 8, do me a favor, I can't hear Marine 1, if you hear Marine 1, can you let me know?

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

TRUMP THURSDAY:

8:00am ET: Participates in Executive Time, The White House, Closed Press

10:30am ET: Participates in a Policy Meeting, Oval Office, Closed Press

1:30pm ET: Participates in Signing Time, Oval Office, Closed Press

THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Houston, Texas, The White House

CDT:

6:00pm ET: Participates in an RNC Engagement, Houston, Texas, Closed Press

[Sam Marks @SamMarksReports]

New polling for Texas Senate race.

Talarico leads Paxton in three congressional districts along the U.S.-Mexico border.

[Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024]

TSU poll | 8/18-8/22

US Senate Texas 2026 (by congressional district)

TX-15 (Trump +18)
🟦James Talarico: 50%
🟥Ken Paxton: 42%
——
TX-28 (Trump +11)
🟦James Talarico: 51%
🟥Ken Paxton: 41%
——
TX-34 (Trump +11)
🟦James Talarico: 53%
🟥Ken Paxton: 42%

Link to poll: https://t.co/rwsjJDQpDZ

[Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 @PollTracker2024]

The Hill: Federal judge lifts nationwide block on mail-in voting restrictions

A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday lifted a nationwide block on mail-in voting restrictions, temporarily clearing the way for the Trump administration to begin implementing them ahead of the November midterms.

https://t.co/YDwXUQQOJL

[Sam Marks @SamMarksReports]

Texas AG Ken Paxton's statement on Meta settlement over youth social media addiction

[Attorney General Ken Paxton @KenPaxtonTX]

🚨BREAKING NEWS: I just secured over $1 billion for Texas from Meta in a historic settlement to protect kids online.

[SCOTUS Wire @scotus_wire]

🚨 Judge Indira Talwani lifted her nationwide injunction against President Trump’s election executive order, allowing USPS’s new mail-ballot rules to take effect after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

NEW: Meta will pay up to $129 million to DC for exploiting children with intentionally addictive social media.

Instagram and Facebook will adopt sweeping child safety protections to transform how social media platforms protect kids.

This is the largest big tech settlement ever.

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always ❤️ you.

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

Dolly Parton has passed away.

[Sam Marks @SamMarksReports]

James Talarico to attend @TexasTribune TribFest on Thursday, Sept. 24

[Texas Tribune @TexasTribune]

Just added: @jamestalarico is the latest name to join the TribFest lineup. The state representative and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate joins @mwatkinstrib Thursday, Sept. 24, to discuss his race against Ken Paxton and Democrats' hopes of turning Texas blue. Get tickets: https://t.co/QFnoynOoxb #TribFest26

[Joe Khalil @JoeKhalilTV]

“Freudian Slip”

Vice President Vance refers to Canada as a state, accidentally he says, answering a Q from local Maine media about Canada tariffs which will impact Maine/Canada cross border trade.

[Kellie Meyer @KellieMeyerNews]

I asked President Trump who will replace Karoline Leavitt as Press Secretary and he said “I don’t know maybe you.”

[Sam Marks @SamMarksReports]

Talarico campaign spokesperson says they have sold out of "Not Ken Paxton's Pen" pens, but restrocking.

Talarico was endorsed by attorney Joe Joplin, who accused Paxton of stealing his $1,000 Montblanc pen

[JT Ennis @jt_ennis]

BREAKING: @TeamTalaricoHQ has officially sold out of our "Not Ken Paxton's Pen" pens.

Over 13,000 sold. Restock coming soon.

[Joe Khalil @JoeKhalilTV]

BREAKING- DDHQ calls the special election to replace Eric Swalwell for Aisha Wahab.

[Cook Political Report @CookPolitical]

Today we are shifting 4 key statewide race ratings:
#TXSEN: Lean R → Toss Up
#IASEN: Lean R → Toss Up
#TXGOV: Solid R → Likely R
#IAGOV: Toss Up → Lean D