Mohammed bin Salman

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 unsigned order, declined to disturb a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of a new U.S. Postal Service rule ahead of the 2026 midterms, drawing praise from officials in Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, and other states. The rule, issued after a March executive order from President Trump, would have required states to submit lists of mail-eligible voters and adopt standardized, trackable envelopes, with USPS withholding delivery of noncompliant ballots. The court said the government was unlikely to succeed on the merits given the midterms' proximity; Justices Alito and Thomas dissented, while Kavanaugh agreed the restrictions should not take effect for this election but suggested the government's underlying arguments could be reconsidered if similar rules were proposed earlier for a future election.

Michigan and 24 other states, including Illinois, sued within hours of the rule's publication, leading to a restraining order and then a Sept. 4 injunction that the high court left intact. Officials in Michigan, Illinois, and Colorado called the ruling a win for state authority over elections, while Trump denounced the decision on social media, criticizing the justices he appointed. The court did not rule on the rule's underlying legality, leaving that fight to continue in lower courts; existing mail-ballot processes remain unchanged as states begin distributing ballots for November. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the ruling turned partly on timing and that election-security efforts would continue beyond this cycle. In North Carolina, postal workers and union leaders have publicly defended mail-in voting's integrity amid ongoing fraud claims, as absentee voting proceeds under established security measures.

President Donald Trump has nominated U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, to serve as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a key diplomatic post amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war. Hunt would need a simple Senate majority to be confirmed. The nomination comes months after his unsuccessful primary challenge to Sen. John Cornyn.

Hunt, a West Point graduate and former Army Apache helicopter pilot, completed two deployments to Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic liaison officer before his 2022 election to Congress. He said he understands the "strategic importance" of the U.S.-Saudi partnership and pledged to advance Trump's "peace through strength" approach if confirmed.

The war between the U.S. and Iran has continued for nearly seven months, with Iran firing on Saudi Arabia and blockading its energy shipments since February. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly pressed Trump to strike Iran-backed Houthi forces, a request Trump has so far declined. Hunt, a close Trump ally, has also backed cuts to U.S. security assistance for Ukraine.