Hegseth’s Army Purge, and Polling Chaos in the Midterms

Plus, there was no one like Dolly Parton.

Here’s what we’re covering:

Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless (nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/hegseth-purge-army-g…), by Greg Jaffe, Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper and Adam Entous

Graham, and Trump, Triumph: Six Takeaways From Runoffs in South Carolina and Oklahoma (nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/election-ta…), by Patricia Mazzei

Why Polling Chaos Could Create Big Problems for American Politics (nytimes.com/2026/08/22/us/politics/election-po…), by Reid J. Epstein

Canada Retaliates With Up to 50% Tariffs on Hundreds of U.S. Products (nytimes.com/2026/08/25/world/canada/canada-tar…), by Ian Austen

E.P.A. Moves to Curb Public Input on Data Centers (nytimes.com/2026/08/25/climate/epa-data-center…), by Maxine Joselow

Dolly Parton, Superstar Whose Songs Spoke to Millions, Dies at 80 (nytimes.com/2026/08/25/arts/music/dolly-parton…), by Bill Friskics-Warren

Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com.

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