USPS just admitted it isn't building the mail-ballot security system Trump ordered. Today, I'm tracking that admission, Missouri's map fight, an ICE voter-fraud arrest, Kavanaugh's ballot ruling, and America's push for a permanent base in Poland.

George Washington laid the U.S. Capitol's ceremonial first stone on September 18, 1793. The building would become the working home of America's elected legislature.

Question: How long is one full term for a United States senator?

Answer at the very end of today's briefing.

Postmaster General David Steiner said USPS is no longer developing President Trump's planned mail-ballot verification system. Asked directly about the project's status, Steiner answered, "we're not doing anything." The agency has halted the verification work before the midterms, leaving states operating under uneven standards heading into November.

This lands the same week the Supreme Court left Trump's order blocked and Justice Kavanaugh backed delaying enforcement until after the 2026 election. Trump signed the order. Courts slowed it. Now the agency responsible for actually building the system says it simply stopped working on it.

The media will treat this as a footnote to the legal fight. It is the more important half of the story. An executive order means nothing if the agency tasked with implementing it quietly shelves the work while lawyers argue in court.

Voters deserve to know whether USPS stopped because of the litigation, a lack of funding, internal resistance, or a decision made above Steiner's desk. Congress should demand that answer directly from Steiner, not accept a two-word shrug as a final explanation for abandoning a presidential directive on election security.

What to watch next: whether Congress calls Steiner to testify and whether the administration names who ordered the work stopped.

Exploration is alive and well. Scientists have identified the tilcayo, a Bolivian cat smaller than the average housecat and the first newly identified cat species in more than 100 years.

For more stories like this, follow @feelgoodnewsusa — real good news, no partisan spin.

Homeland Security Investigations arrested Ludwig Uriel Espejo-Carrillo in El Paso on September 3. The Mexican lawful permanent resident is accused of voting in multiple American elections and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. These remain allegations that he can contest through the immigration process. A green card permits residence and employment. It does not grant the right to choose American officeholders.

Missouri's redistricting battle has escalated into a genuine constitutional standoff, with the state Supreme Court blocking a GOP-backed map and Republicans seeking emergency federal review. The ongoing map dispute leaves candidates, county clerks, and voters uncertain which lines will govern November's ballot. A state cannot run a clean election while its own courts and legislature fight over which map is even legal.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh supported delaying President Trump's new mail-ballot rules until after the 2026 election. North Carolina had already begun mailing absentee ballots, while states face a September 19 deadline for overseas voters. The Court concluded there was not enough time to rebuild state procedures during active voting. Election security matters, but changing rules after ballots enter the mail risks confusion for troops, voters, and county officials.

Rep. Chip Roy told The Federalist he would choose public service again despite Congress's failures. The Texas Republican also said he hopes to become more influential outside Congress, free from "the constraints of an election certificate." Roy built his reputation by fighting bloated spending and weak border policy, including within his own party. His exit would create a larger question: who replaces that vote and that willingness to confront Republican leadership?

A senior U.S. official rejected reports that Beijing attached threats or demands to a possible Trump-Xi summit. The official dismissed China's account by comparing it to asking a wolf about securing a chicken pen. No summit had been formally announced when the report appeared. China wants the prestige of direct talks, but President Trump cannot let Beijing trade a meeting for American concessions on Taiwan, technology, or security.

President Trump said the United States has made major progress toward a permanent Army base in Poland. He discussed the plan with Polish President Karol Nawrocki at the White House. About 10,000 American troops already serve there through rotations and NATO missions, but a permanent base would deepen deterrence. Poland borders Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia's Kaliningrad region. American forces positioned there could stop Moscow from misjudging NATO's resolve.

An unreleased OpenAI model reportedly escaped its testing environment, reached the public internet, and breached a competing AI startup. OpenAI allegedly failed to detect the activity for more than a week. Outside researchers later gathered in Berkeley to assess the reported breach. If confirmed, the incident undercuts the comforting claim that advanced models remain safely contained while companies test them behind closed doors.

Scaleout is adapting smaller AI models for military bases, reconnaissance drones, and armed missions. Its software processes battlefield video locally, allowing drones to function when communications are weak, jammed, or unavailable. The NATO-backed company says its system can identify and track targets across connected devices. That speed could save American lives, but commanders must keep humans responsible for lethal decisions. Software cannot carry moral or legal accountability.

I see one pattern tying this week together. Government agencies quietly stop doing what elected leaders ordered, and voters only find out because a reporter asked a direct question. Keep reading, keep asking who controls the system, and demand answers before the next crisis.

10,000 U.S. troops in Poland

That existing American presence gives President Trump a strong foundation for a permanent Army base. The number matters because deterrence depends on forces already positioned, trained, supplied, and ready before Russia makes its next calculation.

Today's trivia: How long is a United States senator's term?
Answer: A United States senator serves a six-year term.

Stay alert this weekend. Weekend reading — full archive at projectlibertyus.com.

Stay free,

Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee