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"Hegseth says forces will guard elections systems during midterms."

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By Nadja Lovadinov September 29, 2026

Good morning. Nov. 3 is fast approaching, and Hegseth says that cybersecurity forces will be mobilized to help protect U.S. election systems. Also in the news today: Three banned news outlets seek to block Trump from enforcing his White House access ban; OpenAI delays its latest model over security concerns; and: durian, durian, durian. A look at Malaysians’ push to elevate its pungent fruit industry. Monday’s Morning Wire incorrectly said Taylor Swift dedicated her Artist Director Honors to Dolly Parton at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. Swift actually dedicated her award for video of the year to Parton. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the POW/MIA National Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 18, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) POLITICS Hegseth says national security, military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms The U.S. National Security Agency and other military intelligence and cybersecurity forces will guard election systems in November, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday. Read more.

Why this matters: Military cybersecurity experts have routinely helped monitor systems and deter potential hackers since election equipment was designated “critical infrastructure” in 2017. But Hegseth’s announcement comes after President Donald Trump gutted the civilian agency specifically created to safeguard election infrastructure, a division of the Department of Homeland Security called the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.   Both announcements come with early voting already underway. The short timeline “suggests this is just theater,” said David Becker, a former U.S. Justice Department attorney who leads the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ 2 US Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 4 sailors injured Trump’s mail voting crackdown tests Postal Service leader who says he’s ‘not political’ GOP doubts about Georgia and North Carolina have Republicans shifting focus in battle for Senate Trump can’t force election changes by blocking counterterrorism funds to states, judge says Stay with this one, here’s what other readers like you are spending time with: In GOP Speaker Mike Johnson’s district, the political mood is mixed for the party in power POLITICS CNN, MS NOW and Politico ask a court to block Trump from enforcing his White House media ban Three news outlets that President Donald Trump abruptly banished from White House grounds this month asked a federal court to block the ban until the case is resolved. Read more.

What to know: They say the Trump administration has “persisted in unpredictably and inconsistently implementing its ban” despite a judge’s restraining order— including selectively barring CNN from White House pool duties. A two-week temporary restraining order on Trump’s ban that restored the outlets’ White House access expires Oct. 8. “The White House’s words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO if allowed the opportunity,” lawyers for the three outlets wrote in a filing late Monday. The filing came a day after the Trump administration made clear it was not backing down. “It is a privilege, and not a right, to be there,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said on ABC on Sunday speaking about the White House.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Taxpayers have funded nearly $1.5M in pro-Trump ads. Criticism is mounting, including from the GOP Second prosecutor resigns from Justice Department ‘grand conspiracy’ probe targeting Trump foes Alito steps aside in a major climate case after scrutiny over oil stock holdings Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow transgender medical care restrictions in prison Trump disputes his ambassador’s account that he asked China’s president if he wanted to buy US arms From motorcycles to booze, US ban on $1 billion worth of Canadian imports goes into effect Want more news from Washington? Subscribe for free to receive our politics newsletter Ground Game every weekday. US NEWS OpenAI delays latest model over security concerns, as industry faces new safety pressures OpenAI said Monday it’s decided to hold back the release of a model, called GPT-6.1 Astra, out of security concerns voiced by its researchers, the latest in the company's effort to decelerate the pace of the technology’s advance. Read more.

What to know: In a statement from OpenAI's head of safety systems Saachi Jain, the version “didn't quite meet the bar.” It had become more persistent in completing tasks, but OpenAI needed to balance that capability against unauthorized behavior. OpenAI paused training of its most advanced models last week, saying training would resume “only when we are confident that we have additional safeguards.” That was after it disclosed instances in which AI agents exceeded their instructions, including by accessing government websites without authorization.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Nvidia unveils security platform to stop AI agents from going rogue Contradicting Trump, Pope Leo says artificial intelligence safety concerns not ‘fake news’ We’re in this together, Earth’s leaders told each other at the UN. But how does that work, exactly? ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Mideast: Netanyahu makes secret weekend trip to Abu Dhabi to meet Emirati president Cornell gang rape allegations: Prosecutor reopens probe after accuser files lawsuit Utah death row: After decades a man is released and awaits a new trial in 1985 killing In-laws arrested: Couple shot their son-in-law in a California park, police say Hurricane Polo: Wind whips Mexico’s northern Pacific coast, and some streets flood Mexico press freedom: Country’s journalists have long faced bullets. Now lawsuits against them are rising Today in History: In 1789, Congress officially established a regular army WATCH SpaceX: Starship returns early to Earth after reaching orbit for the first time Former ‘American Idol’ singer: Caleb Flynn is on trial in wife’s killing. He says a burglar did it Bangkok: People navigate flooded streets after days of heavy rain Pet blessings: Catholics in Peru take their animals to mass A CHANGE OF PACE A worker livestreams while selling durians at a stall in Petaling Jaya, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in June. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Inside Malaysia's gambit to make its durian the most wanted It’s yellow and spiky on the outside, custardy on the inside, and if you've heard of durian, you've heard of its notorious smell. It delights its lovers and repels its haters. Malaysians think the fruit has big potential. They’re pushing to take their durian beyond its roadside stalls. Alongside a $2 million investment to open a two-story center in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to the fruit’s culture and history, small businesses are selling durian paste, durian-flavored chocolate and mochi — and even a durian flower perfume that smells sweet and floral. Browse our photo gallery to see how Malaysia is making its fruity pitch.

That's all for today. Know someone who would enjoy Morning Wire? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. - Nadja

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