10 things you need to know today: August 28, 2018

McCain called for unity in a farewell message to Americans, Trump announces a trade deal with Mexico, and more

Flags fly at half mast in Washington
(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

1. McCain called for unity in farewell message

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who died Saturday, said in a farewell message to the nation released Monday that Americans "will get through these trying times" if we "give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country." In an apparent rebuke of President Trump, with whom he frequently clashed, McCain said Americans weaken the nation's greatness "when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down." That reference was widely interpreted as fresh criticism of Trump's focus on fulfilling his campaign promise to build a wall on the Mexican border and make Mexico pay for it. Also on Monday, Trump ordered flags at the White House lowered to half-staff until after McCain's funeral next weekend, after facing criticism for the decision to raise the flags after lowering them briefly over the weekend.

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Harold Maass, The Week US

Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.