The average U.S. gasoline price entering Labor Day weekend reached a record holiday high of $4.14 a gallon, according to AAA, exceeding the previous Labor Day record of $3.82 set in 2012. The average rose to $4.15 on Monday. Trump administration officials have repeatedly avoided directly addressing whether fuel prices could continue rising because of pressure linked to the Iran war, the war between Russia and Ukraine and other factors. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said futures-market prices for gasoline delivered two months ahead were more than 30 cents a gallon below current prices, but declined to offer a personal forecast. The newsletter also reported that the Trump administration announced a $1.9 billion loan to NextEra Energy to finance the restart of an Iowa nuclear plant; President Trump said oil prices would drop precipitously after victory in the Iran war; and Wright said the United States has a lot of leverage over Venezuela after a deal giving it control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil. The edition also highlighted reports on post-9/11 air-quality disclosures in New York and planned changes to national-park management, as well as Iceland's decision to summon the U.S. ambassador and Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall defending Bombardier after a threat from Trump.