‘An Unambiguous Response’

Good afternoon and welcome back to Final NOTUS. Here’s what you need to know.

The Latest

A U.S. attack on Iran may be imminent. The United States and Britain pulled personnel from the region after Iran warned that it would hit American bases if the U.S. strikes.

• Or maybe not: “All the signals are that a U.S. attack is imminent,” a Western military official told Reuters, “but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy.”
• Or maybe so: Iran is expected to execute a protester today, which Donald Trump has suggested is a red line for the U.S.
• Or maybe not: At the White House this afternoon, Trump said: “We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and there’s no plans for executions, or an execution.”

The FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter. Agents took Hannah Natanson’s phone, laptops and Garmin watch. They told her she’s not the focus of their investigation, but both Pam Bondi and Kash Patel accused Natanson of receiving classified information from a government contractor who’s currently in custody.

• In an email to the Post’s staff, Executive Editor Matt Murray said the “extraordinary, aggressive action is deeply concerning and raises profound questions and concern around the constitutional protections for our work.”

The U.S. hasn’t annexed Greenland yet. After meeting with JD Vance and Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the Danes “share, to some extent” Trump’s concerns about security but will have to “agree to disagree” on his plan to take over.

• In the Rayburn basement this afternoon, NOTUS’ Reese Gorman caught Victoria Spartz telling Scott Perry that he’s going to become the king of Greenland. “I don’t want to be the king of Greenland,” he said.

The Administration

The State Department will stop processing visas from 75 countries. The department said immigrants from Somalia, Haiti, Iran, Eritrea and the 71 other countries “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.”HHS is cancelling grants for substance abuse and mental health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said the grants do not align with Trump’s priorities.

DHS says Jonathan Ross suffered ‘internal bleeding.’ Video showed the ICE officer walking away after shooting Renee Nicole Good. Kristi Noem said he was treated at a hospital and released the same day.

The president signed an executive order allowing schools to serve whole and 2% milk.

The Hill

Federal prosecutors are investigating Elissa Slotkin. The senator, a former CIA agent, said the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has asked to interview her after she appeared in a video encouraging members of the military to refuse illegal orders.

Josh Hawley will vote against the Venezuela war powers resolution. Hawley voted to move the bill forward but says the Trump administration has now promised him it will ask Congress before it puts troops on the ground. Republican leaders need to flip one more dissenter to avoid a vote on the resolution.House Republicans moved forward on a bill to bar lawmakers from trading stocks. Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle said it contains loopholes “you could drive a Qatari jet through.” Republican Rep. Bryan Steil, who chairs the House Administration Committee, said “perfection is far too often the enemy of good in this town.”

Still a Big Month for F-bombs

The UAW is backing the worker who shouted ‘pedophile protector’ at Trump — and got a presidential middle finger in return: “Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone — including the President of the United States,” the union said today.

• The view from White House communications director Steven Cheung: “A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.”

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Kate Nocera, Matt Berman and Andrew Burton. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please subscribe — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com.