Bernie Bails on Platner

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 7, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here— it’s free!

THE LATEST

Donald Trump hinted at plans to lift sanctions and reverse a ban on the sale of F-35s to Turkey while meeting with the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan — moves that would upend policies Trump implemented during his first term.

Graham Platner’s Hill support has essentially dwindled to zero today after he lost one of his staunchest supporters: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), who recommended Platner step aside. Democrats are already feuding as they scramble to find a suitable replacement by July 27.

• Potential contenders are now emerging, including former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who today formed an exploratory committee, and economist Nirav Shah, who previously ran for governor.

THE HILL

Sen. Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for several weeks, but the Kentucky Republican is still discussing policy with John Thune and John Barrasso, their representatives said. (And with… fellow Kentuckian Scott Jennings?)

The Hill should overhaul how it handles sexual misconduct complaints, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association said today in a letter to House and Senate leaders.

SCOTUS watch: Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan will testify next Tuesday before House and Senate Appropriations members about the court’s annual budget request — the first time justices have done so since 2019.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) almost had to find his own flight home from the Netherlands after a transcontinental dispute with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Semafor reports.

THE ADMINISTRATION

DHS illegally shared asylum seekers’ records with Iran, a new lawsuit alleges.

The DOJ cannot access the personal contact information for every person who worked during the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County, a federal judge ruled today.

The EPA’s top air pollution regulator will resign next week, but did not provide a reason.

More than 1,200 former DOJ employees wrote a letter encouraging the Senate to reject acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination after they say he instilled a “culture of fear” within the agency.

THE STATES

Maryland lawmakers will hold a special session next month to consider amending the state constitution to clarify congressional redistricting standards.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a conservative activist’s attempt to find ineligible voters through obtaining guardianship records.

LENDER OF LAST RESORT

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe and Erik Schutz. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com