‘I’m Blaming JD’

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for June 17, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

A senior U.S. official read out the memorandum of understanding to reporters today. Provisions include an Iranian nuclear weapons ban and $300 billion in U.S. funds for reconstruction and economic development. But Donald Trump repeatedly cast doubt on whether the deal will hold, saying if the stipulations aren’t enacted in 60 days, “we go back to bombing.”

• “Mistakes are made, war is nasty,” Trump said in a notable acknowledgement of the U.S. strike on a girls’ school on the conflict’s first day.

JD Vance is set to attend the official signing in Switzerland on Friday, and Trump said he might also attend.

• “If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD,” Trump jokingly responded to a reporter.

The Senate Intelligence Committee postponed Jay Clayton’s hearing after Donald Trump threw a 4 a.m. wrench in the works. Chair Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) called it “regrettable” that Trump directed his director of national intelligence pick to skip the hearing: “Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly.”

• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) told reporters Trump’s actions are “undermining” the Senate’s ability to deliver on his agenda: “Somebody’s not dialing the president into the complexities of what he’s done here.”
• “This is a Republican president, a Republican Senate, a Republican House screwing up,” Chuck Schumer said during a press conference.

Renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act spy program was already in jeopardy, and Trump now says he won’t approve a Section 702 reauthorization unless unrelated provisions from the stagnant SAVE America Act are attached.

• The president also wants Clayton’s Southern District of New York replacement, Jamie McDonald, confirmed before he can move forward as DNI. McDonald’s nomination has not been officially sent to the Senate.

THE ADMINISTRATION

The Federal Reserve declined to raise interest rates due to inflation driven by high energy prices.

The administration told states to combat unemployment fraud or face penalties, highlighting problems in California, New York and Illinois in letters sent to governors of all 50 states.

Sweeping federal spending reviews and previous staffing cuts slowed USDA’s screwworm response, former officials say.

The Department of the Interior will pay $765 million in a settlement to abandon leases on four offshore wind farms in favor of investing in fossil fuels — bringing the total amount spent on such agreements to nearly $2.6 billion.

THE HILL

Oklahoma pastor Jackson Lahmeyer dropped out of his Republican runoff for the 1st Congressional District today, NOTUS’ Reese Gorman scoops, following a Daily Mail story alleging he flirted with a woman who wasn’t his wife.

• Trump switched his endorsement following the article and posted his support for opponent Mark Tedford before Lahmeyer announced his decision.

The missing Rep. Tom Kean (R-New Jersey) signed off on another special interest group-sponsored trip for his chief of staff, adding to two others Kean approved during his absence from Congress.

THE STATES

Georgia House Republicans will not redraw the state’s maps during a special session that began today, citing pending redistricting cases.

I THINK I’VE SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE

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.