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

THE LATEST

NOTUS scoop: FEMA Deputy Associate Administrator Keith Turi is on his way out, just weeks before hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, NOTUS’ Joe Gould and Torrence Banks report. He was a public face and behind-the-scenes player of the agency’s response to Hurricane Helene and other major storms.

• “It’s another example of decades of FEMA institutional knowledge walking out the door at the most critical time (the start of hurricane season),” the source said of Turi, who has more than two decades of experience in federal emergency management.
• DHS said it has “no personnel announcements to make at this time.”

The State Department will start revoking the U.S. passports of thousands of parents who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support beginning tomorrow, the department told The Associated Press. The policy would apply to about 2,700 American passport holders — a number that would grow when the agency eventually expands the program to cover parents who owe more than $2,500.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Secretary of State Marco Rubio — a practicing Catholic — met with Pope Leo XIV for what the Vatican described as “cordial” discussions amid weeks of mounting tension between the White House and the pontiff.

• Rubio is slated to meet tomorrow with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who have defended the pope’s positions and refused to aid the U.S. in its war against Iran.

The USDA announced a rule that would significantly raise the bar for grocery stores to accept SNAP benefits, NOTUS’ Tyler Spence reports. Under the new rule, authorized retailers must carry seven varieties of items across four staple food categories: protein, grains, dairy and fruits and vegetables.

• Officials say the changes, which take effect in the fall, put an emphasis on “real food,” but advocates have argued that they could push many small stores out of the program rather than expanding their inventory to stay eligible.

The U.S. is icing out Canada in North American trade talks as the July 1 deadline to decide on extending or revising the USMCA approaches, NOTUS’ Violet Jira reports. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has indicated he expects negotiations to pass that cutoff, though discussions between the U.S. and Mexico are still ongoing.

THE HILL

A federal appeals court could reject Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to punish Sen. Mark Kelly over his “illegal orders” video. The Pentagon is pursuing administrative action against the senator from Arizona, including reducing his military rank.

• “Most of us joined to be part of something bigger than ourselves — to protect and serve the country we love,” Kelly said outside the courthouse. “I know Donald Trump doesn’t understand, and he doesn’t understand us. And sadly, it seems that Pete Hegseth doesn’t understand that either.”

Sen. Susan Collins confirmed she has a benign essential tremor that she treats with medication to WCSH in Maine yesterday after facing questions about her health. She told The Associated Press the tremor is “occasionally inconvenient … but it does not hinder my ability to work.”

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Some campaign staffers have made ‘thousands’ betting on the candidates they work for on prediction market platforms, sources told NPR.

• “Because you have all this information and knowledge that isn’t publicly available yet, it’s almost foolish not to bet on it before it’s made public,” said an anonymous statewide campaign staffer.

CLEARLY A BEARS FAN

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe, Brett Bachman 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.