Let RFK Jr. Cook

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 29, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

President Donald Trump could pull Todd Blanche’s nomination until after Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) leave office — even though Senate Republicans are not guaranteed a favorable midterms cycle this year. Cornyn said today that at least a few of his colleagues also share concerns about Trump’s IRS settlement.

• “The president’s not winning on this issue,” Tillis said. “It is killing some of our candidates because they can’t explain it. And now it looks like they weren’t being honest when they said it was inoperative.”

John Thune still thinks there’s “a way” to confirm Blanche this year, but told reporters he’d “defer to whatever the White House” wants to do.

THE HILL

Thune plans to bring a continuing resolution to the Senate floor next week, emphasizing that “appropriators are working in good faith to produce a clean, bipartisan product, free of poison pills.”

The Senate advanced three nominees out of committee today: Erica Schwartz for CDC director, Sean Kaufman for an HHS assistant secretary role, and Keith Sonderling for labor secretary. HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy reversed some of his positions to support all three.

The Senate also defeated Democrats’ latest Iran war powers resolution 49-50.

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Mandela Barnes suspended his Wisconsin gubernatorial campaign this afternoon. The decision came just as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was preparing a story detailing sexual impropriety allegations involving the Democratic candidate.

Elon Musk authorized his super PAC to spend up to $120 million on a new field program aimed at electing Republicans in at least eight states, The New York Times reports.

THE ADMINISTRATION

RFK Jr. revealed an online cooking show mixing “healthy” recipes with MAHA talking points.

The “Freedom Haulers” initiative launched today. The program would boost veteran hiring within the trucking industry in the White House’s effort to replace non-citizen drivers.

A U.S. government map of Africa — likely made with AI tools — mislabeled every country during a State Department presentation abroad this week.

CONCACAF rejected today FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s plans to allow private investors to buy stakes in the World Cup. The organization, which represents the U.S. and 40 other member associations, joins the powerful European governing body in denouncing the proposal.

THE COURTS

The DOJ awakened a terrorist deportation court for the first case in its 30-year existence.

Palestinian authorities are petitioning the Supreme Court to stave off a $650 million penalty that they argue would destabilize critical government services in the West Bank.

IVORY ‘COAST’

THANK YOU FOR READING

Today’s newsletter was produced by Brett Bachman, Kate Nocera and Erik Schutz. If you like 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.