New Platner Bombshell

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 6, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here— it’s free!

THE LATEST

A woman who dated embattled U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner accused him of sexually assaulting her roughly five years ago, Politico reported this afternoon. Just before the story dropped, the oyster farmer canceled a string of campaign events.

• He denied the allegations in a video statement, adding that his campaign is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
  

President Donald Trump took a victory lap of sorts when he admitted this morning to personally asking FIFA president Gianni Infantino for a review of last week’s red-card suspension of U.S. men’s World Cup star Folarin Balogun, which was ultimately dropped.

• “I’m a person that loves sports and was a good athlete. I understand sports really well, and that wasn’t a foul,” Trump said. “I related just that view. I didn’t tell [Infantino] what to do. I can’t tell him what to do.”
  

After an unsuccessful Belgian appeal, the U.S. squad is back for its round-of-16 matchup against Belgium tonight at 8 p.m. ET. The president will have to watch aboard Air Force One as he departs tonight for a NATO summit in Turkey.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Trump held an event in the Oval Office this morning to mark the launch of his signature “Trump accounts” for American children — but not all of the attendees managed to stay awake for his remarks.

Lockheed Martin has agreed to take on the cost of building a helipad at the White House, a decision the company arrived at because executives felt bad about damage its helicopters had caused to the South Lawn, Trump claimed.

The White House released an eyebrow-raising report accusing the Smithsonian of “extreme political activism” by engaging in anti-white bias and failing to properly celebrate America’s heritage.

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Emily’s List, the prominent organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democrats to office, waded into the contentious U.S. Senate race in Michigan — backing Rep. Haley Stevens over her progressive challenger, Abdul El-Sayed.

THE COURTS

The family of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including his widow Erika Kirk, were in Utah for a hearing in the case against Tyler James Robinson, the man accused of killing him.

• Donald Trump Jr., a friend of Kirk’s, was also spotted at the courthouse.

RELATABLE

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