Pressing Pause

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for June 18, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, pausing the escalation that halted the U.S.-Iran talks that were supposed to happen today but didn’t.

• Donald Trump dismissed criticism of his Iran deal as whining from “Dumocrats,” but the vibes among Senate Republicans are also hovering somewhere between “somber” and “dismay.”
• JD Vance was supposed to be flying to Switzerland for the talks. Now he’s stuck in Washington, taking heat from Republicans over his comments about Israel.
• Sixty-five percent of American adults disapprove of how Trump is handling Iran, per a new AP-NORC poll out today.

The U.S. and Italy are arguing over Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” to take a picture with him. Italy canceled Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s trip to the U.S., and Meloni said on camera: “Neither I nor Italy ever beg.”

The USMNT plays Australia at 3 p.m. ET, which may or may not be why you’re getting this holiday edition of Final NOTUS early.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Bill Pulte asked for a list of all employees in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Sources told CNN he’s trying to figure out which ones to fire.

The FAA is working with Palantir to see if AI can help prevent collisions and close calls on airport runways.

No, Trump didn’t cancel Juneteenth. He can’t.

THE MIDTERMS

State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, yet another sign of progressives rising. He’ll face former Gov. Paul LePage in November.

• Another progressive, former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, won the Democratic primary for governor. Bobby Charles, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state, won the Republican primary.

THE DISTRICT

The Trump administration says the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 — which limits buildings in D.C. to 130 feet tall — doesn’t apply to Trump’s arch or anything else the federal government wants to build.

The Wizards have the No. 1 draft pick, and they may take BYU’s AJ Dybantsa — and his dad.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN?

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116776456544210565

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