Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for April 16, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon today after leaders from the two countries met in Washington. He added that he plans to host formal peace talks at the White House between Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun.

• “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Over on Capitol Hill, the House rejected yet another resolution to curb Trump’s authority over the Iran war today by the narrowest of margins, 214-213, with one present vote from Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican from Ohio who had recently voted in favor of asserting Congress’ war powers.

The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the sexual assault allegations levied against Eric Swalwell, a source with knowledge of the matter told NOTUS’ Reese Gorman. The disgraced former congressman is also facing local probes in both New York and Los Angeles.

THE HILL

Lawmakers wouldn’t let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. avoid his most controversial issue — vaccines — at his first appearance in Congress since he pared back childhood vaccine recommendations. Kennedy attempted to focus on his more popular policies, like lower drug prices and discouraging processed foods.

• “One thing I find incredible is that you suspended this pro-vaccine messaging campaign, but somehow you’re spending taxpayer dollars to drink milk shirtless in a hot tub with Kid Rock,” Rep. Linda Sánchez said. “And somehow you think that’s a better public health message.”

House Republican leadership canceled yet another vote this afternoon to set up a clean extension of FISA Section 702, a law with a controversial provision that allows U.S. intelligence to perform warrantless surveillance on noncitizens.

• Mike Johnson is trying to reach a deal before the law expires on Monday with conservative privacy hawks who want to reform the law in order to extend it.

THE ADMINISTRATION

The president announced a new, more conventional nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Erica Schwartz, who served as deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term.

• He also tapped ex-Walmart executive Sean Slovenski and Texas health commissioner Jennifer Shuford as CDC deputy directors, and senior FDA official Sara Brenner as a senior counselor for public health.

The Commission of Fine Arts, a federal agency formally tasked with overseeing the “design and aesthetics” of construction within Washington, unanimously approved the designs for Trump’s massive, gold-trimmed triumphal arch at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

• But one of the commission’s members, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., isn’t happy with just one arch. “I think the president should do three,” he told The Washington Post, citing two other locations in southeast Washington.

THE STATES

An ICE agent was charged with assault for allegedly pointing a gun at a pair of motorists he was attempting to pass on the shoulder of a highway in Minneapolis, local prosecutors announced. Hennepin County attorney Mary Moriarty said at a press conference that she believes the criminal case against 35-year-old Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr. is the first one brought against an immigration agent involved in Trump’s aggressive mass-deportation campaign.

• The case sets up a test of Stephen Miller’s assertion that federal agents have “federal immunity” for any crimes committed while carrying out their official duties.

THE BOBBIT OF ROADKILL

Now here’s a sentence you’ve probably never read before.

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Andrew Burton and Kate Nocera. 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.