T is for Troops

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 15, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Scoop: Forget Reconciliation 3.0. House GOP leadership has floated to members a fourth — yes, fourth — reconciliation package that they would aim to bring to the floor after the November midterms. The idea has no guaranteed path and may not become a formal proposal, but lawmakers are starting to discuss it internally.

House lawmakers voted against blocking U.S. security aid to Israel, defeating an amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) to the national security appropriations bill. Democratic leadership and the wider caucus were divided on the proposal ahead of the vote.

Senators grilled several nominees today — none as anticipated as acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who can only afford to lose a few Republican votes and appeared to struggle at times during questioning.

• When asked whether he and Trump were friends, Blanche responded, “I’m his lawyer — was his lawyer, and now I’m the deputy attorney general.”

Outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked whether the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which a federal judge indefinitely blocked last month, could be revived after Blanche refused a judge’s request to put in writing that it has been abandoned.

• “There is no fund. It’s dead,” Blanche said.

Senators also questioned potential CDC director Erica Schwartz, who faced skepticism about vaccine recommendations, and Director of National Intelligence pick Jay Clayton, who refused to answer who won the 2020 election.

THE ADMINISTRATION

President Trump says ICE “cannot give up” car stops, reversing DHS’s directive yesterday to temporarily pause them.

The Pentagon will test service members 30 and over for testosterone deficiencies. Treatment would be optional, Hegseth said.

Pro-Trump ‘Freedom Fuel’ gas stations are backed by a Baltimore Ravens coach and former commodities trading executive.

A Lincoln Memorial exhibit is plagued with problems weeks after opening — including exposing rare documents to unsafe heat.

The U.S. Mint started producing a new $1 coin that will bear Trump’s face, to be released in the fall. It’s not gold — but has a gold finish — and looks a bit different than what was proposed last year.

THE HILL

Here’s what’s in House Republicans’ $95 billion reconciliation package.

JD Vance met with House Republicans at the Capitol this afternoon to rally members on the bill after skipping a meeting yesterday to appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast.

• Mike Johnson told reporters the Senate will pass the budget framework by next month’s recess — something several Republicans would disagree with.

EASY TO BEAT

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