‘Truly Hawkish’

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 28, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

Donald Trump met with two foreign leaders today: Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu. Zelenskyy and Trump discussed diplomacy and the recent U.S. pledge to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems.

• Zelenskyy will meet with senators this evening ahead of the chamber’s procedural vote on Russia sanctions. He’s hoping to persuade as many Democrats as possible to sign on to the measure despite a provision expanding Trump’s tariff authority on countries that purchase Russian energy products.

Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu — the pair’s first since the Iran war began — was closed to the press. The Israeli prime minister later called their 90-minute conversation “one of the best” they’ve had.

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral service took place at the National Cathedral this afternoon after a Hill ceremony earlier this morning.

• At the rotunda, JD Vance, John Thune and Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-South Carolina) spoke about the late senator, and Sen. Darline Graham broke down while approaching her brother’s casket. Much of the Senate attended, including John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) in a rarely worn suit.

• Trump described Graham as “truly hawkish — he never saw a war that he didn’t like” in his 14-minute eulogy at the cathedral.

THE HILL

Gov. Andy Beshear called on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) to provide proof of his capacity to serve — or resign.

Outgoing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) says there is “no ‘deal’” concerning acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination: “They know what they have to do.”

• Cornyn suggested to reporters that Thursday’s committee vote may be postponed if Republicans lack the votes, noting the DOJ has been “radio silent” about the fund.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Senators will vote on Jay Clayton’s nomination to be the next director of national intelligence this evening.

• Acting director Bill Pulte — whose own nomination prompted swift Senate backlash — announced a final sweep of agency firings just hours before his successor’s confirmation vote.

Scoop: The FDA will officially consolidate administrative staff across the agency’s nine centers and stop specializing its field inspectors starting this fall.

The U.S. delegation to the United Nations walked out of a Security Council meeting this week during a French speech that criticized American human rights stances, including characterizing them as authoritarian.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is planning to sell private World Cup stakes, The Times reports, with sources saying figures close to Trump have been consulted about the plan — including Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law.

THE COURTS

Trump can refile his $15 billion New York Times defamation lawsuit, a federal judge ruled today.

The Reflecting Pool had already sustained significant damage before a former Olympian was accused of damaging it, defense attorneys say in a new court filing.

JIMMY TIMMY POWER HOUR

THANK YOU FOR READING

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