Trump Courts Fire

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for June 29, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

The Supreme Court issued a slate of consequential rulings on the penultimate day of its term. States are allowed a grace period for collecting mail-in ballots after Election Day, the court ruled.

• It’s a setback in Donald Trump’s campaign against the voting method — one he’s using to pressure Congress to pass the languishing SAVE America act.

Justices blocked Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook in a 5-4 decision — saying “Congress, not the courts” must change federal law on removing members of independent agencies — but expanded presidential authority in a 6-3 ruling that Trump can fire former FTC member Rebecca Slaughter.

Trump will have to pay the $5 million in damages that he owes writer E. Jean Carroll after the court declined to hear his appeal of the verdict. He still claimed the case is fake today.

• Tomorrow’s rulings: birthright citizenship, transgender participation in women’s sports, and party coordination with candidates.

THE ADMINISTRATION

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are set to brief the House and Senate on the U.S.-Iran peace deal by phone this afternoon.

The federal government’s ethics czar has never not been a lawyer. Trump’s nominee doesn’t have a law degree — but is a loyal ally of the president.

The Defense Department announced new Defense Policy Board members, including billionaire Marc Andreessen.

THE HILL

The only way to enact SAVE America Act provisions is through an in-the-works reconciliation process, Mike Johnson told reporters today, insisting that vehicle would “clearly pass the Byrd rule” in the Senate. (A similar attempt last time did not.)

• Trump says he still has not received Congress’ “unimportant” bipartisan housing legislation, which Johnson sent over earlier today. Compared with the election bill, “just about everything is a big yawn,” he told reporters this afternoon.

Senate Ethics dismissed misconduct complaints against Sen. Ruben Gallego today, but Axios reports the Arizona Democrat is under federal investigation for suspected campaign finance violations.

• NOTUS also reports Gallego’s right-hand man quietly created a nonprofit that’s able to raise unlimited funds.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than a dozen business groups are lobbying against a bipartisan proposal to restrict stock buybacks by the largest Pentagon contractors.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) queried the Department of the Interior about Congress’ America250 commission facing a funding shortfall.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) will launch an eponymous academic institute at the University of California, Berkeley focusing on “strengthening American democracy” when she retires.

THE STATES

The Colorado Supreme Court blocked two Democratic attempts to put redrawing congressional district boundaries for 2028 on the ballot.

GOOD GOD, LEMON

Thank you for reading! Today’s newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe and Erik Schutz. If you liked it, please forward it to a friend. If someone shared it with you, please sign up — it’s free! Got a tip or comments to share? Email us at finalnotus@notus.com.