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Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is seen Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Washington. Tom Brenner/AP Photo

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for Aug. 11, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

The White House asked the DOJ to consider bringing new charges against former Olympian David Hearn after the administration dropped its Reflecting Pool-case two weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal reports.

  • House Judiciary ranking member Jamie Raskin says he wants to investigate the White House’s initial prosecution in a new letter to Doug Burgum and Jeanine Pirro.
  • Should Trump fire Pirro? “It’s always up to the president,” White House adviser Peter Navarro told reporters today — a day after he railed against the D.C.’s top prosecutor on Steve Bannon’s show.

The DOJ wants executive privilege to cover Trump’s private advisers as well — a move that would greatly expand the historical protections upheld by the Supreme Court in multiple rulings.

Trending

THE ADMINISTRATION

Medical groups are denouncing Trump’s vaccine order as “dangerous.”

The administration awarded a $158 million contract to represent unaccompanied migrant children to a nonprofit founded by Tim Ballard of “The Sound of Freedom” fame, The Washington Post reports.

A former Marine held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges has been released. “I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump has stepped in to defend Gianni Infantino amid calls for the FIFA president to resign.

THE COURTS

Civil rights groups are challenging Trump’s new “birth tourism” executive order.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is wielding the state pension fund’s investment in The New York Times to compel the media organization’s release of private documents.

Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups sued the Trump administration today to challenge its campaign against the International Criminal Court.

Trump threatened federal action to “avert” New York City’s pied-à-terre tax — which he would likely have to pay — after a judge temporarily blocked it yesterday.

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Former Republican Mayor John Giles joined Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on the ticket ahead of her tough reelection campaign in Arizona.

THE HILL

Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), a House Energy and Commerce member, failed to properly disclose 22 personal stock trades in companies including Palantir and Pfizer.

INBOX IRONY

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.