Who’s on First?

Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for July 24, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

THE LATEST

South Carolina will be the first up to vote in the 2028 Democratic primary, the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee voted today. The state’s 26 votes beat out Nevada (19) and New Hampshire (4).

• The proposed presidential nomination calendar puts South Carolina’s primary on Jan. 22 and Super Tuesday on March 7. The dates will go to the DNC’s August meeting for ratification.
• “Now, instead of reacting to whomever’s left, we now get to shape what the field actually looks like, and I think that’s important,” said Jaime Harrison, a former DNC chair and South Carolina Democratic Party chair. “It’s a different role for us.”

President Donald Trump (jokingly?) said the U.S. will put a “major tariff” on Mexico “because of the lettuce” that has been linked to illnesses across several states.

• “We’re going to put a big tariff on Canada because of the smoke, all right? Which would you rather — the lettuce or the smoke?” Trump asked a reporter in the Oval Office. “I think I’ll take the smoke.”

THE ADMINISTRATION

FDA advisers with ties to the peptide industry recommended the government expand access to six unapproved peptides.

The CDC’s website still cites a retracted study linking vaccines and autism.

U.S. firefighting resources are already maxed out — and it’s only July.

The National Guard signed a $292 million housing contract for troops deployed in D.C.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to D.C. next week to meet with Trump at the White House and attend Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral.

THE HILL

Sen. Alan Armstrong (R-Oklahoma) was months late in disclosing 700 personal stock trades, together worth millions and conducted within a week of officially entering Congress in March.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens ahead of the Michigan primary.

Republicans fret Trump could sink Rep. Mike Collins’ Georgia Senate run.

As he battles terminal heart disease, Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Florida) is taking on Big Auto — hoping his Trump connection helps.

THE STATES

The U.S. has now recorded more cases of measles this year than any other year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000.

BABY BLUES

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