Today’s notice: Trump leaves China with roses, but few deals. Michigan’s Senate primary enters Phase 2. Republicans find Trump’s comment “unhelpful.” Senate Democrats are trying to be nicer to their black sheep. And: Lamar Alexander wants Congress to be better.

THE LATEST

Trump’s Coming Home. President Donald Trump is in the air, flying home from a packed two days in Beijing, a trip that he said was an “incredible visit. I think a lot of good has come of it.”

We’re still waiting on the details of the “fantastic trade deals,” which Trump and officials said include China buying 200 Boeing planes (Boeing originally expected 500) and a multibillion-dollar agriculture deal that includes soy beans.

Trump was on a mission, while on the ground in Beijing, to show that his interpersonal style of diplomacy that at times elevates relationships over details is a winning one.

In the gardens of Zhongnanhai, the secret compound used by Communist Party leaders, Trump was overheard by reporters telling someone that Chinese President Xi Jinping was gifting him, the White House beautifier-in-chief, roses for the White House Rose Garden. When Xi announced it moments later, Trump said, smiling: “I love that, that’s great.”

It was a consequential trip for Trump, who will likely return home to tough headlines on the Iran war and the prices associated with it. And of all the deals announced and coming, the relationship might be the most enduring deliverable.

“For this trip, symbolism is more consequential than the substance,” one former foreign service officer with deep knowledge of Beijing told Jasmine.

How is Trump’s trip landing with the base? One MAGA Republican close to the White House said it’s kind of not. “It’s so weird, I feel like no one’s really talking about it.”

Open tabs: Trump poised to drop IRS suit, launch $1.7B ‘weaponization’ fund for allies: Sources (ABC); Lawmakers Worry Trump’s Chummy China Trip Puts $14B Taiwan Arms Package in Jeopardy (NOTUS); U.S. moving to indict Cuba’s Raúl Castro, sources say (CBS); Trump allies want D.C.’s July 4 fireworks to set world record (Axios)

From the Hill

Reconciliation snag: The Senate parliamentarian issued rulings last night knocking out major sections of the Republican reconciliation bill funding immigration enforcement, including billions of dollars for Border Patrol and for the screening of unaccompanied children at the border. While a big setback, Republicans can try to rework the provisions to get them to comply with the strict rules governing budget reconciliation.

How Senate Democrats see John Fetterman: “I wish the atmosphere [was] more collegial, and we don’t go after each other simply on our differences. I should do better to get to know him,” Sen. Andy Kim told NOTUS’ Igor Bobic of his fellow Democratic colleague. There’s been speculation lately that Fetterman might switch parties under withering criticism from Democrats who see his Senate career as something of a betrayal. (For his part, Fetterman slapped that down in an op-ed.).

The Democratic senators Igor talked to urged their party not to keep pushing Fetterman out, despite policy stances that have often made him Fox News’ favorite Democrat and MS NOW’s least favorite. “A good human and a good Democrat” is how Sen. Brian Schatz described Fetterman, praising his independent voice. “I think we should have a big enough and diverse enough party to not just tolerate that, but hope for it and work for it,” Schatz added.

From the campaign trail

Is Mallory McMorrow’s moment passing? The Democratic Senate primary in Michigan has settled into a groove for the moment: former Detroit Health Department leader Abdul El-Sayed is the candidate of the angry left and Rep. Haley Stevens is the candidate of the establishment. That leaves McMorrow, a state legislator with a national following, as the odd candidate out.

Call it Phase 2 of this contentious primary. It was not long ago that Stevens was faltering and Chuck Schumer was signaling that he could support McMorrow, even though a core message of her campaign is a promise to vote against him as Senate leader. But NOTUS’ Stephen Neukam, Alex Roarty and Igor Bobic report that establishment names are flocking to Stevens again.

“There’s an appetite to move past Stevens’ stumbles in the first year of her campaign and focus on the fact that she can win now,” a senior Democratic strategist said.

This is all vibes based at the moment. The primary isn’t until August, and polls have found McMorrow to still be competitive. She has her own big-name supporters too, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But predictions of Stevens’ decline have not materialized.

NOTUS INTERVIEW

Lamar! Has takes! The former senator from Tennessee, a flannel-shirt-wearing Republican before it was cool, has a new book coming out and a lot to say about the state of his party. NOTUS’ Paul Kane talked to the 85-year-old Lamar Alexander for an exclusive preview of what is sure to be a folksy but sharp-elbowed book tour.

On the Senate Republican Conference: “Well, it’s not worth running for the Senate if all you’re going to do is sit there and make a speech and parrot the president’s point of view,” Alexander told Paul. He praised the conference’s protection of the filibuster and some moves by Leader John Thune, but overall he is not impressed. “The only senator who consistently earned a gold star for asserting the Senate’s constitutional prerogatives was Rand Paul,” Alexander said.

On the president: “Trump undermined the United States Constitution and assaulted one of the most hallowed precepts of the American democracy, the peaceful transfer of power,” Alexander said of Jan. 6. “If those actions do not constitute a ‘high crime or misdemeanor,’ I do not know what does.”

On Democrats: “I quietly wish the Democrats could be more effective. Because if the Democrats could win more races, the Republicans would shape up, they would,” he said. “I mean, as long as the Democrats wallow on the left-hand side of the road, Republicans are going to be free to wallow on the right-hand side of the road in the extreme.”

NEW ON NOTUS

Cleanup crew: “I really don’t think he meant to put it in those terms that he doesn’t care,” Republican Sen. Mike Rounds told NOTUS’ Al Weaver as Democrats spooled up their outrage machine to make Trump’s viral “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation” quote very, very famous.

Republicans on the Hill are not happy with the choice of words. “Unhelpful,” a senior GOP aide said.

More: Trump Bought Corporations’ Stock as His Administration Boosted Their Business, by Jackie Llanos

Former Top Newsom Aide Pleads Guilty in Campaign Embezzlement Scheme, by Jenna Monnin

Alleged Embezzler Is Overseeing Rep. Andy Ogles’ Legal Defense Fund, by Em Luetkemeyer

Supreme Court Allows Abortion Pills to Remain Accessible Through the Mail — For Now, by Oriana González

NOT US

• The Late-Night Truth Social Storms That Offer a Window Into the President’s Mind, by Anthony DeBarros and Annie Linskey for The Wall Street Journal
• Ex-Fishback Volunteers Describe Toxic Culture Inside Campaign, by Jessica Bowlby for Miami New Times
• Following the Money on Sean Duffy’s Road Trip, by Henry Burke for The American Prospect
• ‘Crush their souls’: Democrats ditch the niceties after GOP gains upper hand on redistricting, by Riley Rogerson and Calen Razor for Politico

BE SOCIAL

Thank you for reading! If you liked this edition of the NOTUS newsletter, please forward it to a friend. If this newsletter was shared with you, please subscribe — it’s free! Have a tip? Email us at tips@notus.com. And as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts at newsletters@notus.com.

The newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe, Brett Bachman, Andrew Burton and Kim Breen. Photo from The Associated Press.