Today\u2019s notice: Trump asked Indiana Republicans to be his vengeance, and they listened. A big Democratic endorsement in Michigan. A military jet-fuel leak that went unreported for months. A new administration official is on \u201cthin ice.\u201d The ambassador betting big on gambling stocks. Plus: A look at the Wisconsin delegation\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n
THE LATEST<\/p>\n
MAGA\u2019s big night: Republican opponents of Donald Trump\u2019s redistricting push in Indiana were left dazed by last night\u2019s primary results, NOTUS\u2019 Christa Dutton reports<\/a>. Almost all the incumbent state lawmakers MAGA took on lost, and pretty handily.<\/p>\n The Trump-skeptic GOP was planning for a different result. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough night for the incumbents who did the right thing by standing with their constituents and opposing redistricting,\u201d a volunteer for one of the legislators sent packing by Trump told Christa. \u201cBut in hindsight it should have been obvious that it\u2019s hard to beat a million dollars and the endorsement of a sitting president.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump can put some wind back in his sails. An Indiana Republican insider who didn\u2019t work on any of the state Senate races told Christa that most plugged-in folks were expecting only two wins by Trump-backed challengers. So, it\u2019s reasonable to call this a shellacking for the incumbents.<\/p>\n The takeaway: Republicans still can\u2019t cross this president and get away with it, despite his flagging national poll numbers. \u201cThe Trump effect did actually matter in some of these races,\u201d the insider said.<\/p>\n Cool as a cucumber at the White House: Deputy chief of staff James Blair, one of the chief architects of Trump\u2019s mid-decade redistricting push, told NOTUS\u2019 Kadia Goba that the president was taking pictures with dinner guests last night and not actively monitoring Indiana results \u2014 because they were the results he expected.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you never descend from the ivory tower to talk to voters, you sometimes don\u2019t hear what they are saying,\u201d Blair said. \u201cIndiana state senators learned that lesson the hard way tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats make some noise of their own: The many, many Democrats running for governor of California met for a debate last night. A Los Angeles Times columnist summed it up this way: \u201cThe Democrats were asked why voters should vote Democratic. Answers were elusive<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n In the Iowa U.S. Senate primary debate, state Sen. Zach Wahls re-upped his vow not to support Chuck Schumer for Democratic caucus leader, while state Rep. Josh Turek declined to make the same pledge, CNN reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Debbie Stabenow endorses in Michigan: The former senator and state Democratic legend has never endorsed in a Senate primary before, but this morning she waded into one of the most fraught in Michigan\u2019s recent memory. In The Detroit News<\/a>, she backed Rep. Haley Stevens to be the Democratic nominee \u2014 a huge vote of confidence for Stevens\u2019 establishment-backed candidacy in the three-way primary.<\/p>\n Open tabs: Ex-ICE Deputy Falls Short in Republican House Primary in Ohio<\/a> (NYT); The federal Oscars are having trouble finding candidates<\/a> (Politico); D.C. police put 13 officers on administrative leave in internal crime statistics investigation<\/a> (AP); Trump administration sues Denver over 1989 assault weapon ban<\/a> (Denver Post)<\/p>\n From the Potomac<\/p>\n Exclusive: The military jet-fuel leak that went unreported for months. NOTUS\u2019 Anna Kramer got her hands<\/a> on the state of Maryland\u2019s internal investigation documents regarding the massive jet-fuel leak at Joint Base Andrews that was made public last month. The documents show that the Defense Department failed to disclose fuel-safety issues at its facilities for months, despite strict rules requiring prompt notification of local officials. The problems ultimately led to serious environmental pollution, Anna writes.<\/p>\n In all, Andrews has lost about 32,000 gallons of jet fuel, according to disclosures. No one knows exactly how much of that fuel has contaminated the Piscataway Creek, which feeds into the Potomac River.<\/p>\n From the White House<\/p>\n Trump last night announced a short-term pause on a U.S. operation to protect ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the drawdown was a sign negotiators were close to a deal<\/a> with Iran. He added that a blockade against the country would remain in effect until a peace agreement had been finalized.<\/p>\n Scoop: FDA commissioner running out of chances. \u201cThin ice\u201d were the words a source used when describing Marty Makary\u2019s current standing with the White House. NOTUS\u2019 Kadia Goba, Paige Winfield Cunningham and Margaret Manto report<\/a> that officials at the Food and Drug Administration and the White House have been frustrated with Makary for months, and a tough story about his tenure from Bloomberg<\/a> did not help.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat guy but not the best fit\u201d was the way one source familiar with internal deliberations about Makary described him. The source said Makary has failed to \u201cwrangle the bureaucracy and move quickly.\u201d A second source said there are no immediate plans for Makary\u2019s ouster, but that could change.<\/p>\n From the U.S. Embassy in Rome<\/p>\n He likes the stock(s): U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta \u2014 a hotel-restaurant-casino magnate and the owner of the Houston Rockets \u2014 has been betting very big on gambling-industry stocks, NOTUS\u2019 Dave Levinthal reports<\/a>. The millions of dollars in transactions have come as his holding company is reportedly<\/a> trying to buy Caesars Entertainment and as the gambling industry has come under increased government scrutiny.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of the equities purchased of the various gaming companies have any business activities in Italy and do not constitute a conflict with Ambassador Fertitta\u2019s duties,\u201d Steven Scheinthal, Fertitta Entertainment general counsel, told Dave.<\/p>\n ON NOTUS PODCAST<\/p>\n From your favorite podcast app: Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, says he\u2019s not worried about high prices affecting Republican candidates at the ballot box, even as the war with Iran continues to drive up the cost of gas. \u201cWe\u2019ve got us on the right trajectory. Because of what we\u2019ve had to do in Iran, we\u2019ve seen a small increase in gas prices, but I think people understand that,\u201d Hudson told NOTUS\u2019 Reese Gorman on today\u2019s episode of On NOTUS<\/a>. Hudson also talked about the potential effects of mid-decade redistricting and where Republicans can do a better job on messaging.<\/p>\n NEW ON NOTUS<\/p>\n How rich is the Wisconsin congressional delegation? Most members from the state have seen their personal wealth rise notably since arriving in Washington, NOTUS\u2019 Jade Lozada and Taylor Giorno report<\/a> as part of our ongoing Capitol Gains project<\/a>. The wealthiest? Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, whose median net worth nearly tripled from $24 million in 2010, when he was first elected to the Senate, to $64.9 million in 2024.<\/p>\n More: DHS Shuts Down Its Immigration Detention Watchdog<\/a>, by Torrie Herrington<\/p>\n NOT US<\/p>\n 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<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s free! Have a tip? Email us at tips@notus.com<\/a>. And as always, we\u2019d love to hear your thoughts at newsletters@notus.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s notice: Trump asked Indiana Republicans to be his vengeance, and they listened. 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