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News of the United States.

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NOTUS @notus.com · Dec 19
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For the On NOTUS podcast, Rep. Pete Aguilar said he and other members of House Democratic leadership are “standing at the bottom of Mount Rushmore,” as they have taken over from long-serving lawmakers like Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn.
www.notus.org/congress/pet...
Pete Aguilar Says New Democratic Leaders Need to ‘Chart a Path’ to Push Back on Trump
In this week’s episode of the On NOTUS podcast, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus tells Reese Gorman that being the highest-ranking Latino in Congress means “added responsibility.”
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 4:12 PM
In the newsletter:
- What Trump told us about his plans for Venezuelan oil revenues
- Busy days for the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus
- And: Jerome Powell feels the heat
https://www.notus.org/newsletters/the-neo-neoconservative-era
The Neo-Neoconservative Era
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Maine state Sen. Joe Baldacci is entering the race to replace Rep. Jared Golden.
www.notus.org/2026-electio...
Joe Baldacci Launches Bid for Maine Congressional Seat
The Maine state senator is entering the race to replace Rep. Jared Golden.
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Iran, Cuba … Greenland. The possibilities are endless now for a group of hawkish conservatives many thought were left out in the cold by MAGA’s ascendancy.

Or are they?
www.notus.org/foreign-poli...
The Neocons Are Excited. But They Also Know Trump.
Life in the neo-neocon era.
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska is launching a much-anticipated Senate run, marking a major recruiting victory for Senate Democrats.
www.notus.org/congress/mar...
Mary Peltola Launches Alaska Senate Bid, Marking Major Recruiting Coup for Democrats
Peltola, a former House member, will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says DOJ Opened Criminal Probe to Pressure Him on Interest Rates
https://www.notus.org/economy/fed-chair-jerome-powell-doj-criminal-investigation-interest-rates
Fed Chair Says DOJ Opened Criminal Probe to Pressure Him on Interest Rates
Jerome Powell delivered a curtly worded statement in a front-facing video posted to YouTube by the official Federal Reserve account.
www.notus.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Members of the National Symphony Orchestra tell NOTUS that they are “disgusted and terrified” by the recent move to rename the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump.
https://bit.ly/4qLw6PE
‘Disgusted': National Symphony Orchestra Members Fear Trump's Kennedy Center Name Change Could Ruin Them
One member said that the president's rebranding is even unpopular among the orchestra's “most far-right members.”
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by NOTUS
House and Senate Dems told me they are welcoming President Trump's plans to pursue a ban on single-family home purchases for large corporate firms -- but many are referring back to the handful of bills they've already introduced on the issue.

www.notus.org/housing/demo...
Democrats Welcome Trump’s Push to Limit Corporate Ownership of Single Family Homes
Several Democrats introduced similar bills last year.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Wind developers were blindsided by President Trump’s decision to pause major offshore wind projects on national security grounds.
https://www.notus.org/energy/wind-developers-lawsuits-trump-administration-national-security-pauses
Wind Developers Allege the Trump Administration Never Gave Them Warnings of ‘National Security’ Concerns
Three offshore wind companies said in new court filings that they spent years ensuring their projects avoided and mitigated radar interference issues.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Democrats on Capitol Hill have found a rare point of agreement with President Donald Trump after he announced plans to pursue a ban on single-family home purchases for large corporate firms.
Democrats Welcome Trump’s Push to Limit Corporate Ownership of Single Family Homes
Several Democrats introduced similar bills last year.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Jeanine Pirro recently invested up to $15,000 of her own money in Shopify stock. State attorneys general across the country have criticized the online retail giant for “pervasive illegality” and enabling of “unlawful conduct.”
https://www.notus.org/money/jeanine-pirro-investments-shopify
Jeanine Pirro Is Investing In an E-Commerce Company Facing Legal Scrutiny
Pirro has traded hundreds of equities amid congressional calls for a stock-ban law.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Kristi Noem quietly issued an order outlining new restrictions on Congressional oversight visits at immigration detention centers, despite the fact that a similar directive was struck down by a federal judge last month.
Noem Issues New Order Restricting Lawmakers’ Oversight of ICE Facilities
The new directive appears to explain an incident in which three Minnesota Democrats attempted to conduct an oversight visit at an ICE detention center, but were denied entry.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The daylight between the Democratic and Republican responses to Jan. 6 distills a central tension that has distanced the two parties over the past five years.
https://www.notus.org/congress/jan-6-anniversary-republicans-democrats
Democrats Remember Jan. 6 Anniversary While Republicans Spend the Day Cheering on Trump
“As we mark this grim anniversary, it’s important that we remember exactly what happened,” Rep. Bennie Thompson said.
www.notus.org
January 11, 2026 at 4:15 PM
In the wake of military action in Venezuela, Democrats are expressing some regrets about supporting President Trump’s pick for secretary of state.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Marco Rubio has “had a full MAGA-lobotomy.”
https://www.notus.org/foreign-policy/marco-rubio-venezuela-trump-democrats
Senate Democrats Say Rubio Has Had a 'Full MAGA-Lobotomy'
Democrats argue Secretary of State Marco Rubio wouldn’t have supported an operation like the one in Venezuela when he served in the Senate.
www.notus.org
January 10, 2026 at 10:09 PM
President Trump has aggressively pursued fulfilling core 2024 campaign promises. But many others have gone virtually unmentioned.
https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/donald-trump-agenda-47-campaign-promises
Trump Moved Aggressively to Fulfill Some Campaign Promises. Others Are Still Waiting.
The White House maintains that it intends to fulfill them.
www.notus.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Industry experts called plans to get oil companies to spend billions and potentially provide subsidies “preposterous” and “kind of absurd.”
https://www.notus.org/energy/trump-pledge-us-oil-investment-venezuela-industry-silent
Trump’s Pledging Big Investment in Venezuelan Oil. The U.S. Oil Industry Has Been Silent.
Industry experts called plans to get oil companies to spend billions and potentially provide subsidies “preposterous” and “kind of absurd.”
www.notus.org
January 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by NOTUS
Today Trump said he's devising a "formula" to divide Venezuela's oil revenues between the US, oil companies, and Venezuela.

Analysts have been calling this hyperbole, but the administration continues to say it will literally control Venezuela's money.
Trump’s Says the U.S. Is Devising a ‘Formula’ for Venezuelan Oil Revenue
There’s still not a lot of clarity around how the U.S. plans to control Venezuelan oil.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 11:43 PM
President Trump said his administration is “devising a formula” to divide Venezuela’s oil revenues between the United States, oil companies and the Venezuelan people.
https://www.notus.org/foreign-policy/trump-devising-formula-venezuelan-oil-revenue
Trump’s Says the U.S. Is Devising a ‘Formula’ for Venezuelan Oil Revenue
There’s still not a lot of clarity around how the U.S. plans to control Venezuelan oil.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Rep. Mike Collins’ top aide received more than $170,000 in office reimbursements from the lawmaker’s official House account, according to records reviewed by NOTUS.
https://www.notus.org/congress/mike-collins-aide-franking-office-reimbursements
Top Aide to Rep. Mike Collins Was Reimbursed for More Than $170,000 in Office Expenses
Most of the money that was reimbursed went to franking -- which is permissible under House rules. But Brandon Phillips' travel reimbursements are already the subject of an Office of Congressional Conduct report.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
At a meeting with President Trump, key executives from Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips were hesitant to commit to investments in Venezuelan oil.
https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/key-oil-executives-trump-venezuela-investment
Key Oil Executives Hesitate to Commit to Trump's Major Investment Promises
Trump has said American companies will move quickly to invest in Venezuela.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 10:09 PM
On Dec. 18, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds pressed the IRS for favorable crypto rules. That same day, the Florida lawmaker’s wife purchased between $50,001 and $100,000 in Bitcoin.
https://www.notus.org/congress/byron-donalds-crypto-rules-bitcoin
Rep. Byron Donalds Pressed the IRS for Favorable Crypto Rules. His Wife Bought Bitcoin the Same Day.
Donalds’ office defended the purchase. But one former Republican lawmaker said the timing “really looks bad.”
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:48 PM
The president’s shake-up at the Bureau of Labor Statistics didn’t change the actual economic trend lines: job growth slowed significantly during Trump’s first year back in office.
https://www.notus.org/economy/trump-war-on-labor-data-december-jobs-report
Trump’s War on Labor Data Didn’t Change the Economic Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ December jobs report found that job growth slowed during Trump’s first year back in office.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Democratic attorneys general from New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California and Illinois filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from freezing state welfare funds, arguing that the president is “punishing” Democratic states.
www.notus.org/trump-white-...
Democratic Attorneys General Say Trump Is ‘Punishing’ States by Freezing Welfare Funds
The attorneys general of New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California and Illinois filed a lawsuit to block the administration from pausing the funds.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 8:49 PM
“I didn’t, you know, plan on it being such a Danish-heavy year,” Republican Rep. Blake Moore, co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, told NOTUS.
https://www.notus.org/house/blake-moore-denmark-caucus-cochair
Blake Moore’s Job as Cochair of a Denmark Caucus Just Got Harder
The Republican said he’s spent the week reassuring Danish officials as President Donald Trump expresses a desire to acquire Greenland.
www.notus.org
January 9, 2026 at 7:39 PM