Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for March 30, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!
THE LATEST
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz isn’t the U.S.’s problem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a press conference this morning. This is a major tonal shift on the strait, which is a critical passage for 20% of the world’s oil: Donald Trump just yesterday threatened to bomb Iranian power plants if the country didn’t open the strait by April 6.
- Trump addressed countries struggling to obtain fuel, including the U.K., on Truth Social this morning: “Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. … The U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
- Two weeks ago, Trump told reporters that the U.S. didn’t “need anybody” to help its operation in Iran.
- Oil markets have skyrocketed since Iran closed the strait on March 2, with the average cost of a gallon of gas in the U.S. hitting $4 today for the first time since 2022, according to AAA.
Speaking of oil: The Trump administration is giving oil and gas developers a pass on protecting endangered whales, in part because of the Iran war, NOTUS’ Anna Kramer reports.
- Hegseth told the seven government officials who voted on the decision that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz “highlights yet again why robust domestic oil production is a national security imperative.”
Trending
THE ADMINISTRATION
The White House is really excited about the Artemis lunar program ahead of tomorrow’s launch of Artemis II, the next phase of Trump’s plan to return humans to the moon, touting it in social media posts. But, as NOTUS’ Mark Alfred reports, Trump proposed essentially gutting the program last year when he was in his DOGE era.
Congress balked at most of those cuts, and money to fund Artemis IV and V missions was included in last years’ reconciliation bill. Trump is “excited about the next phase with the historic upcoming Artemis II launch,” White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston said in a statement.
THE COURTS
A federal judge blocked the construction of Trump’s ballroom without congressional approval. The $400 million ballroom would sit where the White House’s East Wing has already been demolished.
- “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” the judge wrote.
A state law banning conversion therapy for minors probably violates free speech, the Supreme Court ruled. The court sided with a Christian talk therapist in Colorado even though the law in question only applied to professional speech. More than half of U.S. states have similar bans.
- Neil Gorsuch delivered the 8-1 opinion: “Colorado may regard its policy as essential to public health and safety. Certainly, censorious governments throughout history have believed the same. But the First Amendment stands as a shield against any effort to enforce orthodoxy in thought or speech in this country.”
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from defunding NPR and PBS, citing the First Amendment, though the decision will likely be appealed. The judge found the order unlawful and unenforceable.
ALASKAN PROBLEMS
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