Top of the Hour

Good morning from Hotline. Today we’re tracking:

• WHY state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) dropped out of the MI SEN race?

• HOW President Trump’s July 4 extravaganza went

• WHAT potential 2028 presidential candidates are up to

Let’s get after it.

What's News

MICHIGAN: State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) suspended her Senate campaign on Sunday, clearing the way for a Democratic primary showdown between Rep. Haley Stevens (D-11) and 2018 GOV candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D). McMorrow said in an announcement video that “whoever wins this primary on Aug. 4 will have my full support,” sidestepping an endorsement of either El-Sayed or Stevens.

• WHAT HAPPENED? McMorrow didn’t discuss the reasons for her sudden departure, but “a person with direct knowledge said the biggest factor was the recent influx of outside spending boosting Stevens,” including the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. Recent polls showed the state senator in a distant third place in the primary as El-Sayed corralled progressives and Stevens swayed moderates within the Democratic Party. (AP)

• OFF THE SIDELINES. State Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) endorsed Stevens following McMorrow’s exit. (X)

• GOVERNOR. An internal poll (June 28-30; 800 LVs) for Rep. John James (R-10) conducted by OnMessage Inc. found him leading the GOP primary with 46% of the vote, followed by 2022 GOV candidate Perry Johnson (R) with 21%, and former state Attorney General Mike Cox (R) with 14%. (release)

WHITE HOUSE: In speeches at Mount Rushmore and on the National Mall, President Trump marked the nation’s 250th birthday by fearmongering “about Democrats four months before the midterms,” alluding to the threat of communism. His speech discussed the “genius” of the founding fathers and referenced historical figures including Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, and Lewis and Clark. (New York Times)

2028 WATCH: In contrast with Trump’s speech, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) “cast his presidency as a betrayal of American ideals.” Newsom, speaking about the president’s 2020 election falsehoods and efforts to reshape election rules ahead of the midterms, said, “This is one man trying to do to our American self-government what no king and no foreign power has ever managed to do.” Moore, who did not mention Trump by name, said, “the very premise of patriotism is under attack.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said “the foundational ideals that this nation was founded on are under threat.” (New York Times/release)

VOTING: “A group of Democratic governors asked the” Postal Service “to withdraw its proposed rule seeking to implement” Trump’s executive order creating “a federal list of eligible voters and potentially” limiting “who can receive a ballot in the mail.” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) organized the effort, which included eight other governors. (AP)

• UNDER REVIEW. The FBI sent a memo to field offices across the country asking them to dedicate staffers to the agency’s investigation of the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, which it called a “priority effort.” The FBI is seeking a total of 260 staffers to join the effort and “is authorizing intelligence analysts to work overtime, including weekends and holidays, on the case.” (MS NOW)

ALASKA: The FBI, acting state Attorney General Cori Mills (R), and U.S. Attorney for Alaska Michael Hyman “are all investigating whether two or more people conspired to create” former U.S. Forest Service employee Dan J. Sullivan’s (R) “campaign with the intention to confuse voters, hurt” Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R), “and boost votes for” former Rep. Mary Peltola (D). Both Sullivans are set to appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot, which could allow both to advance to the four-way general election alongside Peltola. (NBC News)

• GOVERNOR. A Public Policy Polling survey (June 24-25; 529 LVs; +/-4.2%) conducted for former state Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) found 27% of primary voters are undecided. Former state Sen. Tom Begich (D) got 16% in the top-four primary poll, followed by Kreiss-Tomkins and former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson (R) each with 13%, conservative activist Bernadette Wilson (R) with 12%, and former state Sen. Click Bishop (R) with 10%. Other candidates got 11%. (release)

REPUBLICANS: Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he will “do everything I can” to bring about a third party, arguing that neither Republicans nor Democrats give a sufficient explanation as to the reality of war and how it is financed. Carlson said he does not “want to be a candidate.” (Columbia Journalism Review)

DEMOCRATS: Democrats see Trump’s recent financial disclosure “that his personal income topped $2 billion last year” as an opportunity to argue he has participated in corruption and “lost focus on Americans’ finances.” For some voters, Trump’s personal fortune has added to his credibility as a businessman, but Democrats argue “the public’s sour view of the economy creates an opening to turn his recent wealth-building into a liability for his party.” (Wall Street Journal)

ME SEN: TikTok influencer Cheyenne Hunt (D), who played a central role in shedding light on sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) during the California governor’s race, is involved in an effort to oppose oyster farmer Graham Platner (D) after rescinding her endorsement of him last month. Hunt, who heads Reckoning Action, a women’s rights advocacy group, is “working with multiple women who have had past personal relationships with Platner” and “providing help navigating the media.” Reckoning Action is also “providing pro bono legal counsel.” (NBC News)

MN SEN: Rep. Angie Craig (D-02) launched two ads as part of a $500,000 statewide buy. One ad, titled “Hitting Back,” shows Craig hitting a softball against congressional stock trading, “Big Pharma,” and Trump. Another ad, titled “Pull Tabs,” highlights her two impeachment votes against Trump while declaring “it’s time to stop Trump from ripping us off.” (Punchbowl News)

NY-21: Assemblyman Robert Smullen (R) withdrew his name from the ballot under the Conservative Party line after a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. Smullen lost the GOP nomination to Trump-endorsed businessman Anthony Constantino (R) in a bitter primary. Smullen would have posed a major vote-splitting threat to Constantino in the race to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R). (New York Times)

PA-01: Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie (D) sent a cease-and-desist letter to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) for advertisements purporting that Harvie is “currently under criminal investigation for stealing taxpayer money.” Harvie’s campaign says he is not and never was under investigation. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

SC-01: Navy veteran Nancy Lacore (R) announced raising $1.2 million in Q2 and holding $397,000 cash on hand. (Punchbowl News)

IA GOV: “In his first public campaign event since becoming the” GOP nominee for governor a month ago, businessman Zach Lahn (R) addressed criticism over his ties to Kansas and private jet travel. Lahn didn’t take questions “from attendees during the town hall.” (Sioux City Journal)

MIDTERM MADNESS: Voters are turning to AI tools “to serve as nonpartisan researchers, viewing them as a viable alternative to traditional news coverage, voter guides or social media.” While some experts warn AI-generated results may contain factual errors, they can allow voters to bypass the sometimes dizzying array of political literature, advertising and commentary coming their way.” (New York Times)

Paging the Hotline

Care to share your feedback on the newsletter? Have a tip? Just want to say hello? Drop us an email here.

Editor in chief Jeff Dufour checks in with MAHA influencers on the trajectory of their movement.

Hair of the Dog

“Joey Chestnut eats 66 hot dogs to again claim Mustard Belt at Nathan’s Famous contest” (AP)

Our Call

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is following the well-worn path for Republicans burned by President Trump—attempting to appeal to a Republican Party beyond the president. Former Trump adviser Elon Musk deliberated starting the America Party after his feud with the president last year, later abandoning the effort. Former Vice President Mike Pence has attempted to make an appeal to reason among Republicans in an effort to reshape the party past Trump. Republican dissidents like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY 04) and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA 14) hope to capture disinterested independents and moderates. These efforts have been largely unsuccessful, as the MAGA base remains closely aligned with the president even as his approval falls. It’s not clear there’s energy for anything other than MAGA in the Republican Party. — Erika Filter

Fresh Brewed Buzz

“President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino about U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's controversial red card and resulting suspension before the governing body lifted the ban.” (Axios)

“Trump says he overruled plan to cancel Mall celebration amid weather evacuations” (Washington Post)

“DOGE’s formal mandate ends July 4, as prescribed by the executive order” Trump “signed last year to create it. … In the last five months of 2025, the government listed just over 68,900 jobs on its hiring website, USAJobs. In the first five months of 2026, it posted over 104,000, according to a data dashboard of government job postings.” (NOTUS)

“These Interns Are Capitol Hill’s Newest Main Characters” (New York Times)

“A White House report brands the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution, especially at the National Museum of American History, as radical activists who cannot be trusted, indicating that” Trump “may be preparing to install his own team.” (NBC News)

“Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing due to appear in court for multiday hearing that will preview prosecutors’ evidence” (CNN)

Rooster's Crow

The House is in at 10:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate is in at 9 a.m. for a pro forma session.

President Trump will participate in the launch of Trump Accounts at 9:30 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., he will participate in a Rose Garden Club Lunch. The president will participate in a greeting with the National Border Patrol Council Executive Committee at 2 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., he will participate in a policy meeting. He will then depart the White House for Ankara, Turkey.

Swizzle Challenge

First lady Grace Coolidge was described by the Washington Senators manager Bucky Harris as “the most rabid baseball fan I ever knew in the White House.”

No one won Thursday’s challenge. Here’s our challenge: Where was the first statewide Republican party convention?

The 3rd correct email gets to submit the next question.

Shot...

“We rebuilt our military in my first term. We used it a little bit in our—actually, I should say third term, but I won’t do that, because I don’t want any controversy.” — President Trump on July 4 (New York Times)

...Chaser

“Is it me? Am I the drama?” — Scarlet Envy (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

Kirk A. Bado, Hotline Editor

Managing Editor: Hannah Thacker

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