The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as US attorney general early Saturday in a 50-49 vote, ending one of the most contentious cabinet fights of President Donald Trump's second term. Blanche, Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, had led the Justice Department in an acting role since April. Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against him, while Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote in favor. Democrats opposed the nomination over concerns about Blanche's independence and his past work for Trump. Blanche becomes the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to office.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general early Saturday morning in a 50-49 vote. Blanche, President Trump's former personal lawyer, had been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi was dismissed in April. All Democrats voted against him, joined by Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided the deciding support. Blanche now leads the Justice Department, which employs more than 100,000 people, after a confirmation fight that exposed Republican divisions over the president's control of federal law enforcement. He had earlier drawn criticism over a $1.8 billion settlement he celebrated as ending the weaponization of the department.
Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee lost his primary on Tuesday, ending his congressional career after two terms. Ogles faced a crowded field in a redrawn Nashville-area district after the Tennessee Supreme Court ordered new maps for the 2026 midterms. Federal campaign finance charges became a central issue in the race. His defeat marks the latest upset in a primary season shaped by redistricting and internal party fights. Ogles, known for his hard-line positions and his role in the push to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, conceded and thanked supporters. National groups spent heavily on both sides, making it one of the most expensive House primaries of the year. The winner is favored in November in the Republican-leaning district.
A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a hearing on the Covid-19 pandemic. The Republican majority backed the citation following a session in which Fauci declined to answer questions about his role in early pandemic messaging and the origins of the virus. Fauci has denied wrongdoing and said the Fifth Amendment was the safe course while the Justice Department reviews related documents. Democrats called the vote a political exercise and warned it could discourage public health experts from cooperating with Congress. The citation now moves to the full Senate, where a vote is not guaranteed.
Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health commissioner, won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, defeating Representative Haley Stevens. The race was one of the most watched of the year because Michigan is a battleground state that could decide control of the Senate. El-Sayed ran on universal health care, higher taxes on the wealthy, and climate action. The win boosts the progressive wing of the party, though results elsewhere were mixed: in Missouri, Representative Wesley Bell beat former Representative Cori Bush in a rematch. El-Sayed now turns to the general election, where Republicans say he is too far left for the state.
A coalition of 25 states filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration over its new tariff plan, calling the duties a 'pretext' to bring back tariffs the Supreme Court already struck down. The states argue the president overstepped his authority and that the plan will raise costs for families and businesses. The White House defended the tariffs as a tool for trade negotiations. The case adds to a crowded legal fight over trade policy, as the administration prepares replacement duties following the Supreme Court ruling. Legal experts say the lawsuit could delay the tariff rollout and create new uncertainty for importers.
President Donald Trump said new talks to wind down the Iran war will start Monday, after announcing he is holding off on the large strikes he had threatened. US officials quickly said no formal negotiations are planned, leaving the strategy unclear. The reversal came as Trump's approval rating hit a new low, with barely a third of Americans approving of his job performance. War fatigue and rising costs are driving the decline, and lawmakers say the White House has shared little detail about the war's direction. Oil prices fell after the announcement. This report covers the mixed messaging, the political pressure the president faces, and what it means ahead of the midterm elections, now less than 100 days away.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro has dropped a felony charge against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after its renovation. In a court filing on Friday, Pirro's office blamed shoddy construction for the damage, contradicting President Trump's claim that the pool was intentionally vandalized. Trump said he disagrees with the decision completely. The reversal has created friction between the president and his own appointee. The National Park Service has not said how much the repairs will cost, but similar concrete work on the National Mall has run into the millions of dollars.
The Trump administration has stepped back from a plan that would have allowed Ukraine to build Patriot missile interceptors on its own soil, according to multiple reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned that the country was running out of Patriot interceptors, the weapon it relies on most to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. The deal, under discussion for months, would have permitted licensed production in Ukraine. Its collapse leaves Kyiv dependent on allied supplies at a time when stocks are thin. The decision adds to friction between Washington and Kyiv over the pace and scale of military support.
President Donald Trump has threatened to pull Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general unless Republican holdouts leave office, amid a standoff over an IRS settlement. Senator John Cornyn of Texas has openly defied Trump by standing in the way of the nomination with his lame-duck power. Trump said he would keep Blanche in acting status if needed. The Senate Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a vote, and White House officials are weighing their options. The fight exposes divisions within the GOP ahead of the November midterms and tests whether Trump can enforce party discipline over his own administration.