Trump administration live updates: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy comes out in support of Todd Blanche’s AG nomination
Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican primary for governor of Tennessee yesterday, while Rep. Andy Ogles, who had Trump’s endorsement, lost his primary.
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What to know today<!–>
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- BLANCHE NOMINATION: Sen. Bill Cassidy came out today in favor of President Donald Trump’s pick of Todd Blanche for attorney general, making it likely that Republicans will have enough votes to confirm him.
- WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM: A federal appeals court affirmed a U.S. judge’s ruling to block construction of the White House ballroom while allowing below-ground work to move forward. But the appeals court paused its order to give the Trump administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
- TENNESSEE PRIMARIES: Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee yesterday, while Rep. Andy Ogles, who was backed by Trump, lost his GOP primary.
- SANCTIONS BILL: The Senate is expected to vote on legislation to impose sanctions on Russia and Iran today before it leaves town for its August recess.
National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates court decision on Trump’s ballroom<!–>
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is celebrating the appeals court decision today blocking the construction of the White House ballroom above ground.
The National Trust brought the case challenging the ballroom. The president and CEO, Brent Leggs, said in a statement said that his organization has made clear from the beginning of the process that only Congress can authorize construction of the ballroom.
“We are pleased with the DC Circuit Court’s decision to uphold the District Court’s preliminary injunction, which although stayed for 14 days will block any above-ground ballroom construction unless and until Congress takes action,” Leggs said.
He added, “This decision is particularly meaningful as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and advocate for renewed protections for historic preservation. The White House, a global landmark that symbolizes American identity and the ideals of democracy, belongs to the American people.”
Trump endorses House challenger who just beat his preferred candidate<!–>
In a post on Truth Social today, Trump offered his “complete and total endorsement,” to former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, who yesterday beat the president’s original endorsee — Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. — in a primary.
“Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great “Trump” Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher,” the president wrote today. “Good luck Charlie! Run tough and hard. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Trump had campaigned with Ogles, appearing at a virtual “tele-rally” with him on July 28.
Ogles lost his reelection bid after making controversial Islamophobic and homophobic statements online during this term.
National Academy of Sciences announces review of climate science section of judicial reference manual<!–>
The National Academy of Sciences announced today that it would conduct a review into a section of a reference manual for judges about climate science that has been heavily criticized on the right.
The independent nonprofit said that it “determined that questions about the processes used to develop the chapter warrant a independent review.”
The “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence” is jointly produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Federal Judicial Center, the research arm of the judiciary.
The center had already removed the chapter following the wave of criticism, based in large part on allegations the authors were biased. They reject the claim.
With various potentially high stakes cases involving climate change currently in the courts, including one being heard by the Supreme Court this fall, how judges approach climate science is hotly contested.
Republican group cancels Max Miller rally in Ohio<!–>
A Republican organization in Rep. Max Miller’s district has canceled a Monday event that the embattled congressman was scheduled to headline, citing security concerns.
The Ohio representative was set to rally in Brunswick, Ohio, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla. Miller is facing abuse allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, as well as calls to resign and abandon his re-election campaign. He has not faced criminal charges related to his ex-wife’s allegations and has denied them.
“I am angry and deeply disappointed to announce that we must cancel Monday’s SAVE America Act Rally with Congressman Max Miller and Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna,” Shannon Burns, a Miller ally and chair of the Strongsville GOP, said in a statement posted on the group’s website this morning.
“After consultation with law enforcement and the venue, the number and nature of the threats received have made the event untenable,” Burns added. “We cannot responsibly expose our guests, attendees, volunteers, venue staff, or law enforcement officers to an unacceptable safety risk.”
A spokesperson for Miller declined to comment.
Emily Moreno is the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican who on Sunday said that Miller should no longer serve in Congress. On Thursday, Ohio’s other Republican senator, Jon Husted, joined him, saying that Miller was not fit to serve and should not seek re-election. Other GOP senators have made similar calls for Miller to go.
A spokesperson for the office of Ohio’s secretary of state has told NBC News that the deadline to replace a candidate in the November election would be Monday, the day of the canceled rally. A replacement candidate would be selected by county party chairs in the district.
Democrats have nominated Brian Poindexter, an ironworker and city council member in the Cleveland suburb of Brook park who is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for the seat.
Appeals court blocks Trump’s White House ballroom construction<!–>
A federal appeals court on Friday affirmed a U.S. judge’s ruling to block construction of the White House ballroom while allowing below-ground work to move forward.
But the federal appeals judges put their own order on hold to give the Trump administration an opportunity to seek Supreme Court review.
When will the vote on Blanche’s nomination happen?<!–>
Senators are trying to wrap up their work so they can leave town for the August recess, and if they have to jump through all the procedural hoops, it could be days before they get to Blanche’s nomination.
But as we’ve seen time and time again, once senators set their sights on leaving town for a recess, they can coalesce around a time agreement to move quickly on all of it.
Hypothetically, senators could leave town without voting on Blanche, but his nomination is currently in the queue, so that would be a deviation from the current plan.
The bottom line on timing: A Blanche vote is currently not scheduled, but could come together quickly if all 100 senators agree to move quickly.
Sen. Bill Cassidy announces he’ll vote to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general<!–>
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Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., announced this morning that he plans to support Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, making it likely that Republicans will have enough votes to confirm him.
“This is not a referendum on President Trump; it is a decision regarding Mr. Blanche in very specific circumstances. All considered, I will vote for Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said in remarks on the Senate floor.
Cassidy acknowledged he has had a “history” with Trump, but said that “does not matter one bit.” He added that he had spoken to multiple senators, current and past administration officials, former U.S. attorneys and former Attorney General Bill Barr, who served in Trump’s first administration, before making his decision.
The senator also voiced criticisms of Blanche that other senators on both sides of the aisle expressed at his confirmation hearing. He said the nominee, who is the acting attorney general, “showed poor judgment in approving the anti-weaponization slush fund and exempting the president from IRS audits.”
“I am particularly concerned about episodes of apparent lawfare, DOJ bringing suits against political enemies,” Cassidy added. “Both parties, presidents of both parties, have been guilty of this. It must stop.”
All eyes were on Cassidy, who had remained undecided, as his vote is crucial for Blanche’s confirmation. It was uncertain which way he would go after Trump endorsed his primary opponent, Rep. Julia Letlow, who ultimately won the race.
Cassidy was famously one of seven Republican senators who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 after the president attempted to overturn the previous year’s election results.
Murkowski and Susan Collins, R-Maine, had come out against Blanche’s nomination, and one more Republican would be needed to sink it if Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is unable to attend and all Democrats vote no.
Trump is calling Fed Chair Kevin Warsh<!–>
National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett this morning confirmed reports that Trump is calling newly installed Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh.
“There have been some news stories that the president is talking to Kevin Warsh and of course he is,” Hassett said on Bloomberg Television and Radio this morning. Asked if they discusses the sensitivities of monetary policy, Hassett responded, “I’m not listening to the conversations, but I’m sure the president is not saying you have to do this with interest rates.”
This is not a normal thing for a sitting president to do with a sitting chief of the central bank. The last time the Fed chair and the president regularly had contact was under the Nixon administration, when then-Fed chair Arthur Burns let inflation run rampant after pressure from the administration.
When the last Fed chair, Jerome Powell, had contact with the president, the Fed’s press office immediately released a readout and details of the conversations, such as who initiated them and where they took place along with the topics discussed.
Warsh’s Fed has not released any details of the contacts with the president. In congressional testimony last month, Warsh hinted that contact with the president might have occurred, but he did not indicate how often or what was discussed.
What to know about Blanche’s AG nomination<!–>
Here are some things to keep in mind after Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced this morning that she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
Does Blanche have the votes?
There are now two Republican no votes on Blanche, Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The current breakdown of the Senate is 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, but Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not voted since his June hospitalization.
All eyes are now on Sen Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is the only other undecided vote that we know of. He plans to deliver remarks on the Senate floor announcing his decision on the nomination at 10:40 a.m. If Cassidy votes no, all Democrats vote no and McConnell misses the vote, Blanche’s nomination fails 49-50.
Of note, Blanche met with Cassidy and Murkowski on Wednesday, and Cassidy said it was a ‘good conversation.’
The McConnell factor
If McConnell, who has not voted since he was hospitalized after a fall in June but was just released from rehabilitation, were to return and vote yes on Blanche, the vote would be 50-50, and Vice President JD Vance could break the tie.
But McConnell’s statement yesterday implied he would not be back until after the August recess was over, saying, “On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business.”
Also, keep in mind, while we have no indication that McConnell would oppose Blanche’s nomination, we also don’t know that he’s a yes. We’ve asked his office, but it typically doesn’t telegraph how he’ll vote ahead of time.
Mitch McConnell leaves rehab to continue recovery at home<!–>
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell says he’s been discharged from a rehabilitation center and will continue his recovery at home. The 84-year-old Republican had been away for nearly two months after falling at his home and being hospitalized.
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Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan pledge mutual defense as Middle East turmoil escalates<!–>
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca today, a wedding of Sunni Muslim U.S. allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has rained missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters. Iran and its allies have been firing on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, and blockading their energy shipments, since the U.S. and Israel attacked it on February 28 in a major escalation after years of regional tumult.
The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, they said in a joint statement.
U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal in what had been an otherwise solid labor market<!–>
The U.S. economy shed 23,000 jobs in July, a sign that the labor market had not stabilized after four months of positive growth.
The unemployment rate ticked down only slightly to 4.1%.
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones were expecting the release to show 83,000 added roles, more than June’s 57,000.
Senate to vote on Russia and Iran sanctions, government funding<!–>
The Senate will be in session today for votes on a number of measures before it leaves town for its August recess.
The session, scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, will include votes on a bill to impose sanctions on Russia and Iran, on a bloc of Trump nominees and on advancing a short-term spending bill to fund the government through Dec. 11. It’s unclear when the Senate will hold a confirmation vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
If a bipartisan agreement on floor time comes together, the Senate could vote on Blanche tomorrow. If not, Democrats could use the full procedural time allotted to drag out the process.
After today’s session, the Senate is expected leave town for a five-week recess.
Ryan Wrasse, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., posted on X last night, “Public service announcement: This will not be the end of the day tomorrow — it’s just the beginning.”
Trump has called on Senate Republicans to cancel the August recess to pass his election overhaul bill, the SAVE America Act. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said he wants the Senate to vote on canceling recess.
Ogles loses his Republican primary in Tennessee<!–>
Ogles has lost his Republican primary, NBC News projects, falling to a former Tennessee official in a primary season that has seen an unusually high number of incumbents lose renomination.
Charlie Hatcher, the former state agriculture commissioner, rode support from prominent establishment Republicans to a victory over the controversial congressman who was backed by Trump. Hatcher is a heavy favorite in the general election in the deep red district.
Rep. Andy Ogles at the Capitol.<!–> t=9x–>Kent Nishimura / Bloomberg via Getty Images file<!–>
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Blackburn wins the Republican primary for governor of Tennessee<!–>
Tennessee’s senior senator has won the Republican nomination for governor, NBC News projects, defeating Rep. John Rose in a race in which Trump declined to endorse a candidate.
Blackburn, 74, became the first woman to represent Tennessee in the Senate after she won her current seat in 2018; she had served in the House since 2003. If she wins the governor’s race, she would be the first female governor.
GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski comes out against Todd Blanche for attorney general, putting nomination in jeopardy<!–>
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, came out today against Trump’s pick of Todd Blanche for attorney general, leaving the nomination hanging by a thread.
Murkowski joins fellow centrist Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to oppose the president’s choice. With Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., out indefinitely, and Democrats expected to vote no, a third GOP opponent would block the nomination for the powerful job.
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health