Blanche AG confirmation rocky as Cornyn, Dems press him on ‘anti-weaponization’ fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday faced what one lawmaker said was more of a performance evaluation than a job interview as he seeks to secure his post as the top law enforcement official for the country. The tough questions came not just from Democrats, but also from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a lame…

Daily on Energy: White House considers extending Jones Act waiver, despite GOP pleas

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY: Good afternoon and happy Wednesday, readers! France suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Spain yesterday, ending Kylian Mbappé’s quest for another World Cup. England is facing off against Argentina this afternoon – could it be coming home? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽🇦🇷 Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner energy and environment […]

Trump's CDC nominee stumbles under GOP lawmaker's grilling: 'He's fed up'

Trump critic Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Wednesday pressed the president's nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asking if she would stand up to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Politico reported.Erica Schwartz, if nominated, would work under Kennedy, who previously fired Susan Monarez for pushing back on the Trump cabinet member's vaccine agenda, according to Politico. Schwartz apparently struggled to convince the senators that she would push back against Kennedy during the Senate committee for her confirmation."I feel like I’m having to go after this question a little bit more firmly than I feel like I should," Cassidy told Schwartz. "You can be CDC director and just take orders. We need a CDC director who will actually stand up to crazy, stupid things being said that undermine faith in immunization."Cassidy, a physician who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, has become more vocal in criticizing the administration. "I’m here personally liking you, but feeling as if I’m having to represent the public health of the United States of America, so that it’s not taken over by people who are ideologically inclined and looking to file a lawsuit, not looking to prevent disease," Cassidy said.CNN anchor Dana Bash commented on Cassidy's comments."We haven't seen him in a while; he's clearly fed up with the vaccine decisions being made by Kennedy," she said.Schwartz's response to Cassidy in the hearing did not satisfy the lawmaker's questions.CNN medical correspondent Meg Tirrell described his reactions to Kennedy's leadership around vaccines."We also heard from Cassidy at the end of the hearing just how frustrated he is with some of the vaccine language out there, including from the other nominee," Tirrell added.

John Doyle explains why we’ll end up missing Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham’s death marks the end of one of the most consequential — and controversial — careers in modern Republican politics.And while many conservatives loved to hate him while he was alive, BlazeTV host John Doyle believes that few knew how much the longtime South Carolina senator actually accomplished for their movement.“You may remember September 27, 2018. If you were online that day, you already remember exactly where you were. Brett Kavanaugh is being potentially confirmed to be a Supreme Court justice, and it’s not looking good,” Doyle begins.“He’s dying on live television. There are accusations from that woman ... doing the crocodile tears, and we all had to just pretend that OK, yes, believe all women. So true. Republicans on the committee are looking like hostages,” he recalls.“And then the man the Tea Party spent, like, a decade trying to primary just leans into his microphone and has a little bit of a patriot go-off moment. He says, ‘This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics,’” he continues, referencing Lindsey Graham.“Conservative media started cutting, you know, Lindsey Graham 2.0 highlight reels. Literally, in my first-ever video in October 2018, I covered this story, and I called this man based,” he adds.Kavanaugh then got confirmed, despite the slogan “Believe all women” being repeated by feminists all over the country.“In a room on camera with a Supreme Court seat on the line, the senator willing to torch 20 years of his kind of, like, bipartisan reputation — that was Lindsey Graham,” Doyle says.“Everyone on that committee had the same microphone, and one guy chose to use it, and that was Lindsey Graham,” he adds.Not only that, but for the last two years, Graham chaired the Senate Budget Committee.“Graham was the gatekeeper. He shepherded the big, beautiful bill through unanimous Democrat opposition and some genuinely ugly, you know, GOP infighting. Then came this year’s reconciliation package, funding immigration enforcement, literally the largest increase in funding ever for the rest of Trump’s term. And sitting on his desk the day he died,” Doyle explains.“All of that was moving. All of that was in progress, and it was because of this guy’s effort,” he says. “Who’s going to chair that committee now? Who’s going to fill that vacuum? Is it going to be somebody who’s actually more effective? Is it going to be somebody who’s more loyal to Trump and his agenda and his party?”While Doyle admits there are many things he did not agree with Graham on, he does believe the senator was effective and ultimately stood for America.And those laughing about his passing don’t realize why they’re actually laughing.“You know, it’s easy to piss on a guy’s grave. It’s harder to be so effective that you can inspire people to want to piss on your grave,” Doyle says. “That’s my point.”Want more from John Doyle?To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Sen. John Cornyn presses Trump’s AG nominee about DOJ anti-weaponization fund

Arianna Hooker, DCNF Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the Department of Justice’s Anti-Weaponization Fund during Blanche’s Wednesday confirmation hearing. Blanche […]

Cornyn noncommittal on Blanche attorney general nomination after pressing him in hearing

Outgoing GOP Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) said he remains uncommitted on acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) after pressing him about the Trump administration’s controversial “anti-weaponization” fund during a Wednesday confirmation hearing.  “I continue to have some concerns, but I’m not going to make any decisions at this…

House GOP Confirms Plan to Enact As Much of SAVE America Act 'As Possible'

Blanche makes stunning slip as GOP senator demands 'Are you and President Trump friends?'

Todd Blanche, President Trump's former personal lawyer turned acting attorney general, appeared to catch himself mid-sentence Wednesday during his high-stakes Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing.Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) asked the acting attorney general a simple question: "Are you and President Trump friends?"The question nearly tripped Blanche, who replied, "I'm his lawyer," paused, then corrected, "Was his lawyer."The stumble landed as ethics questions have dogged Blanche's entire tenure over how closely he's stayed tied to cases touching Trump personally. Blanche's legal maneuvering delayed Trump's sentencing in his New York case until after the 2024 election.Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, when Trump ousted Pam Bondi. He faces sharp questioning over the Epstein files, the canceled $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, and prosecutions of Trump's perceived enemies.Kennedy: Are you and President Trump friends?Blanche: I'm his lawyer—was his lawyer pic.twitter.com/V4P1fNezYT— Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2026