{
  "id": 308348,
  "title": "Senate Republicans narrowly confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-republicans-narrowly-confirm-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general-308348",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T13:14:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-904889"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "U.S. Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as President Donald Trump's attorney general on Saturday, marking one of the most contentious cabinet battles of Trump's second term. Blanche secured a 50-49 vote, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposing his nomination. After weeks of intense negotiations, Blanche agreed to narrow a tax-immunity agreement and cease weaponization payments, which critics deemed a slush fund for Trump's allies. Despite concerns over Blanche's independence and handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, he ultimately won the support of both Cassidy and Murkowski. The confirmation comes as the Justice Department faces significant changes under Trump's second term, including prosecutions of perceived enemies, mass departures of career prosecutors, and a break from the tradition of independence.",
  "summary": "Todd Blanche has been confirmed as the US Attorney General. The Senate voted 50-49 in favor of his confirmation, with all Democrats and Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposing him.\n\nSenator Bill Cassidy was the deciding vote, having announced that he believed Blanche was the best option the president would put forward. According to the BBC World, Cassidy's decision was anxiously awaited in Washington due to years of acrimony between President Trump and the senator.\n\nBlanche, who served as President Trump's former personal lawyer, has been serving in the role of Attorney General in an acting capacity since April. His confirmation brings to an end a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration.",
  "key_points": [
    "Senate Republicans confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general with 50-49 vote.",
    "Blanche secures agreement to narrow tax-immunity agreement and cease payments.",
    "Confirmation amid Justice Department changes under Trump's second term."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/308348.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Blanche on track for narrow Senate confirmation as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/blanche-on-track-for-narrow-senate-confirmation-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-07T22:45:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T08:35:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-votes-to-confirm-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T08:46:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Senate embarks on recess after funding government and confirming Blanche, punting other priorities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-embarks-on-recess-after-funding-government-and-confirming",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:00:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC",
        "title": "Senate Republicans narrowly confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-republicans-narrowly-confirm-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:27:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general-303524",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:31:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Forbes",
        "title": "Senate Confirms Todd Blanche As Attorney General",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-confirms-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general-312394",
        "published": "2026-08-08T13:37:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/senate-votes-to-confirm-todd-blanche-as-attorney-general-313231",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:27:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}