{
  "id": 309489,
  "title": "Live updates: Senate departs for August recess; Blanche confirmed as AG",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/live-updates-senate-departs-for-august-recess-blanche-confirmed-as-ag",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hill",
    "slug": "the-hill",
    "url": "https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6018352-live-updates-senate-august-recess-blanche-spending-bill-iran-war/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The US Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as the new Attorney General. He was confirmed in a narrow 50-49 vote, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposing him. According to Axios, Senator Bill Cassidy was seen as a potential blocker but announced he would vote in favor of Blanche.\n\nBlanche has been serving as acting Attorney General since April, prior to which he was President Trump's former personal attorney. The Hill reported that Senators wrapped up their work early on Saturday, confirming Blanche and passing a stopgap funding bill before adjourning for the August recess.\n\nThe confirmation process was contentious, with some Republican senators raising concerns about Blanche's handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents and his role in establishing a fund. However, Blanche overcame these challenges and was ultimately confirmed as Attorney General.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "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": "Jerusalem Post",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-08-08T13:14:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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."
}