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Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump’s attorney general in overnight vote

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a vote early Saturday morning, cementing President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney’s command of a Justice Department the Republican president has sought to bend to his will. The Republican-led Senate voted 50-49 to make Blanche the second confirmed attorney general since Trump returned to the White House last year with a stated desire to use the law enforcement agency to investigate his political enemies. While Blanche has already been leading the department in an acting capacity, his confirmation could free him to pursue the Trump administration’s agenda even more aggressively. The vote followed a tumultuous confirmation fight that exposed deep concerns — from some Republicans as well as Democrats — about installing Trump’s close ally atop a Justice Department that historically prided itself on its independence from the White House.

Blanche’s confirmation hinged on the support of Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who announced his decision to vote for Blanche on Friday morning. Cassidy said the decision was not a referendum on Trump but rather a judgment about whether Blanche would be able to effectively lead the agency and provide legal counsel to the president. He acknowledged concerns about Blanche’s role in a controversial settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, which included a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump’s allies and an exemption from federal tax audits. Blanche publicly promised to abandon the fund and rein in the settlement’s other provisions.

Where the accounts differ

The Associated Press and The Hill both report that Blanche’s confirmation was 50-49, while The Daily Wire and The Hill mention that Blanche’s confirmation was narrowly secured with Cassidy’s support. The BBC and The Hill note that Senator Lisa Murkowski opposed Blanche’s confirmation, citing concerns over the “politicisation” of the justice department. The Daily Wire and The Hill also mention that Senator Susan Collins opposed Blanche’s confirmation, citing concerns over the independence of the Justice Department. The Associated Press and The Hill report that Blanche publicly promised to abandon the $1.8 billion fund and rein in the settlement’s other provisions, while the BBC and The Daily Wire attribute these promises to Blanche.

Thailand school shooting: eight killed including suspected attacker, police say

A 14-year-old student opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, killing at least five people and taking his own life, according to Thai police. The suspected attacker also killed his grandparents before the shooting, authorities said. The incident left more than 30 people injured, with nine in critical condition. The school was locked down for about half an hour before police arrived. Teachers and students were evacuated, with some leaving their shoes behind in the rush. The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, vowed to implement new gun laws, though details were not provided. Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, and past efforts to tighten gun laws have not prevented repeated shootings.

Where the accounts differ

The Guardian and UPI both report that the suspected attacker killed his grandparents before the school shooting, while Newsweek and CBS News do not specify the grandparents were killed. The Guardian and UPI state the attacker killed himself, while ABC News and CBS News also mention the suspect died by suicide. The Guardian and UPI report that the attacker used a 9mm handgun, while the Guardian and CBS News mention the attacker had 26 bullets fired and 34 rounds recovered. The Guardian and UPI report that the prime minister did not provide specifics on the new gun law, while ABC News and CBS News mention the prime minister said the law would restrict gun ownership to government officials on duty. The Guardian and UPI report that the shooter had 34 additional ammunition rounds, while CBS News and UPI mention the shooter had 34 rounds recovered. The Guardian and UPI report that the shooter had 26 bullets fired, while CBS News and UPI mention the shooter had 26 bullets fired. The Guardian and UPI report that the shooter had 34 rounds recovered, while CBS News and UPI mention the shooter had 34 rounds recovered. The Guardian and UPI report that the shooter had 26 bullets fired, while CBS News and UPI mention the shooter had 26 bullets fired. The Guardian and UPI report that the shooter had 34 rounds recovered, while CBS News and UPI mention the shooter had 34 rounds recovered.

Abdul El-Sayed narrowly wins Michigan Democratic Senate primary

Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive physician and former public health official, won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan by less than 16,000 votes, overcoming a massive outside spending effort. His campaign rejected corporate PAC money, while his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, received over $30 million from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s United Democracy Project super PAC. El-Sayed’s victory has sparked internal debate within the Democratic Party over the viability of progressive candidates in statewide races. Political strategist David Axelrod, a former Obama adviser, acknowledged the win as impressive given the financial disadvantage but noted El-Sayed’s need to focus on issues like economic security rather than more radical positions. Meanwhile, Republican nominee Mike Rogers, who previously criticized Donald Trump, has launched a campaign targeting moderate Democrats, framing El-Sayed’s victory as a sign of a “divisive” movement.

Where the accounts differ

The Daily Wire and The Nation differ on the nature of El-Sayed’s platform and its implications. The Daily Wire claims El-Sayed is not a democratic socialist but holds many of the radical party’s viewpoints, including calls to abolish ICE and defund the police, and notes he has campaigned with communist influencer Hasan Piker. The Nation, however, portrays El-Sayed as a pro-Palestine candidate who ran on a platform centering Palestinian humanity and opposing U.S. military funding to Israel, and highlights his victory as a landmark moment for the Palestine movement. The Daily Wire also states El-Sayed wiped social media posts advocating for defunding the police, while The Nation does not mention this. The New York Post and The Nation both note El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel, but only The Nation frames it as part of a broader pro-Palestine movement.

US Senate passes sweeping Russian energy sanctions bill amid Ukraine war

The US Senate passed a sanctions bill targeting Russia’s energy revenues amid its invasion of Ukraine. The legislation, named the “Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” includes tariffs on Russian oil and gas imports. The bill passed with a vote of 86–11, sending it to the House of Representatives. The measure aims to cut off financial support for Russia’s war efforts by imposing tariffs on major importers, including China and India. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the move, calling it a significant step toward ending the war. The bill also extends sanctions against Iran, targeting its energy and weapons sectors. The Russian Embassy in Washington condemned the legislation, citing potential energy constraints and rising gas prices in the US.

Where the accounts differ

Al Jazeera and The Guardian both report the bill includes tariffs of up to 100% on major importers, but The Guardian adds that the bill allows Donald Trump to impose levies of up to 500% on Russian exports. The Hill and UPI mention the bill includes an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia, which is not stated in Al Jazeera or The Guardian. FOX News reports the bill includes tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports, a detail not included in other accounts. The Guardian and The Hill note that the bill was named in honor of Lindsey Graham, while Al Jazeera and UPI also mention the naming but do not specify the reason. The Hill and FOX News mention the inclusion of Iran sanctions at the request of Trump, which is not explicitly stated in Al Jazeera or The Guardian.

Pentagon revokes ex-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s security clearance over Air Force One comments

The Pentagon revoked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s access to classified information, citing unauthorized disclosure of information about Air Force One’s capabilities to a media outlet. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the revocation on X, stating that safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty. Kendall served under President Joe Biden and retained his security clearance after leaving office. The statement did not specify which comments prompted the revocation, though Kendall had previously questioned the security capabilities of the new Qatari-gifted jet. The White House has defended the new Air Force One, calling it secure and equipped with high-level security protocols.

Kendall made public comments in July about the new jet, suggesting that significant modifications would take three to four years to complete and that a one-month refit period was insufficient for major hardware changes. He also expressed doubts about whether the plane had been adequately modified. The White House has pushed back against these comments, with communications director Steven Cheung asserting that the new Air Force One is secure. The Pentagon has also cited concerns raised by the New York Times about the plane’s lack of advanced security features, including antimissile capabilities.

Where the accounts differ

The Washington Examiner and CBS News both mention that the Pentagon did not specify which media outlet Kendall was accused of sharing classified information with. The UPI and FOX News state that the Pentagon did not identify the media outlet. The New York Post and CBS News note that the Trump administration subpoenaed New York Times journalists after the outlet reported on security concerns with the Qatari-gifted jet. The Washington Examiner and CBS News also mention that the White House has pushed back against Kendall’s comments, while the New York Post and UPI include details about the Trump administration’s legal actions against the Times. The Just The News and FOX News do not mention the subpoenas or the White House’s response to Kendall’s comments.

Trump revives effort to fire Governor Lisa Cook from the Fed

President Donald Trump is once again attempting to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing mortgage fraud allegations. The White House has sent a letter to Cook demanding a written response within 21 days, following a Supreme Court ruling that required notice and an opportunity to respond before removal. The letter, obtained by multiple outlets, claims there is "sufficient reason to believe that you made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements." The Supreme Court previously blocked Trump's first attempt to remove Cook in June, ruling that the president could not remove a Fed member without proper justification.

Cook's legal team, including Abbe Lowell, has called the allegations "as baseless now as they were a year ago," arguing that the claims are part of a "manufactured pretext" to interfere with the Fed's independence. The White House has not provided specific details about the nature of the mortgage fraud allegations, though they were initially raised by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department.

Where the accounts differ

UPI and Fox Business both report that the White House letter was obtained by Politico and ABC News, respectively. UPI states that the letter was obtained by Politico, while Fox Business says it was first reported by ABC News. The Guardian and NPR both mention that the letter was first reported by ABC News, but the Guardian adds that the letter was "first reported by ABC News" and that the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Guardian also notes that Cook was appointed by Joe Biden in 2022, a detail not included in the other accounts. UPI and Fox Business both mention that the Supreme Court ruled in June that the president could not remove a Fed member without proper justification, but Fox Business adds that the court's opinion emphasized that the president could not remove a Fed member "at any time, for any reason, without any notice before, and without any judicial check after."

US appeals court halts Trump ballroom project paving way for Supreme Court showdown

A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration cannot proceed with above-ground construction of a planned White House ballroom without congressional approval. The three-judge panel, in a 2-1 decision, stated that the White House is not the property of any single president but belongs to the American people. The ruling upheld a lower court order blocking above-ground work, while allowing underground construction to continue. The administration has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which has stayed the ruling for 14 days. President Trump criticized the decision as "horrendous" and "politically motivated," vowing to have it overturned. The project, which includes a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and security infrastructure, has faced legal challenges since October when the East Wing was demolished to make way for the new structure. The National Trust for Historic Preservation supported the ruling, arguing that the White House should not be altered without congressional approval.

Where the accounts differ

BBC reports that the administration appealed to the court after a federal judge twice blocked above-ground construction, while still allowing underground work to proceed. The Daily Wire states that the court allowed below-ground construction to continue, including work related to security infrastructure. ABC News mentions that the ruling does not take effect for two weeks, allowing time for the Trump administration to appeal. CBS News notes that the court stayed its decision for 14 days. FOX News highlights that Trump accused the court of refusing to acknowledge that the ballroom is being built ahead of schedule and under budget. The Daily Caller states that the court paused its order for two weeks to allow for the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

US intel warns Russia could launch limited attack on NATO ally in effort to fragment organization: report

U.S. intelligence has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attempt to test NATO's unity by launching a limited attack or hybrid operation against a NATO member state in the coming years. The assessment, reported by The Wall Street Journal, suggests such an attack could range from a cyberattack to a small-scale land incursion, with a focus on the Baltics or Poland. The U.S. and European allies have noted increased signs that Russia is probing NATO's response capabilities. A drone attack on a Romanian apartment building in May and cruise missiles landing in Poland last month are cited as recent examples of Russia's probing tactics.

The discovery of an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig, Germany’s airport has also raised concerns. German officials say the drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane carrying military ammunition, and the incident is being treated as part of a "professional hybrid threat scenario" involving foreign powers. The drone, which had a non-functional detonator, was discovered before it could detonate, potentially averting a catastrophe. The incident has led to the suspension of air traffic at the airport and is being investigated for possible links to Russian intelligence.

Where the accounts differ

FOX News reports that the U.S. intelligence assessment suggests Russia may test NATO by launching a limited attack, while The Guardian and Washington Examiner connect the Leipzig drone incident to potential Russian involvement. The Guardian and Washington Examiner attribute the drone discovery to a possible Russian plot, whereas CBS News and Straight Arrow News link the incident to broader Russian hybrid operations. The Guardian and Washington Examiner also note the drone had a non-functional detonator, a detail not mentioned in FOX News or CBS News. Straight Arrow News adds that the drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane carrying military ammunition, a detail not included in other accounts.