Trump’s attorney general pick Todd Blanche appears to clear last hurdle for confirmation
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced on Friday that he will support Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, clearing the last major hurdle for the former Trump personal lawyer’s confirmation. Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general, is expected to be confirmed by a narrow margin, likely along party lines, as the Senate prepares for its August recess. Cassidy, who lost his Louisiana primary in May, had faced pressure from the White House to back Blanche, citing concerns about “lawfare” at the Justice Department. With Cassidy’s support, Blanche’s confirmation now hinges on the votes of other Republicans, though Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have already announced they will oppose the nomination.
Blanche’s confirmation has been complicated by concerns over his role in establishing the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which was part of a settlement with the IRS over Trump’s leaked tax returns. The fund was designed to compensate individuals who claimed they had been targeted by the federal government, including those convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the January 6 Capitol riot. Blanche issued a formal order on Sunday terminating the fund, following weeks of negotiations with Republican senators who had blocked his nomination. The Justice Department also agreed to grant Trump, his family, and affiliated entities immunity from tax audits and investigations as part of the same settlement.
Where the accounts differ
The Guardian and CBS News both report that Cassidy’s support clears the last hurdle for Blanche’s confirmation, while NPR notes that the Senate vote was 50-49 in favor of Blanche. The Guardian and CBS News attribute Cassidy’s decision to concerns about “lawfare” at the Justice Department, while NPR and ABC News mention Cassidy’s concerns about Blanche’s judgment in exempting Trump from IRS audits and the DOJ’s prosecution of Trump’s political enemies. The Nation and Slate do not cover the confirmation process, focusing instead on Blanche’s potential policies on abortion and Hasan Piker’s political rise, respectively.
Iran War Costs and Diplomatic Deadlock Amid Rising Tensions
The war between the United States and Iran has led to significant economic costs for American households and businesses, with fuel prices soaring and affecting everything from groceries to delivery services. According to Mother Jones, the U.S. has spent over $37.5 billion on the war, with additional costs expected to rise as the conflict continues. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump have both expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though tensions remain high as Iran has issued new demands for a deal.
Iran has raised the stakes in peace talks by listing six conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, including the lifting of sanctions and the withdrawal of U.S. military forces. These demands, reported by The Washington Examiner, Al Jazeera, and The New York Post, have complicated negotiations between Iran and Oman. Despite Trump’s public statements about progress, the situation remains unresolved, with the strait still closed and oil prices fluctuating.
Where the accounts differ
Mother Jones reports that the U.S. has spent $37.5 billion on the war and that Americans have paid over $75 billion in additional fuel costs, while The Hill and The New York Post do not mention these figures. The Washington Examiner and Al Jazeera detail Iran’s six demands, including the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets, which are not explicitly outlined in Mother Jones or The Hill. The Guardian provides a broader context of Trump’s inconsistent messaging and the political implications of the war, which are absent in the other accounts.
U.S. pledges $1B to Colombia's new right-wing president
The U.S. Department of State announced plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, following his inauguration. De la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer and businessman, won the June 21 runoff election against leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda by 250,000 votes out of over 26 million cast. His campaign promised an "all-out war" on drug cartels, a 40% reduction in government size, and revitalization of the oil and gas sector. In his inaugural speech, he vowed to "relentlessly defeat narco-terrorism" and ensure "there will not be a single place in our territory where criminals can feel safe." The U.S. delegation, led by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, attended the inauguration in Cali, Colombia, where de la Espriella also pledged to join the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-backed regional security initiative.
Where the accounts differ
UPI and The Guardian both report that the U.S. pledged $1 billion in security assistance to de la Espriella's administration. However, CBS News and BBC mention the pledge was made on the first day of his presidency, while UPI and The Guardian specify it was announced after his inauguration. Al Jazeera and FOX News do not mention the exact timing of the $1 billion pledge. Additionally, The Guardian and BBC note that de la Espriella's election is part of a broader rightward shift in Latin America, a detail not included in UPI or CBS News. FOX News and CBS News both mention that de la Espriella received Trump's endorsement, while UPI and The Guardian attribute this to Trump's support for his campaign. Al Jazeera and BBC do not mention Trump's endorsement explicitly.
Russian strikes near Ukrainian capital kill three, including child
Russian strikes have killed three people, including a child, in the region surrounding Kyiv, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A grandfather, grandmother and their 3-year-old grandson were killed by a double-tap drone strike in Pukhivka, in the Brovary District. The child’s parents, his 15-year-old brother and a neighbor who came to the family’s aid were wounded. Zelenskyy also reported one additional death in Kyiv from a strike involving six ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s air force said it had downed or intercepted 135 of 151 drones launched by Russia overnight. The attack also involved six ballistic missiles and other guided missiles. Russian attacks have intensified, with Ukraine’s air defenses struggling to keep up. Zelenskyy has called for more Patriot interceptors and sanctions against Russia. Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil refineries and logistics sites.
Where the accounts differ
Al Jazeera and UPI both report that a 3-year-old child was killed, while Associated Press and CBS News refer to a child without specifying age. Associated Press and CBS News mention that four people were killed, including the child, while Al Jazeera and UPI report three people killed, including the child. Associated Press and CBS News state that one additional person died in Kyiv from a strike involving six ballistic missiles, while Al Jazeera and UPI do not mention this. UPI and CBS News attribute the statement about the strike involving six ballistic missiles to Zelenskyy, while Al Jazeera and Associated Press do not attribute the statement. ABC News and BBC do not mention the specific number of casualties in the Kyiv area beyond the family in Brovary District.
Idaho police release video of In-N-Out Burger mass shooting that killed three
Police released video on Friday of a mass shooting that killed three people at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger restaurant last weekend. The video, edited to blur faces and omit graphic images, showed the gunman, identified as Chad Williams, 24, walking up to the drive-thru window four times and opening fire, killing an In-N-Out employee. Ten people were shot during the incident, with three people killed. Williams, who had previously lived in Arizona and briefly attended the College of Southern Idaho, killed himself when police officers caught up to him on a nearby walking trail. Authorities praised an unarmed employee from a nearby store who engaged the gunman outdoors, slowing him down and possibly preventing more deaths, as well as an off-duty state trooper and a former police officer, AJ James, who were wounded while confronting him.
The video also showed that at least three people confronted the gunman with their own weapons during the incident. One of those individuals, Braxton Steube, who was working at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store near the scene, told KMVT-TV that he encountered Williams on the trail after fleeing the store. Steube said he tried to talk to the gunman, who eventually shot at him and missed. The video also showed that an armed civilian, identified by some outlets as Jordan Salinas, confronted the gunman at a Tesla charging station, and that the gunman shot Dale Schultz, 66, of Salt Lake City, and wounded his wife.
Where the accounts differ
The Guardian and CBS News both report that the gunman shot Ashley Garibay, 23, of Stockton, California, at the drive-thru window, and that he later shot Christopher Claunch, 59, of Hagerman, Idaho, in his vehicle. The Guardian and The Daily Wire both mention that Williams killed himself when police caught up to him on a nearby walking trail, while FOX News and CBS News state that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Guardian and The Daily Wire report that Williams had briefly attended the College of Southern Idaho and previously lived in Arizona, while FOX News and CBS News do not mention this. The Guardian and The Daily Wire also report that an unnamed individual found Williams’ discarded handgun at a Tesla charging station, while FOX News and CBS News do not mention this. The Guardian and The Daily Wire report that Williams shot Terry Dudley twice in the back while charging his vehicle, while FOX News and CBS News do not mention this.
The US lost 23,000 jobs in July. Here’s why unemployment didn’t rise.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, below the 80,000 jobs economists had anticipated. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2%, but this was attributed to a shrinking labor force rather than increased employment. The labor force declined by 264,000 people, with job losses concentrated in local government education and retail sectors. Healthcare added 22,000 jobs, while the private sector gained 30,000 jobs overall. Analysts note that the labor force has remained at 158 million for 21 months, the longest streak at a single number in BLS records. The drop in job creation has raised concerns about slowing economic growth, with some economists suggesting that the labor market may be near zero growth.
Where the accounts differ
The Christian Science Monitor and the Guardian both mention that the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% due to a shrinking labor force, but the Guardian adds that the private sector gained 30,000 jobs, while the Christian Science Monitor attributes the drop in unemployment to a decline in the labor force of 264,000. The Mother Jones article attributes the job losses to employers’ wariness amid tariffs and the war in Iran, while the BBC and CBS News cite the summer slump and seasonal factors. The Guardian and CBS News both mention that the labor force participation rate fell to 61.4%, the lowest since February 2021, while the Christian Science Monitor does not mention this decline. The BBC and CBS News also note that the May and June job figures were revised down by 103,000, a detail not included in the Christian Science Monitor or the Guardian.
Helicopter fighting Utah wildfire crashes with two people onboard, officials say
A firefighting Sikorsky S64 helicopter with two individuals onboard crashed on Friday morning in a remote area of central Utah, according to federal aviation authorities. Emergency personnel are responding near Richfield, about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are unknown. The aircraft was in the vicinity of the Widemouth 2 fire, a blaze sparked by lightning that has raced through 105,000 acres since it began on 27 July. As of Friday morning, the fire was 19% contained with 632 personnel assigned to suppressing it, and seven helicopters were dropping retardant and water on the flames.
The crash comes amid a deadly wildfire season for the western US. Three firefighters were killed in June as they battled a blaze along the Colorado-Utah border. In late June, Jamie Barnes, the director of Utah’s division of forestry, described the fires as unlike anything in recent memory. “We’re seeing fires spread farther and faster under conditions that defy historical expectations,” Barnes said. “Our firefighters have been working around the clock, our resources are stretched, and we cannot afford preventable ignitions during the days ahead.”
Where the accounts differ
The Guardian and CBS News report that no word was given on the condition of the two people onboard at the time of the crash, while The New York Post and Al Jazeera state that the two individuals were confirmed dead. The New York Post and Al Jazeera attribute the confirmation of deaths to the Sevier County Sheriff, while The Guardian and CBS News do not specify who confirmed the deaths. The New York Post and Al Jazeera mention the crash ignited a new fire that connected with the existing blaze, while The Guardian and CBS News do not include this detail. The Guardian and CBS News report the fire was 19% contained, while Al Jazeera reports containment at 24% and The New York Post reports the fire had scorched nearly 174 square miles.