8d ago / 10:05 PM EDTNominee to lead CDC dodges senators’ questions about vaccines and KennedyAhead of her confirmation hearing today, Dr. Erica Schwartz was widely seen as a conventional pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — she has supported vaccines and was deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term.Read the full story here.Dr. Erica Schwartz at her confirmation hearing to become CDC director Wednesday. Finn Gomez / Getty Images8d ago / 10:01 PM EDTNew York Times files motion to quash subpoenas served on journalists over Air Force One coverageThe New York Times today filed a motion to quash subpoenas the Justice Department served on journalists who reported on security concerns involving the new, Qatari-donated Air Force One, teeing up a significant court fight pitting press freedom against the government’s ability to force reporters to identify sources.A model of the new Air Force One plane sits on the table in front of President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images“As we set out in our motion, these subpoenas are brought in bad faith to punish The Times for its coverage. They violate the constitutional rights of The Times and its journalists. We are going to court to defend our journalists’ rights to report freely on the administration and to provide the public with stories that matter,” David McCraw, the newspaper’s senior vice president and deputy general counsel, said in a statement.The filing was made under seal in the Southern District of New York, where the journalists were summoned in subpoenas delivered Friday to testify before a federal grand jury. The Times had said it expected five journalists to be subpoenaed; three were ultimately served.The subpoenas, delivered to reporters at their homes, marked a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on media leaks that free press advocates swiftly condemned as a government effort to intimidate news organizations. It followed an FBI search this year of a Washington Post reporter’s home and the seizure of her electronic devices.Read the full story here.8d ago / 9:51 PM EDTTrump announces release of U.S. citizen held in Iran since 2024A U.S. citizen who has been held in Iran since 2024 has been released, Trump and her lawyer separately announced this evening.“Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the ‘presidency’ of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country. She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, without naming the person.Trump, who described the release as a “gesture of Goodwill by Iran!” has ramped up pressure on Iran in recent days and signed off on several new rounds of U.S. strikes.Jared Genser, a human rights lawyer who has been involved with other high-profile cases of U.S. citizens detained in Iran, named the released citizen as Dena Karari, one of his clients.Read the full story here.8d ago / 9:44 PM EDTThe FBI is assisting the D.C. medical examiner with Lindsey Graham's toxicology testsThe FBI is getting involved with the toxicology tests for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Kent Nishimura / Getty Images fileWhile the D.C. chief medical examiner's office, which performed Graham's autopsy, will be the lead agency conducting the toxicology testing, specimens were provided to the FBI for additional testing at its request, NBC News has learned.The FBI testing will take place at its laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.The FBI declined to comment on the additional testing and resources it’s providing the medical examiner's Forensic Toxicology Unit or exactly what led it to request the specimens in the first place.A law enforcement official familiar with the situation said the FBI can perform certain tests on biological samples like hair, blood and urine that typical government labs might not be capable of handling.All of the results are expected to be compiled into a report prepared by the D.C. medical examiner's Forensic Toxicology Unit and released by the medical examiner roughly 60 to 90 days from the date the body was examined, which is typical.A preliminary examination by D.C.'s chief medical examiner found that Graham died of a rupture of his aorta caused by a hardening of his arteries.Federal law enforcement sources have maintained that there continues to be no indication of foul play and nothing suspicious about Graham's death. The sources said the FBI is doing its due diligence out of an abundance of caution in a high-profile death.Trump said yesterday that while he is aware of conspiracy theories circulating around Graham's unexpected death, the "FBI is wasting their time" by investigating it.8d ago / 9:13 PM EDTTrump wants to politicize $1 trillion in grants. This time, scientists aren’t the only ones fighting back.If all goes the Trump administration’s way, political appointees will soon gain unprecedented control over the money the federal government doles out in grants: more than $1 trillion per year. Scientists have banded together to fight the proposal, this time with local governments, nonprofit groups and even medical patients alongside them.Read the full story here.8d ago / 7:55 PM EDTJudge awards Hunter Biden $1.7 million in defamation suit against former Overstock CEOA federal judge awarded Hunter Biden $1.7 million today in his defamation lawsuit against former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne over comments Byrne made in 2023.Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne; Hunter Biden. Getty ImagesBiden sued Byrne, a staunch Trump ally who has repeatedly promoted Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election, over his claims that Biden reached out to the Iranian government in 2021 offering to have his father, President Joe Biden, “unfreeze” $8 billion in Iranian funds in exchange for a bribe.U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson, a California-based judge who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, issued his ruling Friday and formally entered the judgment Wednesday.Read the full story here.8d ago / 7:38 PM EDTHouse Oversight Committee interview with former Obama official Kathy Ruemmler concludesThe House Oversight Committee’s closed-door interview with Kathy Ruemmler has now concluded. Ruemmler, a former Obama White House attorney, announced she was stepping down from her job at Goldman Sachs after her correspondence with Epstein surfaced and the fallout. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing tied to Epstein. The transcript of Ruemmler’s interview is not expected to be released immediately.Democrats criticized Ruemmler in remarks to reporters today. The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said he was unconvinced by her testimony.“As it relates to Ms. Ruemmler personally, I think we could agree as a committee, I think it is difficult to see how she’s being completely truthful in there with the answers that she’s giving the committee,” Garcia said.“I want to be clear that Ms. Ruemmler, she made the decision to have an ongoing personal friendship and relationship with someone that had been accused and convicted of sexual assault with a minor, and she has no explanation as to why she chose to continue that relationship,” he added.Jennifer Connelly, a spokesperson for Ruemmler, said she "testified openly and truthfully for six hours and answered every question the committee asked."In her opening statement, a copy of which was seen by NBC News, Ruemmler denied having seen evidence of criminal conduct or abuse against women or girls during the time she dealt with him. Ruemmler's remarks said Epstein "sought my advice from time to time, as many people do.""I was friendly with him in that context, and I dealt with him in my ordinary course — casually, informally, and sometimes irreverently," Ruemmler said."Epstein was a masterful liar, and he clearly lied to me. I can see now that he used me and other respectable people to legitimize his standing, and I know now that he often exaggerated his relationship with me to others," she added.8d ago / 7:23 PM EDTGeorge Santos’ next gig? Reality TV show contestantGeorge Santos has worn many hats: swindler, congressman, prison inmate, podcast host. The obvious next gig? Reality TV show contestant.In September, Santos will appear on the fifth season of Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a grueling contest in which participants will be subjected to chemical gassing and other military-themed challenges in a Malaysian jungle, the network announced today.“I took my fat behind off the coach and tried something new!” Santos wrote on X, along with a promotional image of himself with a stern expression standing next to a tree. “And it changed EVERYTHING! I can’t wait to share this experience with y’all!”Read the full story here.Stefan Jeremiah / AP file8d ago / 6:35 PM EDTGOP Rep. Thomas Massie introduces Epstein Files Transparency Act IIOne of the co-authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act announced a follow-up measure today that would allow more lawsuits against the Justice Department over its handling of the Epstein records.Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, which would give “standing to state attorneys general, the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators, and members of Congress to challenge the Department of Justice (DOJ) in court for the DOJ’s failure to comply with the disclosure of materials required” by the original Epstein files transparency bill Congress passed last year.Pool / Getty Images fileThe Justice Department has largely defended its handling of the release of records tied to Epstein, though acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told senators at his confirmation hearing for the permanent job today that "in about 1% of the documents mistakes were made."Massie's office said in a news release that if the House does not consider his new bill "within seven legislative days, a discharge petition will be circulated.”A discharge petition is the process that allowed the Epstein Files Transparency Act to come to the House floor for a vote last year.The House is scheduled to be in session only tomorrow and next week before its August recess, meaning a discharge petition would not be introduced until September at the earliest under the timeline Massie laid out.8d ago / 6:28 PM EDTTodd Blanche says he’s not a ‘yes man’ while tangling with Democrats at his confirmation hearingActing Attorney General Todd Blanche testified at his confirmation hearing today that he’s not a “yes man” — but also that Trump is his boss.Read the full story here.Nathan Posner / Anadolu via Getty Images8d ago / 6:04 PM EDTEpstein accuser Virginia Giuffre's family says Blanche 'failed' to answer questions about EpsteinThe family of the late Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre told NBC News today that they think Blanche “failed” to answer any substantive questions about the convicted sex offender.Sky and Amanda Roberts, who were in the room for Blanche’s confirmation hearing today, said the room felt “heavy.”“You had 10 survivors sitting right behind you. This was your opportunity to acknowledge them. You failed to do it again, and you failed to really answer any substantive questions. Nothing got answered today. It was just a show,” Sky Roberts said about Blanche.Asked about Blanche's telling Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., today that he is “sorry to these survivors,” Amanda Roberts said it was “just words.”“I’d actually like to see him put that in writing. I think it deserves a letter to the survivors. If this Department of Justice, they have now finally admitted that there have been mistakes made, you should you should reach out to us and you should write us a letter,” she said.8d ago / 5:22 PM EDTAmendment to block $3.3 billion in Israel aid failsThe House voted to reject Rep. Thomas Massie’s, R-Ky., amendment to the annual State Department and national security appropriations bill that would have blocked $3.3 billion in aid to Israel.The vote split House Democratic leadership, a signal that Israel's war in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories continues to divide the party.Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., opposed the amendment, calling it “overly broad.” Meanwhile, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said she supported the amendment because she believes “we must change course.”Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Katherine Clark, D-Mass. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images fileIn a letter to colleagues yesterday, Jeffries wrote that “so-called Massie amendment would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel.” He added that “there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government.”The vote was 104-314, with 10 Democrats voting present. Massie was the only Republican to vote in favor.The underlying State Department funding bill passed largely along party lines on a 217-209 vote.8d ago / 5:06 PM EDTPennsylvania summit concludesThe Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit has wrapped.Trump spoke for 53 minutes, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and several business executives also delivering remarks. 8d ago / 4:56 PM EDTTrump announces $10 billion in defense investments for PennsylvaniaAt an event in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Trump pledged $10 billion in new defense investments in the state, which he said will create 4,000 new jobs.“With today’s announcement, Pennsylvania will play a key role in building the arsenal of freedom to defend our nation in the modern world,” he said.8d ago / 4:07 PM EDTTrump pays tribute to Lindsey Graham at Pennsylvania eventIn his remarks at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, the president briefly spoke about Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who died suddenly on Saturday night."We're going to miss him, right, David?" Trump said, directing his question to Sen. David McCormick, R-Penn. "We're going to miss that guy."The president added, "He's a guy that we -- some people, you don't appreciate until they're not here, right? Oh the quality that he had. He got things done."Trump went on to praise Graham's relationships in both parties."He could even deal with Democrats. If I needed a Democrat, I could go to Lindsey and Lindsey could take them out and wine them and dine them and say, 'I got 'em for ya,' right?" the president said. "There aren't too many people who could do that. David and I know that very well."8d ago / 3:25 PM EDTCould Graham Platner face legal trouble over his former girlfriend’s sexual assault allegation?Graham Platner officially exited the race for U.S. Senate in Maine last week after a sexual assault allegation against him emerged. But even though Platner’s campaign is over, the accusation has raised questions about whether he could face legal issues.Platner has denied the allegation. There is no known criminal investigation into him, and his accuser has given no indication that she plans to take legal action. Legal experts told NBC News that such a case could face hurdles.Read the full story here.Sofia Aldinio for NBC News8d ago / 3:15 PM EDTPete Hegseth says the military will test service members’ testosterone levels The U.S. military will begin testing the testosterone levels of some service members and recommending hormone therapy if needed, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.The new policy comes amid a larger push by the Trump administration to promote and expand public access to testosterone replacement therapies.Read the full story here.8d ago / 3:13 PM EDTSen. Cory Booker says Blanche is 'the least qualified person' for the job Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said Todd Blanche is the “least qualified person” to lead the DOJ. Booker warned that Blanche would “use that office as a sword” to go after Trump’s political opponents.“This is unconscionable that we’re even having a discussion about who he represents, when you see the people he has brought charges against,” Booker told NBC News. “So you’ve got to be kidding me that we’re going to put somebody in that position who’s shown that whatever Donald Trump tells me to do, I will do.” When asked about Blanche saying he cannot meet with Epstein survivors, Booker said Blanche is being “evasive and non-committal in a way that implicates and impeaches his qualifications for this job.”8d ago / 2:03 PM EDTBlanche pressed on DOJ’s role in subpoenaing journalistsDuring today’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., questioned Blanche over the Justice Department’s subpoenas of several New York Times reporters.“I happen to believe it’s extremely important to protect the right of the press to have confidential sources in order to get out information that is absolutely in the public interest,” Welch said. “Do you support Mr. Patel’s efforts to subpoena and get reporters under the grill to disclose who their confidential sources are?”“The Department of Justice requires that I authorize it, which I did,” Blanche responded. “And those reporters, we’re not targeting reporters, they’re material witnesses, just like a reporter would be a material witness to a car crash. They are witnesses.”Welch argued that Blanche tried to uncover the reporter’s sources and said it relates “to the heart of the First Amendment.”“No, the question we want to ask them is who provided them with classified national security information, which everybody in this body should want to protect. I would hope,” Blanche said during the tense exchange. 8d ago / 1:43 PM EDTTillis says he leans 'yes' on Blanche, is 'optimistic we can get there'Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., left Blanche's confirmation hearing saying he was happy with the attorney general nominee's answers on the "anti-weaponization" fund.“The acknowledgement I got from Mr. Blanche was exactly the one I hoped I’d get from him," Tillis said.Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., at the confirmation hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche today. Win McNamee / Getty ImagesAsked if he now supports Blanche, Tillis said, “I’m a lean yes, but I’ve still got understandings that they’re working on and they’re working in good faith. So I’m optimistic we can get there.”8d ago / 1:25 PM EDTTrump to attend defense summit in Pennsylvania Trump is scheduled to participate in the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at around 3:15 p.m., alongside top leaders in defense and global investors, a White House official said. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is also expected to attend, the Pentagon's public affairs office said. The summit is expected to bring billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs for Pennsylvanians, the White House official said.8d ago / 1:19 PM EDTICE leadership surprised by Trump calling for continued immigration traffic stopsSenior leaders at Immigration and Customs Enforcement were surprised when Trump overturned the Department of Homeland Security’s suspension of ICE vehicle stops, according to a senior DHS official.Yesterday, after two fatal shootings in less than a week by immigration officers, the agency told officers to temporarily halt vehicle stops, according to a senior DHS official and two former senior DHS officials. The move came in the wake of investigations into ICE agents’ fatal killing of two men in Maine and Texas. Both were in their vehicles when the officers opened fire on them. A Kia sedan reportedly driven by the victim of a fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford, Maine on Monday. Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald via Getty ImagesA senior DHS official with knowledge of the vehicle stop suspensions said ICE leadership was first made aware of Trump’s position on the policy through the president’s Truth Social post this morning. There had been no discussions among senior leadership within DHS, ICE or with the White House prior to Trump’s post, the senior DHS official said. Read the full story here.8d ago / 1:16 PM EDTHouse to vote on amendment to block $3.3 billion in Israel aid The House will vote this afternoon on an amendment from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that would block $3.3 billion for aid to Israel in an annual appropriations bill covering the State Department and national security programs. Following amendment votes, which start at around 4 p.m., the House will vote on final passage of that appropriations bill. The amendment has split Democratic leadership, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., indicating he will vote against it, calling the measure “overly broad.” Meanwhile, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., announced she will support the amendment. In a letter to colleagues yesterday, Jeffries wrote that the “so-called Massie amendment would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel.” He added that “there are more decisive ways to achieve the urgent change necessary when it comes to the far-right Netanyahu government.” In a statement today, Clark said she is supporting the measure “not because I agree with the entirety of the amendment, or the GOP’s cynical motivations for its consideration, but because I believe we must change course.” Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar, D-Texas, said he would vote in support of the amendment as well even though it might also cut off some diplomatic funding. “While I would prefer to vote on an amendment that stripped just military funding, I think opposing the billions in military funding is what’s most important here,” he posted on X. Democratic leadership is not whipping the vote, meaning Democrats will be allowed to vote how they want on the measure. The amendment will need a simple majority to pass. 8d ago / 1:09 PM EDTSenate not expected to pass daylight saving time bill quicklyWhile the House overwhelmingly supported passage of a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, the Senate isn't expected to take it up quickly.Although the Senate passed similar legislation by unanimous consent in 2022, a number of senators actually oppose making daylight saving time permanent. A senior Capitol Hill aide points out that Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., opposes the bill, saying, “Sen. Cotton has the same concerns he’s had for years about this proposal, but he is far from alone.” The aide pointed out that Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Ted Budd, R-N.C., Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., all voted against making daylight saving time permanent in the Senate Commerce Committee in 2025.A leadership aide says that Cotton did not object to the bill passing unanimously in 2022 because of a miscommunication, with Cotton thinking someone else would be there to object.Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R_Wyo., told reporters yesterday that the bill cannot pass by unanimous consent in the Senate this time around, noting that support for the bill “depends on where you’re living in the country and the impact would be in your own home state, so it’s not as simple as what one state might like.”Asked this morning about how he feels about the House bill, Thune, the Senate majority leader, told NBC News, “I think the main concern is that there’s optionality for states, and my understanding is that’s in the House bill.”“I just don’t think we want a mandate, and that was tried once before and repealed, but we’re looking at it,” Thune said, “You know, the House had a big vote. There’s a lot of interest in it from members on our side over here, some for, some against. But we’ll see.”Thune noted that he voted against the bill in the Commerce Committee, and said it “remains to be seen” if the bill has the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, saying, “That’s not an issue that we’ve really probed much yet.”Part of the issue is that without unanimous consent it would take days of procedural hurdles to pass the bill, and floor time is particularly hard to come by when other nominees and bills are a higher priority.8d ago / 1:06 PM EDTHouse Republicans push for $90 billion for Iran war, election measures and farm aidHouse Republicans kicked off their plans for a third party-line spending bill yesterday, releasing a budget resolution that calls for $90 billion in new money for the military and election-related measures.With no plans to seek Democratic votes, it will be a herculean task to pass through the narrow Republican majorities, given the unpopularity of the Iran war, the lack of spending cuts to offset the new spending, which is already angering conservative hardliners, and the limits of the budget process.Read the full story here.Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., in Washington on Tuedsday. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images8d ago / 12:04 PM EDTBlanche says he is 'sorry that in about 1% of the documents mistakes were made' in the Epstein files releaseSen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Blanche if he would apologize to Epstein survivors "for the mishandling and mistakes" by the DOJ during the release of its records related to Epstein.Blanche said that "any mistake that we made should not have been made."Todd Blanche in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Jack Gruber / USA Today Network via Reuters Connect"I am sorry that in about 1% of the documents mistakes were made," Blanche said during his response. "But what I will say on top of that is we put tons of resources to rectifying those mistakes immediately, including pulling down documents within minutes of being informed that they were there."At a House Judiciary Committee hearing in February, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Calif., urged then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to apologize to the Epstein survivors who were in the room. She did not. Several of the survivors later spoke to NBC News and said they felt “degraded” by Bondi’s reaction. 8d ago / 11:52 AM EDTClayton confirmation hearing concludes after protester's removalAs Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was concluding Clayton's confirmation hearing, a protester began yelling comments about Israel."The Capitol Police will ... remove the annoying lunatic from the crowd," Cotton said. "I apologize to lunatics for comparing that guy to them."Cotton then adjourned the hearing. 8d ago / 11:43 AM EDTJon Ossoff gets into heated back-and-forth with Clayton over Tulsi Gabbard's presence at Fulton County searchSen. Jon Ossoff and Clayton got into a heated exchange after the Georgia Democrat questioned the nominee again about why he refused to say that Biden won the 2020 election. Ossoff then asked Clayton if he was aware that then-intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard was present at the Fulton County, Georgia, search of 2020 election records in January when she served as DNI. Jay Clayton during his Senate Select Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing today. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images"You discussed that with me in your office," Clayton said, referring to a meeting the two had yesterday. "Are you aware that Director Gabbard was present at the Fulton County raid earlier this year?" Ossoff asked again. Clayton repeated that Ossoff had told him about it. "What is going on here?" Ossoff said. "You’ve said at the beginning of this you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. I’m asking a very simple question: Are you aware that Director Gabbard was present at the Fulton County raid earlier this year? Yes or no? Are you aware?" "I just said I was made aware of it by you yesterday," Clayton said."The first time you learned that Director Gabbard was present at that raid was in my office yesterday?" Ossoff asked, seeming incredulous."It was the first time that, in my recollection, I've thought about it recently," Clayton then answered. "Now, was I aware before ... ?""What?" Ossoff interrupted. "I mean, you brought it to my attention yesterday," Clayton continued, adding, "I had not thought about it until you brought it to my attention yesterday.""Your answers lack credibility," Ossoff responded. "Your testimony lacks credibility. You’re being evasive and you’re not being candid or forthright, and everybody across the country is going to watch this and know that."The senator asked other questions related to Gabbard's presence at the search and Clayton seemed to be unaware of the answers. "Is it appropriate for the director of national intelligence to oversee the execution of domestic search warrants at sensitive election facilities? Yes or no?" Ossoff asked sternly. Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., then cut off the exchange and said the senator's time had expired. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the committee's ranking member, followed up."It strains credibility — and I trust you, I know you — but it strains credibility to think that you were not aware of Director Gabbard's intervention in the domestic election activities in Fulton County, and that that was subject of a great deal of consternation and review," Warner said. Again, maybe the framing of the senator's question you didn't appreciate, but now, if even if you weren't aware, in preparation for this hearing, I would have thought, "Hey, we got to be ready for the Gabbard questions.'"8d ago / 11:29 AM EDTICE leadership caught by surprise by Trump’s traffic stops comment this morningSenior leaders at ICE were caught by surprise this morning when Trump posted on Truth Social that he wanted to bring back “traffic stops” as a tool to arrest immigrants. Just yesterday, in the wake of two fatal ICE shootings, the agency had temporarily paused nonemergency vehicle stops as it reviewed the incidents and assessed whether agents were being properly trained.A senior Department of Homeland Security official with knowledge of the vehicle stop pause said ICE leadership was first made aware of Trump’s position on the policy by the Truth Social post. There had been no discussions at DHS, ICE or with the White House prior to Trump’s post, the senior DHS official said. Now, in a recent post on X replying to Trump’s post, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, “Illegal aliens will be arrested and deported wherever they are.”8d ago / 11:23 AM EDTClayton again refuses to say Biden won 2020 election, but insists he will serve 'independently' as DNIRevisiting a Democratic line of questioning at Clayton's confirmation hearing, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asked the nominee why Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election. "I'm going back to my constitutional law here, but I don't want to continue to have a debate about this, but I believe he had the most electoral votes," Clayton said."So he won the election," Kelly said. "He followed our process, had the most electoral votes, was declared the winner," Clayton responded. Kelly said: "And who has the most electoral votes? Is it the person that wins or the person who loses that votes?""I think that's your characterization," Clayton said. The senator said the reason his Democratic colleagues are struggling with his answers on the issue is because it's important that the DNI be able to disagree with the president. "You’re going to be in a room with him many times, and at times you should have a difference of opinion, and if you can’t disagree with him when he’s not in the room, are you going to be able to disagree with him when you’re sitting across from him in the Oval Office or the Situation Room?" Kelly asked. The senator added: "I really struggle with this, especially in your position, because you can't disagree with him on this because he doesn't like the fact that he lost in 2020. As you said, Joe Biden was certified because he got the most electoral votes. That means he won, but you still refuse to say that."Clayton responded, "In terms of your question, I have every confidence that I will deliver on my job candidly, independently and with my best judgment." "But just not in this room," Kelly rejoined.8d ago / 11:22 AM EDTCoons presses Blanche on Trump's Jan. 6 pardons and commutationsSen. Chris Coons, D-Del., pressed Blanche on Trump's move to pardon and commute sentences for people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.Coons asked Blanche how many people were convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the attack and followed up by asking the nominee how many Trump pardoned. Trump's sweeping pardon did not distinguish between violent and nonviolent offenders. Trump's pardon took place before Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general, which Coons noted."I'll just say that I considered a shameful slap in the face of the men and women of law enforcement for those convicted of assaulting police officers to have been pardoned," Coons said. Coons pointed to Blanche's remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), when Blanche said that by the end of the day on Trump's first day in office, every Jan. 6 defendant was pardoned or had their sentence commuted. The audience cheered in response. Coons accused Blanche of "trumpeting it as an achievement," which Blanche rebutted."I wasn't celebrating it. I was merely stating a fact, which is that the Jan. 6 defendants did receive a very generous pardon or commutation from President Trump," Blanche said, defending his comment. 8d ago / 11:17 AM EDTClayton, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, delivered his opening remarks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. There is a bipartisan push to replace Trump’s selection of Pulte as acting director following Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation.8d ago / 11:12 AM EDTBlackburn and Blanche urge Congress to ban 'birth tourism'During her questioning time, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., called the recent Supreme Court decision affirming birthright citizenship, "deeply disappointing."The senator, who touted a bill she's introduced to ban "birth tourism," asked Blanche, "touch on why Congress needs to act and give the administration more tools for," prosecuting people who say they're coming to the U.S. as tourists, but actually plan to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children."We are limited in how we can prosecute folks that are coming here for — lying about why they're coming here [and] coming here just to give birth," Blanche said, adding that the only way to expand the Justice Department's ability to prosecute temporary visitors who give birth in the U.S. is by enacting new legislation.That, "would give us more tools, and and would give the president more tools to keep out people who are absolutely not coming for the right reason, only coming to give birth," Blanche added.The federal government does not track the number of babies born in the U.S. each year due to "birth tourism," but the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advocates for lower immigration rates, in 2020 estimated that 33,000 babies born in the U.S. each year — out of over 3.5 million babies born on average in the U.S. annually — are born to women on tourist visas. 9d ago / 10:51 AM EDTInterview starts for House investigation into Epstein A closed-door interview with Kathy Ruemmler, a former Obama administration official, has started. The interview with the House Oversight Committee is part of its Epstein probe. Ruemmler left her job at Goldman Sachs earlier this year amid controversy over her email correspondence with Epstein. 9d ago / 10:49 AM EDTClayton doesn't directly answer who won the 2020 presidential electionSen. Angus King, I-Maine, got into a tense exchange with Clayton when he asked him to state who won the 2020 presidential election. "I’ve answered that question. I’m not going to get into that," Clayton said. King responded: "You have not answered that question. Could you answer the question? Who won the 2020 election? Pretty simple question.""Yeah, I said ... I’m going to give you the same answer," Clayton responded. "The answer to the chairman was, he asked me if I was an election denier. I am not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as the president. He went through his process. We went through our electoral process." "Who won the 2020 election?" King repeated. "As I said to you, we went through our processes, and Joe Biden became the president of the United States," Clayton said. "That’s not an answer to the question," King said. "I'm here to talk about my qualifications," Clayton said. "One of your qualifications is you told us you're going to tell the truth to power, and you won't answer a very simple question," King said. "I think, I think I've answered it many times," Clayton said. "You have not answered it ... saying Joe Biden was certified is not an answer," King said. 9d ago / 10:48 AM EDTSen. John Kennedy asks Blanche whether he is friends with TrumpSen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked Blanche whether he is friends with Trump."I'm his lawyer. Was his lawyer," Blanche said, correcting himself. "And now I'm the deputy attorney general."He said he met Trump when he served as Trump's criminal defense attorney."I'm not sure there's very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend," Blanche said.Kennedy then asked Blanche whether the two were enemies."No, we're not enemies, at all," Blanche said. 9d ago / 10:42 AM EDTCornyn presses Blanche on the IRS settlement and the 'anti-weaponization' fundSen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, pressed Blanche on the IRS settlement that led to the creation of the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which Blanche said last month was not moving forward.Blanche reiterated that position during the hearing. "It is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund," he said. "The weaponization fund is dead. It's not moving forward."Cornyn pointed to the language in the settlement, noting that it stipulated that the settlement agreement can only be modified with written agreement of the parties. Asked whether there has been a written agreement to modify the settlement fund, Blanche said no, adding, "The settlement fund is just not moving forward."Cornyn also asked whether the settlement agreement could be enforced as a contract. Blanche said that "it's an enforceable document.""I suppose if President Trump's counsel sought to enforce it, that they potentially could," Blanche said. Cornyn asked whether that included the "anti-weaponization" fund, and Blanche replied that "they could try to enforce the contract.""They can't force the Department of Justice to move forward with the weaponization fund," he added. "They could potentially say that I suppose that we breached by not moving forward. They haven't done that, and I'm not aware that they're planning on doing that."On his way into the Blanche hearing, Cornyn, who has not decided how he will vote on Blanche’s nomination, said he has questions about possible “conflicts of interest” regarding Trump’s IRS settlement and the settlement fund.On the settlement, Cornyn said: “It creates a number of questions about conflicts of interest, about his authority to do that, and whether or not this is still ultimately enforceable in some sort of contract. So, a lot of novel legal questions.”Cornyn called the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund “inappropriate.” “That’s why it’s gotten so much pushback, and that’s why he said it’s now a moot point. But I’m not sure it’s up to him,” he added.9d ago / 10:34 AM EDTClayton says he consulted career prosecutors before subpoenaing New York Times reportersSen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked Clayton about the subpoenas he issued as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York to New York Times journalists over their reporting about the new Air Force One."Those subpoenas are in connection with an ongoing national security investigation," Clayton said. "I'm happy to talk to you and this committee about our approach to the First Amendment and our efforts in all cases to limit, to the greatest extent possible, any intrusion into the operation of the free press. I am absolutely committed to and respect our First Amendment and the role of the press.""You can be assured that it was a consultative exercise with the career prosecutors in my office," Clayton said, but added that it would be "inappropriate" to get into detail about the process.The Justice Department subpoenaed four Times journalists Friday after they reported about security concerns involving the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar. 9d ago / 10:33 AM EDTKlobuchar raises concerns about federal law enforcement cooperation in the wake of ICE shootingsIn her questioning time, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Blanche if he would commit to "continued information sharing between federal and state investigators," in the wake of two deadly shootings by immigration enforcement in her state earlier this year and other recent ICE shootings in Maine and Texas. "I expect that these investigations should be run as every investigation of similar kind, and so that necessarily includes working with state and locals in the appropriate way," Blanche told Klobuchar.He added: "I think that the definition of 'full cooperation' can be disputed, but I very much expect that, whether it's the inspector general or the U.S. attorney's office or the FBI or whoever on the federal side of the investigation, where appropriate to work with state and locals."The senator told Blanche that she “appreciated that the department shared evidence with state investigators early this week,” about the immigration enforcement shootings in Minnesota, after she and Blanche met several weeks ago.The question from Klobuchar came after she praised federal law enforcement cooperation in the investigations of two shootings in her state — the murders of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the mass shooting at a Minneapolis church.9d ago / 10:15 AM EDTClayton affirms Biden won 2020 election while warning U.S. has 'work to do' improving electionsMark Warner, D-Va., the Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member, asked Clayton if he denies that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. "Senator ... I'm not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States," Clayton said. At the same time, Clayton said, "We have substantial work to do, and I’ve made in improving our electoral processes. It’s part of national security, and I feel strongly about that."Warner also asked Clayton if he would commit to not interfering in U.S. elections as DNI. "Senator, you outlined the role correctly: The role is to deal with foreign interference in U.S. elections, which is something I'm gravely concerned about, but that's the role," Clayton said. Asked if he also would commit to not putting his hands on the scales of American elections, Clayton said, "The role of the intelligence community is to provide information, not to engage in policy or those things, so yes."Clayton also promised that declassification practices under his leadership would be “consistent with the role” when Warner asked if he vowed not to declassify information for political purposes.“I believe that there are a number of protections in place across the intelligence community to ensure that intelligence is not used for political purposes, and I intend to adhere to those,” Clayton said.9d ago / 10:03 AM EDTBlanche defends handling of the Epstein filesBlanche addressed his handling of the Epstein files and defended the administration's response.He said that the government reviewed more than 6 million pages, adding that about 1% of the redactions had to be fixed."The reviewers were qualified, experienced attorneys within the department and the FBI," Blanche said. "They took pains to apply appropriate redactions. There were mistakes that were made, and so approximately 1% of the redactions had to be fixed after we released the Epstein files."Ahead of Blanche's hearing, several victims criticized him in a public service announcement, pointing to the fact that their personal information was released in the documents. Blanche said during the hearing that anytime the department learned that any victims' names were improperly not redacted, it "immediately" removed the document and fixed it."That doesn’t excuse the mistakes of which I take responsibility, but it does mean that we tried to fix them," he said.Blanche also said that the Trump administration "has been more transparent than any past administration" on the Epstein case. He encouraged Epstein survivors to meet with the FBI and said that the department would never not talk with them. 9d ago / 10:00 AM EDTWarner denounces Pulte, Gabbard for what he called the politicization of intelligenceIn his opening remarks, Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark Warner denounced Pulte and former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard for what he said was the politicization of the office and called on Clayton not to do the same."One of my greatest concerns with President Trump's appointment of Mr. Pulte as acting DNI is that Mr. Pulte had no national security experience, and if anything, at what seemed to be his one qualification, he had a demonstrated record of releasing private, confidential mortgage information, so he could weaponize it for political purposes," Warner said. "I can't think of a less qualified individual to be anywhere close to the DNI's role," Warner said, expressing concerns about Pulte potentially using intelligence to take action on elections."I urge you to stand strong in protecting the most sacred of the IC principles: speaking truth to power," he continued. "We have seen what happens when policymakers are allowed to shade intelligence for political reasons. It results in endless wars, tens of billions of dollars in wasted taxpayer dollars, and literally thousands of dead Americans."9d ago / 9:55 AM EDTWarner criticizes Trump's efforts to slow Clayton's confirmation processSen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, criticized Trump's efforts to slow Clayton's confirmation process despite nominating him to serve as director of national intelligence. "I can't think of any other instance in the history of this committee where a president sends a nominee up, and then in a bipartisan way, we say we really want to move heaven and earth to get this nominee moving through quickly because of the importance of the position, and then the president decided that Senate was moving too fast on his own nominee, and pulls that nominee for a while, pulls down the hearing, and in the meantime blows up the FISA reauthorization process, which is critically important," Warner said. "Now, I know you had nothing to do with that and were probably as surprised as many of us. So, I guess congratulations about getting finally in front of this committee," he added. The committee delayed Clayton's original confirmation hearing last month after Trump called for it to be postponed in part over the president's effort to get senators to advance an elections overhaul bill. 9d ago / 9:42 AM EDTDurbin accuses Blanche of 'corruption'In his opening remarks, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the top Democrat on the committee, accused Blanche of satisfying the president's personal grievances, pointing to the slow-walked release of the Epstein files and the nearly $2 billion "anti-weaponization" fund Blanche set up through the Justice Department that was later struck down by a federal judge."Despite resounding bipartisan criticism and admitting this was a mistake, you have refused to rescind the order creating this fund, that order can still be found on Department of Justice's website today," Durbin told Blanche.On the Epstein files, Durbin said: "When Congress forced the administration to release the files, hundreds of survivors’ personal information was unredacted — victimizing them again. Meanwhile, the names of powerful Epstein allies remain protected, in clear violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Your explanation? 'It isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.'"9d ago / 9:35 AM EDTClayton confirmation hearing beginsJay Clayton's confirmation hearing for his nomination as director of national intelligence before the Senate Intelligence Committee has begun.Jay Clayton appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee today. Aaron Schwartz / Getty Images9d ago / 9:20 AM EDTEpstein survivors attend Blanche hearingSurvivors of Jeffrey Epstein are attending Blanche's confirmation hearing today. Blanche's handling of the Epstein files is expected to be a major topic of conversation during the hearing.The women wore matching shirts that referenced redactions made in the released Epstein files, reading "the truth is" next to a redacted black box.Survivors of Jeffery Epstein at the confirmation hearing of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche today. Eric Lee / Getty Images"Epstein survivors are still waiting," the shirts read. "Release the [redacted black box] files."Earlier this week, several survivors released a public service announcement urging senators not to support Blanche's nomination.9d ago / 9:16 AM EDTSen. Lindsey Graham's desk draped in black at Blanche hearingInside the room for Blanche's confirmation hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham's desk is draped in black. A vase filled with white roses sits next to his nameplate. Graham served on the Judiciary Committee. His seat sat next to committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.Graham's sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to fill the remainder of his term, but she does not automatically take over his committee positions.Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee, paid tribute to Graham in his opening remarks, calling him a "trusted friend" and saying he would cherish "my memories of both our fierce partisan battles and our landmark bipartisan agreements."Flowers at the seat of late Senate Judiciary Committee member Lindsey Graham. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images9d ago / 9:01 AM EDTBlanche's confirmation hearing beginsBlanche's confirmation hearing for his nomination to be attorney general has begun.He is expected to face questions about issues including the so-called anti-weaponization fund and the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files, among other controversial issues. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is sworn in this morning. Eric Lee / Getty Images9d ago / 8:59 AM EDTBiden announces his new book will be released Nov. 17Biden announced this morning that his new book, "Promise me, America," will be released Nov. 17.In the video, Biden said that his cancer treatment has been “going really well” and thanked people for their support. He said that the book is about challenges he faced during his presidency and why he made certain decisions.The book will address the moment he stepped aside during his 2024 re-election campaign, he said. "Most of all, it’s about my faith in the promise of America," he said in a video posted to X. "The promise we made to those that have gone before us and to honor their sacrifice. The promises we’ve made to one another and to treat everyone with dignity and respect."9d ago / 8:58 AM EDTVance to meet with House Republicans todayVice President JD Vance will meet with House Republicans at 3 p.m. today, according to a GOP source familiar with the matter.He was originally scheduled to attend yesterday’s House GOP conference meeting but had to reschedule.Republicans are trying to pass a third partisan reconciliation package to deliver on some of Trump’s priorities, including money for the Iran war and the election overhaul bill known as the Save AMERICA Act.9d ago / 8:42 AM EDTCornyn 'uncommitted' on Blanche's nominationSen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he is “uncommitted” on Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general ahead of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.Cornyn said he “absolutely” has concerns about how Blanche handled the “anti-weaponization" fund the Trump administration established this year.“I’m also concerned about the finding of the judge that was announced yesterday that suggested that the litigation against the IRS was collusive and not truly adversarial. So I intend to explore that,” Cornyn, who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, told NBC News on Capitol Hill.A federal judge in Florida found yesterday that Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax records, which led to the creation of the nearly $1.8 billion fund, was brought in “bad faith.” The judge ordered sanctions against officials involved in the matter, including Blanche.Cornyn, a senator since 2003, lost his re-election bid to his Republican primary challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in May after Trump gave a last-minute endorsement to Paxton. 9d ago / 8:24 AM EDTDurbin details conversation with BlancheSen. Dick Durbin, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Blanche yesterday to discuss several of his concerns ahead of today's confirmation hearing.Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that Blanche told him "I made a mistake" on the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which is expected to be a major topic during the hearing.Durbin said Blanche repeated to him that he did not want to see the fund move forward, which the senator said he then he suggested Blanche put in writing.The fund was proposed as a way to compensate alleged victims of politically motivated targeting by the federal government. Durbin also said he discussed the Justice Department's handling of the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trump's IRS settlement with Blanche. The IRS settlement over the leak of Trump's tax returns several years ago led to the creation of the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which Blanche said last month would not proceed.The senator also said he raised the question of administration election interference with Blanche."I said, 'Let me just tell you, as I sit here, my greatest fear is that somehow or another you’re going to interfere in the next election,'" Durbin said. "And he said, 'No, we won’t.'"9d ago / 8:19 AM EDTSenators rally to Russia sanctions bill, one of Lindsey Graham’s top prioritiesSen. Lindsey Graham’s pursuit of a Russia sanctions bill has taken on renewed urgency after his death as colleagues look to pay tribute and build on the progress he made in gaining the White House’s support for the measure.Supporters of Ukraine have been working for more than a year to pass a bill that would impose steep tariffs on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports. They unveiled a revised measure yesterday with the goal of depriving Russia of money it uses to fund its war against Ukraine.Read the full story here.9d ago / 8:11 AM EDTBlanche to tell senators he is 'here today to earn your trust once again'Blanche will tell the senators who are considering his nomination to lead the Justice Department that he wants to "earn" their trust with his testimony, according to an excerpt from his opening remarks. “Seventeen months ago, I sat at this table as the nominee to be Deputy Attorney General, and I told you that serving in the Justice Department was my American dream," Blanche's prepared remarks say. "Since then, I have helped lead it — first as Deputy, and now as Acting Attorney General. I am here today to earn your trust once again."Blanche is expected to face tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans over issues including the administration's proposed "anti-weaponization" fund, the IRS settlement over Trump's leaked tax filings, and the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files. 9d ago / 7:51 AM EDTTrump urges ICE to resume traffic stopsTrump said in a Truth Social post that Immigration and Customs Enforcement should not pause vehicle stops, comments that come just a day after the agency issued a nationwide order for officers to temporarily halt the pursuit of people in vehicles following two fatal shootings. Trump wrote that "we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!""Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands," he continued. "The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job. Keep those Crime Stat Records coming!"In the shootings in Maine and Texas, which happened just days apart, the men who were killed were not the original targets for arrest, according to local officials.Read the full story here.9d ago / 7:28 AM EDTNominee for top intel post faces lawmakers eager to see him replace the current leaderTrump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, is likely to get a friendly reception from lawmakers today at his confirmation hearing as both parties are eager for him to take over from the current acting intelligence chief.Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers see Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, as a relatively safe pair of hands to replace Bill Pulte, a political partisan who came to the job without any clear national security experience.Read the full story here.9d ago / 7:28 AM EDTBlanche has no room for error on his nominationBlanche has no room for error regarding Republican support for his nomination to be permanent attorney general.Because of the GOP's slim majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee, a single Republican vote against him would prevent his nomination from being reported favorably out of the committee.Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have both expressed skepticism about Blanche's nomination. Cornyn said he is uncommitted to backing Blanche, and Tillis said the administration's proposed "anti-weaponization" fund must be completely nixed for him to support the nominee.Sen. Darline Graham, who was sworn in to fill the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham's term following his death last weekend, will not be at the hearing today in her brother's stead. Her appointment does not automatically grant her his committee assignments, and Senate leadership is still determining what her assignments will be. 9d ago / 7:28 AM EDTU.S. launches new daylight attacks on Iran, upping pressure alongside naval blockadeThe U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and intensified its airstrike campaign today in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Overnight American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killed at least seven troops and wounded more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said. Later, the U.S. resumed striking Iran during daylight — an unusual move that further signaled the increasing tempo in attacks.Read the full story here.
Todd Blanche faces questions over Epstein files at Senate confirmation hearing
Jay Clayton, the nominee for director of national intelligence, was repeatedly pressed at his confirmation hearing to acknowledge President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss.
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