Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Aug. 9, 2026

On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican of LouisianaSen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of VermontNational Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay BhattacharyaNicole Sganga, CBS News homeland security and justice correspondentClick here to browse full transcripts from 2026 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington.And this week on Face the Nation: Can a fractured Democratic Party unite to flip the House and Senate in the fall?Plus, the challenges facing public health.As we hit the final stretch of the summer of '26, the Senate has wrapped up and headed home. One of its last items of business, confirming President Trump's nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, who's squeaked through by one vote, despite concerns about the administration's weaponization of the Justice Department.We will talk with the Republican who put him over the top, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.

(Begin VT)(CHEERING)(End VT)MARGARET BRENNAN: Plus, following another progressive-over-establishment upset in the Michigan Senate primary, will the Democratic Party unite? And how will those further left candidates fare against Republicans in the fall?