NPR Updates Blanche Confirmation Headline After Republican Senator Switches Support

NPR removed the claim that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) would oppose Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General, and instead stated that Blanche's path to confirmation appears clear after winning key Republican support. The updated headline reflects a significant shift in the article's tone and content, as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) announced his support for Blanche's nomination. Cassidy's endorsement is a major win for the White House, and his statement highlighted concerns over Blanche's judgment in exempting the president from IRS audits and bringing suits against the president's perceived political enemies. The change in headline accurately reflects the updated information and provides a more accurate representation of the current situation regarding Blanche's confirmation.

Related Changes

Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, narrowing his path to confirmation +491 -322
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− Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Murkowski to oppose Blanche nomination for attorney general The Alaska Republican said the country needs an Attorney General who will "check the worst impulses of this administration," adding that she doesn't have confidence that Todd Blanche can achieve that.
+ Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Murkowski to oppose Blanche nomination for attorney general A key Republican senator, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, said he would back Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general, smoothing the path for his ultimate confirmation by the Senate.
− Politics Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, narrowing his path to confirmation August 7, 202610:12 AM ET By Barbara Sprunt Sen.
+ Politics Blanche's path to confirmation appears clear after winning key Republican's support Updated August 7, 202611:32 AM ET Originally published August 7, 202610:12 AM ET By Barbara Sprunt Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill on July 29, 2026.
− Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is seen here during a Senate hearing on July 21, 2026.
+ Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption President Trump's nominee for attorney general will likely squeak by in his Senate confirmation, after securing key support from Sen.
− Murkowski has said she will oppose President Trump's nominee for Attorney General, Todd Blanche.
+ Bill Cassidy. The Louisiana Republican said he's spoken multiple times with Todd Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general and has faced an uphill battle in his nomination process. "I'll be criticized for this vote," Cassidy said in remarks Friday from the Senate floor.
− Bloomberg/via Getty Images hide caption President Trump's nominee for attorney general is facing a narrower path to confirmation after Sen.
+ "What's new?" Cassidy acknowledged concerns over Blanche's judgment in exempting the president from IRS audits and said he was particularly troubled by the Department of Justice bringing suits against the president's perceived political enemies. Politics Senate Judiciary Committee advances Blanche nomination, setting up a final vote "A never-ending cycle of prosecuting political enemies undermines the rule of law, degrades the public's trust in our institutions, and makes our politics more extreme," he said. Cassidy, who's been increasingly vocal about opposition to the administration after he lost his renomination bid to a Trump-backed challenger, said that his decision is not a referendum on the president. "Mr.
− Lisa Murkowski announced she will vote against his nomination.
+ Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this," Cassidy said. "But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump and who indeed may not be as good as Mr. Blanche." Cassidy's support is a major win for the White House.
− "The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration," the Alaska Republican said in a statement on X on Friday.
+ His announcement came on the heels of fellow Republican Sen.
+ Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announcing she would not support Blanche's nomination. With the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Murkowski's opposition, Cassidy's vote is crucial in securing a glidepath for Blanche. "The country needs an Attorney General who will check the worst impulses of this administration," Murkowski said in a statement on X on Friday.
"I hope Mr. Blanche is able to achieve that, if confirmed, but I simply do not have confidence that will be the case." Murkowski said she has concerns about the "sweeping immunity protections granted to the president" and what she called the "politicization—even weaponization" of the Department of Justice. She said another factor in her decision was the anti-weaponization fund, which the Trump administration initially said would be available to those who allege wrongdoing by the federal government. Blanche told members of Congress in June that the controversial fund was scrapped, and formally rescinded it earlier this week. "I am also keenly aware that the Department's nearly $2-billion dollar slush fund—which likely would have rewarded January 6 protesters—is only off the table because this nomination is pending and the Senate has leverage," she said.
− "Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds." GOP Sens.
+ "Once we vote, that will end, and there is no telling what the future holds." Law Takeaways from Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for attorney general GOP Sens.
John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina – both of whom are leaving Congress – initially held up the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote on Blanche's nomination, demanding written assurances that the fund was indeed dead. Blanche provided that written statement on Aug. 2.
− Attorney General Nominee Todd Blanche leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill on July 29, 2026.
+ Murkowski joins Sen.
− Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption Murkowski joins Sen.
Susan Collins, R-Maine, in announcing her opposition to Blanche.
− Blanche, who is currently serving as acting attorney general, has been working to assuage the concerns of GOP senators, traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and even taking a trip to Murkowski's state to meet with local and tribal leaders.
+ Blanche has been working to assuage the concerns of GOP senators, traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and even taking a trip to Murkowski's state to meet with local and tribal leaders.
He was hired by Trump as his personal attorney in 2023 to defend him from charges over hush money payments, attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 elections, and the mishandling of classified documents.
− All Democrats are expected to vote against Blanche's nomination. With the absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Murkowski's opposition, Blanche can't lose any more GOP votes. All eyes now turn to Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who's been increasingly vocal about opposition to the administration after he lost his renomination bid to a Trump-backed challenger.
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