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• The Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly approved Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general on Tuesday morning following a week of political uncertainty. • During the proceedings, Blanche accused the Biden administration of conducting politically motivated investigations, though he admitted the "weaponization" of the Justice Department was less intense in the previous administration. • Senator Charles E. Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, provided a key public endorsement to support the nomination's progress.

• A Senate committee advanced the nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. • The move followed Blanche's decision to rescind a $1.8 billion fund previously designated for President Donald Trump’s political allies. • This action is significant as it addresses potential conflicts of interest and financial controversies surrounding the nominee's ties to the administration.

• President Trump has labeled Iran "unbelievably duplicitous," warning that current opportunities represent a "last chance" for Tehran to reach a deal and avoid further escalation. • Despite these remarks, U.S. officials informed CBS News that no new formal negotiations with Iran are currently planned. • Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi is reportedly attempting to mediate between the two nations, carrying messages from the U.S. to Tehran following a White House visit.

• President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it has a "last chance" to sign a deal, though he maintains he is under no specific time constraint. • Iran has stated it is not currently in talks with the U.S. but is discussing a new Strait of Hormuz route with Oman. • Expert Paul Salem of the Center for Strategic & International Studies suggests that while the Iranian regime can withstand economic strain, Trump may face a heavy political cost within the U.S. electoral system.

Todd Blanche issues formal order to withdraw ‘anti-weaponization fund’ after weeks of negotiations with Republican senators who were blocking his nominationBlanche formally rescinds Trump’s $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponization fund’Sign up for the US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche issued a formal order late on Sunday terminating Donald Trump’s $1.8bn “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies. Continue reading...

Iranian spokesperson says there are no plans to receive or send a delegation following US president’s assertion that talks would take place todayTrump says Iran talks set for MondayHello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Monday that Iran is not currently holding any talks with the US, Reuters reports – contradicting claims made by Donald Trump on Sunday night that talks with Iran would happen the next day. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on charges of inciting an insurrection. • The trial concluded with a decision that Trump would not be convicted, despite the gravity of the charges regarding the January 6th Capitol riot. • The outcome highlights the political stakes for senators like Lisa Murkowski, who has served since 2002 and faces reelection next year.

• President Trump announced that talks regarding the US-Iran conflict will resume on Monday after he previously called off planned strikes. • Former Palestinian Authority leader Mohammed Dahlan claimed that Jared Kushner is working with Israel to halt attacks on Gaza, though the White House and State Department have not yet commented. • Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen contradicted reports of a ceasefire, stating there is no deal to stop attacks and arguing that Israel should take full control of the Gaza Strip, where it already controls 70%.

• Former President Donald Trump and the Saudi crown prince discussed the necessity of dialogue to de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East. • Trump stated that he cancelled planned attacks on Iran while exploring a potential deal that could involve reopening diplomatic channels. • According to The Washington Post, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich of the US European Command warned Pentagon officials that the US lacks sufficient naval assets to sustain the interception of Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel.

• Donald Trump has characterized a proposed Gaza peace deal as a "great breakthrough" on August 1, 2026. • Despite Trump's optimism, both Israel and Hamas continue to disagree on several key conditions required to finalize the agreement. • This diplomatic friction highlights the ongoing difficulty in securing a lasting ceasefire and stability in the region.

• President Donald Trump announced on July 31, 2026, that a new agreement has been reached for Hamas to disarm. • Trump attributed the success of the deal to the ongoing war with Iran, identifying the nation as the primary backer of Hamas. • This development is significant as it represents a major shift in the regional security landscape and a potential end to Hamas's armed operations.

• President Trump held a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, where he discussed Iran and the Attorney General nomination of Matthew Blanche. • During the event, Trump announced a new deal requiring Hamas to disarm in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. • Meanwhile, Kamala Harris criticized the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, highlighting the court's current 6-3 conservative majority.

• President Donald Trump has signaled that the U.S. will continue bombing operations in Iran, with officials indicating fresh strikes could occur as early as this weekend. • The decision comes despite increasing domestic pressure within the United States to wind down the ongoing conflict. • Separately, Trump announced a new agreement on Thursday aimed at disarming Hamas in Gaza, sparking intense political reactions in Israel ahead of October elections.

• The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed the vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after two GOP senators withheld support. • The delay stems from concerns over a settlement between Donald Trump and the IRS that provided tax audit immunity and established an “anti-weaponization” fund. • Separately, Iran vowed to "punish" the U.S. following a "heavy wave of strikes" conducted by the American military overnight.

President grapples with finding a resolution to Middle East conflict that has pushed up gasoline prices ahead of vital midterm electionsSign up for the US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump will convene a cabinet meeting later today at his ⁠Camp David retreat as he grapples with how to resolve his war against Iran.President Donald Trump has said he may pull Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney-general until senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office. The Republicans have demanded written assurances about the settlement of the president’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Cornyn recently lost the GOP primary in Texas and Tillis is not seeking reelection.The US Senate narrowly rejected a largely symbolic effort to check Donald Trump’s war in Iran, as a war powers resolution directing the president to end hostilities failed in a 49-50 vote.The House Democratic Women’s Caucus called on Thursday for an ethics committee investigation of Republican congressman Max Miller, a former Trump aide who has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and former girlfriend.New polling commissioned by Fox News shows Texas Democrat James Talarico narrowly ahead of the state’s Trump-backed Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, in their contest for a seat in the US Senate. Continue reading...

Response from Hamas and Israeli officials suggest Gaza deal still faces obstacles; Tehran launches drone strikes at Kuwait in retaliation for recent US attacksTrump claims agreement for ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza but support uncertainSaudi Arabia prepares sea and possible land offensive against HouthisDonald Trump claims a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles and conditions remained in the Palestinian territory.“The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases,” Trump said on social media. “As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors.”Twenty-five commodities vessels passed through the ⁠Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, while traffic through the strait ⁠of Hormuz ⁠remained ​low with only two tankers transiting, according to Kpler shipping ⁠data.Analysts are expecting major oil companies to report large profits while fighting between Iran and the US impeded petroleum shipments. Six of Europe’s largest oil companies have posted first-quarter profits of $22bn altogether, a total 43% higher than the same time last year, according to Global Witness.Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it had set up a maritime defence alliance of 14 regional countries to secure navigation around the Bab al-Mandab strait.An Iranian strike hit a Chinese firm’s building in Kuwait on Thursday, severely damaging the structure and killing a worker, Kuwait’s military said, hours after Jordan’s air defences shot down five missiles launched from Iran.Egypt’s government said on Thursday authorities were analysing drone fragments from an unprecedented strike on one of its ports, after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned of regional escalation. His government had earlier confirmed that a fire on two gas vessels in the Damietta port – one of which was US-owned – was a result of a drone strike, the first to target the country since the outbreak of the Middle East war. Continue reading...

• President Trump announced via social media that a government-established group has agreed on a process for Hamas to begin disarming in the Gaza Strip. • The White House claims a peace deal is near, though the administration has not yet provided specific details regarding the disarmament process. • Separately, new bipartisan Senate legislation introduced on Thursday proposes transferring the management of dozens of federal courthouses from the General Services Administration to the judiciary.

• A Senate motion to prevent the Trump administration from continuing hostilities against Iran failed in a narrow 49-50 vote. • Republican senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul broke party lines to vote in favor of the motion. • The political landscape is shifting as Senators Cornyn and Tillis are set to leave office next year, with Cornyn having lost his primary in May.

• The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed the vote to advance Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general due to a lack of written assurances from the Justice Department. • Two Republican senators are seeking specific details regarding a settlement between Donald Trump and the IRS before proceeding with the nomination. • Simultaneously, Iran has vowed to "punish" the United States following a "heavy wave of strikes" conducted by the U.S. military overnight.

Lawmakers scrap planned committee vote and seek further assurances that president’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ is deadSign up for the US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney-general stalled last night as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote.Barack Obama, the former president who installed basketball hoop on the White House tennis court, endorsed the US Senate campaign of Iowa Democrat Josh Turek, a state lawmaker who played wheelchair basketball in four Paralympic Games, winning two gold medals, in a new ad filmed as the two shot hoops.The US Senate unanimously passed a resolution declaring its opposition to any presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes.Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former Maga congresswoman, announced on Wednesday that she was married on Tuesday in Las Vegas to another recent exile from Trump’s good graces, Brian Glenn, the self-described “Maga mouthpiece” who quit his job as White House correspondent for the far-right network Real America’s Voice after his fiancee was cast out by the president for supporting the release of the Epstein files and criticizing his bombing of Iran in 2025.Lawyers for former FBI director James Comey have alleged that US Secret Service agents illegally surveilled him, Trump requested regular updates into the investigation, and law enforcement turned to ChatGPT and a known mafia killer as they scrambled to find justification for criminally charging Comey for posting a picture of seashells that spelled out “8647”. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton, the former U.S. attorney in Manhattan and a close ally of President Trump, as the Director of National Intelligence. • The appointment fills a role that has seen a decrease in relative significance during Trump's second administration. • Separately, a court ruling established that President Trump is entitled to substantial immunity from criminal prosecution regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

• President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House to reaffirm their shared commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. • The meeting occurred amid heightened tensions following drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, which were launched from Iraq and condemned by Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Lebanon. • Despite international pressure, President Trump has signaled a reluctance to escalate the military conflict with Iran.

Israeli prime minister meets US president after Trump’s closed-door meeting with Ukrainian presidentSign up for the Breaking News US emailTrump’s meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, set for 9:30am ET on Tuesday, will be closed to the media, the New York Times is reporting.The meeting is expected to be much more cordial than the one last year where Trump openly berated Zelenskyy and said, “you don’t have the cards”. The administration and rightwing influencers have shown a shift on Ukraine as of late, and Trump and Zelenskyy had a friendly meeting at a Nato summit earlier this month. Continue reading...

• President Trump expressed strong support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stating he has "done a great job" amid escalating tensions with Iran. • Simultaneously, the Trump administration has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to permit the nationwide implementation of an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules. • These voting restrictions are aimed at the upcoming November midterm elections, which will determine the balance of power in Congress.

• President Donald Trump visited suburban Detroit on Monday, July 27, 2026, to deliver a speech focusing on the national economy. • During the event, Trump praised his administration's implementation of sweeping tariffs, framing them as a key driver of economic success. • The visit highlights the administration's strategy to leverage trade protections to bolster domestic industry and appeal to voters in industrial hubs.

• The U.S. and Iran have paused military attacks on coastal areas and infrastructure to create "space" for diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. • U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed the pause on "Face the Nation," though the Trump administration maintains that a military buildup is still ongoing. • Global markets reacted positively to the news, with Brent crude dropping 6.8% to $85.49 and U.S. benchmark crude falling 7% to $83.06 per barrel.

• President Donald Trump has signaled a readiness to take "strong military action" against Iran if upcoming diplomatic negotiations fail to produce results. • Trump emphasized a strict timeline for these talks, stating that he will not grant "much time" and that the process must either "go fast or not at all." • This stance underscores a high-pressure approach to diplomacy, aiming to force rapid concessions from Iran to avoid an escalation into open conflict.

The US president’s pick to be the country’s director of national intelligence is expected to be approved within days – but only after a tense confirmation hearingSign up for the Breaking News US emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The Senate is due to begin voting as early as Monday on the nomination of Manhattan US attorney Jay Clayton, Donald Trump’s pick to be the ⁠top US spy, and he ⁠is expected to ​be approved within days despite a tense confirmation hearing.The Pentagon updated its official war casualty database over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members. The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) also introduced a new casualty category labeled “Overseas Operations” for personnel killed and wounded “starting July 7”. According to the updated database, the official toll for the earlier phase of the US-Iran war, known as Operation Epic Fury, now stands at 14 service members killed and more than 400 wounded in action.Donald Trump’s Republican party has “nothing to run on” for the congressional midterm elections after the president broke promises to lower costs and avoid starting war overseas, Hakeem Jeffries has said. The House minority leader, a New York congressman, made those comments on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, exactly 100 days from the 3 November midterms, when Jeffries and his fellow Democrats are aiming to take control of the US House and Senate from their Republican opponents.Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, is “fomenting hate” by calling the Israeli prime minister a war criminal who should be arrested over Israel’s war in Gaza if he visits the city for the United Nations general assembly.Tom Homan, the Trump administration “border czar”, on Sunday said he did not believe the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer at the center of a recent fatal shooting in Maine “should have ever cleared vetting”. Speaking to CNN’s State of the Union, Homan was asked by host Dana Bash about the officer’s eligibility to serve following reports that two of his ex-wives had accused him of abuse.Pop star Katy Perry has condemned the Trump White House after it used her hit song Firework in a TikTok video showing US military strikes on Iranian targets, saying she never approved the use of her music. The White House video, which featured Firework playing over footage of a missile striking an Iranian naval ship, has amassed more than 6 million views. The post was captioned: “Iran has been warned.”New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill recently signed a new law prohibiting businesses from using shoppers’ personal information to charge different prices for identical products, making her state the third in the US to ban the practice. The Fair Price Protection Act passed by New Jersey’s legislature seeks to protect consumers from surveillance pricing, in which retailers can use data including online activity, location and purchasing history to arbitrarily change prices for individual shoppers. Continue reading...