Politics

Trump’s nominee – his former personal defense lawyer – will face what is expected to be a contentious Senate nomination hearing Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next US attorney general – his former personal defense lawyer Todd Blanche – faces what is expected to be a contentious Senate nomination hearing today.Federal immigration officials have been instructed to stop pulling over vehicles until further notice, according to a homeland security source, following two recent deadly shootings in Texas and Maine during which officials shot and killed immigrants in vehicles. More here.Darline Graham, the sister of the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham, was sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate seat on Tuesday, just three days after his sudden death. Graham was appointed by Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s governor, to fill the remainder of her brother’s current term. More here.A person died during an encounter with federal immigration officials on Tuesday morning in Florida, marking the third death in one week linked to immigration enforcement operations. Officials with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is a component of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had an “encounter” with four men in a vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store along a busy road in St Augustine, Florida, the highway patrol spokesperson said. More here.Supreme court justices requested $14.6m increase in security amid a rise in threats. Amy Coney Barrett told House lawmakers that a sharp rise in threats against her and other justices is increasingly affecting her personal and family lives. More here. Continue reading...

The outgoing Labour leader will have final talks with his senior ministers in No 10 before taking his last PMQsGood morning. Everyone likes a leaving do and today it’s Keir Starmer’s, or at least his parliamentary one. If the colleague who is going is someone you like and admire, then the chance to see them thanked and celebrated is welcome. And if the colleague who is going is someone that you don’t like, or who has stayed too long, then that’s even better. At a good leaving do, there are also decent jokes. And, in politics, a final PMQs is one of the rare moments when even opponents tend to be polite and respectful (which is something people watching from outside the circus tend to like).Starmer is chairing his last cabinet meeting this morning, and taking his final PMQs at noon. Doubtless he has had a chance to study how his predecessors handled this challenge, and he may have read what Tony Blair said on the day he left the Commons – worth quoting again because it is a good summary for those of us who think politics is still a worthy calling.Some may belittle politics but we who are engaged in it know that it is where people stand tall. Although I know that it has many harsh contentions, it is still the arena that sets the heart beating a little faster. If it is, on occasions, the place of low skulduggery, it is more often the place for the pursuit of noble causes. I wish everyone, friend or foe, well. That is that. The end. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: The representation of the people bill has become a test of whether ​Britain can curb the surge in billionaire‑backed ​donations trying to influence how we run the countryGood morning. I’m Hettie O’Brien, and I’ll be arriving in your inbox regularly from today, rounding out the First Edition team alongside Libby and Michael.I’ve spent much of my time at the Guardian writing about who is pulling the strings in Britain: I enjoy illuminating knotty subjects for our readers, exposing how power works, and helping to make sense of the stories defining our world. I’d love to hear what you think – just reply to this email – we want you to play a part in shaping First Edition. But go easy, it’s my first day.UK news | The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing, the Guardian has learned.Middle East | Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal amid a continuing dispute over the strait of Hormuz.UK politics | Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn of public money because of the way it went about buying PPE during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded.Europe news | A spokesperson for the EU has pushed back against the Trump administration’s assertion that the international criminal court poses a threat to US sovereignty.US news | The man killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Maine on Monday has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, according to local news outlets. Continue reading...

• Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before the House regarding the necessity of an increased security budget due to rising threats against judges. • In a separate legal matter, Hunter Biden won a defamation lawsuit totaling $1.7 million against Donald Trump ally Tony Bobulinski (referred to as Byrne in the text). • The lawsuit centered on false claims that Hunter Biden accepted an $800 million bribe to influence U.S. policy and unfreeze $8 billion in Iranian assets.

The head of Reform UK refused the security, which was a similar level to that received by the leader of the opposition, because he considered it inadequate Continue reading...

• South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham passed away on Saturday due to cardiovascular disease and an aortic dissection. • A veteran legislator with over 30 years in Congress, Graham was recognized as a leading voice on U.S. foreign policy and a key ally to President Donald Trump. • His career spanned decades of influence in the Republican party, shaping national security strategies and legislative priorities.

• Senator Lindsey Graham established himself as a critical dealmaker in Congress, frequently negotiating with both Democrats and fellow Republicans to resolve complex legislative issues. • His career is marked by a dramatic political shift, moving from a harsh critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 election to a staunch supporter and key ally. • Graham played pivotal roles in high-stakes events, including the failed Senate Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and attempts to challenge Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.