Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general

Gone quiet · last story Aug 8

What this arc covers

Todd Blanche's path from acting attorney general, after Pam Bondi's April 2026 firing, to his confirmation in August 2026: his nomination and hearings, the Republican objections over the Justice Department's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' and its rescission, the deal that won over Sen. John Cornyn, opposition from Republican senators including Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, and the Senate vote.

Todd Blanche

Earliest story we hold Apr 2, 2026 · 29 stories · 210 independent sources (counted once each) · 128 days

Part ofTodd BlancheDonald TrumpJohn CornynUnited States Department of JusticeUnited States SenateKen PaxtonPam BondiSusan Collins

Part of Trump's cabinet nominations

  1. Matt Gaetz's withdrawn nomination for attorney general and the House Ethics reportNov 13, 2024 – Apr 2, 2025
  2. Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretaryNov 13, 2024 – Jan 24, 2025
  3. RFK Jr.'s confirmation as health secretaryNov 14, 2024 – Feb 12, 2025
  4. Marty Makary's time leading the FDA and Heidi Overton's nomination to succeed himNov 23, 2024 – Sep 24, 2026
  5. Kash Patel at the FBI, from his nomination to the fights over his tenureDec 1, 2024 – Sep 15, 2026
  6. Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney generalThis arcApr 2 – Aug 8, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Aug 8Senate embarks on recess after funding government and confirming Blanche, punting other priorities7 articles · 3 independent sources
0 left, 3 center, 0 right
Aug 7– 8Anti-Trump Republican senator vows to fight Todd Blanche's confirmation — because of course she will5 articles · 4 independent sources
0 left, 0 center, 3 right
Aug 7– 13Trump administration profile: Todd Blanche336 articles · 109 independent sources
21 left, 35 center, 19 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jul 13 – 17Blanche faces criticism178 articles · 77 independent sources
    1. Jul 13Only lean-left coverage:Blanche stares down confirmation hurdle of lingering GOP doubts
    2. Jul 13Prosecutions, Epstein and the $1.8B fund: What to watch at Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing
    3. Jul 15Takeaways from Todd Blanche confirmation hearing for attorney general
    4. Jul 16Senate panel to hear witnesses on Blanche confirmation with attorney general nominee’s path razor-thin
    5. Jul 16Only left-leaning coverage:Todd Blanche Grilled in Confirmation Hearings Over Trump Ties and Epstein Files
  2. Jul 30 – Aug 1Trump may pull Blanche attorney general nomination for now as key Republicans withhold support176 articles · 73 independent sources
    1. Jul 30Trump says he may pull Blanche's attorney general nomination until dissenting senators leave office
    2. Aug 1Senate GOP to try again on Todd Blanche, Trump's pick for attorney general
  3. Jul 31 – Aug 3Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinds $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund'128 articles · 57 independent sources
    1. Jul 31Trump defends ‘anti-weaponization’ fund as Blanche nomination stalls
    2. Aug 1Trump says he’ll revive ‘anti-weaponization’ fund if Blanche’s nomination for AG is blocked
    3. Aug 2Blanche rescinds fund for Trump allies after GOP senators threaten to block his attorney general bid
    4. Aug 3Only center coverage:White House directly involved in Blanche order rescinding ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
  4. Aug 3 – 6Blanche confirmation for Trump attorney general a ‘work in progress’ after defection223 articles · 75 independent sources
    1. Aug 3GOP holdouts say they will back Blanche's attorney general nomination after striking deal over fund
    2. Aug 4Senate panel expected to advance Blanche’s attorney general nomination after deal with GOP holdouts
  5. Aug 7 – 13Trump administration profile: Todd Blanche336 articles · 109 independent sources
    1. Aug 7Senate narrowly confirms Todd Blanche US attorney general in overnight vote
    2. Aug 9Only center coverage:Blanche as attorney general faces pressure from Trump, skeptical courts, low staff morale
    3. Aug 9Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general after bruising confirmation fight
    4. Aug 13Only center coverage:Todd Blanche makes plea for unity at Justice Department

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Mar 30Apr 27May 25Jun 15Jul 13Aug 10

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Mar 30, 202645444
Jun 1, 202647633
Jun 8, 20261529
Jul 13, 2026182523209
Jul 20, 202632223
Jul 27, 2026163026308
Aug 3, 2026335939734
Aug 10, 20263132121

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

24% left · 48% center · 28% right of 210 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 29 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. April 2026

    Apr 2– 3Todd Blanche: What's next for the acting attorney general33 articles · 21 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 4 right
  2. Apr 3From Trump's criminal defense lawyer to acting AG -- who is Todd Blanche?11 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  3. June 2026

    Jun 4President Trump will nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general33 articles · 22 independent sources
    4 left, 7 center, 6 right
  4. Jun 8– 9Trump formally nominates his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general12 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right

  5. July 2026

    Jul 13– 17Blanche faces criticism178 articles · 77 independent sources
    17 left, 21 center, 22 right
  6. Jul 14– 15Takeaways from Blanche and Clayton hearings: Fund for Trump allies and 2020 election at the forefront20 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 1 right
  7. Jul 14Blanche on 'glide path' for confirmation, insiders say5 articles · 1 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  8. Jul 15– 16Cornyn noncommittal on Blanche attorney general nomination after pressing him in hearing5 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  9. Jul 17– 19As AG, Todd Blanche Will Finally Seek Justice for Dems' Dirty Lawfare5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 2 right
  10. Jul 21– 24Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to vote on Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General5 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  11. Jul 23– 24US Senate Judiciary delays vote on Blanche nomination for AG as Grassley slams Dems17 articles · 1 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 0 right
  12. Jul 26– Aug 1Trump defends DOJ weaponization fund and attacks Cornyn, further imperiling Blanche nomination13 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 2 right
  13. Jul 28– 31Blanche nomination at risk of delay as senator seeks assurances on Trump settlement81 articles · 49 independent sources
    7 left, 12 center, 7 right
  14. Jul 29– 31Trump: Cornyn didn't object to 'anti-weaponization' fund before challenger endorsement12 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 6 right
  15. Jul 29– 30Blanche's AG nomination on hold over opposition to DOJ's 'anti-weaponization fund'10 articles · 4 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 1 right
  16. Jul 30– Aug 1Trump may pull Blanche attorney general nomination for now as key Republicans withhold support176 articles · 73 independent sources
    11 left, 17 center, 15 right
  17. Jul 30Cornyn, Tillis become fighting faces of quiet Republican concerns over Blanche5 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  18. Jul 31– Aug 3Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinds $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund'128 articles · 57 independent sources
    7 left, 15 center, 10 right
  19. Jul 31– Aug 5Blanche rescinds $1.8B fund18 articles · 15 independent sources
    4 left, 4 center, 6 right

  20. August 2026

    Aug 3– 4Cornyn reaches deal with Justice Department to allow Blanche nomination to advance16 articles · 13 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 4 right
  21. Aug 3– 6Blanche confirmation for Trump attorney general a ‘work in progress’ after defection223 articles · 75 independent sources
    11 left, 18 center, 17 right
  22. Aug 3– 4Blanche asserts ‘anti-weaponization’ fund is dead, wins key GOP support in US Senate20 articles · 1 independent sources
    2 left, 0 center, 0 right
  23. Aug 3– 7President Trump's tax audit immunity still in place as Blanche's path to confirmation clears62 articles · 21 independent sources
    4 left, 2 center, 0 right
  24. Aug 3– 5Susan Collins opposes Todd Blanche for attorney general15 articles · 14 independent sources
    4 left, 3 center, 4 right
  25. Aug 4– 5Blanche clears key nomination hurdle after deal wins senators' vote13 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  26. Aug 7– 8Murkowski to oppose Todd Blanche nomination, narrowing his path to confirmation37 articles · 24 independent sources
    8 left, 3 center, 3 right
  27. Aug 7– 13Trump administration profile: Todd Blanche336 articles · 109 independent sources
    21 left, 35 center, 19 right
  28. Aug 7– 8Anti-Trump Republican senator vows to fight Todd Blanche's confirmation — because of course she will5 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 0 center, 3 right
  29. Aug 8Senate embarks on recess after funding government and confirming Blanche, punting other priorities7 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right