Federal Level
Blanche Kills Trump Fund, Hoping to Clear Path to AG Post
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday terminating President Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” that would have compensated the president’s political allies, clearing a key hurdle to his own confirmation. The move followed weeks of talks with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had refused to advance his nomination until the fund was formally killed in writing. Blanche said in a statement that the order followed “good faith discussions” with committee members. A Cornyn spokeswoman confirmed the deal ahead of the panel’s confirmation vote set for Tuesday.1,2
Trump Cancels Iran Strikes, Sets Monday Talks
President Trump said Sunday that negotiations with Iran will begin Monday afternoon after he called off a planned large-scale military strike over the weekend, citing progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had asked the United States to hold off because they believe an agreement is close, though he set no deadline for reaching one. The reversal is the latest in a five-month pattern in which Trump has repeatedly threatened and then paused strikes on Iran, only for hostilities to resume days later.3,4
Senate Unveils Deal to Avert Fall Shutdown
Key senators unveiled a short-term spending bill Sunday that would fund federal agencies through Dec. 11, an unusually early move meant to avoid a government shutdown in the middle of the fall campaign season. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called passing the measure his top priority before the August recess, noting the country has already endured two record shutdowns in the past 10 months. The bill blocks a proposed White House rule that would let political appointees screen federal grants, a provision Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and top Democrat Patty Murray both pushed to include. The Senate is expected to hold a test vote Monday.5
Jordan Presses GOP Holdouts on Blanche
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan on Sunday criticized fellow Republicans for blocking Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general, calling the delay senseless given the chamber’s past willingness to confirm Democratic nominees. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Jordan noted that Senators Cornyn and Tillis have both called Blanche highly qualified even as they withheld their votes. He praised Blanche’s record fighting fraud and said no attorney general in his 19 years in Congress has worked with him as effectively.6
GOP Senator Doubts Blanche Will Be Confirmed
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would not bet on the Senate confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, despite Blanche’s order rescinding Trump’s anti-weaponization fund. Kennedy, a Judiciary Committee member, said Senators Cornyn and Tillis are still negotiating with the Justice Department and that “the odds are against” a resolution. He also said he opposes compensating people convicted of assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.7
States Sue Over New ACA Marketplace Rule
New Jersey and New York announced Sunday they are leading nearly two dozen Democratic-led states suing the Trump administration over a rule expanding limited “catastrophic” health plans and adding income-verification requirements for ACA marketplace enrollees. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the changes will raise costs rather than lower them as promised. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in California, argues the rule undermines the Affordable Care Act and could raise premiums for people who keep standard coverage.8
State Level
Maryland Lawmakers Open Redistricting Session
The Maryland General Assembly convened Monday for a three-day special session on a constitutional amendment that would strip the state Supreme Court’s authority to require compact, contiguous congressional districts, handing that power to the legislature instead. Senate President Bill Ferguson, who blocked Governor Wes Moore’s earlier push for a full remap, said he resisted an aggressive plan to avoid risking Democratic seats. Republicans criticized limits on public testimony, with Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey calling it “business as usual” in Annapolis. The measure needs three-fifths support in each chamber to reach November’s ballot.9
Arizona’s First Lieutenant Governor Ticket Set
Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs named former state Senator Sine Kerr as his running mate Friday, completing Arizona’s first ticket under a new law requiring candidates to select a lieutenant governor running mate. Kerr, a dairy farmer who most recently served in the Trump administration’s Farm Service Agency, brings deep ties to rural Arizona and water policy. Biggs faces Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs in November, and Hobbs’ campaign has not yet named her own running mate. The result adds a new statewide office to Arizona ballots for the first time in state history.10
Washington Seeks Federal Aid for Wildfires
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson requested a federal emergency declaration Sunday as fast-moving wildfires near Spokane destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of evacuations. Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner said he joined the governor, Sen. Patty Murray and local officials in the request, calling it a bipartisan response to a dire situation. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pledged to bring the request directly to President Trump, who has been briefed.11
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Article Sources
1. WUFT/NPR, “Todd Blanche rescinds Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’ ahead of nomination hearing,” Aug. 3, 2026.
https://www.wuft.org/2026-08-03/todd-blanche-rescinds-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-ahead-of-nomination-hearing
2. Reuters, “Acting US Attorney General Blanche rescinds ‘anti-weaponization’ fund before confirmation vote,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/acting-us-attorney-general-blanche-rescinds-anti-weaponization-fund-before-2026-08-03/
3. NBC News, “Trump says new Iran talks will start Monday after calling off attacks,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-iran-talks-attacks-canceled-hormuz-nuclear-rcna590535
4. The Washington Times (AP), “Trump frequently announces he’s halting strikes in Iran. But they keep happening,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/2/trump-frequently-announces-hes-halting-strikes-iran-keep-happening/
5. The Washington Times, “Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/2/senate-leaders-reach-funding-deal-avoid-shutdown-campaign-season/
6. The Washington Times, “Rep. Jim Jordan blasts GOP holdouts who are blocking ‘outstanding’ AG pick Todd Blanche,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/2/rep-jim-jordan-blasts-gop-holdouts-who-blocking-outstanding-ag-pick/
7. The Hill, “Republican Sen. Kennedy says he ‘wouldn’t bet my house’ on Blanche’s confirmation,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6004367-senator-kennedy-doubts-blanche-confirmation/
8. Gothamist, “New Jersey and New York sue to block Trump admin. changes to health insurance marketplaces,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://tollbit.gothamist.com/news/new-jersey-and-new-york-sue-to-block-trump-admin-changes-to-health-insurance-marketplaces
9. The Daily Record, “MD General Assembly special session begins Monday: What to know,” Aug. 3, 2026.
https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/08/03/md-general-assembly-special-session-monday/
10. Arizona Capitol Times, “Biggs taps former Sen. Kerr as his running mate in gubernatorial race,” July 31, 2026.
https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/07/31/biggs-taps-former-sen-kerr-as-his-running-mate-in-gubernatorial-race/
11. Lynnwood Times, “Ferguson requests federal emergency declaration as Spokane wildfires force thousands to evacuate,” Aug. 2, 2026.
https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2026/08/02/federal-emergency/