Federal Level
Trump Weighs Pulling Blanche’s AG Nomination
President Trump said Thursday he might temporarily withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina refused to support him. The senators want written confirmation that a nearly $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” tied to Trump’s IRS settlement is dead. The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its scheduled vote, and Blanche will continue serving as acting attorney general in the meantime. 1,2
Senate Panel Advances Trump’s CDC, Pandemic Picks
The Senate health committee approved Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Sean Kaufman as the government’s top pandemic preparedness official on Thursday. Republicans and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia backed Schwartz, while Kaufman won only Republican support after facing criticism over past comments questioning vaccine safety. Both nominations now move to the full Senate floor. 3
Appeals Court Rejects Wider Immigrant Detention Policy
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration cannot deny bond hearings to immigrants detained inside the United States without criminal records. The 9th Circuit’s 2-1 decision, joined by a Trump appointee, deepened a split among federal courts over the administration’s mandatory detention policy. The Department of Homeland Security said it disagrees with the ruling and remains confident in its legal position. 4
Trump Administration Tightens Asylum Rules
The Trump administration issued a new interim rule Thursday raising the bar for migrants to qualify for asylum, a change experts described as a major shift in longstanding immigration policy. The rule is expected to push more asylum seekers into deportation proceedings rather than allowing their claims to be heard. Immigration advocates said they expect swift legal challenges to the new requirements. 5
Schumer Blasts Trump Over Medicare Drug Subsidy Cut
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the Trump administration on Thursday over its decision to end a Medicare Part D subsidy program that has helped hold down prescription drug premiums for the past two years. Schumer called the move “heartless, cruel, and completely by choice,” saying it would raise costs for roughly 25 million seniors just months before the November midterm elections. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz defended the decision, arguing the subsidy funneled billions of taxpayer dollars to insurance companies that no longer need the support. 6
State Level
Barnes Exits Wisconsin Governor’s Race
Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes dropped out of the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor on Thursday, less than two weeks before the August 11 election. Barnes said it had “become very clear” that Madison Assembly member Francesca Hong would be the nominee, as a new poll showed her with a commanding lead. His exit came the same day reports surfaced that the state Democratic Party had reviewed unspecified conduct allegations against him, which his campaign denied. 7
Wisconsin Court Restores Act 10 Bargaining Limits
A Wisconsin appeals court ruled 2-1 on Wednesday to reinstate Act 10, the 2011 law that stripped most public employees of collective bargaining rights. The decision overturns a Dane County judge’s ruling that had struck the law down as unconstitutional. The case is expected to head next to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the dissenting judge argued the law violates the state constitution’s equal protection guarantee. 8,9
Massachusetts Lawmakers Rush Bills Before Recess
Massachusetts legislators worked through Thursday to finish major legislation before their formal session ended for the year. Lawmakers sent Governor Maura Healey a bill restricting where federal immigration agents can make arrests in the state, and advanced separate measures on abortion access and public records. Several larger bills, including an energy package and an economic development plan, will likely remain unresolved for months under new rules that allow negotiations to continue into the fall. 10
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Article Sources
1. ABC News, “Trump floats temporarily withdrawing Blanche’s AG nomination over GOP holdouts,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://abc7ny.com/story/trump-floats-temporarily-withdrawing-blanches-ag-nomination-gop-holdouts/19602063/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
2. WISC-TV News 3 Now, “Morning update on Blanche nomination hold,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
3. STAT News, “Key Senate panel backs Trump’s picks for CDC, pandemic preparedness,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/30/senate-panel-backs-confirmation-health-nominees-schwartz-cdc-kaufman-aspr/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
4. The Washington Times, “Appeals court rejects the Trump administration’s expansion of mandatory detention for immigrants,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/30/court-rejects-trump-administrations-expansion-mandatory-detention/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
5. USA Today, “New rule represents ‘massive shift’ in key immigration policy,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/07/30/asylum-system-rule-change-trump-administration/91088539007/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
6. The Washington Times, “The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here’s how it could affect costs,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/30/heres-trump-administrations-ending-medicare-drug-subsidy-program/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
7. Click Orlando / Associated Press, “Mandela Barnes drops out of the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/07/30/mandela-barnes-drops-out-of-the-democratic-primary-for-wisconsin-governor/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
8. Seehafer News, “Appeals Court Overturns Act 10 Decision,” July 30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.seehafernews.com/2026/07/30/appeals-court-overturns-act-10-decision/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
9. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Appeals court restores Act 10, sending issue to Supreme Court,” July 29-30, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/29/wisconsin-appeals-court-restores-scott-walker-era-act-10-law/91090375007/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
10. The Boston Globe, “Mass. lawmakers are wrapping up formal sessions Friday. But they see less ‘pressure’ to actually get major bills done.,” July 31, 2026.https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/31/metro/massachusetts-legislature-end-of-formal-session/https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f