Federal Level
Senate Confirms Package of 74 Trump Nominees
On Friday, the Senate confirmed a package of 74 Trump nominees in a single party line vote of 51 to 47, clearing most pending civilian nominations before lawmakers left for recess. The group included more than a dozen ambassadors and top officials at the Departments of Defense, Energy, Interior, State and Treasury. Senators also approved appointees to the National Labor Relations Board, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, plus associate judges for the District of Columbia courts. Republicans changed Senate rules last year to allow bundling lower level nominees into one vote rather than debating each individually. Democrats opposed the package. 1, 2
Thune Sets September Vote on Crypto Bill
Early Saturday morning, Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a cloture motion on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, giving the stalled crypto bill a floor vote when lawmakers return from recess. Thune filed the motion around five in the morning, just before the chamber adjourned, setting a vote for September 15. Republicans hold 53 seats, so the motion needs seven Democrats or independents to reach the 60 votes required to advance. The bill would divide regulatory authority over digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Without Saturday’s filing, supporters said the bill likely would have died this year. 3, 4
Senate Rejects Republican Voter ID Bill Overnight
Early Saturday morning, the Senate rejected a narrower voter identification bill from Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance. The measure failed 52 to 46, with every Senate Democrat voting no and Republicans unable to reach the threshold with their full conference. The vote came after leaders determined they lacked support to pass President Trump’s broader Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register and scale back mail voting. Republican leaders agreed to try a vote on the full bill in September. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, a leading supporter, said Republicans were not giving up. 5, 6
Trump Vows Supreme Court Fight Over Ballroom Ruling
On Saturday, President Trump said he would take his fight over the White House ballroom to the Supreme Court after an appeals court ruled Friday that construction cannot continue without congressional approval. In a Truth Social post, Trump called the ruling a national security threat, saying the ballroom includes bomb shelters and blast resistant features meant to protect the presidency. The appeals court, in a 2 to 1 decision, said Congress alone has authority over changes to the White House and paused its ruling two weeks to allow an appeal. Trump argued most of the project is already built, questioning why preservationists did not sue earlier. 7, 8
Senate Confirms Brat as New Australia Ambassador
In the overnight session leading into Saturday, the Senate confirmed former Republican congressman David Brat to serve as United States ambassador to Australia, filling a post vacant for nearly two years. Senators approved Brat’s nomination 51 to 47, along party lines, as part of a package of nominations pushed through before the summer recess. President Trump nominated Brat in April, and the seat had been empty since Caroline Kennedy left in 2024. Brat, a former economist and dean at Liberty University, said his priorities include a critical minerals agreement, expanded defense cooperation, and deeper Indo-Pacific ties. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans for rushing the package. 9, 10
State Level
Green Wins Hawaii Democratic Governor Primary
On Saturday, Hawaii voters went to the polls in the state’s primary, and the Associated Press declared Governor Josh Green winner of the Democratic nomination for a second term. Green took roughly 84 percent of the vote in a field of four candidates, setting a path to November. Republican Gary Cordery won his party’s nomination with about 69 percent of the vote. In the first congressional district, Representative Ed Case beat state Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, a challenger from his left, taking 60 percent of the vote. Representative Jill Tokuda won her primary in the second district by a wide margin, and all winners advance to November. 11, 12
South Carolina Senate Hopefuls Make Closing Pitches
On Saturday, nine Republican candidates seeking to fill the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat gathered in Florence, South Carolina, for their final joint event before Tuesday’s special primary. The forum, hosted by gubernatorial nominee Alan Wilson, gave each candidate six minutes to address voters on the war with Iran and privacy concerns tied to license plate cameras. Senator Darline Graham, appointed to finish her late brother’s term and endorsed by President Trump, spoke last and said she still needed to earn voters’ support despite her family name. She was joined by Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman. The winner faces Democrat Annie Andrews this fall. 13, 14
Minnesota Opens Special Weekend Primary Voting
On Saturday, Minnesota election officials opened a special window for absentee voting, requiring counties to keep ballot locations open from nine in the morning until three in the afternoon ahead of Tuesday’s primary. The weekend hours, required by state law, gave voters who cannot easily reach the polls on a weekday an added chance to cast ballots. Tuesday’s primary decides crowded Republican fields for governor and for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Tina Smith, along with a Democratic primary for governor after Governor Tim Walz abandoned his re-election bid in January. Republican candidates include Lisa Demuth, Kendall Qualls and Mike Lindell, endorsed by Trump. 15, 16
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Article Sources
1. Washington Times, “Senate confirms package of 74 Trump nominees,” Aug. 7, 2026.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/aug/7/senate-confirms-package-74-trump-nominees-best-confirmation-track/
2. Reuters, “US Senate confirms dozens of Trump nominees, filling gaps in diplomatic corps,” Aug. 7, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-senate-confirms-dozens-trump-nominees-filling-gaps-diplomatic-corps-2026-08-07/
3. The Block, “Majority Leader Thune files cloture on Clarity Act, setting up Sept. 15 vote,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.theblock.co/news/regulation/2026-08-08-majority-leader-thune-files-cloture-on-clarity-act-setting-up-sept-15-senate-vote
4. CryptoRank, “CLARITY Act is finally headed for a 60-vote Senate showdown in September,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/2f445-clarity-act-is-finally-headed-for-a-60-vote-senate-showdown-in-september
5. NPR, “Late-summer recess begins after Senate rushes through final votes,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.npr.org/2026/08/08/nx-s1-5925113/late-summer-recess-begins-after-senate-rushes-through-final-votes
6. USA Today, “The Senate eked out a summer break. But bigger fights are coming.,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/08/senate-august-recess-voter-id-todd-blanche-shutdown/91213608007/
7. NJ.com, “Trump attacks judges who ruled against ballroom with 456-word social media post,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2026/08/trump-attacks-judges-who-ruled-against-ballroom-with-456-word-social-media-post-horrendous.html
8. Reuters, “US appeals court blocks Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project,” Aug. 7, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-appeals-court-blocks-trumps-400-million-white-house-ballroom-project-2026-08-07/
9. ABC News Australia, “Former Republican congressman David Brat confirmed as US ambassador to Australia,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-08/david-brat-confirmed-as-us-ambassador-to-australia/107012520
10. The Guardian, “David Brat bound for Australia as diplomat confirmed as next US ambassador,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/08/david-brat-bound-for-australia-as-diplomat-confirmed-as-next-us-ambassador
11. Hawaii Public Radio, “2026 Hawaiʻi primary election results,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2026-08-08/2026-hawaii-primary-results
12. The New York Times, “Hawaii Primary 2026: Live Election Results,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/08/08/us/elections/results-hawaii-primary.html
13. Fox News, “Graham replacement hopefuls make final pitches before special election,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/graham-replacement-hopefuls-make-final-pitches-before-special-election-iran-war-dsa-flock-cams
14. South Carolina ETV, “Sen. Darline Graham Speaks With Press at Florence Stump,” Aug. 8, 2026.
15. MinneapoliMedia, “Minnesota Voters Get Special Saturday Voting Window Ahead of Tuesday Primary,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://minneapolimedia.town.news/g/coon-rapids-mn/n/383954/minneapolimedia-news-minnesota-voters-get-special-saturday-voting-wi
16. Pioneer Press, “Learn about GOP candidates for U.S. Senate, governor in Tuesday’s primary,” Aug. 8, 2026.
https://www.twincities.com/2026/08/08/learn-about-gop-candidates-for-u-s-senate-governor-in-tuesdays-primary/