Blanche Confirmation Hearing, Iran War And Midterm Politics, Clayton ODNI Hearing
7/16/202614 min
Most senators didn't question Todd Blanche's qualifications to lead the Justice Department at his confirmation hearing, they questioned whether the man who spent years as President Trump's personal lawyer would serve the president or the country.
President Trump notified Congress that the U.S. is back at war with Iran, starting a new 60-day clock for military action, though the clock that may matter most is the midterms as gas prices ripple through the economy.
And Trump's pick for intelligence chief, Jay Clayton, wouldn't acknowledge the results of the 2020 election at his hearing, leaving Democrats to ask why a man with no intelligence experience won't give a straight answer.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Kelsey Snell, Andrew Sussman, Alice Woelfle, and Mohamad ElBardicy.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:35) Blanche Confirmation Hearing
(06:30) Iran War And Midterm Politics
(10:24) Clayton ODNI Hearing
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsA Martinez· Host0:00
Hey, everyone. A quick note before we get to the stories of the day. We got some pretty big news here at NPR just about a year ago.
Leila Fadel· Host0:05
Yeah, this time last year, Congress was getting ready to vote on the future of federal funding for public media, and they eliminated more than a billion dollars budgeted for NPR, PBS, and stations across the country.
A Martinez· Host0:19
That funding is gone, but we're still here, first thing, bringing you the news you need every day.
Leila Fadel· Host0:24
The NPR network has not backed down from its mission to inform the public with trusted, independent journalism.
A Martinez· Host0:31
Your support makes it all possible, so please give today at donate.npr.org.
Leila Fadel· Host0:37
And thank you. [gentle music] It wasn't Todd Blanche's qualifications that were front and center at his confirmation hearing to lead the Justice Department.
A Martinez· Host0:46
The focus was his loyalty.
Speaker 30:48
Are you and President Trump friends?
Speaker 40:50
I'm his lawyer. Was his lawyer.
Leila Fadel· Host0:53
I'm Leila Fadel with A Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. [gentle music] President Trump notified Congress that the US is back at war with Iran. A majority of Americans oppose the war, but Trump's base is behind him. Will anything make that change?
A Martinez· Host1:11
And the president's pick for intelligence chief wouldn't acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election.
Speaker 41:17
I'm not gonna get into that with you.
Speaker 51:18
But you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee.
A Martinez· Host1:21
That's from Jay Clayton's confirmation hearing. Why so much time spent on that question? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.