NPR News: 07-15-2026 10PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was on Capitol Hill for a Senate confirmation hearing to be the permanent head of the Justice Department. It was a rocky hearing where he faced criticism by Republican Senator John Cornyn, who was defeated by a Trump-backed opponent in the Texas primary. Cornyn grilled Blanche about his role in creating a one point eight billion dollar fund for purported victims of Justice Department persecution. Blanche needs all the Republican votes to get his nomination out of the committee and onto the full Senate. NPR's Ryan Lucas has more.

Ryan Lucas0:37

Democrats are, are united in their opposition to, to Blanche's nomination. They say he's weaponized the department to go after President Trump's perceived enemies. They criticize his handling of the Epstein files, uh, the firing of apolitical career, uh, employees at the Justice Department. The list really goes on and on. But for better or, or worse, when it comes to this confirmation, Blanche knows he really only has to worry about keeping all of the Republican senators on board.

Jeanine Herbst· Host1:00

NPR's Ryan Lucas. At least a dozen Democrats in Maine are hoping to win their party's nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins this fall. As Kevin Mill- Miller with Maine Public Radio reports, Democrats are scrambling to replace former nominee Graham Platten.

Kevin Miller1:17

The list of candidates who filed papers by Wednesday's deadline includes several names familiar to Democratic voters. For instance, three of the contenders, former State Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and