NPR News: 07-15-2026 7PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:00

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 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 nearly 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 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 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· Host1:01

NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting. Delegations from sixty-five countries are expected to be at the State Department tomorrow for a conference on the rise of political terrorism. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the Trump administration is focusing on left-wing groups.

Michelle Kellerman1:17

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that far-left political terrorism is on the rise in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, and beyond, and he calls this a blind spot for law enforcement. A State Department official