Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as Trump's attorney general in overnight vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche as the next attorney general of the United States. The 50-49 vote early Saturday came after a bruising confirmation fight that exposed deep concerns in both parties about installing President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney atop the Justice Department. While Blanche has already been leading the department in an acting capacity, his confirmation could free him to pursue the Trump administration’s agenda even more aggressively. Blanche’s supporters say his experience as a federal prosecutor and the trust he earned working for Trump as his personal attorney will help him in the role.
Senators head for the exits without meeting Trump's demands for voting bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators have headed for the exits in the predawn hours without having met President Donald Trump’s push to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill. Trump had demanded that senators stay in session and skip their August recess. But there is not enough support for the SAVE America Act. Instead they tried to advance a slimmed-down voter ID bill, but it failed on a party-line vote. Senators wrapped an all-night session Saturday having confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general and approved stopgap funding as a step toward preventing a government shutdown later this year. They vowed to try again in autumn on the voting bill as well as a broader package to fund the Iran war.
Russian attacks kill 4 in Kyiv and surrounding region as air defenses fall short
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks on Kyiv and its surrounding region have killed four people, including a child. Local officials reported the deaths on Saturday. The attacks involved drones and missiles, overwhelming Kyiv's air defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said one person died in a missile strike on civilian infrastructure. Ukraine's air force intercepted 135 of 151 drones launched by Russia overnight. Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted Russian oil facilities, causing fuel shortages. Six people were wounded at the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia due to a drone strike. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is in Serbia for talks on economic ties and security issues.
Iran's leaders think they have Trump cornered, but their strategy carries great risks
Iran's leaders believe that sooner or later the United States will have to accede to their control over the Strait of Hormuz. That would mark a victory in the five-month war, as the critical waterway carries a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas in peacetime. But Iran's strategy also carries major risks. A prolonged conflict could inflict further damage on Iran's economy and infrastructure, potentially triggering another wave of internal unrest. In the meantime, the conflict over the strait makes it difficult to wind down the wider war, much less resume negotiations over Iran's disputed nuclear program.
A New Mexico judge ordered new child safeguards for Meta. Advocates hope other courts follow
In a landmark ruling against Meta, a New Mexico judge likened the company’s social media platforms to factories. The psychological harm to children who use Facebook and Instagram, he said, can be seen as their pollution. Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined the company $567 million in his ruling Thursday, but he also ordered new safety measures including time limits for kids and AI chatbot restrictions. How easily those features can be implemented, and how effective they could be at protecting young users from mental health harms, are unresolved questions. But the judge’s order showed a possible path forward for other court fights around the country as Meta faces mounting legal challenges.
Eastern China braces for Typhoon Dolphin, shutting schools and tourist activities
BEIJING (AP) — Authorities in eastern China are shutting schools and tourist sites as Typhoon Dolphin heads for the coast. The storm is moving toward land on Saturday with maximum sustained winds of about 162 kilometers per hour. It is expected to bring heavy rains, severe flooding and possibly landslides when it hits Zhejiang and parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday. National authorities have declared a level III emergency response, the second lowest level. Many tourist destinations in Zhejiang are closed Saturday and Sunday, along with ferries and cruises, while Ningbo city has ordered schools to remain shut this weekend.
Families retrieve bodies after a 14-year-old killed at least 7 in a shooting outside Bangkok
BANGKOK (AP) — Relatives of people killed in a shooting outside Bangkok collected their loved ones’ bodies Saturday, a day after a 14-year-old student opened fire at a high school and a family home, killing at least seven people before taking his own life. Sixteen people remain hospitalized, including seven in critical condition. Some mourners came to lay flowers at the school gate to pay respect. The school has suspended all classes for the coming week.
What to know about Trump's new attempt to limit birthright citizenship
The Trump administration has announced renewed efforts to limit birthright citizenship for children born to immigrant parents under specific circumstances and children who are the result of “birth tourism.” A Supreme Court decision in June struck down Trump's attempt at restricting birthright citizenship, but Trump's team said Thursday they were confident their expanded restrictions would not run afoul of any of the Supreme Court rulings. Meanwhile, advocates opposing the changes say the proposed exclusions for birthright citizenship will prompt new legal questions, including cases regarding children who are born in the U.S. to surrogates hired by noncitizen parents.
California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — States are debating whether to crack down on social media influencers making political advertisements without disclosing that they were paid. It comes as paying influencers to boost candidates has become the new normal for U.S. political campaigns. Texas passed a rule requiring content creators to include compensation disclaimers on their posts. Lawmakers in New York are considering a similar requirement. California already requires influencers to disclose if they were paid by political committees. But a bill in the state Legislature would penalize them if they don't comply. The measures are a sign of the changing landscape of modern campaigns.
Senate approves funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a short-term measure to keep federal agencies funded into early December and avoid a government shutdown during campaign season. The Senate's passage of the bill in an overnight vote Saturday shows lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year. The bill generally funds the federal government at current levels though Dec. 11, but includes a variety of funding exceptions that senators negotiated with the White House. The bill will still need to clear the House before it can go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
