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Blanche Confirmation Hearing, US and Strait of Hormuz, ICE Vehicle Stops
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Blanche confirmation hearing
At 4:55 · chapter starts 1:49
Ryan Lucas opens this segment with a blunt assessment: today's hearing is tense because the Justice Department has been in the eye of a political hurricane since Trump's return. Blanche, who served as Trump's personal attorney before becoming the DOJ's number two, is seen as the president's loyalist in chief. Democrats have a formidable list of grievances: they accuse him of dismantling the DOJ's independence, weaponizing it against Trump's political enemies, mishandling the Jeffrey Epstein files, and shepherding a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund that was eventually scrapped — but not before agreeing to shield Trump and his family from IRS audits of past tax returns [1] — Ryan Lucas "The $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund is dead, but the clause shielding Trump and his family from IRS audits of past tax returns is stil…" 03:40 . A federal judge this week called Trump's IRS lawsuit 'bad faith' manipulation of the courts. Former FBI director James Comey, indicted twice under this DOJ, is the most glaring symbol of what critics call political prosecution. On the Republican side, North Carolina's Tom Tillis pushed back hard on the anti-weaponization fund and sits on the very committee hearing Blanche today — his vote is uncertain [2] — Ryan Lucas "Todd Blanche walks into the Senate judiciary committee today with Democrats unanimously opposed and a razor-thin Republican majority offeri…" 01:49 . With Democrats united in opposition, even one or two GOP defections could sink the nomination.
Todd Blanche walks into the Senate judiciary committee today with Democrats unanimously opposed and a razor-thin Republican majority offering almost no margin for error. NPR's Ryan Lucas lays out why this is one of the most consequential confirmation hearings of the Trump era.
The DOJ agreed to set up a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund as part of a settlement with Trump to end his IRS lawsuit, but the fund has since been scrapped.
The $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund is dead, but the clause shielding Trump and his family from IRS audits of past tax returns is still very much alive. A federal judge called the original lawsuit 'bad faith' designed to manipulate the courts.
A federal judge this week called Trump's IRS lawsuit 'bad faith' and said it was brought to manipulate the judicial process and use the court to legitimize the eventual settlement.
Republicans hold a very slim Senate majority, and with Mitch McConnell absent due to health issues, only a couple of GOP defections could kill Blanche's nomination.
