WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump wants every Republican senator to confirm Todd Blanche as United States attorney general ahead of his confirmation hearings this week. Blanche, who is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and Thursday, has already faced pushback from Democrats opposed to his confirmation, particularly because Blanche formerly served as Trump’s personal defense attorney. Trump has repeatedly praised his acting attorney general over the past week. On Tuesday, the president put out a statement on Truth Social saying that Blanche has done a “PHENOMENAL job.” “Under Todd’s incredible leadership at DOJ, Murder is down to the LOWEST level since 1900, and we just saw the biggest one year drop in RECORDED HISTORY,” wrote Trump. “Violent Crime arrests are UP 100%. Robberies, Carjackings, and Assaults, are all CRASHING. More than 500 million deadly doses of Drugs have already been seized, saving countless innocent lives.” “This is what happens when you unleash LAW AND ORDER on our streets, instead of protecting vicious Criminal Thugs, and releasing dangerous Illegal Aliens into our Communities like the Dumocrats did for four disastrous years under Sleepy Joe Biden,” the president added. Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche exit the courthouse and speak to media after Trump was found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City.  (Photo by Mark Peterson – Pool/Getty Images) Trump praised Blanche for his defense of religious liberty, for fighting weaponization of the justice system, for protecting free speech, and for fighting to keep men out of women’s sports. He also described Blanche’s fight against fraud as an “all-out-WAR” never seen before “in the History of the Department of Justice.” “He is tough, brilliant, and 100% LOYAL to our Constitution, and the American People,” Trump said. Above all, however, it appears that Blanche’s loyalty is what the president values the most. “When the Corrupt Biden ‘Injustice’ Department and Radical Left Prosecutors tried to throw me in jail, and interfered in our Historic 2024 Presidential Campaign, Todd stood by my side and fought off the Lawfare,” Trump wrote. “He is a great lawyer, always very fair, and every Republican Senator should vote to CONFIRM Todd Blanche, ASAP!” Blanche should expect to be questioned aggressively by Democrats on his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, on the controversial “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that the administration had proposed earlier this year, and on his personal relationship with the president. As for Republicans, who hold the majority of seats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche may face close questioning on why the DOJ has not yet settled a federal lawsuit over mail-order abortion drugs. Fourteen women who say they were harmed by such abortion drugs urged Blanche to settle the lawsuit in a letter first reported by The Daily Wire last week.

Behind closed doors, Republican Senators on Tuesday watched a touching and emotional tribute to their late colleague, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham.  The nearly three-minute video, which highlights Graham’s political career and trademark humor, was shown at the weekly GOP Senate lunch. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) presented the video during the lunch, which one reporter described as a memorial to the late senator. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended. “Here’s what I can tell you: life can change just like that,” Graham is heard saying, with overlay footage showing him greeting world leaders. “Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take relationships for granted.” The tribute highlighted Graham’s decades-long military service with the U.S. Air Force and his passionate defense of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, which many political insiders believe helped save his nomination. “He was a one-in-a-million,” Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) said in the video. “Someone who could laugh at himself, and was a cut-up, had a great wit, and a great sense of humor.”  Another moment showed Graham joking with veteran political reporters Mark Halperin and John Heilemann at a political fundraiser.  “Have you had anything to drink yet?” Heilemann asked Graham, who responded, “No.” “Has anybody in this room had anything to drink yet?” Heilemann followed up. “I hope so,” Graham replied. “I do better with people who drink. The more you drink, the more this will make sense to you. You can see where I’m taking the country.”  Over the weekend, Graham unexpectedly died at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes to be an aortic dissection. The life-threatening condition is a tear that develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The Republican is said to have notified a staffer that he was suffering chest pain before falling unconscious.   Despite the medical report, dozens of FBI agents showed up to Graham’s home in Washington, D.C. to investigate the scene out of an abundance of caution. In the Oval Office, President Trump on Tuesday swatted down conspiracy theories floating online.  “Supposedly — and I’ve watched all the medical reports, I’ve had the doctors from the White House come in and explain what happened,” Trump said. “This is something that is almost undetectable. If it happens, there’s not much you can do about it. Sounds unfortunate. If you look at — his father died of the same thing at about the same age.” “I don’t see a lot of evil there. I know there’s all sorts of conspiracy theories going along, but I don’t think the FBI — I think the FBI is wasting their time if they’re doing that,” the president added. Back on Capitol Hill, Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in to fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his term, which expires next January. At the GOP Senate lunch, Republicans reflected on an inspiring message from the ‘Remembering Lindsey Graham’  tribute video.  “I learned that serving a cause greater than yourself hurts. Anybody in the military can tell you the risk you take. Principle and compromise are not mutually exclusive, and the foundation of a great person, as well as a great nation. If you want to help me, join the march,” Graham said. BREAKING: Darline Graham Nordone takes the oath of office as South Carolina’s newest senator, filling the seat left vacant by her late brother, Lindsey Graham. pic.twitter.com/3rLb4K5d0y — Fox News (@FoxNews) July 14, 2026

Andy Serkis said his upcoming “Lord of the Rings” film will not embrace “politically correct” casting, saying he won’t prioritize diversity for its own sake.  Speaking to the BBC, Serkis, who is directing “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” and portrayed Gollum in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, said J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world was inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity would be included only “where relevant.” Serkis said Tolkien’s depiction of the Shire reflects its inspiration in Northern European folklore. “The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know …” he said, trailing off before continuing. “They’re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don’t want people coming in.” His highly anticipated upcoming movie features a predominantly white cast, including Jamie Dornan, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, and Leo Woodall, with returning stars Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen.  During the BBC interview, Serkis acknowledged criticism of the original franchise but added that diversity would be included only where it fit the story.   “This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that, but I don’t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film,” Serkis said. The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy faced criticism from some commentators over its lack of racial diversity. Amazon’s later adaptation, “The Rings of Power,” drew criticism from others for introducing race-swapped elves, dwarves, and other characters.  Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took to X in 2022 to comment on the movie, saying “Tolkien is turning in his grave.” In a 2018 interview with Radio Times, the 62-year-old voiced his agreement with Hollywood’s diverse casting. Serkis said his experience as one of the few white actors filming “The Black Panther” helped him understand how minorities feel on set.  “[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, ‘Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I’ve directed with two White actors in it,’” Serkis said. “That’s an incredible perspective to find yourself in.” “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” is scheduled for release in December 2027. 

President Donald Trump has paid more than $5.6 million owed to E. Jean Carroll after the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in the 2023 sexual abuse and defamation case, closing one chapter of the legal battle while a separate $83 million judgment remains under appeal. Court records filed Tuesday show $5.625 million — including accrued interest — was released to Carroll on July 9 after U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the funds disbursed. The money had been held in the court’s registry investment system while Trump pursued his appeals.  Trump’s legal team sought to delay the payment, arguing the funds should remain in escrow while it asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision. Kaplan rejected that request and ordered the money released. “Three years ago, a unanimous nine-person jury found President Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll. Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict,” Carroll attorney Roberta Kaplan said in a statement. Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations and has maintained the case was politically motivated. The case stems from Carroll’s claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s.  In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. With interest accrued during the appeals process, the judgment grew to more than $5.6 million. Last month, the Supreme Court declined to review the case, leaving the lower court’s judgment intact. Following that decision, Trump vowed to continue fighting. “Surprisingly, the Supreme Court declined to ‘review’ a Fake Case brought against me by a woman I never met,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will continue the fight against this Weaponization and Lawfare Case.” Trump and Carroll remain embroiled in a second lawsuit. In January 2024, another federal jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million after finding he defamed her through statements made while serving as president in 2019. Trump is expected to seek Supreme Court review of that judgment as well. Until then, that separate award remains tied up in the appeals process.

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the retired airline captain who safely landed a passenger jet in the Hudson River after both engines failed in 2009, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.  Sullenberger, 75, announced the diagnosis in a statement on his website Tuesday. “I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,” he wrote. “It is early stage. For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey.” Sullenberger became known as the “Hero of the Hudson” after safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River when a bird strike disabled both engines. All 155 people aboard survived. Sullenberger said he was diagnosed by Dr. Gil Rabinovici at the UCSF Medical Center, calling Alzheimer’s an “unwanted visitor at the door.”   “It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward,” he said. “And about hope – so many people told us after Flight 1549, that the outcome gave them hope. Lorrie, my incredible partner of 37 years, says we can all use a little of that hope right now.” “So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service. And the answer is to speak up.” Sullenberger closed by writing that although Alzheimer’s may affect his memory, it will not prevent him from appreciating the future alongside his family. He also returned to a phrase long associated with Flight 1549, writing that “courage can be contagious.”