Trump’s AG pick off life support after key Republican rebels relent

August 3, 2026 11:03am EDT / Fox News

Sens Cornyn and Tillis hold the keys to Blanche’s future on the Senate Judiciary Committee

By Alex Miller, Fox News

President Donald Trump defended the Anti-Weaponization Fund and bashed Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, for opposing his nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as permanent attorney general during his Friday Cabinet meeting at Camp David.

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Two key Republican rebels are dropping their resistance against President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department.

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have for weeks dug their heels into the ground against confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to fully take over the position. They have been trying to extract concessions from the administration in exchange for their votes.

And those concessions came on Sunday as Blanche’s first key test fast approaches. After warring with Trump and Blanche’s confirmation nearly being withdrawn, the duo are now ready to support the president’s pick to replace former Attorney General Pam Bondi.

TRUMP THREATENS TO YANK HIS OWN AG NOMINEE AS GOP REVOLT GROWS

A split image of President Trump, Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas(Eddie Seal/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz/AFP via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)

“We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” they said in a joint statement.

Cornyn and Tillis had two primary objectives: ensure, in explicit writing, that the nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund would return, and that Trump’s audit immunity would not extend beyond him and the defendants listed in his lawsuit against the IRS.

Blanche announced on Sunday that the anti-weaponization fund was getting the permanent boot, and that the audit protection was just going to be narrowly tailored to Trump and his family.

DOJ BARS IRS FROM AUDITING TRUMP’S PRIOR TAX RETURNS IN SETTLEMENT ORDER SIGNED BY BLANCHE

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402496253112

Cornyn and Tillis said that they “are pleased” with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) formal order to deal with both issues, and noted that doing so addressed “concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.”

Both issues came from the settlement deal Trump and his family reached with the IRS earlier this year that Blanche helped to roll out.

And both lawmakers are needed to advance Blanche out of committee and onto the Senate floor, given that if either one of them balked against the nominee, he would fail and be stuck in limbo.

TRUMP UNLOADS ON CORNYN, TIES AG NOMINATION FIGHT TO BITTER TEXAS PRIMARY

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 15, 2026.(Eric Lee/Getty Images)

Cornyn and Tillis both sparred with Trump over the last few days leading up to this moment.

Trump declared that he would withdraw Blanche’s nomination if neither of them broke their resistance. He reupped the pressure over the weekend when he announced that if Blanche’s confirmation continues to stumble or fail, he would revive the anti-weaponization fund and pressure Congress to codify it.

He declared on Truth Social that, “I will keep Todd as Acting AG, and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill,” passed through Congress.

And Tillis countered that Trump “clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against.”

“It’s unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal,” Tillis said over the weekend. “Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday.”

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With the issues appearing to be resolved, the committee vote on Blanche is moving full steam ahead.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, rescheduled the vote for Tuesday after nixing last week’s hearing. A spokesperson for Grassley said that his top goal is to see “Todd Blanche’s nomination to be successful.”

“Grassley would like to see Blanche confirmed before the August recess as he has an excellent record restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe,” they said.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.

六艘沙特油轮绕开曼德海峡 驶向非洲南部

2026年8月3日 22:41 / 联合早报

也门胡塞武装组织近日袭击沙特船只，红海局势再次陷入动荡。图为7月27日，一艘商船驶过红海也门哈尼什岛附近的国际航道。 （法新社）

追踪数据显示，在也门胡塞武装恫言袭击沙特阿拉伯船只后，六艘悬挂沙特国旗的超级油轮近日在亚丁湾改变航向，正驶往非洲南部。

路透社报道，伦敦证券交易所集团（LSEG）和船舶追踪网站“海事追踪”（MarineTraffic）星期一（8月3日）的数据显示，这六艘油轮从亚洲目的地返回后，空载驶往非洲南部，而未选择经由曼德海峡穿越红海南部水域。

船舶追踪信息显示，其中一艘油轮的目的地是直布罗陀。

这些油轮每艘最多可运载200万桶原油，运营商是沙特国家航运公司（Bahri），公司和沙特当局尚未对此事作出回应。

两名贸易消息人士说，根据他们的评估，这些油轮选择绕道好望角，是出于对安全形势的考虑。

路透社计算，如果这些油轮选择经苏伊士运河返回红海的沙特港口，航程至少增加25天。

受伊朗支持的胡塞武装7月20日宣布对沙特实施海上禁运，在当前伊朗战争中开辟对抗美国及其盟友的新战线。

胡塞武装近日袭击与沙特有关的船只，促使伦敦海事保险市场上周扩大红海“高风险”区域，将更多靠近沙特港口的海域纳入其中。

六艘沙特油轮绕开曼德海峡 驶向非洲南部

2026年8月3日 22:41 / 联合早报

也门胡塞武装组织近日袭击沙特船只，红海局势再次陷入动荡。图为7月27日，一艘商船驶过红海也门哈尼什岛附近的国际航道。 （法新社）

追踪数据显示，在也门胡塞武装恫言袭击沙特阿拉伯船只后，六艘悬挂沙特国旗的超级油轮近日在亚丁湾改变航向，正驶往非洲南部。

路透社报道，伦敦证券交易所集团（LSEG）和船舶追踪网站“海事追踪”（MarineTraffic）星期一（8月3日）的数据显示，这六艘油轮从亚洲目的地返回后，空载驶往非洲南部，而未选择经由曼德海峡穿越红海南部水域。

船舶追踪信息显示，其中一艘油轮的目的地是直布罗陀。

这些油轮每艘最多可运载200万桶原油，运营商是沙特国家航运公司（Bahri），公司和沙特当局尚未对此事作出回应。

两名贸易消息人士说，根据他们的评估，这些油轮选择绕道好望角，是出于对安全形势的考虑。

路透社计算，如果这些油轮选择经苏伊士运河返回红海的沙特港口，航程至少增加25天。

受伊朗支持的胡塞武装7月20日宣布对沙特实施海上禁运，在当前伊朗战争中开辟对抗美国及其盟友的新战线。

胡塞武装近日袭击与沙特有关的船只，促使伦敦海事保险市场上周扩大红海“高风险”区域，将更多靠近沙特港口的海域纳入其中。

The Odds: Lone Star Shake-up

9:54 AM EDT, Mon August 3, 2026 / CNN

By Ainsley Ehlers, CNN

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The Odds: Lone Star Shake-up

A deeply unpopular GOP ticket is creating a potential political earthquake in Texas, with the Democratic challenger now leading the Senate race. CNN News Central’s John Berman and Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten break down how the shifting landscape in Texas is tightening the odds for control of the Senate.

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Cornyn and Tillis back Blanche for attorney general after deal on “anti-weaponization” fund

August 3, 2026 / 11:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina formally announced their support on Monday for Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after reaching a long-sought agreement to end the controversial “anti-weaponization” fund and clarify the scope of a sweeping deal for tax immunity.

“We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund,” the Republican senators said in a joint statement. “Additionally, the Department has acknowledged in a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS and the Treasury, addressing concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.”

The support from Cornyn and Tillis clears a significant hurdle for Blanche in his quest to lead the Justice Department. With their backing, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to advance his nomination for attorney general to the full Senate. The committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning.

Concerns from the two senators regarding the president’s settlement with the IRS in May threatened to derail Blanche’s confirmation in recent weeks. The Judiciary Committee had initially scheduled a vote to advance his nomination last Thursday, but the meeting was postponed amid the opposition.

A committee spokesperson said then that the proceeding would be delayed “as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche, who is highly qualified for the job.”

Cornyn and Tillis, who are both leaving the Senate early next year, noted in their statement that they have been clear from the outset that “we needed a written document addressing our concerns on the IRS audit agreement and the anti-weaponization fund that included constraining the scope of audit protection by limiting it to the parties of the Settlement Agreement and legally ending the anti-weaponization fund.” The pair expressed their gratitude to Blanche and his staff for their work to reach a resolution, and added that they “look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.”

The $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund was created as part of a settlement agreement Mr. Trump reached with the IRS to resolve a civil lawsuit he filed over the leak of his tax returns by a government contractor. The program would have allowed people who claimed they were victims of “weaponization” by the federal government to seek compensation.

Another provision of the deal granted Mr. Trump, his two older sons, the Trump Organization and affiliated entities sweeping immunity from audits of tax returns.

The terms sparked swift pushback from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who were concerned that people convicted for assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol could collect taxpayer-funded payments.

While Blanche told a House committee in June that the Justice Department was not moving forward with the “anti-weaponization” fund, his assertions failed to assuage senators’ concerns.

During his confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee last month, Cornyn pushed Blanche about the status of the fund and whether Mr. Trump himself had agreed in writing to kill it. The acting attorney general reiterated then that the program is “dead.”

Still, Cornyn and Tillis continued to negotiate with the Justice Department to address their concerns about the tax immunity and anti-weaponization program.

After Cornyn and Tillis’ opposition threatened to further stall Blanche’s confirmation, Mr. Trump delivered an ultimatum over the weekend, telling the GOP holdouts that if their blockade continued, he would keep Blanche on the job as acting attorney general and move to make the Justice Department fund a reality.

Tillis responded to the president’s threat on X on Saturday, saying despite the assurances from the administration, Mr. Trump “clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks.” The North Carolina Republican said it was “unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal,” while adding that he was hopeful the issue could be resolved by Tuesday’s committee meeting.

A day later, Blanche announced an order rescinding the Justice Department’s fund. In addition to revoking his May directive creating the program, Blanche clarified that the tax immunity extends only to Mr. Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization, and covers only tax returns that had already been filed.

In his announcement, Blanche cited his meetings with members of the Judiciary Committee in recent weeks and efforts to address the senators’ concerns.

“We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order and update with regard to the May IRS settlement,” Blanche said. “The Department always welcomes and appreciates productive engagement with all members of Congress.”

The written settlement reached with Mr. Trump and his lawyers has not been modified.

Blanche rescinds “anti-weaponization fund”

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/why-todd-blanche-rescinded-the-anti-weaponization-fund/

Todd Blanche rescinds controversial “anti-weaponization fund” that turned off 2 Republicans

(03:12)

瑙鲁正式更改国名 中文译法保持不变

2026年8月3日 23:18 / 联合早报

瑙鲁总统阿德昂7月底表明，新国名是国民的身份认同，是宪法允许的，改名决定无关政治，而关乎身份认同、历史传承。图为瑙鲁国旗。 （瑙鲁政府脸书视频截图）

太平洋岛国瑙鲁（Nauru）政府宣布正式更改国名为“Naoero”，但中文名“瑙鲁”维持不变。

新华社报道，瑙鲁共和国政府日前发布声明说，联合国已接到瑙鲁的相关通知，并在联合国官网作出更改，其中涉及英语、法语等语言，但仍保留中文名“瑙鲁”。

声明称，瑙鲁总统阿德昂7月20日在议会发表讲话说，在经过广泛讨论后，决定恢复国家传统名称“Naoero”，同时不就此事举行全民公决。

阿德昂表明，新国名是国民的身份认同，早已出现在国徽上，是宪法允许的。这个决定无关政治，而关乎身份认同、历史传承。

公告还说，瑙鲁已正式向国际组织及世界各国发出更名通知。

太平洋岛国瑙鲁将公投 寻求更名摆脱殖民历史

瑙鲁议会今年5月通过更改国名的宪法修正案，当时政府称，修正案还须经全民公投通过。

瑙鲁位于中太平洋，由一个独立的珊瑚礁岛及周边海域构成。瑙鲁陆地面积21.1平方公里，人口约1万3000人，官方语言为英语，通用瑙鲁语。

瑙鲁正式更改国名 中文译法保持不变

2026年8月3日 23:18 / 联合早报

瑙鲁总统阿德昂7月底表明，新国名是国民的身份认同，是宪法允许的，改名决定无关政治，而关乎身份认同、历史传承。图为瑙鲁国旗。 （瑙鲁政府脸书视频截图）

太平洋岛国瑙鲁（Nauru）政府宣布正式更改国名为“Naoero”，但中文名“瑙鲁”维持不变。

新华社报道，瑙鲁共和国政府日前发布声明说，联合国已接到瑙鲁的相关通知，并在联合国官网作出更改，其中涉及英语、法语等语言，但仍保留中文名“瑙鲁”。

声明称，瑙鲁总统阿德昂7月20日在议会发表讲话说，在经过广泛讨论后，决定恢复国家传统名称“Naoero”，同时不就此事举行全民公决。

阿德昂表明，新国名是国民的身份认同，早已出现在国徽上，是宪法允许的。这个决定无关政治，而关乎身份认同、历史传承。

公告还说，瑙鲁已正式向国际组织及世界各国发出更名通知。

延伸阅读

太平洋岛国瑙鲁将公投 寻求更名摆脱殖民历史

瑙鲁议会今年5月通过更改国名的宪法修正案，当时政府称，修正案还须经全民公投通过。

瑙鲁位于中太平洋，由一个独立的珊瑚礁岛及周边海域构成。瑙鲁陆地面积21.1平方公里，人口约1万3000人，官方语言为英语，通用瑙鲁语。

徐芳达: 政府继续探讨其他租赁房屋模式 为居民提供更多选项

2026年8月3日 19:35 / 联合早报

Mber联合生活服务式公寓的五楼连接阁楼，开辟为共享居住空间。每个单位内有约五个带有独立卫浴空间的卧房以及可办公的多用途空间。 （萧紫薇摄）

政府将继续探讨长住服务式公寓、共享居住空间和其他类型的建房出租项目等住房模式，提升住房多样性，提供本地居民更多选项。

国家发展部长徐芳达星期一（8月3日）为Mber联合生活服务式公寓开幕。他致辞时指出，随着社会日益多元化，家庭结构、生活方式和人们的住房期望也跟着发生变化。

居者有其屋仍是新加坡社会契约的一项重要原则，但政府也意识到，人们对灵活住房选项有需求，例如一些年轻新加坡人渴望独立生活，希望在购买自己的房子前先租房居住。

徐芳达认为，关键在于因应不同人的需求和期望，提供不同选项。政府因此在继续增加组屋和私宅供应的同时，与私人业者合作，探讨提供更多样化的住房类型。

试行长住服务式公寓 满足本地与外籍者需求

一个例子是政府于2023年12月试行新的长住服务式公寓（long-stay serviced apartments）模式，以满足新加坡人与在本地工作或学习的外国人的租赁房屋需求。市区重建局当时通过政府售地计划推出汤申路上段和锡安路的两块地皮，可用于兴建长住服务式公寓；这类单位的租期最短为三个月。

徐芳达说：“我们将继续探讨其他住房模式，例如长住服务式公寓、共享居住空间和其他类型的建房出租（build-to-rent）项目。这将丰富和完善我们的房屋市场，为本地居民提供更多选项和更大的灵活性。”

Mber联合生活服务式公寓的地面层开设饮食店铺，继续为周围居民提供服务。一楼和二楼的外墙还采用砖瓦饰面，模拟战前店屋的感觉。（萧紫薇摄）

但他也强调，政府仍然鼓励国人拥有自己的房子。政府是要让处在不同人生阶段的国人能满足自己的需求，有租房的选项和灵活性。

善用土地翻新旧市镇 平衡历史保留与土地用途

在谈到城市建设与发展时，徐芳达重申新加坡面对土地供应紧张的挑战，因此须善用每一块地，而其中一个做法是翻新旧市镇，为它们注入活力。他强调，在重新发展的过程中，可通过用心且体贴的设计，在尊重历史与改变土地用途之间取得平衡，并称赞Mber是一个很好的例子。

Mber坐落于实龙岗路上段一带的德财台（Teck Chye Terrace），地段前身为一排老店屋，与1990年代拆除的林大头巴刹及食物中心同在一个区域内。项目的二楼至四楼为服务式公寓，连接阁楼的五楼则是共享居住空间。

Mber联合生活服务式公寓外设立了一个历史角落，讲述那一带的历史。右二为国家发展部长徐芳达，右一为胡氏机构的执行董事胡耀诚。（萧紫薇摄）

负责这个重建项目的建筑师之一司徒锦龙接受《联合早报》采访时指出，后港一带的老居民对旧巴刹和周围的店屋仍印象深刻，团队因此竭力把居民对这个地区的记忆融入项目中。

团队首先向当局争取，在这个服务式公寓项目的地面层开设饮食店铺，保留居民与这块土地的互动，并继续服务居民。此外，一楼和二楼的外墙采用了砖瓦饰面，模拟战前店屋的感觉。

丰田和立胜代理商慕娘摩哆裁员

2026年8月3日 19:41 / 新明日报

丰田和立胜代理商慕娘摩哆公司重组，7月30日裁退数名员工；受影响员工在接获消息同天离职。

隶属全国职工总会的新加坡劳商工友联合会（Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union）秘书长林志康星期一（8月3日）回答《联合早报》询问时说，受影响的慕娘摩哆（Borneo Motors） 员工是在7月30日接到公司重组消息，同时知悉当天是他们的最后一个工作日。

他指出，慕娘摩哆是一家工会化企业。劳商工友联合会在7月30日之前已接到公司重组的消息。据联合会了解，慕娘摩哆此次重组，是为了精简营运，应对当前需求和未来优先重点。

林志康补充说，自接到重组消息后，联合会一直与公司合作，确保受影响员工能够根据集体协议获得公平的遣散费。 联合会正与受影响员工沟通以提供支持，确保这些员工会依照《劳资政冗员管理和负责任裁员指导原则》 受到公平对待。

若有所需，联合会将为受影响员工提供更多援助和资源，包括协助他们联络职总就业与职能培训中心e2i等。e2i做好准备通过工作配对服务、职业知道和技能提升咨询等，协助受影响的新加坡公民和永久居民。

林志康吁请正在进行重组或有意裁员的雇主，及早与受影响员工沟通。这将有助职总和联合会与雇主合作，在被裁的最后一个工作日之前就能与受影响员工联系，尽早提供支持，让员工有更多时间为过渡时期做准备，寻找所需的援助。

智库建议深耕亚细安 为新加坡构筑未来竞争力

2026年8月3日 19:55 / 联合早报

新加坡国际事务研究所主席戴尚志副教授强调，新加坡接下来的任务是，在强化自身能力的同时与区域伙伴携手打造具竞争力的生态系统。 （唐家鸿摄）

新加坡从容渡过近年来各种危机，凭借的是坚实的制度、出色的危机管理、善用财政储备的能力，以及国际连通水平。因此，新加坡的竞争力不光源自自身能力，还取决于如何深化金融、海运、空运和供应链等国际联系，尤其与亚细安和亚洲关键经济体的整合与联系。

智库新加坡国际事务研究所星期一（8月3日）在第18届亚细安与亚洲论坛上发表报告《经受时代动荡考验：通过与亚细安合作来提升新加坡竞争力》（Tested Through Turmoil: Advancing Singapore’s Competitiveness with ASEAN），为我国竞争力提出12项建议。

12项建议中有七项与增强新加坡自身竞争力有关：一、加强与跨国公司的联系以推动人工智能应用与转型；二、进一步发展人工智能和数据的监管和治理框架；三、为人工智能的采用与培训制定行业发展蓝图；四、为年轻人与应届毕业生建立学徒制项目和在职学习新模式；五、为兼职工作模式和新型劳动趋势探索监管框架；六、考虑采取措施协助企业应对碳税上涨的压力；七、促进政策制定者和跨国公司高管之间的交流。

另外五项建议则与增强新加坡在本区域的竞争力有关，包括：了解周边国家政策以促进互联互通；同区域伙伴合作推进气候和可持续发展目标；加强新加坡作为各类新产品、服务和商业模式测试基地的地位，再推广到世界各地；继续为世界级工业园及基础设施打造区域生态系统；深化新加坡和柔佛、峇淡岛、民丹岛和吉里汶岛（Batam-Bintan-Karimun）与苏门答腊的联系。

主持报告撰写的新加坡国际事务研究所主席戴尚志副教授在配合报告发表的新闻稿中说：“这份报告强调了一个简单但重要的观点：一个更强大的亚细安对新加坡有利。如果邻国变得更有竞争力、更一体化也更坚韧，新加坡将有更大机会扮演可信赖枢纽与合作伙伴的角色。”

他也强调，新加坡接下来的任务是，在强化自身能力的同时与区域伙伴携手打造具竞争力的生态系统。

报告还指出，新加坡在危机中保持坚韧的一个关键因素是，在金融、海运、空运以及供应链方面维持国际连通。然而，随着全球不确定因素和竞争加剧，我国不能把未来的竞争力视为理所当然。

研究所早前配合政府牵头的经济策略检讨行动，邀请跨国企业领袖与专业人士组成“竞争力研讨小组”（Competitiveness Commission），了解新加坡在国际企业的全球战略中扮演了什么样的角色。

研讨小组成员包括澳新银行（ANZ）集团新加坡分行、波音新加坡、可口可乐公司、埃克森美孚亚太、日立亚洲、三菱商事株式会社、塔塔集团，以及作为观察员和讨论参与者的新加坡经济发展局、新加坡企业发展局和贸工部。