2 days ago
Hannah Waddingham reacted to Prince William's secret DJ name after the Prince of Wales revealed two career paths he once dreamed of pursuing. William admitted that he went through a phase when he wanted to become a DJ, although things did not quite work out as planned. During his recent appearance, he also discussed his viral selfie with his children, Travis Kelce, and Taylor Swift.
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Prince William revealed two career paths he considered pursuing when he was younger. The Prince of Wales shared that he once dreamed of becoming a police officer and also hoped to explore a career as a DJ.
"I did want to be a policeman when I was younger; I did think I would be a good policeman," he admitted. William then recalled his brief aspirations of becoming a DJ, a dream that never materialized. However, he had already picked out a stage name for himself.
"I was called DJ Xara with an X. It wasn't good," William said with a laugh. Hannah Waddingham initially thought he meant "DJ Zara," but she was not impressed with the name either. "That's rubbish," she responded. Cate Blanchett also joined in on the fun, teasing the Prince of Wales about his former DJ ambitions. She asked whether his X-shaped hand gesture was one of his signature DJ moves.
During his appearance, William also reflected on the viral backstage selfie with Taylor Swift during her 2024 Eras Tour. The Prince of Wales jokingly admitted that he had tried to keep Travis Kelce out of the picture.
#travis
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Prince William revealed two career paths he considered pursuing when he was younger. The Prince of Wales shared that he once dreamed of becoming a police officer and also hoped to explore a career as a DJ.
"I did want to be a policeman when I was younger; I did think I would be a good policeman," he admitted. William then recalled his brief aspirations of becoming a DJ, a dream that never materialized. However, he had already picked out a stage name for himself.
"I was called DJ Xara with an X. It wasn't good," William said with a laugh. Hannah Waddingham initially thought he meant "DJ Zara," but she was not impressed with the name either. "That's rubbish," she responded. Cate Blanchett also joined in on the fun, teasing the Prince of Wales about his former DJ ambitions. She asked whether his X-shaped hand gesture was one of his signature DJ moves.
During his appearance, William also reflected on the viral backstage selfie with Taylor Swift during her 2024 Eras Tour. The Prince of Wales jokingly admitted that he had tried to keep Travis Kelce out of the picture.
#travis
2 days ago
1 month ago
The Justice Department has charged dozens of people for suspected fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday.
Speaking with reporters in the White House Rose Garden, Blanche said that between mid-June and September, federal prosecutors from across the country helped facilitate the arrests of 160 criminal defendants, including around 80 who were newly charged over suspected COVID fraud in Missouri and neighboring states.
The suspected crimes involved more than $245 million in losses, Blanche said.
White House Launches Interactive Map Tracking Billions In Suspected Fraud
Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced charges against dozens of people connected to suspected COVID-19 relief fraud.
#white #House
Speaking with reporters in the White House Rose Garden, Blanche said that between mid-June and September, federal prosecutors from across the country helped facilitate the arrests of 160 criminal defendants, including around 80 who were newly charged over suspected COVID fraud in Missouri and neighboring states.
The suspected crimes involved more than $245 million in losses, Blanche said.
White House Launches Interactive Map Tracking Billions In Suspected Fraud
Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced charges against dozens of people connected to suspected COVID-19 relief fraud.
#white #House
1 month ago
The Justice Department's push to pursue a sweeping conspiracy probe into former officials behind investigations targeting President Donald Trump has descended into turmoil and possibly new delays following the abrupt resignation of the top prosecutor overseeing the probe.
Joe diGenova, the Washington lawyer and former top prosecutor leading the South Florida-based investigation, resigned a day after a tense phone call Wednesday with Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to two people familiar with the matter. The final clash centered on diGenova's effort to block lawyers dispatched by Justice Department headquarters from ***** isting the probe, following broader disagreements with top Justice officials over its pace.
Among the disputes that added to tensions between diGenova and his bosses in Washington was diGenova's request for a high-security room known as a SCIF to be built at the Fort Pierce office, to make it easier for the prosecution team to store highly classified materials, two people familiar with the investigation told CNN. The team worked in an office with a special room where sensitive, but not the highest-classified, evidence could be handled. Justice Department officials told diGenova he and his team should use a SCIF at an FBI office miles away, two people familiar with the investigation told CNN.
DiGenova also pressed for more lawyers for his team. Justice officials pushed back on any claims that he was denied resources, according to two people familiar with the investigation.
For more than a year, Justice Department officials have pushed to bring criminal charges against former CIA director John Brennan, who is accused of making false statements to Congress and has been the subject of the president's ire for years. Since diGenova joined the probe in April, he's chosen to pursue a broader set of charges against several of Trump's political critics — including Brennan — who were involved in investigations of him over the past decade.
#officials #familiar #department
Joe diGenova, the Washington lawyer and former top prosecutor leading the South Florida-based investigation, resigned a day after a tense phone call Wednesday with Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to two people familiar with the matter. The final clash centered on diGenova's effort to block lawyers dispatched by Justice Department headquarters from ***** isting the probe, following broader disagreements with top Justice officials over its pace.
Among the disputes that added to tensions between diGenova and his bosses in Washington was diGenova's request for a high-security room known as a SCIF to be built at the Fort Pierce office, to make it easier for the prosecution team to store highly classified materials, two people familiar with the investigation told CNN. The team worked in an office with a special room where sensitive, but not the highest-classified, evidence could be handled. Justice Department officials told diGenova he and his team should use a SCIF at an FBI office miles away, two people familiar with the investigation told CNN.
DiGenova also pressed for more lawyers for his team. Justice officials pushed back on any claims that he was denied resources, according to two people familiar with the investigation.
For more than a year, Justice Department officials have pushed to bring criminal charges against former CIA director John Brennan, who is accused of making false statements to Congress and has been the subject of the president's ire for years. Since diGenova joined the probe in April, he's chosen to pursue a broader set of charges against several of Trump's political critics — including Brennan — who were involved in investigations of him over the past decade.
#officials #familiar #department
2 months ago
The High Line has hosted forests, billboards, giant pigeons and enough public art to fill a small museum. Its newest resident, however, may be the flashiest yet: a monumental golden "snake" curling through the park in the Meatpacking District.
Bulgari has unveiled auruBOROS—Urban Memory and Collective Dream, a 33-foot pneumatic sculpture created by Berlin-based art and architecture duo Plastique Fantastique. The free installation is now open above Little West 12th Street, near The Standard, High Line, and will remain on view through September 20.
The work resembles a gleaming serpent or double helix, with massive coils rising from beneath the elevated park and wrapping around its concrete supports. Visitors can walk among and through the reflective forms, which shift in appearance as sunlight, shadows and passing New Yorkers bounce off the metallic surface.
The sculpture's name combines aurum, the Latin word for gold, with ouroboros, the ancient image of a serpent eating its own tail. Its location also fits the installation's themes of memory and transformation: the High Line, after all, turned an abandoned freight railway into one of the city's most popular public **** es.
Created by Plastique Fantastique artists Marco Canevacci and Yena Young, auruBOROS is Bulgari's first public art installation in the United States. The duo is known for large-scale inflatable environments, including a giant ring that encircled a Paris footbridge during Nuit Blanche in 2023 and an immersive installation at the 2019 Venice Biennale.
#plastique
Bulgari has unveiled auruBOROS—Urban Memory and Collective Dream, a 33-foot pneumatic sculpture created by Berlin-based art and architecture duo Plastique Fantastique. The free installation is now open above Little West 12th Street, near The Standard, High Line, and will remain on view through September 20.
The work resembles a gleaming serpent or double helix, with massive coils rising from beneath the elevated park and wrapping around its concrete supports. Visitors can walk among and through the reflective forms, which shift in appearance as sunlight, shadows and passing New Yorkers bounce off the metallic surface.
The sculpture's name combines aurum, the Latin word for gold, with ouroboros, the ancient image of a serpent eating its own tail. Its location also fits the installation's themes of memory and transformation: the High Line, after all, turned an abandoned freight railway into one of the city's most popular public **** es.
Created by Plastique Fantastique artists Marco Canevacci and Yena Young, auruBOROS is Bulgari's first public art installation in the United States. The duo is known for large-scale inflatable environments, including a giant ring that encircled a Paris footbridge during Nuit Blanche in 2023 and an immersive installation at the 2019 Venice Biennale.
#plastique
2 months ago
Viola Davis has been ranked the most fabulous Gen X actress in Hollywood, but the acclaimed performer says there was once "no evidence of greatness" in her life. The 61-year-old landed the No. 1 position on AARP's Movies for Grownups list of the 25 Most Fabulous Gen X Actresses.
Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz and Drew Barrymore completed the top five, while other major names such as Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett and Salma Hayek also earned spots. For Davis, the honor reflects a journey that began in poverty and eventually led her to some of the most celebrated roles of her generation.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Davis spoke candidly to AARP's Movies for Grownups about growing up as one of six children in condemned apartments. The actress has previously discussed searching through garbage cans for food and living in rat-infested homes.
"I grew up in abject poverty," she told the publication. "There was no evidence of greatness in my life. So I had to have magic … I had to dare to ask the big, big question: 'What if, Viola? What if there's something out there for you?'"
#life
Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz and Drew Barrymore completed the top five, while other major names such as Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett and Salma Hayek also earned spots. For Davis, the honor reflects a journey that began in poverty and eventually led her to some of the most celebrated roles of her generation.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Davis spoke candidly to AARP's Movies for Grownups about growing up as one of six children in condemned apartments. The actress has previously discussed searching through garbage cans for food and living in rat-infested homes.
"I grew up in abject poverty," she told the publication. "There was no evidence of greatness in my life. So I had to have magic … I had to dare to ask the big, big question: 'What if, Viola? What if there's something out there for you?'"
#life
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2 months ago
President Trump is set to speak on the first night of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) convention in Dallas on Sept. 9.
"The Greatest RALLY of them all," Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. "I'll be speaking on night one, and hanging around for an earlier closing, and lots of music, on night two!!! See you in Dallas."
Vice President Vance is set to deliver his keynote address on the second and final night of the conference alongside Trump's closing remarks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and former press secretary Karoline Leavitt are set to deliver more keynote addresses throughout the convention.
Trump had previously said in an August statement, "I will be with you both nights, and rarin' to go. See you in Dallas!"
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be among those in attendance.
#dallas #president #Attorney
"The Greatest RALLY of them all," Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. "I'll be speaking on night one, and hanging around for an earlier closing, and lots of music, on night two!!! See you in Dallas."
Vice President Vance is set to deliver his keynote address on the second and final night of the conference alongside Trump's closing remarks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche and former press secretary Karoline Leavitt are set to deliver more keynote addresses throughout the convention.
Trump had previously said in an August statement, "I will be with you both nights, and rarin' to go. See you in Dallas!"
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be among those in attendance.
#dallas #president #Attorney
2 months ago
Sometimes the most memorable part of an outfit is hidden underneath. Designers have increasingly used contrasting linings to introduce unexpected flashes of color, transforming capes, coats, gowns and dramatic trains whenever they move. From Cate Blanchett to Anne Hathaway, several stars have demonstrated how a carefully chosen interior shade can turn an elegant red carpet look into something far more surprising.
Cate Blanchett delivered a memorable example at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Apprentice. Her custom Haider Ackermann for Jean Paul Gaultier strapless creation appeared predominantly black from the front, but revealed contrasting shades from other angles. A blush pink back and emerald green lining emerged as Blanchett lifted the train, giving the sophisticated design an unexpected injection of color.
Brie Larson used the same idea for superhero glamour at the London premiere of Captain Marvel. Her vivid blue Valentino gown featured an off the shoulder neckline, sculpted bodice and flowing cape. Hidden inside that cape was a shimmering gold lining, creating a dramatic metallic flash whenever the fabric moved. Nicole Kidman took a bolder approach at the New York premiere of Expats, where her sleek black Versace gown revealed a vivid lime green interior through its dramatic thigh high slit.
Helen Mirren offered a softer interpretation at the 2024 Golden Globes. Wearing Dolce & Gabbana, she paired an elegant lavender gown with a matching coat featuring voluminous sleeves. The coat's pink interior became visible as it opened, introducing another pastel shade while maintaining the sophistication of the overall look. Instead of competing with the lavender exterior, the contrasting lining gave the ensemble additional depth.
Anne Hathaway also embraced the technique with a playful maternity look at the Los Angeles premiere of The Last Thing He Wanted. Her custom Prabal Gurung ensemble centered on a blue satin high low top with a striking red interior. Paired with relaxed jeans and pointed red shoes, the contrasting colors framed her silhouette while bringing an unconventional energy to maternity dressing.
#contrasting #blanchett #look #cate
Cate Blanchett delivered a memorable example at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Apprentice. Her custom Haider Ackermann for Jean Paul Gaultier strapless creation appeared predominantly black from the front, but revealed contrasting shades from other angles. A blush pink back and emerald green lining emerged as Blanchett lifted the train, giving the sophisticated design an unexpected injection of color.
Brie Larson used the same idea for superhero glamour at the London premiere of Captain Marvel. Her vivid blue Valentino gown featured an off the shoulder neckline, sculpted bodice and flowing cape. Hidden inside that cape was a shimmering gold lining, creating a dramatic metallic flash whenever the fabric moved. Nicole Kidman took a bolder approach at the New York premiere of Expats, where her sleek black Versace gown revealed a vivid lime green interior through its dramatic thigh high slit.
Helen Mirren offered a softer interpretation at the 2024 Golden Globes. Wearing Dolce & Gabbana, she paired an elegant lavender gown with a matching coat featuring voluminous sleeves. The coat's pink interior became visible as it opened, introducing another pastel shade while maintaining the sophistication of the overall look. Instead of competing with the lavender exterior, the contrasting lining gave the ensemble additional depth.
Anne Hathaway also embraced the technique with a playful maternity look at the Los Angeles premiere of The Last Thing He Wanted. Her custom Prabal Gurung ensemble centered on a blue satin high low top with a striking red interior. Paired with relaxed jeans and pointed red shoes, the contrasting colors framed her silhouette while bringing an unconventional energy to maternity dressing.
#contrasting #blanchett #look #cate
2 months ago
The English landscape has been scorched by the multiple heatwaves this summer has brought, and it transpires that King Charles' beloved Windsor Castle hasn't escaped the devastation. A brand-new aerial shot, taken from an aeroplane window, has revealed the extent of the damage on the land surrounding the 956-year-old building.
The photograph was shared by Royal Collection trust on Monday, and the caption read: "If you're flying into Heathrow this summer keep an eye out for a special view of Windsor Castle that not everyone will get to see. These fantastic shots of the Castle, taken from a plane window, were shared with us recently.
"Did you spot the bird's-eye view of the Venus Garden with its perfectly laid out circular patterns?"
Royal fans were quick to point out the burned yellowing grass, with one simply writing: "I see drought..." and another adding: "Aside from everything being horribly dry, it really looks amazing from above." A third penned: "I just can't get over how DRY everything is!" with a fourth commenting: "it's strange to see it all parched."
Luckily, some of the trees and decorative hedges have retained their verdant nature, but the grass is clearly blanched.
#summer #everything
The photograph was shared by Royal Collection trust on Monday, and the caption read: "If you're flying into Heathrow this summer keep an eye out for a special view of Windsor Castle that not everyone will get to see. These fantastic shots of the Castle, taken from a plane window, were shared with us recently.
"Did you spot the bird's-eye view of the Venus Garden with its perfectly laid out circular patterns?"
Royal fans were quick to point out the burned yellowing grass, with one simply writing: "I see drought..." and another adding: "Aside from everything being horribly dry, it really looks amazing from above." A third penned: "I just can't get over how DRY everything is!" with a fourth commenting: "it's strange to see it all parched."
Luckily, some of the trees and decorative hedges have retained their verdant nature, but the grass is clearly blanched.
#summer #everything
2 months ago
Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the Justice Department's $400 million settlement with TikTok over allegations of children's privacy violations, saying the deal is a "fair, just and right result."
Speaking on "Saturday in America," Blanche said the deal addresses TikTok's past actions while helping protect children online.
"If companies and entities are not doing what they're supposed to do to make sure that happens, we're [going to] come after them," Blanche told host Kayleigh McEnany.
Trump Says He Will Nominate Acting Ag Todd Blanche To Permanently Lead Justice Department
Attorney General Todd Blanche listens during a news conference at the Justice Department Aug. 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
#blanche #todd #TikTok #speaking
Speaking on "Saturday in America," Blanche said the deal addresses TikTok's past actions while helping protect children online.
"If companies and entities are not doing what they're supposed to do to make sure that happens, we're [going to] come after them," Blanche told host Kayleigh McEnany.
Trump Says He Will Nominate Acting Ag Todd Blanche To Permanently Lead Justice Department
Attorney General Todd Blanche listens during a news conference at the Justice Department Aug. 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
#blanche #todd #TikTok #speaking
2 months ago
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration may look to the Supreme Court for help in a fight over state voter rolls.
"Absolutely it's a possibility. Election integrity is something that President Trump ran on. And the American people elected him," Blanche told NBC News's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" in a Sunday interview when asked about taking the fight to the Supreme Court.
"It's something that every American should care about. And so the idea that the Department of Justice is trying to investigate issues around elections to make sure they're fair and make sure they're conducted the right way is not something that we should be running away from. That's something we should be running right towards," he added.
The Department of Justice has sued multiple states for not handing over sensitive, private voter data as requested. However, it has recently lost multiple cases in attempting to get that data.
Those moves come ahead of the 2026 midterms, which could be consequential for President Trump if Democrats win control of either or both chambers of Congress, which they appear poised to do.
#something #department
"Absolutely it's a possibility. Election integrity is something that President Trump ran on. And the American people elected him," Blanche told NBC News's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" in a Sunday interview when asked about taking the fight to the Supreme Court.
"It's something that every American should care about. And so the idea that the Department of Justice is trying to investigate issues around elections to make sure they're fair and make sure they're conducted the right way is not something that we should be running away from. That's something we should be running right towards," he added.
The Department of Justice has sued multiple states for not handing over sensitive, private voter data as requested. However, it has recently lost multiple cases in attempting to get that data.
Those moves come ahead of the 2026 midterms, which could be consequential for President Trump if Democrats win control of either or both chambers of Congress, which they appear poised to do.
#something #department
2 months ago
Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in a new interview, and he was pressed on whether federal officials should take the lead in the ongoing investigation.
"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker asked Blanche, who was recently confirmed as President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department, if it's time for federal officials to play a larger role, as state law enforcement has led the investigation so far.
Aug. 1 marked six months since Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's "Today" show morning anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities have provided few public updates about the status of the case.
"It's a horrible situation, and I share the grief and frustration that you and your colleagues have and that the whole country has in the situation," Blanche said. "Meet the Press" is also an NBC program.
But Blanche suggested the FBI won't take control of the search for the 84-year-old woman.
#guthrie #meet
"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker asked Blanche, who was recently confirmed as President Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department, if it's time for federal officials to play a larger role, as state law enforcement has led the investigation so far.
Aug. 1 marked six months since Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's "Today" show morning anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities have provided few public updates about the status of the case.
"It's a horrible situation, and I share the grief and frustration that you and your colleagues have and that the whole country has in the situation," Blanche said. "Meet the Press" is also an NBC program.
But Blanche suggested the FBI won't take control of the search for the 84-year-old woman.
#guthrie #meet
2 months ago
By Robin Respaut
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that he backs top Washington, D.C., prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, who was criticized by President Donald Trump for the way she handled a case of alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
"I absolutely support U.S. Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump," Blanche said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
The Trump administration fast-tracked a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation's Fourth of July celebrations, at a cost of about $14.7 million. Within weeks an algae bloom developed and material at the bottom of the pool started peeling off. Federal authorities subsequently charged former U.S. Olympian David Hearn and others with vandalism.
In a court filing asking for the case against Hearn to be dismissed, Pirro blamed the Reflecting Pool's peeling issues on "flawed" work by a contractor and accused the Interior Department of providing incomplete information at first. Trump subsequently posted that Pirro should revisit her "hastily made decision" to drop the case.
#reflecting #pool #lincoln
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that he backs top Washington, D.C., prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, who was criticized by President Donald Trump for the way she handled a case of alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
"I absolutely support U.S. Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump," Blanche said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
The Trump administration fast-tracked a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation's Fourth of July celebrations, at a cost of about $14.7 million. Within weeks an algae bloom developed and material at the bottom of the pool started peeling off. Federal authorities subsequently charged former U.S. Olympian David Hearn and others with vandalism.
In a court filing asking for the case against Hearn to be dismissed, Pirro blamed the Reflecting Pool's peeling issues on "flawed" work by a contractor and accused the Interior Department of providing incomplete information at first. Trump subsequently posted that Pirro should revisit her "hastily made decision" to drop the case.
#reflecting #pool #lincoln
2 months ago
Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche tells Meet the Press there is no plan to revive President Trump's so-called "anti-weaponization fund" for people who believe they were wrongfully prosecuted by the federal government, including January 6th rioters.
#Attorney
#Attorney
2 months ago
Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche, who served as the president's personal defense attorney, tells Meet the Press that President Trump "never has" and "never will" ask him to do something unethical or illegal.
#newly
#newly
2 months ago
On the outskirts of Perth a football club runs out each week wearing a badge that would look instantly familiar to anyone from the Isle of Man.
It is the island's three-legged triskelion, but with a footballing twist.
The team is on the other side of the world, in Australia, about 9,200 miles (14,800km) from Douglas, so is this a mistake?
No... The logo was created as a deliberate tribute to three Manxmen who settled on the land more than a century ago.
In February 1905, Ernest Kerruish, an accountant from Union Mills, boarded a ship headed to Albany, Western Australia, with his wife Blanche, his brother-in-law Arthur Eaten and John Creer, a young farmer from Marown.
#ernest #union
It is the island's three-legged triskelion, but with a footballing twist.
The team is on the other side of the world, in Australia, about 9,200 miles (14,800km) from Douglas, so is this a mistake?
No... The logo was created as a deliberate tribute to three Manxmen who settled on the land more than a century ago.
In February 1905, Ernest Kerruish, an accountant from Union Mills, boarded a ship headed to Albany, Western Australia, with his wife Blanche, his brother-in-law Arthur Eaten and John Creer, a young farmer from Marown.
#ernest #union
3 months ago
Just one of the wild actions and comments on Donald Trump's manic Monday would rank among the most notorious things another president ever did.
By close of business, Trump had taken strides toward the presidency he's always wanted: one of unfiltered authority flowing from the presidential Sharpie, shredding traditional institutions and providing a platform for demagoguery.
Often, the round-the-clock cacophony from the White House seems expressly designed to stifle public comprehension of each individual act planned to irrevocably change the country and the world.
This was certainly the case on a day that fulfilled some core goals of the Trump base but also helped to explain the plunging presidential approval ratings that have Republicans looking with dread toward the midterm elections.
It all started when one of the president's former personal lawyers, now Appeals Court Judge Emil Bove, swore in another of the president's former personal lawyers, Todd Blanche, as attorney general.
#toward #often
By close of business, Trump had taken strides toward the presidency he's always wanted: one of unfiltered authority flowing from the presidential Sharpie, shredding traditional institutions and providing a platform for demagoguery.
Often, the round-the-clock cacophony from the White House seems expressly designed to stifle public comprehension of each individual act planned to irrevocably change the country and the world.
This was certainly the case on a day that fulfilled some core goals of the Trump base but also helped to explain the plunging presidential approval ratings that have Republicans looking with dread toward the midterm elections.
It all started when one of the president's former personal lawyers, now Appeals Court Judge Emil Bove, swore in another of the president's former personal lawyers, Todd Blanche, as attorney general.
#toward #often
3 months ago
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche just lost the last little bit of cushion he had left to survive confirmation.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that she would not support Blanche's nomination to be the nation's top prosecutor and law enforcement official, dealing another blow to his rocky confirmation process.
Her defection, despite a heavy lobbying effort by Blanche that saw him make the trek to Alaska, means that Senate Republican leadership can't afford to lose anymore votes to get him across the finish line, given that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., though now back home, has still not returned to the Senate.
Collins Drops The Hammer On Trump's Pick To Lead Doj, Jeopardizing Path To Confirmation
Murkowski acknowledged Blanche's visit to Alaska and heavy lobbying effort throughout the last few weeks, but it's his connection to President Donald Trump's nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund, and broader concerns of a weaponized Justice Department, that proved the nail in the coffin for her.
#blanche #heavy
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that she would not support Blanche's nomination to be the nation's top prosecutor and law enforcement official, dealing another blow to his rocky confirmation process.
Her defection, despite a heavy lobbying effort by Blanche that saw him make the trek to Alaska, means that Senate Republican leadership can't afford to lose anymore votes to get him across the finish line, given that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., though now back home, has still not returned to the Senate.
Collins Drops The Hammer On Trump's Pick To Lead Doj, Jeopardizing Path To Confirmation
Murkowski acknowledged Blanche's visit to Alaska and heavy lobbying effort throughout the last few weeks, but it's his connection to President Donald Trump's nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund, and broader concerns of a weaponized Justice Department, that proved the nail in the coffin for her.
#blanche #heavy
3 months ago
Cate Blanchett gave her stamp of approved to the latest casual takes on quiet luxury with her coordinated Givenchy look at BFI Southbank's screening and Q&A of the 1966 Ingmar Bergman film "Persona" in London on Tuesday.
Cate Blanchett
The two-time Oscar-winning actress turned to the French luxury fashion house for her pared back look. Comprising a denim midi skirt and white ****** on-down collared blouse with billowing three-quarter-length sleeves, the outfit was paired with platform Hogan sneakers for an extra casual element.
More from WWD
Sadie Sink's 'Spider-Man' Press Tour Wardrobe Was an Exercise in Sartorial Restraint
#blanchett
Cate Blanchett
The two-time Oscar-winning actress turned to the French luxury fashion house for her pared back look. Comprising a denim midi skirt and white ****** on-down collared blouse with billowing three-quarter-length sleeves, the outfit was paired with platform Hogan sneakers for an extra casual element.
More from WWD
Sadie Sink's 'Spider-Man' Press Tour Wardrobe Was an Exercise in Sartorial Restraint
#blanchett
3 months ago
The road to confirmation just got ****** pier for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
After surviving a key committee vote Tuesday, Blanche's fate became even more uncertain as Republican leaders eye a full floor vote to confirm him. That's because Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is not going to back him.
"While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has become increasingly political," Collins said in a statement.
"Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."
Trump's Ag Pick Survives — For Now — As Republicans Question If White House Deal Will Hold
#collins #susan
After surviving a key committee vote Tuesday, Blanche's fate became even more uncertain as Republican leaders eye a full floor vote to confirm him. That's because Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is not going to back him.
"While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has become increasingly political," Collins said in a statement.
"Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department's independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation."
Trump's Ag Pick Survives — For Now — As Republicans Question If White House Deal Will Hold
#collins #susan
3 months ago
In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) discusses concerns over the Trump administration's so-called "anti-weaponization" fund, the subject of the Senate holdup over Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general.
#meet #Trump #discusses
#meet #Trump #discusses
3 months ago
President Trump on Saturday threatened to "push hard" to keep a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund active, amid an ongoing feud between two Republican senators and the Trump administration over the president's nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general.
#saturday
#saturday
3 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that his $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund is "dead" while also continuing to defend it, further complicating his administration's negotiations with two Republican senators who are blocking his attorney general nominee in protest.
Trump told reporters at Camp David on Friday morning that administration officials had "agreed not to have a fund" that compensates his political allies, yet made clear that he disagrees with that decision.
The comments came hours after an early morning social media post in which Trump said people who had been prosecuted by the Justice Department — many of them for their involvement in the violent Jan. 6, 2001, attack on the Capitol — "are suffering still, many ruined, and I felt that they should be given compensation for what has been done to them."
Trump's reluctant declaration that the fund won't be created came as Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, say they won't support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general until they see that promise in writing. They have been working for weeks with the White House and Blanche, who is now the acting attorney general, to produce a document to that effect, but both senators have said they aren't satisfied so far.
"The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," Tillis said after Trump's initial social media post.
#Trump #weaponization
Trump told reporters at Camp David on Friday morning that administration officials had "agreed not to have a fund" that compensates his political allies, yet made clear that he disagrees with that decision.
The comments came hours after an early morning social media post in which Trump said people who had been prosecuted by the Justice Department — many of them for their involvement in the violent Jan. 6, 2001, attack on the Capitol — "are suffering still, many ruined, and I felt that they should be given compensation for what has been done to them."
Trump's reluctant declaration that the fund won't be created came as Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, say they won't support Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general until they see that promise in writing. They have been working for weeks with the White House and Blanche, who is now the acting attorney general, to produce a document to that effect, but both senators have said they aren't satisfied so far.
"The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," Tillis said after Trump's initial social media post.
#Trump #weaponization
3 months ago
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is warning that President Trump's threat to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination to serve as attorney general and resubmit it in 2027 to circumvent GOP critics could backfire because control of the Senate could flip in November.
Asked by a reporter Thursday whether it would be "risky" to delay Blanche's nomination until the next Congress, Kennedy responded: "Well, duh. Yeah."
"This place could be very different," Kennedy said, noting Democrats could pick up seats in the Senate or win control of the upper chamber.
Senate Republicans now control 53 seats.
Trump on Thursday threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination because Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are threatening to block it in the Judiciary Committee unless the Department of Justice and Trump agree to revise or clarify a settlement with the IRS to establish a $1.8 billion legal compensation fund for MAGA allies.
#kennedy #control #committee #thursday
Asked by a reporter Thursday whether it would be "risky" to delay Blanche's nomination until the next Congress, Kennedy responded: "Well, duh. Yeah."
"This place could be very different," Kennedy said, noting Democrats could pick up seats in the Senate or win control of the upper chamber.
Senate Republicans now control 53 seats.
Trump on Thursday threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination because Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are threatening to block it in the Judiciary Committee unless the Department of Justice and Trump agree to revise or clarify a settlement with the IRS to establish a $1.8 billion legal compensation fund for MAGA allies.
#kennedy #control #committee #thursday
3 months ago
WASHINGTON – Six weeks after he was hospitalized for a fall and pneumonia, Sen. Mitch McConnell's doctors still have not medically cleared him to return to work or leave a rehabilitation facility, the Capitol physician's office said.
Since June, the Kentucky Republican's health has been a source of widespread speculation and interest. He has missed 38 roll call votes in the Senate, including on key measures such as the annual defense policy bill and ending the Iran war, as well as high-profile confirmation hearings for crucial Trump nominees like Todd Blanche, who is awaiting a vote to become the next attorney general.
All summer his office has provided only limited updates on his condition. But in a statement July 27, McConnell, 84, said he was still having "intense physical therapy" and wouldn't be able to travel to western Kentucky for the annual Fancy Farm picnic, a marquee political event in the state.
"As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I'm looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon," he said.
The Office of the Attending Physician, which provides medical services and guidance to members of Congress, said the lifelong effects of McConnell's bout with childhood polio continue to be a "significant factor in his mobility." Doctors visit with him every day.
#still #annual
Since June, the Kentucky Republican's health has been a source of widespread speculation and interest. He has missed 38 roll call votes in the Senate, including on key measures such as the annual defense policy bill and ending the Iran war, as well as high-profile confirmation hearings for crucial Trump nominees like Todd Blanche, who is awaiting a vote to become the next attorney general.
All summer his office has provided only limited updates on his condition. But in a statement July 27, McConnell, 84, said he was still having "intense physical therapy" and wouldn't be able to travel to western Kentucky for the annual Fancy Farm picnic, a marquee political event in the state.
"As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I'm looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon," he said.
The Office of the Attending Physician, which provides medical services and guidance to members of Congress, said the lifelong effects of McConnell's bout with childhood polio continue to be a "significant factor in his mobility." Doctors visit with him every day.
#still #annual
3 months ago
President Donald Trump's brazenly corrupt "settlement" of his lawsuit against the IRS included a jaw-dropping order in which Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche purported to shield him and his family from liability for tax violations and any other federal offenses they may have committed prior to May 19. During his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Blanche, who is seeking Senate approval of his nomination as attorney general, repeatedly misrepresented the scope and nature of that sweeping immunity deal.
In response to questions from Sen. Richard Durbin (D–Ill.), Blanche preposterously claimed his promise of protection was "typical" of settlements between the IRS and taxpayers. "This type of settlement is done regularly," he said. "When we enter into settlements like that, we do it with all kinds of people. It's not just President Trump. It doesn't make any of those individuals above the law."
Blanche was referring to settlements of tax disputes. That comparison is inapt for several reasons.
First, Trump's lawsuit, which was joined by two of his sons and the Trump Organization, did not involve a dispute about tax liability. It alleged damages caused by an IRS contractor's illegal disclosure of the plaintiffs' tax returns, an issue that has nothing to do with the question of whether they owe the IRS money.
Second, even in cases that do involve alleged tax violations, it is not "typical" for settlements to include a promise that the IRS will never pursue any other claims based on past returns. After Blanche revealed his order, former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told the **** ociated Press he was not aware of any previous cases in which the IRS had agreed to "permanently forgo examination of previously filed tax returns for a specific person or business."
In response to questions from Sen. Richard Durbin (D–Ill.), Blanche preposterously claimed his promise of protection was "typical" of settlements between the IRS and taxpayers. "This type of settlement is done regularly," he said. "When we enter into settlements like that, we do it with all kinds of people. It's not just President Trump. It doesn't make any of those individuals above the law."
Blanche was referring to settlements of tax disputes. That comparison is inapt for several reasons.
First, Trump's lawsuit, which was joined by two of his sons and the Trump Organization, did not involve a dispute about tax liability. It alleged damages caused by an IRS contractor's illegal disclosure of the plaintiffs' tax returns, an issue that has nothing to do with the question of whether they owe the IRS money.
Second, even in cases that do involve alleged tax violations, it is not "typical" for settlements to include a promise that the IRS will never pursue any other claims based on past returns. After Blanche revealed his order, former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told the **** ociated Press he was not aware of any previous cases in which the IRS had agreed to "permanently forgo examination of previously filed tax returns for a specific person or business."
3 months ago
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced questions from senators on the handling of the Epstein files, crime statistics and a Trump settlement with the IRS during his confirmation hearing to permanently serve in the position. NBC News' Julie Tsirkin reports from Capitol Hill on what lawmakers highlighted in their questioning.
3 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted skeptical questioning at a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday about the creation of a fund to compensate allies of President Donald Trump and a tax immunity deal for the president as he aimed to lock down the Republican support needed to advance his nomination.
Blanche insisted the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which was scrapped after fierce bipartisan backlash, was "not moving forward." But lawmakers, including Republican Sen. John Cornyn, raised concerns the Trump administration has yet to commit in writing that the fund is dead and it could therefore conceivably be resurrected.
"Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who's a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' and there's no guarantee that he won't raise it in the future?" Cornyn asked. Blanche replied that Trump has no power over the fund, which was to have been administered by the Justice Department but never launched.
Cornyn's questions were closely watched given that Blanche requires the support of all Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and the Texas senator has yet to commit to back him.
The hearing arrived at a tumultuous time for the Justice Department, with mass firings and resignations hollowing out the workforce and Democrats and other critics raising alarms that Blanche is still functioning as the president's personal lawyer. He has led the department on an interim basis since April, functioning as the public face of the maligned and later-withdrawn fund and accelerating investigations into perceived Trump adversaries
Blanche insisted the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which was scrapped after fierce bipartisan backlash, was "not moving forward." But lawmakers, including Republican Sen. John Cornyn, raised concerns the Trump administration has yet to commit in writing that the fund is dead and it could therefore conceivably be resurrected.
"Just to be clear, the president of the United States, who's a plaintiff in this lawsuit, has not agreed in writing to delete the 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' and there's no guarantee that he won't raise it in the future?" Cornyn asked. Blanche replied that Trump has no power over the fund, which was to have been administered by the Justice Department but never launched.
Cornyn's questions were closely watched given that Blanche requires the support of all Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and the Texas senator has yet to commit to back him.
The hearing arrived at a tumultuous time for the Justice Department, with mass firings and resignations hollowing out the workforce and Democrats and other critics raising alarms that Blanche is still functioning as the president's personal lawyer. He has led the department on an interim basis since April, functioning as the public face of the maligned and later-withdrawn fund and accelerating investigations into perceived Trump adversaries
3 months ago
"I'm guessing I'll be in line," former FBI Director James Comey quipped after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a "settlement agreement" between President Donald Trump and the IRS that included $1.8 billion in taxpayer money for targets of "lawfare and weaponization." Comey's joke encompasses two reasons why the Senate should not confirm Blanche as attorney general: a flagrantly unconstitutional prosecution and a brazenly corrupt arrangement that delivered huge favors to Trump, his family, and his followers at taxpayers' expense.
Blanche's participation in both of those scams demonstrated his eagerness to please his boss, which explains why Trump nominated him to replace Pam Bondi. But that same tendency should alarm anyone who thinks the attorney general should pursue justice rather than the president's personal agenda.
In a scathing ruling on Monday, a federal judge described Trump's lawsuit against the IRS as a pretext for "a 'settlement' that had no viable basis in law or fact." Kathleen Williams, who oversaw the case in the Southern District of Florida, concluded that it never involved a genuine controversy between adverse parties, since both sides were controlled by the president.
Trump's lawsuit, which was joined by two of his sons and the Trump Organization, preposterously alleged that an IRS contractor's illegal disclosure of their tax returns had caused "at least" $10 billion in damages. In addition to offering an improbable estimate of the injury he had suffered, Trump filed the lawsuit more than two years after learning about the leak, exceeding the time limit set by the statute he invoked.
That law covers unauthorized disclosures by "any officer or employee of the United States." So even if Trump had filed his lawsuit on time, he would have faced the challenge of arguing that a contractor employed by a consulting business fit into that category—a point that the Justice Department has disputed in other cases involving similar claims.
Blanche's participation in both of those scams demonstrated his eagerness to please his boss, which explains why Trump nominated him to replace Pam Bondi. But that same tendency should alarm anyone who thinks the attorney general should pursue justice rather than the president's personal agenda.
In a scathing ruling on Monday, a federal judge described Trump's lawsuit against the IRS as a pretext for "a 'settlement' that had no viable basis in law or fact." Kathleen Williams, who oversaw the case in the Southern District of Florida, concluded that it never involved a genuine controversy between adverse parties, since both sides were controlled by the president.
Trump's lawsuit, which was joined by two of his sons and the Trump Organization, preposterously alleged that an IRS contractor's illegal disclosure of their tax returns had caused "at least" $10 billion in damages. In addition to offering an improbable estimate of the injury he had suffered, Trump filed the lawsuit more than two years after learning about the leak, exceeding the time limit set by the statute he invoked.
That law covers unauthorized disclosures by "any officer or employee of the United States." So even if Trump had filed his lawsuit on time, he would have faced the challenge of arguing that a contractor employed by a consulting business fit into that category—a point that the Justice Department has disputed in other cases involving similar claims.
