Congress

Cornyn and Tillis in discussions with White House to get Blanche across the finish line

Published

13 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn — both Republicans spurned by the Trump administration for not being adequately loyal — are now being actively courted by the White House to confirm a key Cabinet official.

The Trump administration is engaging directly with Tillis and Cornyn’s aides as the North Carolina and Texas lawmakers continue to withhold firm commitments to voting to confirm attorney general nominee Todd Blanche in the Judiciary Committee — where a single “no” vote on the GOP side of the aisle could tank his prospects.

Tillis and Cornyn both confirmed the back-and-forth in interviews on Capitol Hill Monday evening, and a White House official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, also said in a statement that “the Administration continues to have active conversations with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

It shows how the balance of power, at least in this high-stakes confirmation battle, has shifted for the two outgoing lawmakers — and how Cornyn and Tillis both know it.

“Well, does he want to get confirmed or not?” was Cornyn’s response when asked whether he would be able to extract concessions from Blanche given his previous reticence to amend a controversial settlement agreement he entered into on President Donald Trump’s behalf.

The senator is still coming off a bruising primary loss to Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, whom Trump propelled to victory with an endorsement during the run-off.

Cornyn said Monday he is currently discussing with the Trump administration two main components of that settlement Blanche, in his capacity as deputy attorney general, brokered with the IRS: one shielding Trump and his family from IRS audits, the other launching a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” critics believe could operate as a slush fund for the president’s allies.

“Those are the issues we’re continuing to discuss with the administration to see whether we can get a modification of the settlement agreement,” said Cornyn.

Blanche has said repeatedly the fund is now effectively dead amid bipartisan backlash at the time of its announcement. But Cornyn pushed Blanche to admit during his confirmation hearing last week that the program could still be revived through a breach of contract lawsuit brought in the future by Trump, absent a written change to the underlying settlement.

Tillis, who also said he needs the fund nullified in order to vote for Blanche, said Monday he’s been encouraged that the Justice Department has coordinated with his staff to ameliorate concerns.

“I know my staff have been in touch, almost, probably daily,” with the DOJ, said Tillis, “so they are acting. I mean, they’re following up in good faith.”

Neither Tillis nor Cornyn were specific about how, exactly, the Trump administration might cut a deal with Republican senators putting the prospects of the fund’s revival to rest — whether it would be something the Justice Department could facilitate internally or if Congress would have to take legislative action.

Cornyn said Monday that changing the settlement through legislation would be “much more problematic.” Tillis, however, has been talking about drafting legislation that could pass the Senate through a unanimous consent agreement; Blanche, during his confirmation hearing last Wednesday, didn’t shoot down the idea.

“I have to be convinced that there is no way that it could actually ever be resurrected again,” Tillis said, “which is exactly why I talked about the legislation … that [Blanche] offered to help write the technical language for.”

Blanche has already acquiesced to another one of Tillis’ demands: that he meet with victims of the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after Blanche, as deputy attorney general, oversaw the haphazard release of the Epstein files resulting in victims’ identities being inadvertently exposed.

Tillis appeared largely satisfied that this meeting took place according to his wishes — even though at least one of the survivors of Epstein’s abuse called the sit down “insufficient” and alleged Blanche took no responsibility for the botched redaction process.

He did, however, say he would “like to understand what, if any, steps were taken for opening FBI investigations — whether it was a request or whether it was an acceptance to do it,” regarding what Blanche may or may not have committed to in that meeting in terms of continuing to bring Epstein’s co-conspirators to justice.

Ultimately, the general consensus is that Tillis will end up voting “yes” for Blanche and may already, privately, be decided: “Tillis, we think, is squared away,” said one person granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters regarding the nomination process.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also indicated Monday he believed the North Carolina lawmaker was coming around, saying he had heard “favorable comments over the weekend from Tillis.”

He did not answer when asked what he thought of Cornyn, however, who has been less willing to offer praise.

Republicans hope the Judiciary Committee can vote to report Blanche’s nomination favorably to the Senate floor July 30, and subsequently confirm him the first week of August before the chamber leaves for a monthlong recess.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday he “think[s]” Grassley and his team are prepared to get Blanche out of committee “in time to process him in this work period.”

“At this point, I’m not certain,” Thune said. “I think they’re hopeful.”

Congress

Thune announces Rotunda tribute for Lindsey Graham

Published

31 minutes ago

July 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The late Sen. Lindsey Graham will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda next Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced in a statement.

Graham’s funeral, arranged by his sister, Sen. Darline Graham, will include an invite-only ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral to be attended by President Donald Trump.

Darline Graham (R-S.C.) was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster earlier this month to serve out the remainder of her brother’s term. She announced plans to run for a full six-year term in the seat on Monday.

Lindsey Graham died suddenly earlier this month from what his office later said was an “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” A wave of tributes — and speculation over who would run to replace the five-term senator — kicked off almost immediately.

“As we say our final goodbyes, it seems fitting for his friends and colleagues to give back to him through this special Capitol honor,” Thune (R-S.D.) said in a statement.

Darline Graham is endorsed by the president in her bid to win a full term in the Senate but will nonetheless face off against a slate of Republicans who have spent far more time in the public eye, including South Carolina GOP Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman.

Lindsey Graham’s remains will be flown back to South Carolina after the National Cathedral service, with a service planned at the First Baptist Church of Columbia for the following day.

“I am grateful to all those who have come together to help honor and remember Lindsey,” Darline Graham said in a statement. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to President Trump and his team, Washington National Cathedral, Senate leadership, First Baptist Church of Columbia and the Senate Sergeant at Arms for going above and beyond to ensure these will be honorable tributes to Lindsey.”

Congress

Capitol agenda: Johnson leans in on GOP holdouts

Published

2 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

Speaker Mike Johnson’s legislative sprint hinges on a lot of Republican votes falling into place this week — starting with a tally Tuesday to open the floor for business.

The make-or-break procedural rule vote that eluded Johnson for weeks earlier this summer may again be in flux Tuesday afternoon, as GOP members harbor various frustrations about their party’s packed agenda.

If Republicans open the floor, next up Tuesday will be a vote on a stopgap funding bill through the midterms and the beginning of debate for the must-pass annual defense bill, among other business. Final votes on that package are expected Wednesday along with adoption of the GOP’s reconciliation framework and a stock trading ban for Congress.

House GOP leaders are leaning heavily on a small number of holdouts on different agenda items, and the White House is ramping up pressure across the board. OMB chief Russ Vought will make his pitch on Republicans’ $95 billion Iran war and agriculture reconciliation package Tuesday morning during the House GOP conference meeting.

The good news for Johnson: Key Republicans from opposite sides of the conference told Blue Light News they plan to support the rule Tuesday.

“I think the rule will pass pretty easily,” House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, a holdout earlier this month, said, adding he expected many other conservative hard-liners to support it.

The bad news for Johnson: At least one lawmaker — Rep. Thomas Massie — says he’ll vote ‘no’ on the rule, while Rep. Chip Roy said he’s undecided.

The budget resolution vote is another flashpoint we’ll be watching Roy, who says he’s unsure of his support due to the lack of offsets to new spending.

Meanwhile Rep. Warren Davidson says he’ll vote ‘no’ on the framework for the same reasons.

“I think you gotta find the pay-fors,” Davidson told Blue Light News.

Davidson said he’s also not swayed by GOP leaders’ argument that a post-midterm fourth reconciliation bill will target fraud to offset spending, adding they have “already used that excuse twice.”

Meanwhile, Republicans may not be able to count on widespread support from Democrats for the stopgap measure, as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated he’s opposed to the CR in a closed-door leadership meeting Monday, according to four people granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Senior Democrats want language to prohibit funding for immigration enforcement agencies.

And across the Capitol, senators may not be so eager to pick up the House’s continuing resolution: top appropriators are talking about developing their own version of a stopgap funding bill that would include White House anomalies.

What else we’re watching:

— DEMS LOOK FOR WAYS TO HALT RENEWED IRAN WAR: Democrats are rallying behind several efforts to kill high-profile defense legislation as a way to protest the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The flurry of action presents Democrats with a chance to score real wins against the Trump administration’s war effort, which burst back into public view over the weekend with the killing of three U.S. troops in the region. The largest showdown is set for Wednesday, when House lawmakers are expected to vote on the annual defense policy bill, which Democratic critics have said they will oppose sans oversight mechanisms for the Iran war.

— MCCORMICK EYES ENERGY GAVEL: Sen. David McCormick is in line to take the gavel of Energy and Natural Resources next Congress, a remarkable rise for the freshman who has distinguished himself as a leading booster of natural gas and U.S. artificial intelligence dominance McCormick is interested in leading Republicans on the committee, a person familiar with his plans told Blue Light News, if the spot opens as expected. The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has sparked a domino effect that is likely to put the Pennsylvanian in the driver’s seat for the energy role.

Katherine Tully-McManus, Jordain Carney, Leo Shane III and Josh Siegel contributed to this report.

Congress

White House sends Congress stopgap exception wishlist

Published

15 hours ago

July 20, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The White House sent Congress a list Monday of programs it wants lawmakers to fund at boosted levels under any stopgap funding patch enacted before the Sept. 30 government shutdown deadline.

The list of requests for special exceptions, referred to as “anomalies,” calls on Congress to increase funding for military health programs, certain national security systems, operations of national parks and more. It also asks lawmakers to extend special authority for certain agencies, including for FEMA to spend disaster relief at a faster clip during the span of the funding patch.

House Republican leaders are trying to pass a “clean” stopgap this week that would keep federal dollars flowing through Dec. 4. That measure does not include the dozens of special exceptions the White House is seeking.

In the Senate, top lawmakers want to instead pass a funding patch that includes at least some of the White House’s requests for exceptions, along with other potential additions.

“They’re missing critical things that we need to do,” Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the Senate’s top Democratic appropriator, said in a brief interview Monday night. “So we’re working on our things.”