LIVE COVERAGEUpdated 4 minutes ago
Trump administration live updates: U.S. launches daylight strikes on Iran
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will appear before senators for a hearing on his nomination to become the official head of the Justice Department
Todd Blanche, acting U.S. attorney general, during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on July 1. Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg
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Updated July 15, 2026, 8:24 AM EDT
By NBC News
What to know today
- IRAN STRIKES INTENSIFY: The U.S. launched daylight strikes against Iran this morning, intensifying military operations in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
- BLANCHE TO FACE QUESTIONS: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will testify at a Senate confirmation hearing this morning on his nomination to be the permanent attorney general. Blanche is expected to face questions about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, the administration’s proposed “anti-weaponization” fund, and President Donald Trump’ssettlement with the IRS over leaked tax filings.
- INTEL CHIEF HEARING:Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, will also appear before senators this morning for his confirmation hearing to replace the acting intelligence chief, former top housing official Bill Pulte, a political partisan with no national security experience.
4m ago / 8:24 AM EDT
Sen. Dick Durbin details conversation with Blanche
Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Blanche yesterday to discuss several of his concerns ahead of today’s confirmation hearing
Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that Blanche told him “I made a mistake” on the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which is expected to be a major topic during the hearing
Durbin said Blanche repeated to him that he did not want to see the fund move forward, which the senator said he then he suggested Blanche put in writing
The fund was proposed as a way to compensate alleged victims of politically motivated targeting by the federal government
Durbin also said he discussed the Justice Department’s handling of the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Trump’s IRS settlement with Blanche. The IRS settlement over the leak of Trump’s tax returns several years ago led to the creation of the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which Blanche said last month would not proceed
The senator also said he raised the question of administration election interference with Blanche
“I said, ‘Let me just tell you, as I sit here, my greatest fear is that somehow or another you’re going to interfere in the next election,'” Durbin said. “And he said, ‘No, we won’t.'”
10m ago / 8:19 AM EDT
Senators rally to Russia sanctions bill, one of Lindsey Graham’s top priorities
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s pursuit of a Russia sanctions bill has taken on renewed urgency after his death as colleagues look to pay tribute and build on the progress he made in gaining the White House’s support for the measure
Supporters of Ukraine have been working for more than a year to pass a bill that would impose steep tariffs on goods from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas and other exports. They unveiled a revised measure yesterday with the goal of depriving Russia of money it uses to fund its war against Ukraine
Read the full story here
18m ago / 8:11 AM EDT
Blanche to tell senators he is ‘here today to earn your trust once again’
Blanche will tell the senators who are considering his nomination to lead the Justice Department that he wants to “earn” their trust with his testimony, according to an excerpt from his opening remarks
“Seventeen months ago, I sat at this table as the nominee to be Deputy Attorney General, and I told you that serving in the Justice Department was my American dream,” Blanche’s prepared remarks say. “Since then, I have helped lead it — first as Deputy, and now as Acting Attorney General. I am here today to earn your trust once again.”
Blanche is expected to face tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans over issues including the administration’s proposed “anti-weaponization” fund, the IRS settlement over Trump’s leaked tax filings, and the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files
38m ago / 7:51 AM EDT
Trump urges ICE to resume traffic stops
Trump said in a Truth Social postthat Immigration and Customs Enforcement should not pause vehicle stops, comments that come just a day after the agency issued a nationwide order for officers totemporarily halt the pursuit ofpeople in vehicles following two fatal shootings
Trump wrote that “we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!”
“Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands,” he continued. “The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job. Keep those Crime Stat Records coming!”
In the shootings in Maine and Texas, which happened just days apart, the men who were killed were notthe original targets for arrest, according to local officials
2h ago / 7:28 AM EDT
Nominee for top intel post faces lawmakers eager to see him replace the current leader
Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, is likely to get a friendly reception from lawmakers today at his confirmation hearing as both parties are eager for him to take over from the current acting intelligence chief
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers see Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, as a relatively safe pair of hands to replace Bill Pulte, a political partisan who came to the job without any clear national security experience
Read the full story here
2h ago / 7:28 AM EDT
Blanche has no room for error on his nomination
Blanche has no room for error regarding Republican support for his nomination to be permanent attorney general
Because of the GOP’s slim majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee, a single Republican vote against him would prevent his nomination from being reported favorably out of the committee
Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have both expressed skepticism about Blanche’s nomination. Cornyn said he is uncommitted to backing Blanche, and Tillis said the administration’s proposed “anti-weaponization” fund must be completely nixed for him to support the nominee
Sen. Darline Graham, who was sworn in to fill the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term following his death last weekend, will not be at the hearing today in her brother’s stead. Her appointment does not automatically grant her his committee assignments, and Senate leadership is still determining what her assignments will be
2h ago / 7:28 AM EDT
U.S. launches new daylight attacks on Iran, upping pressure alongside naval blockade
The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and intensified its airstrike campaign today in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz
Overnight American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killed at least seven troops and wounded more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said. Later, the U.S. resumed striking Iran during daylight — an unusual move that further signaled the increasing tempo in attacks
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