American politician and Senate leader
The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and he has been sworn in at the White House. Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, previously served as the president’s private lawyer, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund amid bipartisan concern about politicising the department.
The US DHS has published a draft rule to make a $103,265 H-1B visa fee permanent, following a prior $100,000 temporary charge that faced legal challenges. The rule adds to existing costs and would not apply to certain in-country, student-visa holders. Courts are weighing the legality as lawsuits question presidential authority and Congress approval.
The State Department has paused all immigrant visa applications to reassess public-charge rules, while preparing to revoke up to 200,000 asylum-related business and tourist visas. Officials say the pause is temporary and tied to a global training program for consular staff, with interviews being rescheduled into the fall. Legal challenges are anticipated as the administration tightens enforcement of immigration policy.
Federal prosecutors have mounted and shifted several politically charged investigations. A judge has ruled that withholding funds from a named project violates the law and the government has dropped a challenge. Separately, the Justice Department has unsealed charges against five alleged Russian intelligence operatives, and a high‑profile DOJ advisor, Joe diGenova, has resigned from a Florida investigation.
The inspector general has found that the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility violated multiple detention standards, including space, hygiene and recreation. Detainees were held in cramped 18-square-foot cages and faced poor food, water and medical care. The facility, opened last year and closed this summer, is under ongoing legal scrutiny.
The FBI has moved to consider applicants who previously engaged in activities such as prostitution or bestiality only if their conduct occurred before age 18. The change aims to protect victims and avoid automatic disqualification, but it faces sharp questioning from Senate Republicans about the agency’s standards and staffing.
Sen. John Curtis has asked the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. over his business ties, foreign gifts and a Russian oligarch-funded wedding party. Curtis has demanded the same scrutiny for Hunter Biden and cited reporting that Umar Kremlev paid substantial costs for Trump Jr.'s Bahamas celebrations in May.
President Donald Trump has negotiated for large shipments of Russian diesel to enter global markets and has pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian refineries. European officials and some U.S. senators have warned the move will strengthen Moscow’s war effort; Zelenskyy has publicly accused Trump of betrayal and sought additional air‑defence deliveries.
The US has moved to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports, prompting international debate as Trump publicly pressures Zelensky and calls for new leadership while Ukraine seeks to protect energy infrastructure amid rising tensions.
Trump has publicly urged Sen. John Fetterman to switch parties, a move that could reshape Senate dynamics. Fetterman has rejected becoming a Republican, while observers note the potential impact on party control and midterm prospects.
Demonstrators have organized more than 3,000 events nationwide to urge early voting ahead of the 2026 midterms, with protests highlighting concerns about democracy and voting access. Authorities say the events are nonpartisan but politics remain in the air as lawsuits and high-profile figures weigh in on mail voting.
AIPAC has halted public endorsements of federal candidates and direct PAC contributions, while continuing to operate its United Democracy Project super PAC. The move shifts focus to mobilizing individual donors and new fundraising tools, after a period of heavy outside spending linked to Pro-Israel advocacy. UDP remains active in independent campaigns.
Ukraine has reported that Starlink and its military-grade Starshield service have resumed pre-restriction speeds after days of limits that capped connectivity for objects moving above about 160km/h. Kyiv said monitoring systems now record stable connections above 400km/h. Washington, SpaceX and Elon Musk have each denied clear responsibility for the throttle that disrupted drone missions.
The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, submitting a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. He has long encouraged civic participation, while the Vatican notes he has lived in Peru and holds multiple citizenships. The midterms determine control of Congress and shape the political landscape.
The Vatican confirms Pope Leo has submitted a mail-in ballot in Chicago ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, citing a long-standing belief in civic participation. Leo, who holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship, has voted in multiple primaries and general elections since 2000. The Holy See notes the pope’s duty to participate in democratic processes.