Lisa Murkowski Opposes Todd Blanche

Sen. Lisa Murkowski's no vote puts Todd Blanche's attorney general bid in jeopardy.

•Balanced

Bill Cassidy Will Back Todd Blanche as Attorney General, Salvaging His Confirmation

MS NOW sounds alarm as Bill Cassidy reveals support to confirm Todd Blanche

Cassidy backs Blanche for attorney general, clearing way for confirmation

Articles

Sources

34%

Analysis & opinion

The reporting

A neutral summary of the key facts most outlets agree on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum.

Sen. Bill Cassidy said Friday he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, giving President Donald Trump’s nominee the 50th Republican vote he needs, assuming no further defections. Cassidy was the last GOP holdout after Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski said they would oppose Blanche, while Sen. Mitch McConnell remained absent after hospitalization. Blanche is Trump’s former personal lawyer and currently acting attorney general. Cassidy said Blanche was “not perfect” but argued another acting attorney general might run the Justice Department worse.

Analysis & opinion

The arguments that emerged from this coverage — built only from the analysis and opinion pieces, never from straight reporting. Each dot is one article, placed by its outlet's bias — left to right. How to read our graphics →

angles sorted left-argued → right-argued

Cassidy capitulationLeans Left

Bill Cassidy and other Senate Republicans caved to Donald Trump by backing Todd Blanche despite serious concerns. Their support was a cowardly capitulation that helped legitimize a dangerous nominee rather than standing up to Trump.

Baseless Cassidy rationaleLeans Left

Cassidy’s stated reasons for supporting Blanche do not hold up. His justification was baffling, indefensible, and appears to have been invented to excuse a bad vote.

Weaponized JusticeLeans Left

Confirming Blanche would enable Trump to politicize the Justice Department against his enemies. Supporting him is alarming because it normalizes turning federal law enforcement into a partisan weapon.

Anti-Murkowski attackLeans Right

Lisa Murkowski’s opposition to Blanche was an unprincipled attack on Trump’s nominee. She acted like a nominal Republican betraying her party rather than making a principled stand.