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Trump AG Pick Hit by Bombshell Exposé on Eve of Confirmation Hearing Todd Blanche’s emails show he isn’t the calming presence in the administration that his supporters claim he is. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been personally leading President Donald Trump’s revenge campaign against his perceived enemies, according to a bombshell new report released in the lead-up to his Senate confirmation hearing. Supporters of Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s defense attorney, claim he has served as an important check on retribution crusades launched by the president’s most provocative attack dogs, including the DOJ’s Ed Martin and acting director of national intelligence Bill Pulte. But just a day before Blanche’s confirmation hearing to serve as Trump’s permanent attorney general, The New York Times revealed that rather than being a calming influence on the administration, Blanche has been spearheading the president’s retribution effort within the DOJ. That work began last year, when he served as his predecessor Pam Bondi’s top deputy, and continued after Bondi’s ousting in April, according to emails obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight and shared with the Times. In particular, Blanche has been tasked with enacting Trump’s executive order purporting to end the “weaponization” of the U.S. government, part of a major drive to punish members of prior administrations who tried to hold Trump legally accountable. In May 2025, Blanche diverted top lawyers from his office to the DOJ “anti-weaponization” group responsible for investigating Trump’s enemies, giving him tight control over the cases, the emails reveal. One of Blanche’s aides was responsible for digging into the actions of special counsel Jack Smith, who prosecuted Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents and attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss. Another longtime Blanche aide was assigned to investigate Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who secured convictions against Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records over his payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. A third Blanche aide led a team focused solely on Tina Peters, the Colorado elections clerk who served four years out of a nine-year sentence for violating state election laws in a bid to uncover “proof” of nonexistent fraud during the 2020 election. Blanche also allowed Martin to personally oversee investigations into two of Trump’s pet causes: the prosecutions of more than 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters—some of whom Martin had represented in court—and a probe into former President Joe Biden’s autopen use. But in May, Blanche removed Martin from his role with the anti-weaponization group. He had been concerned all along that Martin wasn’t experienced or effective enough to do the job, the emails—which were handed over under the Freedom of Information Act—reveal. Since then, the anti-weaponization group has ramped up its investigations and reports, even as regional U.S. attorneys’ offices have begun trying to build a massive yet flimsy conspiracy case against Biden and other Trump adversaries, the Times reported. In the meantime, Blanche has also been busy securing an indictment against Trump foe and former FBI director James Comey after he posted a photo of seashells that appeared to spell “86 47” on the beach. In slang, the number 86 can mean tossing something out or getting rid of it; it’s commonly used in restaurant kitchens to mean something was removed from the menu. Critics of Comey’s post took it to mean he thinks the president should be killed, given that he is the 47th president. Blanche also signed off on a $1.77 billion taxpayer slush fund to compensate Jan. 6 rioters and agreed to give the Trump family immunity from tax investigations. The slush fund was abandoned following political and legal challenges, and the immunity agreement has been blocked in court. Last week, a group of 1,205 Justice Department alums urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Blanche’s nomination, writing that “corruption and abuses… have defined” his tenure, and that he has “degraded” the DOJ’s apolitical career workforce. The Daily Beast has reached out to the DOJ for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-ag-pick-todd-blanche-hit-by-bombshell-expose-on-eve-of-confirmation-hearing/?

Man fleeing immigration officers in Florida is struck and killed by tractor trailer, police say A man running from an encounter with immigration and other federal agents in Florida was struck and killed by a tractor trailer on Tuesday, authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/man-killed-semi-truck-ice-florida-8e65b1ca2eab051392afc316972c92eb?

Darline Graham, sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, has been sworn in to finish his term WASHINGTON (AP) — Darline Graham, the sister of the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, was sworn in to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon — filling the seat just three days after her brother’s death. https://apnews.com/article/lindsey-graham-death-sister-darline-senate-87bce5649c07e03129cf535feb97873a?

🤖 New York is becoming the first state to impose a statewide data center moratorium amid backlash against their construction, Axios' Maria Curi reports. Go deeper.

🤑 Lower energy prices led to inflation's biggest monthly drop since April 2020 — but this latest report doesn't account for seesawing oil prices as the Iran war reignites. More from Emily Peck.

🧠 Experimental drug shows Alzheimer's promise Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios An experimental drug from Biogen could help slow early Alzheimer's disease by lowering levels of a brain protein called "tau," researchers reported today. Past attempts to develop drugs targeting the protein have failed, AP reports. Two existing Alzheimer's drugs try to clear the buildup of the better-known amyloid protein. 📉 The new findings suggest Biogen's diranersen did more than lower tau levels. The study of about 400 people found signs that it also slowed cognitive decline — in one small subset, enough to be comparable to amyloid therapy. 💊 What's next: Biogen is planning a larger study to try to prove the drug's benefits. Reality check: Dr. Reisa Sperling of Mass General Brigham, who wasn't involved in the study, cautioned that "this is early days." But Sperling tells AP that it could "reinvigorate interest and investment in lots of tau mechanisms, and the field needs that." Go deeper.

Trump walks back Hormuz fee Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images President Trump today walked back his plan to collect a 20% toll from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Instead, Trump said, Gulf states would make major investments in the U.S. 🤳 Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States." Trump later told reporters that he received calls from "kings and emirs" asking him not to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. The president said: "I don't think anybody should charge a fee for the strait or any other strait in the world." "I don't like the concept of a fee, but at the same time it is not fair that we are protecting this strait for the entire world ... and we are not somehow compensated." 💰 Reality check: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain had already committed to investing more than $2 trillion in the U.S. over the next several years — even before the war with Iran. Trump said in his post that the Gulf countries will make "new Investments" that "will make that Number even larger." ⚓️ Trump made his comments several hours before a U.S. naval blockade on Iran comes into effect, and amid exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz for the fourth day in a row. Trump wrote: "The Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL Ship traffic except for Iran — and that is because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION." Go deeper.

Trump administration orders ICE to suspend most vehicle stops after 2 deadly shootings BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Trump administration officials told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to suspend most vehicle stops after two deadly shootings within a week, people familiar with the decision said Tuesday. https://apnews.com/article/maine-ice-shooting-man-killed-73681fcf59fceb8b43b198ccaec554d3? 🏞️ President Trump is cutting nearly 3 million acres from Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments, Axios Salt Lake City's Erin Alberty reports. Go deeper.

US reimposes its blockade on Iran after Tehran’s attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military early Wednesday reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports over Tehran’s attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, sparking new strikes on nations hosting American forces as an interim deal to end the war further unraveled. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-14-2026-abd060c55feea216625689e57d8f76be?

👋 Good morning! France vs. Spain. 3pm ET. Cannot wait. In today's edition: World Cup X-factors, Walker wins the Derby, where the semifinalists play their club ball, Bryce's journey from villain to legend, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...     ⚽️ X-FACTORS OUT OF THE SHADOWS, INTO THE SPOTLIGHT (Dillon Minshall/Yahoo Sports) Soccer's biggest stars have shined brightest at the World Cup, but enough ink has been spilled on Messi, Mbappé, Kane, and Bellingham (for now). While nobody would be surprised if any of those players decided this week's semifinals — kicking off today with France vs. Spain — it's just as likely that less accomplished players will steal the spotlight. Meet our X-factors: Here's one player on each of the four semifinalists who is capable of flipping an outcome and capturing eternal glory. 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal Before the tournament began, many would have expected the Barcelona wunderkind to rank among its headliners given his electric introduction at Euro 2024. It hasn't happened yet, with just one goal and no assists through six matches, but one well-timed strike today against Les Bleus would entirely rewrite the prevailing narrative. Turning tide: Yamal entered the World Cup slowed by injury, but his Player of the Match performance in Spain's quarterfinal victory over Belgium indicates he may be ready to erupt. As he continues playing his way into form, alarm bells will be ringing for the French defense, and what better way to celebrate his birthday — he turned 19 yesterday — than with a goal that sends his country to the World Cup Final? 🇫🇷 Michael Olise Michael Olise is arguably the best player at this tournament without a goal, but the quiet Frenchman's impact has been undeniable. "He saves his words," Mbappé said of his teammate. "His feet do the talking for him." Star wingman: Though Olise's 17 shots have proven fruitless — the most by any player at this World Cup without scoring — the Bayern Munich winger has left his mark with a tournament-leading five assists. And given their scoring prowess, if Olise keeps putting Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a position to find the net, France will be incredibly tough to beat. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dan Burn The 6-foot-7 defender has registered just 24 minutes of playing time during the World Cup, but that admittedly tiny sample belies how critical Burn is to England's success. The Three Lions' not-so-secret weapon is deployed late in games to protect leads and patrol the air around the box, closing out victories like he's soccer's version of Mariano Rivera. Stat stuffer: In those 24 minutes, the high-flying Englishman has registered two blocks and nine clearances, seven of those headed. His six clearances against Mexico were the most on record by a player subbed on in the 75th minute or later of a World Cup match. And if those numbers don't convey the type of impact he can have, perhaps these highlights will. 🇦🇷 Emiliano Martínez In his Argentine career, goalkeeper Emi Martínez has allowed goals on just 12 of the 24 penalty shots he's faced, a record worthy of national immortality. It's also the stuff of nightmares for Argentina's next opponent, as England's history is riddled with high-profile penalty disasters, and the prospect of facing Martínez in a shootout is enough to evoke a cold sweat at teatime. Martínez, on the other hand, would relish nothing more, making him all the more terrifying. Psychological edge: While Martínez's physical abilities are important, his edge over the lonely attackers standing at the penalty spot is psychological. Among his tactics in mental warfare: tossing the ball away, talking to the official to delay kicks, standing on the spot, celebrating wildly, and vocalizing the opposition's nervous demeanor. FIFA implemented a code of conduct for goalkeepers after the 2022 World Cup, but we doubt it will deter "Dibu's" antics. Further reading: After 100 matches, the semifinals belong to soccer's heavyweights (Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports)   📸 SNAPSHOTS THROUGH THE LENS (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) 🇺🇸 Philadelphia — Jordan Walker pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Home Run Derby history on Monday night, beating hometown hero Kyle Schwarber in an electric final round to become the first Cardinal ever to win the Derby. The performance earned him $1 million, more than the 24-year-old breakout star's entire 2026 salary ($799,400). How it happened: Schwarber, playing in front of a Philly crowd that mercilessly booed everyone other than him and teammate Bryce Harper, went first and smacked 11 homers. Walker had just 6 HR with three swings left, but then he put on a clutch performance for the ages, homering on his final six swings — including four on the do-or-die final swing — to capture the crown. Spieth during Monday's practice round. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Southport, England — The 154th Open Championship is almost here, with golfers having arrived for the season's final major at Royal Birkdale Golf Club — the site of Jordan Spieth's greatest triumph. It's been a while: Spieth won his third major when he was just 23 all the way back in 2017, the last time The Open came to Royal Birkdale. But he's won just two more times since then, and not at all since 2022. Despite that fallow period, he remains optimistic: "Knowing me, when the lid pops off the hole, I feel like I can go on a run about as hot as anybody can run," he said on Monday. "So I'm just waiting for that opportunity." (Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images) 🇺🇸 Dallas, Texas — You think you like the World Cup? Meet Sherjeel Ahmed, an English superfan who's been to 16 matches in 12 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has accumulated jerseys from all 48 teams. (No, you're not miscounting — he lost four during his travels.) Not done yet: You don't really think he'd come all this way without seeing it through, right? He's got tickets to both semifinals and the final, where if he's lucky he'll be able to witness his Three Lions bring it home.   ⚽️ CHART DU JOUR WORLD CUP SEMIFINALISTS BY CLUB 20 different clubs have at least two players still competing in the World Cup. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) As the semifinals kick off today, just 104 players remain in the World Cup. But where do they ply their trade when not representing France, Spain, England and Argentina on the sport's biggest stage? League-by-league breakdown: La Liga boasts the two most well-represented clubs* while the Premier League has the most total players — perhaps not surprising given those are universally recognized as the two best leagues in the world. All in, they account for 70 of those 104 players (67%), with the other 34 spread across nine additional leagues. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League (41 players): Arsenal (8), Manchester City (6), Aston Villa (5), Chelsea (5), Crystal Palace (4), Tottenham (3), Newcastle United (2), Manchester United (2), Liverpool (2), Bournemouth, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Brentford 🇪🇸 La Liga (29): Barcelona (10), Atlético Madrid (9), Real Madrid (3), Athletic Bilbao (3), Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Celta Vigo 🇫🇷 Ligue 1 (13): Paris Saint-Germain (6), Marseille (2), Lyon, Strasbourg, Rennes, Lens, Monaco 🇩🇪 Bundesliga (6): Bayern Munich (3), Bayer Leverkusen (3) 🇮🇹 Serie A (6): AC Milan (2), Inter Milan (2), Como, Roma 🇺🇸 MLS (2): Inter Miami (2) 🇦🇷 Primera División (2): River Plate, Boca Juniors 🇸🇦 Saudi Pro League (2): Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli 🇵🇹 Primeira Liga (1): Benfica 🇹🇷 Süper Lig (1): Fenerbahçe 🇧🇷 Brasileirão (1): Palmeiras Wild stat: Despite 21 of England's 26 players hailing from the Premier League, not a single one of them has scored yet in this tournament as all of the Three Lions' goals have come from Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (6), Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham (6) and Marcus Rashford (1), who was on loan from Manchester United to Barcelona last season. *Of note: This data is based on players' clubs at the start of the World Cup. Some have switched teams in the past month, but (obviously) have yet to appear for that new club.   ⚾️ BASEBALL LIFER BRYCE HARPER'S JOURNEY FROM VILLAIN TO LEGEND (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports) Bryce Harper, the face of the franchise hosting this week's All-Star festivities, has (literally) achieved legend status, earning his way into tonight's exhibition via the commissioner's "Legend Pick." It's a decision that says something about Harper's place in the game: respected, venerated, secure. But that wasn't always the case. Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports: For years, Harper was a villain. He arrived in pro ball ludicrously famous — too famous, some thought, for a teenager who hadn't proven anything. Veterans bristled at his unbridled confidence, laid bare on that Sports Illustrated cover that dubbed him "Baseball's LeBron." Parts of the establishment sought to tear him down. An opposing minor-league team once offered fans 20% off coupons to the local IHOP if Harper struck out. In a 2010 Baseball Prospectus article, one front office official described the yet-to-be-drafted, 17-year-old Harper as "just a bad, bad guy." Few athletes have ever carried such weighty expectations, from such a young age, for such a long time. LeBron James, Serena Williams and Tiger Woods all entered the limelight before they could vote, but they did so well before the ubiquity of social media. Harper's early fame was altogether different, a direct product of an internet we didn't yet understand. Grainy videos of him clocking 500-foot moon shots in big-league yards made him an icon for a younger generation of baseball fans. He was, in many ways, the first American sports phenom of the digital age. Harper's talent made him famous, but his attitude — and the same digital forces that built his fame — also made him a target. "I think it just came with how forced down everyone's throat he was," former big leaguer Tom Koehler once said of Harper's negative reputation in MLB during his first few seasons. "It was not his fault, but he was hitting home runs off Nolan Ryan in commercials." And Harper didn't make it any easier for himself, blowing kisses, scraping his cleats across opposing teams' logos, wearing eye black like war paint, crashing into walls at full speed, carrying himself like he owned the sport. He refused to adhere to expectations of what he should be or how he should play. He was misunderstood, unfairly maligned and incredibly provocative, all at once.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JULY 14 (Josh Heim/Yahoo Sports) ⚽️ France vs. Spain The first World Cup semifinal is this afternoon in Dallas (3pm ET, Fox), where Les Bleus and La Roja square off for a spot in the final. Brick walls: Goals will be at a premium in today's matchup, as Spain have conceded just one all tournament and France have conceded two. Though if any team can break through Spain's nearly impenetrable defense it's France, whose duo of Kylian Mbappé (8 goals) and Ousmane Dembélé (5) have combined for more goals than all but two entire teams. ⚾️ MLB All-Star Game The 96th Midsummer Classic is tonight at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park (8pm, Fox), where the National League will look to win two in a row for the first time since 2012. Here are the starting lineups, with Mike Trout leading off for the AL and Kyle Schwarber leading off for the NL. Fun fact: Dylan Cease is the first Blue Jays pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2009, and Cristopher Sánchez is the first Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game since… Roy Halladay in 2011. Doc, man. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Mystics at Tempo (7pm, NBA) … Toronto's Marina Mabrey has as many 30-point performances in her last seven games (4) as she did in her first seven seasons combined. Her 21.6 ppg ranks third in the league. 🚴 Tour de France: Stage 10 (7am, Peacock) … Tadej Pogačar holds a 2 minute, 42 second lead over Jonas Vingegaard as the race nears its halfway point. 🏀 NBA Summer League: Grizzlies vs. Warriors (7pm, ESPN) … No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer (Memphis) vs. No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State). Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   ⚾ ALL-STARS MLB TRIVIA The 2025 NL All-Stars celebrate their victory. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Question: Can you name the four MLB players who've made at least 20 career appearances on an All-Star roster? Hint: They all benefited from the four seasons (1959-62) in which two All-Star Games were held. Answer at the bottom.   ⚽️ WHO YA GOT? WORLD CUP: MAKE YOUR PICKS! The semifinals in the world's biggest soccer tournament begin today! Pick your winners for both games in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. How to play: Make your picks, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans.   Trivia answer: Hank Aaron (25 appearances), Willie Mays (24), Stan Musial (24), Mickey Mantle (20)

Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleads guilty in Quebec sex assault case MONTREAL (AP) — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleaded guilty Monday to sexual assault and forcible confinement in Quebec, the latest conviction in the downfall of the founder of the once-global Nygard International clothing company. Nygard also faces U.S. racketeering and sex trafficking charges. https://apnews.com/article/nygard-fashion-sexual-assault-quebec-fashion-daa22b75ba3a08f0f8aa7271debce404?

Man, 74, becomes oldest inmate executed in Florida in state’s 10th lethal injection this year STARKE, Fla. (AP) — Florida put to death one of its oldest prisoners in its history on Tuesday, a 74-year-old convicted murderer who was one of three older inmates scheduled for execution within the span of a month in the nation’s busiest death penalty state. https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-dennis-sochor-68549202a2f747dde708bbdcd89a7c69?

FACT FOCUS: A look at US and Iranian claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz A focal point of the Iran war is increasingly about who controls the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow, elbow-shaped waterway that for decades was a relatively safe and reliable transit route for Middle East oil and natural gas supplies. https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-strait-of-hormuz-8df557699c900b29fb33172e6da7f3e9?

No relief from the heat as many US cities will see record overnight temperatures Another week of blistering heat will bring even more health risks in the coming days, as overnight temperatures won’t provide much relief. https://apnews.com/article/heat-dome-record-temperatures-fb7664f71743f71beca4ce7447562ca2?

12 states challenge Paramount’s takeover of Warner, say merger would ‘extinguish competition’ The states sued to block Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday, arguing that the $81 billion merger would lead to fewer choices for consumers across the U.S. Read more. Why this matters: A Paramount-Warner combo would bring together two of Hollywood’s last five legacy studios. In Monday’s complaint, the states said such a tie-up would “inflict substantial harm” on movie theatres and basic cable distributors. Paramount said Monday’s lawsuit “distorts settled antitrust law” and maintained that its merger would instead create a “stronger competitor against dominant streaming and technology platforms who have harmed the market for theatrical exhibition and jobs in the entertainment industry.” Questions of political influence have piled up — with criticism falling largely along party lines in Washington. No Republicans signed on to the states’ case on Monday. Several attorneys general joining Monday’s lawsuit took aim at the Justice Department’s decision to not challenge the deal — pointing in particular to President Donald Trump’s close relationship with the billionaire family of Paramount CEO David Ellison. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Subpoenas issued to NY Times reporters seen as ‘unprecedented’ threat to press freedom Hundreds of economists say ‘we must act now’ on AI’s economic impact and job displacement risks

Maine killing is at least the ninth death in US immigration sweeps An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a Maine motorist on Monday, marking at least the ninth death since the start of the Trump administration’s mass deportations campaign. Read more. What to know: Immigrant rights groups identified the man who was killed in Biddeford as a 26-year-old native of Colombia. The shooting drew immediate criticism from immigrant rights groups and some Democrats, who called for an independent investigation. The shooting came less than a week after a federal immigration officer fatally shot a Houston man after an altercation with agents while he was driving to work. The Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, said in a post on X about the Maine shooting that agents were surveilling an address for a person with a final order of removal from the country. When ICE tried to stop a vehicle driven by someone coming from that address, the “vehicle attempted to flee the scene and, fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon,” the department said. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ ICE officer who fatally shot driver in Maine was ‘fearing for public safety,’ agency says WATCH: Protesters hold walking vigil Feds turn over evidence in Renee Good and Alex Pretti killings to Minnesota after months of delay

Judge says Trump IRS lawsuit was filed for ‘improper purpose,’ refers lawyer for possible discipline U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams accused President Donald Trump and his lawyers in a scathing ruling of having manipulated the court system when he sued a federal agency under his control, bypassing a requirement that parties in a lawsuit must have adverse interests. Read more. Why this matters: The judge stopped short of explicitly voiding the deal shielding Trump from tax scrutiny but said the government cannot claim in official proceedings that the agreement was the result of a legitimate legal process. Though the practical impacts of the ruling may be limited since the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed months ago and the administration has already abandoned the $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that came out of it, the order nonetheless amounts to a scathing rebuke and tees up a politically uncomfortable line of questioning for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as he faces the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ FACT FOCUS: Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death spurs false claims Sister Darline Graham Nordone will serve remainder of his term Questions linger about aging politicians and health transparency Aortic tear blamed in Graham’s sudden death is a fast-killing emergency What to know about Trump’s order shrinking the size of 2 national monuments in Utah Abortion rights are on the ballot in 4 states. Here’s what to know Supreme Court justices to testify before Congress on increasing security funding in rare appearance

🥃 1 fun thing: Washington's $1,000 whiskey Photo: Mount Vernon The reconstructed distillery at George Washington's Mount Vernon is selling limited-edition whiskeys made with 18th-century methods for America's 250th, Axios D.C.'s Anna Spiegel writes. It costs $1,000 and is available for purchase at Mount Vernon. Keep reading …

💥 U.S. drone boat debut Image: CENTCOM Axios Future of Defense author Colin Demarest writes: The U.S. this week used a trio of drone boats to attack an Iranian pier near the Strait of Hormuz, where at least one small submarine was stationed. Why it matters: It's a first-of-its-kind operation, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military action across the greater Middle East. Dramatic footage shared by CENTCOM shows three Saronic-made Corsair boats zipping toward the facilities and exploding at the water's edge, tossing fire and smoke into the sky.

🌉 Stat du jour: AI housing takeover Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios OpenAI and Anthropic employees could theoretically buy nearly a third of the San Francisco metro's homes if both companies go public at expected valuations, Axios San Francisco's Nadia Lopez writes from a new Redfin analysis. San Francisco's AI-driven real estate frenzy has become so intense that some home sellers say they'll consider accepting pre-IPO stock as part of the purchase price. Keep reading.

🌡️ Mapped: Heat wave repeat Data: GFS, NCEI. (Average highs calculated from 1991-2020 data.) Map: Erin Davis/Axios Another heat wave is bringing dangerously high temperatures from the Great Plains to the Northeast early this week, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes. NOAA forecasters expect record-breaking highs of 95° to 105° across the northern Plains, Midwest and Northeast through midweek. Over 128 million Americans are under a heat warning, watch or advisory.

📉 New data: America's trust tanks Data: Gallup. Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios America's confidence in 14 of its core institutions is at or near all-time lows, Axios' Avery Lotz writes from Gallup polling out this morning. This year, 27% expressed "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in those institutions. That's just one point higher than the all-time low in 2023. Zoom in: 27% expressed confidence in the presidency — well down from its 2002 high of 58%. Congress, at 9%, is up 2 points from its rock-bottom ratings in 2014 and 2022. Explore the data … Keep reading.

🛢️ The push to bypass Hormuz Data: Global Energy Monitor, Axios research. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios Oil's top players are building their way around the Strait of Hormuz instead of waiting for the fight to end, Axios' Emily Peck writes. Why it matters: Countries and companies are racing to move oil and gas out of the region without passing through the strait, the world's most important — and vulnerable — energy chokepoint. 🔭 Zoom in: Goldman Sachs analysts identified seven pipeline and infrastructure projects (under construction, planned or deemed feasible) that would allow oil to bypass the strait entirely. The analysts found that new pipelines under construction or in the works could carry enough oil to replace more than 45% of what Gulf producers used to ship through the strait by the end of next year. By the end of 2028, the number rises to more than 60%. Between the lines: These projects could come together fast. Goldman found that similar pipelines have historically taken a median of 2½ years to build — and even quicker when built in response to a supply crisis. ps:Something that should've and could've been done years ago!!!!!

Google DeepMind CEO wants U.S.-led global AI watchdog Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO, is calling on the U.S. to establish an AI watchdog with the power to screen the world's most advanced models — and coordinate an industry-wide slowdown if dangers mount. Hassabis, the Nobel laureate behind Gemini, lays out the plan in a personal manifesto published this morning, "A Framework for Frontier AI and the Dawning of a New Age." Why it matters: Hassabis tells me in an exclusive interview that the time has come for a more "systematic" approach to AI regulation — funded by the industry, staffed by world-class technical experts, and answerable to the U.S. government. Today's AI-driven cyber risks are "warning shots," Hassabis tells me from his London base. Within 18 months, he says, those capabilities — plus far graver biological and nuclear threats — could live inside open-source models beyond any government's control. Hassabis emphasized that risks will come from the major labs' more powerful future proprietary models, not just open-source models. "What we collectively do now," he writes in his manifesto, "will determine how the next phase of civilization unfolds." 🔬 Behind the scenes: Hassabis has spent months quietly building support for the plan, briefing the Trump administration, fellow lab leaders and European officials before going public. "The noises I've been hearing are very positive," he says of his talks with the administration, which had embraced a laissez-faire approach to AI regulation before Mythos. Hassabis, a scientist who commands rare respect across AI's warring camps, says the other major lab leaders agree at a high level: "This is where the industry needs to go." His timeline is aggressive. "Months," Hassabis says, ideally with the new body operational "before year-end." How it works: Hassabis is proposing an AI standards body modeled on FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), the private, industry-funded watchdog that polices Wall Street under SEC oversight, Axios' Zachary Basu and Madison Mills write. Frontier labs would initially share their models with the body voluntarily, up to 30 days before release, for safety testing that probes dangerous cyber, biological and "deception" capabilities. Once the testing regime proves "effective and robust," Hassabis writes, formalization "could quickly follow." That means frontier models would be required to pass before deploying in the U.S. Hassabis envisions a majority-independent board stacked with Turing Award winners and other credentialed experts, alongside industry, government and open-source representatives. 🤖 The intrigue: The rules would apply to all frontier-class models, "no matter their country of origin or whether they are open or closed" — with the qualifying benchmarks regularly updated as capabilities evolve. Hassabis predicts the "frontier" designation would carry cachet: Being tested means you matter. "I think that's a pretty nice, prestige kind of asset to have," he says. The big picture: The Trump administration's improvised crackdown on Anthropic's Mythos and Fable models last month was "a bit of a wake-up call," Hassabis says — proof Washington needs something sturdier than ad hoc directives. Anthropic saw its most powerful models frozen overnight by an export-control order, then spent 2½ weeks negotiating their release with no established rules, protocols or playbook. OpenAI, hoping to avoid the same fate, agreed to restrict GPT-5.6 to government-vetted partners at launch. It was released publicly last week after negotiations and testing with the Commerce Department. The bottom line: Hassabis believes AGI — a system with all the cognitive powers of the human brain — is "probably only a few short years away," and that we're standing in "the foothills of the singularity." "We've essentially found a way to make sand think," he writes. "It's miraculous." Read the post …