Washington (AP) — The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote early Saturday, completing President Donald Trump's selection of the former personal attorney to lead the Justice Department. Blanche had served as acting attorney general since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April. His confirmation followed a contentious nomination process that highlighted concerns about his loyalty to Trump and a settlement that included a $1.8 billion fund and tax audit protections for Trump and his family. The vote was opposed by Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and by all Democratic senators. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, whose primary was defeated by a Trump-backed challenger, cast the decisive vote, saying Blanche's legal experience made him well suited to navigate the president's agenda. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, called the confirmation a serious mistake and warned that it could place the department on the wrong side of history. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee chairman, praised Blanche as the right choice. Blanche had previously pledged in writing to abandon the $1.8 billion compensation fund and the tax audit immunity provision after pressure from Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. He also oversaw the release of investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as deputy attorney general under Bondi. The Justice Department under Blanche has experienced significant personnel turnover, with thousands of employees leaving through firings, resignations or voluntary departures. The confirmation leaves uncertainty about how Blanche will balance Trump's policy goals with the department's traditional independence.

The 2026 primary election cycle continues in Florida, with Republican and Democratic candidates actively campaigning and new polling data shaping the contests. A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 4,505 U.S. adults showed Democrats with a 37% to 36% advantage over Republicans on economic stewardship, the first time Democrats have led on the issue in nearly a decade; President Trump’s approval rating fell to 35%; gasoline prices have risen more than 25% since the Iran war began, contributing to a decline in the Republican economic edge; a generic congressional ballot survey indicated registered voters favored Democrats 42% to 37%. A James Madison Institute poll found 64% of Florida voters aware of the state’s congressional redistricting, while 51% said the new maps would not change their voting intent; partisan views on the maps split along party lines. Campaign activity includes Byron Donalds’s release of an attack ad targeting David Jolly over transgender issues, which Jolly said omitted economic concerns and accused Donalds of receiving funding from Big Tech and other industries; Donalds announced a Get Out the Vote rally in Naples on August 12 at VFW Post 7721. In Florida’s 9th District GOP primary, Ben Butler holds a 14% plurality despite being outspent, with other candidates ranging from 11% to 14% and a large share of undecided voters; Jim Schwartzel and Catalina Lauf are locked in a tight race for the Republican nomination in Donalds’s former district, with Schwartzel leading 19.1% to 18.9%; Belinda Keiser leads the Republican primary in Florida’s 22nd District with 13.6% support; Oliver Gilbert’s campaign said tech and crypto billionaires aligned with Trump are financing over 300 television ads through Protect Progress, a PAC linked to Fairshake; Jared Moskowitz holds an 11‑to‑1 cash advantage over Oliver Larkin in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 25th District; Friends of Jennifer Winkler’s campaign aired an ad criticizing Kelly Ann Walker over developer contributions in the Florida House District 74 Republican primary. The newsletter also reported a LEGO Fan Expo at the Florida State Fairgrounds beginning at 10 a.m., and a food trailer called The Right Way Breakfast Co. in Tallahassee that serves homemade bagels and breakfast sandwiches. The primary election is scheduled for August 30, with candidates preparing for the November general election.

In Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County Schools and Pasco County Schools are revising classroom screen time policies for early elementary grades. The changes follow remote learning during the pandemic that increased students’ use of digital devices and expanded the number of educational platforms used in daily instruction. Under the new policy, Hillsborough will remove i‑Ready, Amira and Imagine Learning from daily instruction in kindergarten through second grade, replacing them with printed books, handwriting practice, classroom discussion and other physical materials. Students in grades three through five will continue to use digital programs, but only for 30 to 45 minutes per week per platform, and computers will remain available for testing and other teacher‑determined activities. Pasco County, led by Superintendent John Legg, has adopted a guidance titled “Learning First: Limited Screens, Maximum Learning,” which limits kindergarten and first‑grade students to roughly 30 minutes of computer use per day and retains devices for diagnostic testing, assistive technology and research. Both districts describe the shift as aligning instruction with developmental needs rather than imposing a technology restriction. Florida’s Department of Education has not set statewide limits on classroom screen time, and recent updates to its Digital Classrooms policy provide no age‑based expectations or measurable standards. Other countries, such as Sweden and Denmark, have introduced similar restrictions in response to assessment results and concerns about distraction, though they retain digital tools for specific instructional purposes. The districts plan to evaluate the impact of the policy at the end of the school year, reporting on the amount of time spent on books and handwriting, software costs and any observable changes in student work, while Florida’s Education Commissioner Henry Mack may use similar data in future statewide updates.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she will freeze her eggs and posted the process on Instagram. The 36-year-old Democrat described the procedure as a way to gain control over her reproductive timeline. She said she has been saving for the treatment and noted limited information for women considering similar steps. Ocasio-Cortez filmed herself administering injections in a dressing room before a scheduled ABC interview on Sunday, showing syringes and alcohol wipes used in the regimen, which typically lasts about ten days. She said she would not broadcast the injections live and joked about starting an ASMR channel. In the interview she linked the decision to the current administration’s restrictions on reproductive care, emphasizing the need for leaders to discuss these processes and normalize them for working women. Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, praised Ocasio-Cortez’s honesty on X. Democratic strategist Xochitl Hinojosa responded, noting the rarity of public discussion about egg freezing and thanking Ocasio-Cortez for her bravery.

Democrat Eric Yonce, a small‑business owner from Ormond Beach, is one of 11 candidates running to unseat Republican Rep. Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th congressional district, a seat rated R+14 by the Cook Political Report. Fine has served 16 months and has drawn criticism for inflammatory remarks about Muslims, Palestinians and other groups. Four Republicans — Manuel Asensio, Aaron Baker, Dan Bilzerian and Charles Gambaro — have filed primary challenges. Yonce is the best‑funded Democrat, facing fellow Democrats Robert Cooper, Steve Morgan and Ronnie Murchinson‑Rivera in the primary. Libertarian Andrew Parrott, write‑in Alec Pavlik and no‑party candidate Michael Gist have also qualified. The district stretches from south of St. Augustine to Daytona and inland to Palatka, DeLand and the outskirts of Ocala.

Yonce said Fine is out of touch with the district and would use the office for personal gain rather than serve all constituents. His top priorities include ending the influence of money in politics, bringing tax dollars home, and regulating data centers and artificial intelligence with environmental and worker protections. He would introduce a national rent stabilization bill that caps rent increases for apartments, mobile home lots and condominium assessments, and a Human Sovereignty Act that protects bodily autonomy, healthcare decisions, privacy and AI oversight. He argues that rising living costs, overdevelopment, flooding, sea‑level rise and a shortage of affordable housing are the district’s biggest challenges. Rural areas need improved transportation and access to services, and the rapid expansion of data centers must not harm the environment or local communities.

On economic issues, Yonce says Congress should prioritize families over corporate interests, oppose reckless tariffs, tackle housing affordability, lower healthcare and prescription drug costs, protect workers’ rights, expand the Child Tax Credit and make childcare more affordable. He also calls for measures against corporate price gouging and greater competition in concentrated industries. Regarding AI, he said the technology will not create more jobs in the near term and urged investments in education, workforce retraining, apprenticeships and lifelong learning, as well as transparency, anti‑discrimination safeguards and human oversight for decisions affecting employment, health, housing or legal rights.

Yonce noted that Americans are frustrated with high prices and blame both parties for inflation. He said a healthcare system that puts patients before profits, lower drug costs, pricing transparency and stronger antitrust enforcement are needed. He supports moving toward a not‑for‑profit healthcare model. To counter China’s influence, he advocated strengthening domestic manufacturing, investing in workers, rebuilding the industrial base and securing critical supply chains. He said a strong America is defined by caring for its people and using its strength wisely. On the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, he said the United States should pursue diplomatic solutions, protect national security, avoid endless wars and prevent nuclear escalation. He opposes continued military aid to Israel unless it complies with international humanitarian law and allows independent investigations into alleged violations. He said he would have voted for year‑round daylight saving time and argued that the Democratic Party must move beyond labels and focus on people’s basic needs, such as affordable healthcare, responsible tax use and government protection of rights regardless of party. The primary election will determine the Democratic nominee, who must contend with the district’s strong Republican leaning.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, 83, has prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones and causes him pain, his son Hunter Biden said in a BBC interview broadcast Friday. Biden was the oldest man to serve as president and his health has drawn attention since he left office. He disclosed the diagnosis in May of the previous year, less than four months after leaving the White House. Hunter Biden said the condition has been difficult for the family and noted that his father continues to speak publicly about issues he cares about. He added that Biden remains active and plans to publish a memoir titled "Promise Me, America" after the mid-term elections. The impact of the disease on his public role has not been specified.