Sen. Cassidy backs Todd Blanche, likely securing attorney general confirmation
Blanche’s confirmation prospects shifted after Cassidy said he would support his nomination.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU), which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
FOX 13 News Utah is an established local television newsroom, and the article identifies its reporter. The text offers limited detail about its sourcing, so the score reflects the outlet’s regional-news profile rather than any specific correction record.
- Source type — Established local-news outlet with a regional reporting operation.
- Author attribution — A reporter is named.
- Editorial standards — The text reads as conventional reported news, but gives little detail about the outlet's standards.
- Transparency — The article identifies its publisher and author.
The article reports the senators’ stated positions and includes Murkowski’s explanation, along with the administration’s decision to drop the fund. It provides little independent context or direct response from Blanche, and much of the vote outlook is presented as a forecast.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents senators’ opposition and support, and includes Murkowski’s stated concern. It gives limited space to competing explanations or independent context, so the presentation is only moderately balanced.
- Source diversity — Several senators’ positions are reported, but the article relies mainly on political actors and includes only one direct quotation.
- Counterarguments presented — Opposition and support for confirmation are both reported.
- Omitted context — The article gives little independent context about Blanche or the fund's proposed operation.
- Loaded language — The article generally attributes evaluative claims rather than adopting them as its own.
The article uses mostly neutral language and attributes senators’ positions and concerns to them. It reports both support for and opposition to Blanche without clear partisan framing.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive and attributed, without strongly loaded wording.
- Source selection — Includes senators supporting and opposing confirmation, with a direct quotation from Murkowski.
- Framing — Frames Cassidy's support as likely consequential to the confirmation vote.
- Omission — Limited context and no direct response from Blanche are evident, but the omissions do not establish a clear partisan direction.
Republished
Republished from Scrippsnews. The relationship between the two publishers has not been determined.
Not rated.
Sen. Bill Cassidy said he would support confirming Todd Blanche as attorney general, likely giving Blanche enough Republican backing to advance. The administration also agreed to drop a proposed fund that had become a concern in the confirmation debate.
Cassidy said he would support Blanche’s confirmation after conversations with the acting attorney general, despite earlier concerns about the Justice Department under Blanche. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins had said they would oppose confirmation; with Cassidy’s support, the article says Blanche likely has enough votes to force Vice President JD Vance to break a tie.
The article describes opposition to a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” which critics said could compensate people who believed they were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department, including people who rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Murkowski said she lacked confidence Blanche would check the administration’s worst impulses. The Trump administration agreed to drop the fund, after which Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn said they would support Blanche.
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SWIPE →Attorney general nominee whose confirmation is at issue
Senator whose support could secure votes for Blanche’s confirmation
Cassidy's version of this story ↗
Senator who had announced opposition to Blanche’s confirmation
President who nominated Blanche
Senator whose rehabilitation is noted in the discussion of Republican votes
Senator opposing Blanche’s confirmation
Senator who said he would support Blanche after the fund was dropped
Vice President who could cast a tie-breaking vote
Senator who said he would support Blanche after the fund was dropped
Part of a bigger story
39 OUTLETSThe Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general after senators split over his nomination. Left-leaning outlets condemn Republican support for Blanche and stress concerns about Justice Department independence. Center outlets focus on the narrow vote, competing positions, and concerns and negotiations surrounding the confirmation. Right-leaning outlets cover the Republican split, with some coverage also highlighting Cassidy’s backing and Trump’s criticism of Murkowski after the vote.
- ARTICLES
- 46
- OUTLETS
- 39
- AVG CRED
- 75
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