Senate races through high-profile agenda

It’s Monday. Happy August! It’s officially the season for salt air and the rust on your door … and hopefully an August recess for *both* chambers of Congress?!

Cornyn, Tillis cut deal with DOJ, unlocking Blanche confirmation 

Blanche keeps Trump immunity deal in place 

Senators unlock funding deal through mid-December 

GOP sees Trump as growing political liability 

Longtime House Republican dies 

Iran denies today’s peace talks 

Ariana Grande to take a break from public life 

Taking care of business, dun-uh, dun-uh:

The Senate is hitting the ground running this week to finalize as much of its long to-do list before leaving for its five-week summer recess. There are two major developments: 

First, there’s a deal to unlock Todd Blanche’s confirmation. And second, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced it has reached a deal to keep the government funded past Sept. 30. 

🔷 Let’s start with Blanche: Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) cut a deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ), clearing the way for President Trump’s attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche, to advance on Tuesday.  

The deal: The DOJ agreed to permanently end the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund for Trump’s allies. Cornyn and Tillis would not agree to vote “yes” on Blanche’s nomination if this fund remained intact.  

What the deal does ~not~ include: Cornyn’s DOJ deal does nothing to stop the sweeping immunity offered to Trump and his family for past conduct. The Trumps are still given permanent immunity from any investigation or prosecution into them or their businesses. Though, the acting attorney general stressed this only applies “retroactively.” Read more 

So, when’s the vote?: Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) scheduled a panel vote for Tuesday at 9 a.m.  

🔷 OK, now the government funding deal: Senators on the Appropriations Committee agreed to a government funding deal on Sunday that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of September — right during the peak of the midterm elections. 

What’s in the deal?: “The bill would include ‘necessary adjustments’ for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; the Disaster Relief Fund; and........

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