On his first day as attorney general, Todd Blanche’s DOJ moved to expand executive privilege protections for Trump and his advisers ahead of potential Democratic investigations.
Just hours after Todd Blanche was sworn in as Attorney General, the DOJ issued a new memo that President Trump can assert executive privilege over conversations with private advisers. MS NOW Senior Legal Reporter Lisa Rubin, New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker and former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance join Alicia Menendez to explain more.
Executive privilege can shield President Trump's communications with "private advisers" outside of the government, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel concluded Monday. Why it matters: Democrats have been planning to bypass expected White House stonewalling by subpoenaing companies, colleges and private citizens if they win enough seats in November. The new opinion could create a new hurdle for Democrats should they retake Congress. - "It really could be a pretty significant weapon" for the administration "to deflect a lot of that congressional investigation of private parties," says Jonathan Shaub, a University of Kentucky law professor and former OLC attorney. The fine print: "The need for presidential confidentiality…
Executive privilege can shield President Trump's communications with "private advisers" outside of the government, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel concluded Monday. Why it matters: Democrats have been planning to bypass expected White House stonewalling by subpoenaing companies, colleges and private citizens if they win enough seats in November. The new opinion could create a new hurdle for Democrats should they retake Congress. - "It really could be a pretty significant weapon" for the administration "to deflect a lot of that congressional investigation of private parties," says Jonathan Shaub, a University of Kentucky law professor and former OLC attorney. The fine print: "The need for presidential confidentiality…Open
White House staff secretary Will Scharf will take over as White House counsel on Sept. 1, President Trump announced Sunday. Why it matters: Scharf begins his job just two months before the midterms, when a possible Democratic House could put him at the center of fights over subpoenas, testimony and executive privilege. The big picture: Scharf is the latest of Trump's former personal lawyers to land a powerful legal job in the administration. - Todd Blanche, another former Trump lawyer, was confirmed as attorney general Saturday. - D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's Supreme Court immunity case, has served as solicitor general since 2025. - Scharf was on Trump's legal team in the same case. State of play: Scharf replaces White House…
White House staff secretary Will Scharf will take over as White House counsel on Sept. 1, President Trump announced Sunday. Why it matters: Scharf begins his job just two months before the midterms, when a possible Democratic House could put him at the center of fights over subpoenas, testimony and executive privilege. The big picture: Scharf is the latest of Trump's former personal lawyers to land a powerful legal job in the administration. - Todd Blanche, another former Trump lawyer, was confirmed as attorney general Saturday. - D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's Supreme Court immunity case, has served as solicitor general since 2025. - Scharf was on Trump's legal team in the same case. State of play: Scharf replaces White House…Open
Altman called that position "compelling" and issued the temporary stay.
Former President Biden’s new lawsuit is raising a key question: Whether a former president’s “private conversations” should stay protected. The Hill's Rema Rahman breaks down President Trump’s notably measured response and how it hints at bigger stakes. #biden #joebiden #trump #presidenttrump #privacy #president #potus #lawsuit #thegavel
Florida bans lawmakers from intentionally creating congressional seats to give their party an advantage. But Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly has launched a three-tiered power play to evade the ban — and create more GOP-friendly seats — in November. Why it matters: Partisan control of Congress could hinge on how — or whether — Florida legislators approve DeSantis' new map of U.S. House districts in a special session next Tuesday. - DeSantis called lawmakers to Tallahassee in light of the nationwide redistricting battle that began when President Trump pressured Republican-led states to create more GOP-leaning House seats. - After Virginia Democrats got voter approval for a plan to create up to four more Democrat-leaning districts this…
Florida bans lawmakers from intentionally creating congressional seats to give their party an advantage. But Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly has launched a three-tiered power play to evade the ban — and create more GOP-friendly seats — in November. Why it matters: Partisan control of Congress could hinge on how — or whether — Florida legislators approve DeSantis' new map of U.S. House districts in a special session next Tuesday. - DeSantis called lawmakers to Tallahassee in light of the nationwide redistricting battle that began when President Trump pressured Republican-led states to create more GOP-leaning House seats. - After Virginia Democrats got voter approval for a plan to create up to four more Democrat-leaning districts this…Open
The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Trump administration to potentially dismiss the criminal contempt case against WarRoom host and former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon. The post Supreme Court Opens Door For Dismissal of J6 Committee Contempt Charges Against Bannon. appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Trump administration to potentially dismiss the criminal contempt case against WarRoom host and former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon. WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen K. Bannon, the Trump administration, and the Supreme Court. WHEN & WHERE: April 6, 2026; Washington, D.C. IMPACT: The high court ordered Bannon’s case remanded back to a district court judge , effectively overruling an appeals court ruling that had upheld his conviction. IN FULL The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Trump administration to potentially dismiss the criminal contempt case against WarRoom host and former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon. In February, the…Open
House and Senate Democrats are starting to have preliminary discussions to coordinate potential congressional investigations into companies , colleges and law firms in the next Congress, multiple sources told Axios. Why it matters: The early strategizing on how Democrats plan to use the investigative power of committees, including subpoenas, is another indication of the party's growing confidence of victory in November. - Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), all on the Senate Judiciary Committee, have been involved in the planning discussions on the Senate side. - Schiff, the lead manager for President Trump's first impeachment, would bring significant experience to any Senate…
House and Senate Democrats are starting to have preliminary discussions to coordinate potential congressional investigations into companies , colleges and law firms in the next Congress, multiple sources told Axios. Why it matters: The early strategizing on how Democrats plan to use the investigative power of committees, including subpoenas, is another indication of the party's growing confidence of victory in November. - Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), all on the Senate Judiciary Committee, have been involved in the planning discussions on the Senate side. - Schiff, the lead manager for President Trump's first impeachment, would bring significant experience to any Senate…Open