Overview of Blanche Nomination Stalls, CNN Poll Favors Dems, Missile Lands in Poland and More
CNN’s daily news roundup covers a stalled Senate confirmation fight over President Donald Trump’s attorney general pick, new economic data showing a slowdown in growth, a fresh CNN poll that gives Democrats an edge heading into the midterms, a missile incident in Poland tied to Russia’s overnight attack on Ukraine, and the business fallout from Taco Bell’s cyclospora outbreak.
Politics: Todd Blanche Nomination Hits a Wall
- The Senate vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general was called off after behind-the-scenes negotiations fell apart.
- Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking progress unless the Justice Department puts in writing that Trump’s proposed “weaponization” effort/fund is officially dead and cannot be revived.
- Blanche has said publicly that the effort is not moving forward, but the senators want formal written guarantees.
- The timing is critical:
- The Senate is in session for only one more week.
- After that, lawmakers leave for the August recess.
- Trump suggested on social media that he could withdraw Blanche’s nomination and re-submit it later if Cornyn and Tillis refuse to back down.
- Bottom line: the nomination is not dead, but it is in deep jeopardy.
Economy: Growth Slows, but Consumers Still Spend
- New data show U.S. economic growth slowed to 1.5% GDP growth in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in the first quarter.
- The main drag was trade, with imports surging faster than exports.
- Economists also pointed to the AI boom, with heavy purchases of chips and equipment likely subtracting from GDP growth.
- A more encouraging sign: core GDP remained solid, helped by continued consumer spending, which even accelerated.
- Inflation also eased slightly:
- The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE price index, cooled in June.
- That relief may not last long, though, because renewed conflict involving Iran has pushed energy prices back up.
Politics: CNN Poll Shows Democrats Gaining Ground
- With the midterms approaching, a new CNN poll shows Democrats with an advantage on the generic congressional ballot:
- Democrats: 47%
- Republicans: 39%
- Among independent voters, Democrats lead by 11 points:
- 40% to 29%
- The major shift: Democrats are now seen as the party of change.
- A year ago, Republicans held that label; now voters appear to be associating it with Democrats instead.
Foreign Affairs: Missile Lands in Poland After Russian Attack
- Overnight sirens sounded in Lublin, Poland after a missile, apparently launched by Russia, landed about 55 miles inside Polish territory.
- NATO and Polish military aircraft were scrambled in response.
- Poland’s prime minister said officials were prepared to shoot it down if necessary.
- The missile ultimately landed in an open field, leaving a large crater.
- The incident came during another broad Russian attack on Ukraine that killed at least nine people.
- Ukraine’s foreign minister said the dead included six members of one family.
Business & Health: Taco Bell Sales Hit by Cyclospora Outbreak
- Taco Bell and parent company Yum Brands are taking a financial hit from the cyclospora outbreak.
- Taco Bell sales dropped 2% from the end of June through July 27.
- Yum Brands stock fell about 8% after Taco Bell was linked to the outbreak.
- To win back customers, Taco Bell ran a one-day promotion offering lettuce-free menu items for $1.
- Company leadership says the impact should be temporary and emphasized that safety remains the priority.
Key Takeaways
- Blanche’s confirmation is stalled and may not move before the August recess.
- The U.S. economy is slowing, but consumer spending remains a bright spot.
- Democrats are currently favored in the midterm generic ballot and are being viewed as the party of change.
- A Russian missile landing in Poland underscores the risk of regional escalation.
- Taco Bell’s outbreak-related sales drop shows how quickly health concerns can affect consumer brands.