Blanche Confirmation Coming, Primary Preview - Michigan Showdown, Harris Shifts Left: AM Update 8/4

0:00Hey, Chicagoland, the Wayfair store is in your neighborhood at Eden's Plaza and Wilmette. Finally, you can feel the fabric, sit on the sectionals, and even open the refrigerators. Plus, our in-store designers will help you bring it all together with free one-on-one design support for any project on any budget. Yep, we said free. Oh, and did we mention the cafe? So what are you waiting for? Come see all that's in store. Visit the Wayfair store today at Eden's Plaza and Wilmette. Wayfair, every style, every home. Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. And this is your AM update.

0:39Todd Blanche did what we asked him to do. It binds not only him, but also the Department of Justice as a whole. And so I think that's satisfies my my demands. Two Republican holdouts now backing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation after the DOJ acquiesced to their demands. You kind of have to ask the question, why wasn't he already in jail? A Charlotte murder suspect allegedly opening fire just 90 minutes after posting bond as the city faces fresh scrutiny over repeat offenders. Primary voters heading to the polls across five states today, with Democrats facing major tests over the future direction of their party.

1:22And former Vice President Kamala Harris distancing seeing herself from Joe Biden while previewing a sharply progressive agenda for a possible 2028 campaign. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update.

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2:48Birch Gold is a great option to consider. All right. Check it out for yourself by texting MK to 989898. Two Republican holdouts now clearing the way for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation for AG following a week's long standoff over President Trump's IRS settlement. Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Tillis of North Carolina withholding their support until the DOJ addressed two provisions of the settlement document they argued were too broad. The dispute centering on the agreement resolving President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over its illegal disclosure of his tax returns.

3:29The May settlement requiring the AG to establish a nearly$1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, providing compensation to individuals claiming they were improperly targeted by the feds. The agreement also reportedly including protections against certain tax investigations involving the president, his family, and his businesses. Blanche announcing in June that the administration would no longer move forward with the fund. In exchange for their support for his confirmation to Attorney General, Senators Cornyn and Tillis demanding Blanche's commitment in writing to not move forward with the fund, while also seeking to limit the tax protections to the lawsuit's named parties and to past tax matters rather than future filings.

4:13The confrontation reaching a boiling point last week, with Republican Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley canceling a planned vote as the negotiations stalled. President Trump then threatening to temporarily withdraw Blanche's nomination and keep him in the acting position until Senators Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January, a gamble that would have delayed confirmation until after the midterms. Blanche announcing an agreement late Sunday night, releasing two documents he argues resolved the senators' remaining concerns after weeks of negotiations. The first, a formal Justice Department order, declaring, quote,

4:54Blanche releasing a second document addressing the settlement's tax protections, limiting them to past claims involving President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization. Yesterday morning, Cornyn and Tillis releasing a joint statement announcing, quote, we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon. Senator Cornyn speaking to Spectrum News yesterday. I appreciate the fact that we've been negotiating with him for a few days now and that we basically got a stake driven through the heart of the weaponization fund. That was$1.8 billion.

5:32And we got him to confirm his sworn testimony about the scope of the audit protection in the future. I think Todd Blanche did what we asked him to do. It binds not only him, but also the Department of Justice as a whole. And so I think I think that's satisfies my my demands and we're ready to proceed with a markup tomorrow. The two Republicans now expected to provide the decisive votes Blanche needs to advance through the closely divided Judiciary Committee. The agreement appearing to end the political impasse, though Axios and CNN are raising questions about whether Blanche's order actually changes the underlying settlement, which provides that its terms can only be modified with the written consent of both sides.

6:19Sunday's order carrying Blanche's signature, but not those of President Trump, his sons, or the Trump Organization. President Trump, yesterday in the Oval, asked about the terms of the agreement. Did you sign off on Todd Blanche? I didn't look at it. All I know is that Todd Blanche is great. He's going to do a great job. Everybody knows it. And I understand there's been a sign off, but I don't know what they agreed. I think Todd Blanche agreed to reconfirm things that he's already said. And what he said was OK. CNN reporting senior White House officials were closely involved in the negotiations, though the outlet does not indicate the president personally reviewed the final terms.

7:00Blanche coordinated with the White House throughout the talks, keeping senior officials informed about the negotiations and the major sticking points, according to the outlet. The Senate Judiciary Committee now scheduled to vote on Blanche's nomination at 9 a.m. this morning. A repeat violent offender in Charlotte, North Carolina, allegedly shooting two men last week, killing one of them, less than two hours after being released from jail. 29-year-old David Simpson now charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and several additional weapons offenses. Local outlet WCNC citing court records reporting Simpson paid a$10 ,000 bond shortly after midnight Wednesday, following an unrelated charge of possessing a weapon while behind bars.

7:45Police called to an East Charlotte apartment complex about an hour and a half after Simpson was released, discovering two men who had been shot. One victim dying from his injuries, the second reportedly surviving with serious wounds. An affidavit cited by local outlets indicating the shooting rose out of a long-running dispute over a parking space. Simpson's girlfriend, Shakima Scott, allegedly involved in an argument with the victims earlier that night, with residents calling 911 twice. Simpson's girlfriend charged with accessory after the fact. A judge now ordering Simpson held without bond, as his lengthy criminal record, including a conviction for killing another person, comes under fresh scrutiny.

8:29Simpson initially facing first-degree murder in a 2013 killing, before pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2015. Simpson serving about five years in prison, before being released on parole in 2020. That conviction, only one entry in a criminal history, continuing after his release. WSOC-TV reports Simpson has been arrested at least 10 times since his 2020 release from prison. Charlotte defense attorney Tim Kennedy, who is not involved in the case, telling WCNC the newest allegations force an obvious question. If you look at his history, it seems like this gentleman has picked up just about every year up to this point some kind of a violent crime.

9:14So you kind of have to ask the question, and why wasn't he already in jail? When he got the new charge in either 2025 or earlier this year, the DA's office could have filed a motion, approached, you know, done a hearing, and asked the judge to revoke the bonds in his prior cases. Granted, one of them was dismissed, but he picked up two separate weapons charges and no one revoked his bond. This case now becoming the latest example of a repeat offender in Charlotte repeatedly returning to the streets until another person is killed. The city drawing national criticism last year after Ukrainian refugee Irina Zarutska was stabbed to death on a light rail train by a repeat offender with more than a dozen prior arrests.

10:02Her murder igniting outrage over a justice system in a blue city, repeatedly showing compassion to dangerous criminals as innocent people pay the price. Simpson now set to return to court on August 21st. Coming up, Michigan Democrats choosing today between the party establishment and its progressive wing in a critical Senate primary. And former Vice President Kamala Harris separating herself from former President Joe Biden while signaling a leftward turn ahead of a possible 2028 campaign.

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11:54All eyes in the political world are watching Michigan, where a fiery Senate showdown is testing whether the Democrat Party's progressive insurgency can break beyond deep blue cities and capture a statewide nomination in one of the country's most important battlegrounds. Congresswoman Haley Stevens facing progressive former Detroit Health Director Dr. Abdul El-Sayed with voters choosing the Democrat nominee to replace retiring Democrat Senator Gary Peters. The bruising campaign becoming a referendum on the future of the party, pitting its establishment against activists hoping to carry the left-wing momentum seen in places like New York City into the Midwest.

12:35The stakes extending far beyond Michigan, Democrats need a net gain of four seats in November to take control of the Senate, making this open seat one they can hardly afford to surrender. Congresswoman Stevens entering election day with the backing of much of Michigan's Democrat establishment, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer and retiring Senator Peters. El-Sayed assembling the party's progressive heavyweights, earning endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. AOC joining El-Sayed in a series of closing ads. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and I may come from different places, but we're forged from the same fight.

13:13For money out of politics, money in your pocket, and Medicare. For all. That's the part they can't stand. That's why billionaires are spending millions to bury Abdul and this movement. We're all because wherever you live, however you pray, whoever you vote for, I'm going to fight for you. And we only win when all of us win. That's right. I'm Abdul Al-Sayed and I approve this message. The Stevens campaign playing up the congresswoman's ties to former President Obama while once again leaning heavily into her exaggerated Michigan accent. There's those cool kids on the internet making fun of how I talk.

13:49But let's be real, They're making fun of Michigan. Their jokes make me fight harder, just like I did when I was working for President Obama. Like I'm doing standing up to Trump to stop ICE. They might not like how I sound, but I am going to make damn sure they hear us in the halls of power. I'm Haley Stevens, and I approve this message. President Obama has not endorsed in the race. Despite Congresswoman Stevens' powerful allies and an enormous wave of outside spending, the race entering its final hours with El-Sayed widely viewed as the candidate to beat. CNN's senior data analyst Harry Enten yesterday on the dramatic reversal in El-Sayed's political fortunes since the spring.

14:36I think that tomorrow, Abdullah El-Sayed will deliver the biggest blow so far against the establishment of the Democratic Party because he is the heavy favorite going in tomorrow. Just take a look at the prediction market odds. Okay. Chance to be the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee, Abdul Asayyad. Look at this. He's up to a 98 % chance according to the cash prediction markets. Way up like a rocket compared to where he was on April 3rd when he was just a 28 % chance just a few months ago. The bottom line is this. You look at all the data that is out there. Abdul Asayyad is the very heavy favorite going in tomorrow.

15:12And of course, he is backed by a lot of folks on the left wing of the Democratic Party. Today's winner will advance to face Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers in November, Rogers leading El-Sayed 46 to 43 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup, according to new polling by Michigan-based firm Epic-MRA. Congresswoman Stevens performing five points better, leading Rogers 44 percent to his 42. President Trump asked in the Oval Office yesterday which Democrat he would rather see Rogers face.

16:12And he should be able to win. Polls close in Michigan at 8 p.m. local time. In Missouri, another Election Day showdown testing just how far left Democrat voters want their party to move. Former Squad member Cori Bush attempting a political comeback against Democrat Congressman Wesley Bell, the man who knocked her out of office two years ago. Missouri polls closing at 7 p.m. tonight. Former Vice President Kamala Harris appearing to put some distance between herself and her former boss while keeping the door open to another White House campaign. Vice President Harris speaking Friday at the National Urban League conference in Nashville, where CEO Mark Morial asked her to identify the three most effective presidents in American history.

17:00The former vice president naming several Democrats, conspicuously leaving out the man she served beside for four years. In your view, rank the top three most effective presidents in American history. Oh, Mark, don't make me do that. And I was watching NPR. Did anybody watch a whole thing on FDR? You know, he did some good things. In fact, it was he who talked about the expansion of the Supreme Court, And then he got ferocious back, you know, kind of blowback for that. But he did good. It was Social Security. I credit, you know, Kennedy, of course, in terms of what he laid the groundwork for and then Johnson followed up on.

17:48Of course, of course. And then, of course, Barack Obama. Yeah, of course. And what he did with the Affordable Care Act, among many things. The omission coming as Vice President Harris continues weighing whether to seek the Democrat nomination again in 2028. Ms. Harris signaling that her version of a comeback campaign would embrace sweeping systemic changes long championed by the Democrat Party's far left flank. More here from Friday's event. I know this is going to be controversial coming from me in particular. We need to revisit the Electoral College. We need to revisit the point of expanding the court to 13 justices like we have 13 district courts.

18:33We need to revisit, if they so want, statehood for Puerto Rico and D.C. Though offering several notable teases in recent months, Ms. Harris has yet to commit to running again. a person familiar with her private deliberations telling Politico, she hasn't decided and she hasn't ruled it out. No credible strategist would recommend ruling it out this early. For now, the former VP remaining an early Democrat frontrunner, the latest Real Clear Politics average placing Harris at 28%, leading California Governor Gavin Newsom by 11 points. Governor Newsom sitting in second at 17%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 10.6%.

19:17Congresswoman AOC of New York at 8.8 percent, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has 6.6 percent, although one recent poll from Emerson has Harris in fifth place among the potential contenders. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show, live on SiriusXM's The Megan Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly, and on all podcast platforms.

19:49Hey, Chicagoland. The Wayfair store is in your neighborhood at Edens Plaza and Wilmette. Finally, you can feel the fabric, sit on the sectionals, and even open the refrigerators. Plus, our in-store designers will help you bring it all together with free one-on-one design support for any project on any budget. Yep, we said free. Oh, and did we mention the cafe? So what are you waiting for? Come see all that's in store. Visit the Wayfair store today at Edens Plaza and Wilmette. Wayfair, every style, every home