Washington dominated the news cycle as the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General during an overnight session, a move solidified after he successfully negotiated the removal of a controversial anti-weaponization fund proposal. While the Senate simultaneously passed a bipartisan government funding bill, Chairman Ron Johnson delayed the $95 billion reconciliation budget package until September, citing a need for increased defense appropriations. This fiscal strategy aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s advocacy for higher military spending, a stance he maintains even as the Pentagon faces scrutiny over dwindling Patriot interceptor stocks. According to CSIS reporting, extensive usage of these systems during U.S. operations against Iran has severely constrained supply, directly impacting Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes ahead of winter. In the judiciary, a federal judge dealt a significant blow to the Southern Poverty Law Center, denying its motion to dismiss criminal fraud charges related to the alleged misuse of donor funds and rejecting its request for discovery into prosecutorial motives. Markets meanwhile reacted to a broad rebound in AI stocks pushing averages to record highs, though corporate performance remained mixed, evidenced by Delhivery reporting significant volume growth alongside margin compression.