Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
The Senate has narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States.
The upper chamber voted on his nomination early this morning.
All Democrats voted against it, along with two Republicans.
NPR's Ron Elving reports Blanche received enough votes after weeks of opposition from both parties.
They say they got a written commitment that Blanche would not pursue
that $1.8 billion compensation fund that Trump wants for people prosecuted under the Biden administration,
including the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. But the last holdouts
who gave in also expressed more general frustration, saying a vote against Blanche
would not rein in Trump or saying anyone Trump appointed to replace Blanche would be just as bad or worse.
That's NPR's Ron Elving reporting.
The stock market soared this week, even as the job market showed signs of weakness.
NPR's Scott Horsley reports investors shrugged off news that U.S.
Employers cut more than 20,000 jobs last month.
Investors focused their attention on strong corporate earnings reports
and renewed hopes that a diplomatic deal can be reached to end the war with Iran.
Retail gasoline prices have been falling in recent days,
although they're still more than a dollar a gallon higher than they were when the war began.
Higher energy prices have been a drag on the economy, causing restaurants and retailers to cut jobs last month.
Revised figures also show hiring in May and June was weaker than had been reported.