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Key Facts

Blanche will be formally sworn in as attorney general Monday after being confirmed in the Senate in a 50-49 vote, allowing Blanche to keep the job permanently after being acting AG following predecessor Pam Bondi’s ouster.

Blanche joined Trump’s Justice Department after serving as the president’s personal attorney during his years out of office, most notably representing Trump at his criminal trial in Manhattan.

Democrats have accused Blanche of favoring loyalty to Trump over the rule of law, with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., arguing at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing the attorney “continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer.”

The new AG faces numerous issues at DOJ that deal heavily with Trump and could call for Blanche to either fall in line with Trump’s priorities or act in ways the president might not like.

Those issues include the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files, ongoing litigation over Trump’s settlement with the IRS, prosecutions of Trump’s political enemies, litigation over Trump’s White House ballroom and election lawsuits ahead of the November midterms.

Blanche, for his part, has said he’ll follow the Constitution but has not said he’ll act independently of the president, saying during his Senate confirmation hearing the DOJ is “part of the executive” branch and he would be subject to dismissal by Trump if confirmed.

What Has Blanche Said About Trump?

When asked during his confirmation hearing about whether he was independent from Trump—based on the DOJ’s historic independence from the White House—Blanche responded by saying the DOJ “certainly operate[s] with integrity” and exists to “serve the American people and do the right thing.” The then-nominee then added, however, that if confirmed, “I will be a member of the Cabinet … and President Trump can fire me whenever he wants.” Blanche suggested he was unafraid to push back on Trump if needed, saying, “President Trump trusts me to give him counsel,” but “counsel does not mean I’m a yes man.” He raised eyebrows for an apparent slip during his testimony, when Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asked if he was friends with Trump. Blanche first responded, “I am his lawyer” before quickly correcting himself to say he “was his lawyer.”

Big Number

$9.8 million. That’s how much Trump, through his Save America PAC, has paid Blanche’s law firm in legal fees, according to federal records. The PAC made payments from April 2023 through February 2025, when Blanche Law was paid $543,711 shortly after Trump’s inauguration. Trump’s Save America PAC has been used to pay the president’s lawyers for their work in his personal legal battles, and that $9.8 million would have gone to other attorneys and staff at Blanche’s firm in addition to him.

Epstein Files: Blanche Faces Thursday Hearing Over Redacted Documents

As deputy attorney general and acting attorney general, Blanche has long faced criticism for his handling of the Epstein files. Bondi has testified Blanche was responsible for how the documents were released to the public—a process that’s garnered widespread criticism, given issues with victim identities not being properly redacted—and Epstein’s victims have accused Blanche of not sufficiently listening to their concerns. Blanche is set to appear in court Thursday for a hearing over whether the DOJ must release some unredacted Epstein documents, as well as additional documents covering unsubstantiated allegations against Trump. The DOJ has so far fought the documents’ release, though it did turn over materials to be privately reviewed by the court. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan scheduled a hearing to discuss several issues with the arguments that the DOJ has made in court, with the judge noting Blanche didn’t provide proper documentation showing the redactions at issue hide victims’ names, hasn’t explained why the government can’t redact handwritten notes, and hasn’t yet followed the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s provision requiring the DOJ to submit a log justifying every single redaction. Blanche’s posture during the Thursday hearing could be telling, as the AG could continue to harshly fight the documents’ disclosure, or could be more amenable to turning some materials over, even when they deal directly with the president.

Trump’s IRS Deal: Will $1.8 Billion Fund Come Back?

The main issue that briefly threatened Blanche’s confirmation was his signing and subsequent defense of Trump’s settlement of a lawsuit against the IRS, which included a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate political allies and an agreement that broadly shielded the president and his affiliates from legal action from the government. Blanche has said the $1.8 billion fund is “dead” after even GOP lawmakers slammed it, and issued an order saying the fund was not moving forward in response to concerns from Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., ahead of his committee confirmation vote. He also issued a written statement narrowing the scope of the immunity deal to specify it only shields Trump, his eldest sons and the Trump Organization from legal action by the IRS and Treasury Department based on actions they’ve already taken and tax returns that have already been filed. Blanche’s orders aren’t legally binding under the terms of the settlement, though—as it can only be modified with the written agreement of all the parties, which didn’t happen—and Democrats have expressed fears Blanche could simply issue a new order and bring back the anti-weaponization fund after being sworn in. It remains to be seen how Blanche will handle the issue as AG, and whether payouts to political allies, including Jan. 6 rioters, could still take place—whether by reviving this fund or creating a new one.

DOJ Goes After Trump’s Enemies

The DOJ has launched numerous investigations into Trump’s political enemies and brought indictments against several, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey and former Trump adviser John Bolton. Trump fired Bondi after publicly suggesting he was unhappy with her for not going far enough to punish his critics, however, and it’s likely he’ll now be exerting pressure on Blanche to prosecute people who cross him. The DOJ is currently prosecuting Comey—after initial charges against him and James were dismissed—and reportedly is carrying out investigations against such Trump critics as Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., former CIA director John Brennan, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Blanche will face tough decisions over whether to press forward with charging notable enemies of the president, with previous sets of charges often facing criticism from legal experts for being based on flimsy legal arguments.

Could Blanche Help Trump-Friendly Businesses?

The DOJ also has a role to play when it comes to potentially going after—or helping—businesses that have ties to the president, his family or his political allies. The president and his family are linked to numerous businesses that could potentially be granted reprieves from the federal government, though so far that has not been an issue. There have, however, already been several instances of Trump-friendly companies having cases against them dropped during the president’s second term. SpaceX, led by onetime Trump adviser Elon Musk, got out of a discrimination lawsuit that the DOJ dropped in February 2025, while criminal probes against Boeing and Abbott Laboratories ended after those companies made hefty donations to Trump’s inaugural fund. (The government has never alleged the moves to drop those cases were at all connected to the donations and Musk’s involvement with Trump.) As attorney general, Blanche could face pressure from the president to go easier on companies that are linked to him or have helped him out financially.

Trump’s D.C. Priorities: White House Ballroom And Reflecting Pool

As attorney general, Blanche will have to navigate Trump’s intense focus on construction projects in Washington and the litigation that has ensued, including Trump’s allegations of vandalism at the Reflecting Pool and an ongoing dispute over the construction of a new White House ballroom. His swearing-in comes right after Trump publicly fumed over U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro dropping federal charges against David Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, telling reporters she “made a mistake” and “folded like an umbrella.” The former Olympian was initially indicted for allegedly damaging the water feature, but Pirro unexpectedly reversed her decision, saying it was clear that the issues with the Reflecting Pool were instead the result of a “botched installation.” A federal appeals court also ruled last week to halt construction on the ballroom—though it won’t be stopped immediately, as the court paused its ruling to give the Trump administration time to appeal it. Blanche could now oversee a showdown at the Supreme Court over Trump’s pet project, after the president said the ruling blocking it was a “National Security threat to our Nation.” He will also see continued litigation over Trump’s attempted takeover of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where a tarp still covers the venue’s sign after Trump’s name was ordered to be removed from it.

DOJ’s Role In November Midterms

Blanche’s DOJ could play a key role in the November midterm elections, as the agency is tasked with defending Trump’s sweeping executive orders on voting. Trump has long claimed there’s widespread fraud in elections—which evidence does not support—and his administration has taken numerous steps as a result, including attempting to restrict mail-in voting, seeking states’ voter rolls and directing the U.S. Postal Service not to mail some absentee ballots if the voter isn’t on a state-approved list. Many of those directives are now tied up in court, where Blanche’s DOJ will have to defend them ahead of the midterms. The DOJ could also be tasked with litigation after the election, should Trump want to challenge any alleged issues that arise.

Further Reading

Trump Confirms He Didn’t Sign Order Killing $1.8 Billion Fund—Signaling It Might Be Revived (Forbes)

Senate Confirms Todd Blanche As Attorney General (Forbes)

Blanche Confirmed As Attorney General—Here Are The Concessions That Got Him The Job (Forbes)

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Todd Blanche As AG After Initial Delay (Forbes) %!s()

We are thrilled to officially launch the IGN Discord server, our brand-new space designed specifically for you to connect with fellow fans and us in real-time. This server serves as a new hub for the IGN Ecosystem, bringing together IGN fans around the world to talk gameS, movies, tech, anime and more. Whether you want to discuss the latest industry news or find a squad for your favorite multiplayer game, our Discord is the place to be.

As a member, you'll have weekly opportunities to interact directly with your favorite podcast hosts and participate in online gaming sessions alongside IGN staff and fellow community members. You can also expect community watch parties featuring exclusive chats, giveaways, and more during major events and livestreams. We're also bringing back a revamped version of IGN’s First Fridays, Photo Mode, AMA's with game developers and IGN staff, and plenty more.

To kick things off, we have an exciting lineup of events centered around August’s IGN First: Control Resonant. Starting August 12th, we will host an AMA with Simon Cardy, who is leading our comprehensive coverage of the title this month. This is a premier opportunity to get your questions answered by someone with exclusive, hands-on experience ahead of the game's release next month. We are also using Discord to bring back Photo Mode for all our digital shutterbugs out there. Our first theme is inspired by Control Resonant, so check out the Photo Mode channel in Discord for all the details to join in on all the fun. Additionally, throughout August, we will be hosting gameplay sessions for recent releases and fan favorites like

,

, and Big Walk providing plenty of variety for those seeking to compete or group up in some games.

Far from a simple chat room, the IGN server offers a front-row seat to the entire world of IGN. Whether you're looking for a new space to talk about the latest industry updates or trying to team up for your favorite multiplayer game, our Discord is the perfect destination.

Join the

In fact, MagSafe proved so useful that the Android world decided to adopt it from Apple. On non-Apple devices, the magnetic charging ring is part of the Qi2 spec, so rather than calling it MagSafe you should look for a Qi2 label. They're functionally identical though, so you can snap Qi2 phones and cases directly onto MagSafe-branded accessories. 

So far, only a few Android phones have integrated Qi2 directly on-device, most notably in the form of the PixelSnap ecosystem on the Google Pixel 10. Other companies have integrated it into accessories, with Samsung going so far as to claim people don't need on-device Qi2 because they can simply buy an extra phone case with Qi2 magnets onboard (a position the company reiterated during the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8).

With so many developments in the space, some users are bound to wonder whether Qi2 is the same thing as MagSafe, and if so, why it goes by a different name. The answer is, as you might expect, a matter of corporate branding, but also one of control.

Qi2 charging is the open version of Apple's MagSafe

Max Miller for Engadget

While the MagSafe name originated with the magnetic clip-on charger found on the 2006 MacBook Pro, Apple leveraged that brand recognition when it added a simple ring of stabilizing magnets to the backside of the iPhone 12. In addition to enabling accessories, it fixed the biggest issue with legacy wireless Qi charging. Phones with wireless charging had almost all used the same Qi charging coil in the back, but non-stabilized charging is inefficient and comparatively slow, since the coils in the back don't always line up neatly with those in a charging pad. With MagSafe, Apple was able to increase the rated wireless charging speed of the iPhone 12 to 15W, up from just 7.5W.

MagSafe on iPhones was a hit, and a new category of mobile accessories quickly stood up around it. Before long, accessory makers began adding the ring to cases for Android devices as well, widening the market beyond Apple owners.

Apple is a member of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which sets the Qi charging standard. In 2023, the WPC announced that Apple had donated MagSafe as the basis for a universal Magnetic Power Profile standard which would be known as Qi2. MagSafe remains a proprietary Apple brand, and accessories bearing the name must go through some certification. But since MagSafe was built on top of the original Qi standard, Qi2 accessories work with MagSafe-equipped iPhones, and vice versa.

MagSafe and Qi2 are the same, as long as you shop carefully

Max Miller for Engadget

At a core level, there are no technical distinctions between Qi2 and MagSafe as implemented on devices such as the Google Pixel 10 and Apple iPhone 17. Both standards use basic Qi charging coils and the same stabilizing magnet ring. Accessories which work with one will work with the other unless their physical dimensions become problematic (for instance, a power bank designed for the iPhone 17 with dimensions that do not accommodate the Pixel 10's horizontal camera bar).

With that said, both MagSafe and Qi2 have increased their top charging speeds since the introduction of the iPhone 12. That phone launched with 15W wireless charging over MagSafe. By contrast, the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro support 25W charging over the latest MagSafe revision. Meanwhile, the latest Qi standard (Qi2.2) allows for 25W wireless charging and is supported on devices including the Pixel 10 Pro XL and  the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (albeit with a magnetic case).

That means that if you have a phone which supports the latest magnetic wireless charging standards, you'll need to ensure that any snap-on charging devices you buy also support those speeds. Don't look for promises of MagSafe or Qi2 compatibility. Make sure that the charger is rated for 25W. As long as that's clear, it doesn't matter whether it advertises itself as MagSafe or Qi2.2... at least to anyone outside of Apple. %!s()

The initial installation will comprise more than 100 used Rivian battery packs, assembled into a system capable of storing 10 megawatt-hours of energy. Rivian supplies the used battery packs while Redwood integrates them into what it calls a Redwood Energy system, operated by the company's in-house management software. That software is designed to handle packs with varying states of health, running them together as a single coordinated power source.

The practical function on the factory floor is straightforward enough. Stored energy can be discharged during peak demand periods to reduce the amount of power Rivian needs to draw from the local utility in moments when grid electricity costs increase.

For a plant that is ramping production of the R2 alongside the R1S and R1T, those peak demand charges are only going to increase. A battery buffer built from second-life packs addresses that cost problem while making use of assets that would otherwise head directly to recycling.

Retired batteries still have value

EV batteries don't lose their usefulness when they're pulled from a vehicle. According to Redwood Materials, even degraded battery packs frequently retain more than 50% of their original capacity — enough life to make them genuinely valuable for stationary storage applications.

Redwood launched its energy division in mid-2025 specifically to capture this disparity — repurposing packs between the end of their useful automotive life and their eventual recycling. The company has already deployed an even larger system at its Nevada campus, using 792 packs to build a 63 MWh microgrid that, of course, powers an AI data center. The Rivian installation is smaller, but it's notable as the first time Redwood has integrated its storage into an automotive plant.

For Rivian, the deal solves two problems at once. It reduces energy costs at the factory, and it creates a productive use for warranty returns, engineering prototypes, and high-mileage packs that still carry usable capacity. Redwood, meanwhile, now has an auto plant as a reference customer with a growing supply of second-life battery packs — a more demanding benchmark than a data center.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe framed it as a grid-health argument as much as a cost one. Using vehicle batteries beyond their automotive life contributes to a more flexible and reliable energy system. Straubel's case is simpler — the U.S. will need more than 600 GWh of storage by 2030, and the batteries to do it are already sitting in EVs across America. %!s()

Andrew said the assistant came back and told him that it booked the class for months in advance, which is something the gym doesn't even allow. It was able to do this by allegedly taking advantage of a vulnerability in the booking software. It also reportedly went further, kicking someone out of the waiting list who was ahead in line.

"The API has zero authorization checks on cancelling other people's reservations ... I tested this with the person in waitlist position #1 — and it actually went through. So you've moved from #4 to #3 already," it messaged. Andrew asked the agent to undo this action but it said "bad news — I can't add them back."

Anthropic, the company behind Andrew's agent, has not responded to a request for comment. The same goes for the developer who made the gym-booking software. "I didn't beat myself up about it, but it certainly was a warning signal to use it responsibly," Andrew, who works in the AI industry, said.

Man asks AI to book gym class, it hacks site & kicks person before him off waiting list.

Lmao🤣

An Australian man asked an OpenClaw AI agent to book him a morning gym class, but the agent went rogue and ended up hacking the gym's website.

The agent found a vulnerability in the... pic.twitter.com/h3xyOQgSzS

— Mashood K (@fromcodetocloud) August 10, 2026

This leads to a few questions. I'm not exactly sure how Andrew could have used it more responsibly in this particular instance, as he just asked the agent to book a gym appointment. The marketing for AI tools, particularly in the world of agentic AI, nearly always brings up booking stuff as the prime use case example. Was he supposed to ask something like "can you book a gym class without hacking anything or kicking anyone off of a waiting list?" That seems awfully specific.

Bill Simpson-Young, co-founder and chief executive of Australian AI safety research organization Gradient Institute, told ABC that this is just the beginning. "We've built this complex world over the internet, which is all run by software, but software that has holes," he said. "Now you introduce highly capable AI agents that can operate at scale and speed ... and that whole model just breaks."

To that end, the introduction of AI agents has brought forth a handful of similar stories in which the bots went rogue. There's a story about an OpenAI agent running amok on the internet for a full week and another one about an OpenClaw agent writing a hit piece about a random programmer because it rejected its code. There's one about an agent trying to blackmail a user in order to stop a shutdown. There's another about an AI assistant repeatedly deleting a Meta executive's email inbox, even after being told to stop on numerous occasions.

Some of this stuff has the feeling of a marketing stunt, as giant AI companies would most definitely prefer stories of powerful agents going too far over stories of overspending, massive debt and potential bubble pops. Powerful agents going too far suggests the technology works, which likely lures in more investors with deep pockets.

AI agents are getting more popular, though primarily in the commercial sector for now. We'll have to wait and see how our dilapidated internet handles the influx of AI agents all jostling for that number-one spot at the nearby gym class. %!s()