Trump Says Iran Talks to Begin on Monday; Senators Avert Election-Time Shutdown | NTD Good Morning (Aug 3)

President Donald Trump told reporters on Aug. 2 that he called off planned military strikes on Iran the night before at the urging of regional allies and that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday. Iran has not publicly commented on Trump’s remarks.

Senators unveiled a short-term spending bill on Sunday that would keep federal agencies funded past the midterm elections and into early December as they look to avoid a government shutdown during the middle of campaign season. The bill generally funds the federal government at current levels though Dec. 11. The Senate is likely to vote on the measure before leaving Washington at week’s end for its traditional August recess, a period that many lawmakers want to spend shoring up their reelection prospects rather than working in the nation’s capital.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally rescinded Trump’s $1.8-billion anti-weaponization fund. The move follows weeks of discussions with senators who had raised concerns about the fund and delayed Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. The agreement could pave the way for Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to support Blanche when the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on his nomination on Tuesday.