Murkowski will oppose Blanche nomination, putting it in danger of stalling

Lisa Murkowski being the second Republican to peel off on Todd Blanche shouldn't shock anyone who's watched her career for more than five minutes. She's carved out a niche as the senator who says "constructive meetings" right before she votes no, and here she is again. What's notable isn't her position, it's the math. One more defection and a nomination that should have been routine turns into a hostage situation.

Blanche isn't some fringe pick. He's been running the Justice Department in an acting capacity, which means the objection isn't really about competence. It's about leverage, and possibly about settling old scores from his time defending Trump personally before he ever wore a government badge. If Republicans want to relitigate that history, fine, have the fight in public and make the argument. Vague unease dressed up in diplomatic language about "numerous meetings" tells voters nothing.

There's also a simple governing problem here. An administration needs a confirmed AG, not a perpetual acting one, if it wants the department to function with any authority. Every month this drags out is a month DOJ leadership operates with an asterisk next to its name, and career staff know it. That weakens the institution more than any confirmation vote could.

If Murkowski and whoever else is wavering have a real case against Blanche, they owe the country specifics, not just a polite no. Otherwise this looks like what it usually looks like with her: an opportunity to be the deciding vote and enjoy the attention that comes with it.