MS NOW anchor and former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele lost his cool during a discussion with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) about what he saw as a particularly problematic exchange during the confirmation hearing for attorney general nominee Todd Blanche.
Specifically, he pulled up an exchange between Blanche and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), who grilled him about his prior comment that appeared to be declaring "war" on judges — and he didn't give a substantive answer.
"Last fall, at a Federalist Society event, you called for young lawyers at that event to join you in fighting a 'war,'" said Hirono. "The war that you were talking about was against federal judges who were ruling against the administration, correct?" Blanche replied, "No," and insisted that he doesn't believe judges should be impeached solely for ruling against the administration.
The problem, said Steele, is that there is simply no other way to interpret what Blanche said.
"So here's the important thing ... what she was referring to was [in] November 2025, Blanche told young lawyers at the Federalist Society conference, 'We need you because it is a war and it is something we will not win unless we keep on fighting.' That war was on judges and state bars that were ruling against this administration."
What Blanche then needs to answer, said Steele, is "then who the hell were you talking about? Who was the war you were referring to against? If it weren't the judges and it weren't the bar, then who? The American people?"
"So, senator, help me understand," said Steele, his voice rising to an indignant shout. "In moments like that, why is it so hard to capture the obvious response that everyone watching is saying and yelling at their television? Then who? This man is sitting here lying to you! Because we have your quote!"
All of this comes as Blanche was just smacked down in federal court for his role in approving President Donald Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" slush fund — an issue multiple Republican senators have demanded he answer for.
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