Trump's Personal Lawyer Takes WH Counsel: GovBrief #556

Today Donald Trump maneuvered the lawyer who won his personal immunity case into the White House counsel’s office, which represents the presidency.

Will Scharf was one of Trump’s personal lawyers who convinced the Supreme Court that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts. His reward comes two days after the Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, Trump’s personal criminal defense lawyer from his hush money trial, as attorney general. Trump’s personal defense team now runs the government’s two most powerful legal offices.

These jobs go to the people who pass the loyalty test, and the acceptable answer is written down now. Four judicial nominees testified on the Hill last week, and every one recited the same rehearsed script about the Electoral College rather than say who won the 2020 election. Senators narrowed the question to just the popular vote and got the script again. Blanche performed his version at his hearing, telling senators “I am the president’s lawyer” before catching himself and saying “was.”

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🟢 GovBrief Intensity Score 36

Quiet Day. Weekend and holiday level.

Volume: Low (6)

Severity: Low (1)

Defining Moments: 0

Previous 5 Days
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100 = normal day. Volume is headline count. Stories weighted by significance. Defining Moments are the ones history remembers.

Today's Quote

There was substantial damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or proof, other than the damage, itself. We are working on the Pool, and it will reopen shortly. As with many jobs, there was also some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening, but it was a very small area of this massive Pool, and was relatively inconsequential.

Donald Trump still posting on August 9, 2026, about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.