Politics today spans institutional power, global posture and public pressure. In Washington, the Senate Judiciary Committee sent Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general to the full Senate on a party-line vote, setting up a confirmation fight that Republicans are expected to win, though not without lingering questions about support and the Justice Department’s future direction. The State Department, meanwhile, signaled a quieter but notable shift in U.S. strategy, notifying Congress of plans to close five diplomatic missions, including posts in Canada and Japan, in a rare contraction of America’s overseas footprint. Abroad, political controversy flared in India as Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested over alleged misogynistic remarks, then released on bail after questioning, turning a speech dispute into a test of political narrative and legal response. In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu approved substantial military pay rises, framing economic relief as part of the wider response to persistent security threats.