THE LATESTTodd Blanche won last-minute support from retiring Sen. Bill Cassidy, who gave a morning floor speech before an eventual confirmation vote, which has not yet been scheduled. Blanche is not perfect,” the Louisiana Republican saidThe Senate passed its sweeping Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in an 86-11 vote. The Senate’s college sports bill has multiple GOP holdouts that could force it to slip into September. Today’s newsletter was produced by Kelly Poe and Erik Schutz. Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter misstated which state Sen. Boozman serves.