Republican senator Thom Tillis recently met together with White House officials to back Todd Blanche’s confirmation as U.S. attorney. Critics maintain say Tillis, formerly a vocal champion, now has diminished sway. The Senate lost an influential member when Lindsey Graham died on July 14. This creates more openings for top roles. The GOP debated the SAVE Act during the week. Backers urged aggressively, but others described the effort lacking. They said the bill lacked a solid plan.