AP Top Headlines at 2:57 p.m. EDT

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana says he’ll vote for Todd Blanche as attorney general, likely paving the way for Blanche to be confirmed to lead President Donald Trump’s Justice DepartmentPresident Donald Trump says a federal appeals court's decision that he cannot build a $400 million ballroom at the White House without congressional approval is unjustThe Senate has passed a punishing Russian sanctions bill that was a top priority for the late Sen. Lindsey GrahamThe Senate has confirmed Cameron Hamilton as head of the embattled Federal Emergency Management AgencyPakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have signed a mutual defense agreementStocks are rising on Wall Street and Treasury yields are falling after the government reported that employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month