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| Donald Trump to announce second supreme court nominee – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| He will announce his pick any moment. | |
| FreedomWorks, the conservative advocacy group, has put out a statement applauding Trump for choosing Kavanaugh. | |
| “Judge Kavanaugh is a fantastic choice to succeed former Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has proven to be a staunch conservative who has relied on originalism and textualism while serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. We are confident he would strengthen the conservative wing of the Court and preserve the Constitution, as the framers intended. | |
| “Judge Kavanaugh’s criticism of the Chevron deference demonstrates his skepticism towards letting unaccountable government agencies run the show when it comes to regulations. Justice Kavanaugh’s dissent in USTA v. FCC paved the way for the repeal of the needless Title II regulation of the internet. FreedomWorks calls upon Majority Leader McConnell to act swiftly and ensure Kavanaugh is confirmed on the Senate floor. We look forward to supporting Kavanaugh throughout the confirmation process.” | |
| Melania Trump just received a standing ovation as she walked into the East Room. The announcement should be underway any minute. | |
| BREAKING: President Trump is nominating federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh as next US Supreme Court justice - @PeteWilliamsNBChttps://t.co/XN9soITpq0 | |
| A peak into the White House East Room where POTUS is expected in T-minus 10 minutes. | |
| Awaiting announcement pic.twitter.com/lUvWEpTBpO | |
| Alan Dershowitz, the constitutional scholar and persona non grata on Martha’s Vineyard, tells CNN’s Anderson Cooper that he believes the nominee will be Brett Kavanaugh. He also predicts that Roe v Wade will be chipped away slowly – not overturned. | |
| Signing off, he adds: “But remember, the president does head fakes. So don’t be surprised if there’s a surprise.” | |
| Center for American Progress (@amprog) Rally outside the Supreme Court – LIVE online here: https://t.co/AwPM3nMHfy #SCOTUS #SCOTUSpick pic.twitter.com/Z7Kcqp01YA | |
| Protests are underway outside the Supreme Court. Activists on both sides of the abortion debate have gathered on the steps ahead of the announcement. | |
| The pro-choice organization NARAL has organized a rally outside the court following Trump’s announcement at 9:30pm. Progressive senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren are excepted to address the crowd. | |
| The Wall Street Journal is being very cautious in its reporting that “people close” to the president “expect” it to be Brett Kavanaugh. We’ll have to wait until 9pm to be sure. | |
| Multiple people close to the White House expect Brett Kavanaugh to be President Trump's Supreme Court nominee https://t.co/7zJNdtVwj2 | |
| Here’s what we know less than an hour from the big announcement at 9pm. | Here’s what we know less than an hour from the big announcement at 9pm. |
| Two judges were spotted at their homes in Indiana and Michigan. | Two judges were spotted at their homes in Indiana and Michigan. |
| Kavanaugh was spotted leaving work with an entourage | Kavanaugh was spotted leaving work with an entourage |
| Hardiman is reportedly in DC for a meeting today. | Hardiman is reportedly in DC for a meeting today. |
| A handful of red state Democratic senators were invited to the White House for the ceremony - but will not attend. | A handful of red state Democratic senators were invited to the White House for the ceremony - but will not attend. |
| Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Rand Paul, will also not attend. | Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Rand Paul, will also not attend. |
| Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer says he wants certainty on the nominee’s view on Roe v Wade | Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer says he wants certainty on the nominee’s view on Roe v Wade |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell accuses Democrats of using “scare tactics” to drum up resistance to Trump’s nominee | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell accuses Democrats of using “scare tactics” to drum up resistance to Trump’s nominee |
| Judge Kethledge was spotted at his home in Michigan, according to CNN. | Judge Kethledge was spotted at his home in Michigan, according to CNN. |
| The US marshal outside Judge Kethledge’s house in Michigan confirms to CNN’s Caroline Kelly that Judge Kethledge is home. | The US marshal outside Judge Kethledge’s house in Michigan confirms to CNN’s Caroline Kelly that Judge Kethledge is home. |
| Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that the judge was informed that he will not be the nominee. | Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that the judge was informed that he will not be the nominee. |
| Hearing from Republicans close to White House and process that Kethledge got a call saying he is not the choice for SCOTUS. | Hearing from Republicans close to White House and process that Kethledge got a call saying he is not the choice for SCOTUS. |
| The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Trump is leaning toward Kavanaugh, of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. | The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Trump is leaning toward Kavanaugh, of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. |
| On Monday, Mr. Trump had settled on two finalists and was leaning toward Judge Kavanaugh based on what he saw as an impressive academic pedigree and judicial credentials, one person close to the White House said. | On Monday, Mr. Trump had settled on two finalists and was leaning toward Judge Kavanaugh based on what he saw as an impressive academic pedigree and judicial credentials, one person close to the White House said. |
| Kavanaugh was a former clerk to Justice Kennedy and a former senior White House official under President George Bush. Republicans have expressed some reservations about him in recent days because of his pas writing on impeachment. | Kavanaugh was a former clerk to Justice Kennedy and a former senior White House official under President George Bush. Republicans have expressed some reservations about him in recent days because of his pas writing on impeachment. |
| Nearly 20 years ago, Kavanaugh argued that President Bill Clinton “could be impeached for lying to his staff and misleading the public, a broad definition of obstruction of justice that would be damaging if applied to President Trump in the Russia investigation,” the New York Times reported over the weekend. | Nearly 20 years ago, Kavanaugh argued that President Bill Clinton “could be impeached for lying to his staff and misleading the public, a broad definition of obstruction of justice that would be damaging if applied to President Trump in the Russia investigation,” the New York Times reported over the weekend. |
| But according to CNN, Trump’s team was interested in some of Kavanaugh’s later writings, in which he questions indicting a sitting president. | But according to CNN, Trump’s team was interested in some of Kavanaugh’s later writings, in which he questions indicting a sitting president. |
| Trump SCOTUS team has looked at Kavanaugh's past comments on indicting a sitting president, we've confirmed. In 2009, Kavanaugh wrote: "The indictment and trial of a sitting President, moreover, would cripple the federal government..." https://t.co/rDHJs5RiUY | Trump SCOTUS team has looked at Kavanaugh's past comments on indicting a sitting president, we've confirmed. In 2009, Kavanaugh wrote: "The indictment and trial of a sitting President, moreover, would cripple the federal government..." https://t.co/rDHJs5RiUY |
| Conservative commentator Erik Erickson has come around on Kavanaugh in the last few days after some lobbying by the White House. | Conservative commentator Erik Erickson has come around on Kavanaugh in the last few days after some lobbying by the White House. |
| So late last week I tweeted something critical of Kavanaugh. By the end of the day I'd gotten calls from White House staff, outside people involved in the process, and about a dozen texts from people in and out of the White House defending Kavanaugh. | So late last week I tweeted something critical of Kavanaugh. By the end of the day I'd gotten calls from White House staff, outside people involved in the process, and about a dozen texts from people in and out of the White House defending Kavanaugh. |
| Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of Trump’s four finalists to replace Kennedy, was spotted at her home in South Bend, Indiana, less than two hours before the president’s announcement ... in Washington, according to CNN. She was wearing pink shorts and did not appear to be in any sort of a rush to catch a plane to the nation’s capital. | Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of Trump’s four finalists to replace Kennedy, was spotted at her home in South Bend, Indiana, less than two hours before the president’s announcement ... in Washington, according to CNN. She was wearing pink shorts and did not appear to be in any sort of a rush to catch a plane to the nation’s capital. |
| She would not confirm or deny if she’s the president’s choice, CNN said. | She would not confirm or deny if she’s the president’s choice, CNN said. |
| Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of President Trump's possible Supreme Court picks, was just spotted at her home in Indiana. pic.twitter.com/b944lhknQ5 | Judge Amy Coney Barrett, one of President Trump's possible Supreme Court picks, was just spotted at her home in Indiana. pic.twitter.com/b944lhknQ5 |
| The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs sends this from Washington: | The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs sends this from Washington: |
| Utah Senator Orrin Hatch spoke to Trump about the nomination about an hour and a half ago, according to a top aide. Hatch has “advocated consistently” for Amy Coney Barrett over the past week but “left that last conversation feeling fairly confident it wouldn’t be Barrett.” However, “until the President makes the announcement official, anything could happen.” | Utah Senator Orrin Hatch spoke to Trump about the nomination about an hour and a half ago, according to a top aide. Hatch has “advocated consistently” for Amy Coney Barrett over the past week but “left that last conversation feeling fairly confident it wouldn’t be Barrett.” However, “until the President makes the announcement official, anything could happen.” |
| McConnell reportedly told Trump that Barrett would face the hardest path to confirmation and worried that she could alienate two pro-abortion Republicans in the senate. | McConnell reportedly told Trump that Barrett would face the hardest path to confirmation and worried that she could alienate two pro-abortion Republicans in the senate. |
| Don Jr is out with this PSA ahead of his father’s big announcement | Don Jr is out with this PSA ahead of his father’s big announcement |
| *Flash Flood Warning Tonight at 9PM EST*This is not a joke. Liberal tears will be flowing like Niagara Falls when #POTUS announces his second #SCOTUS pick. Please take all necessary precautions & bring an inner tube or boogie board to ride this blue wave. 😂🇺🇸😂🇺🇸😂#maga | *Flash Flood Warning Tonight at 9PM EST*This is not a joke. Liberal tears will be flowing like Niagara Falls when #POTUS announces his second #SCOTUS pick. Please take all necessary precautions & bring an inner tube or boogie board to ride this blue wave. 😂🇺🇸😂🇺🇸😂#maga |
| Tonight Donald Trump will make his second nomination to the Supreme Court. His first, Neil Gorsuch, was narrowly approved after Senate Republicans forced through a rule change that eliminated the 60-vote supermajority required to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. | Tonight Donald Trump will make his second nomination to the Supreme Court. His first, Neil Gorsuch, was narrowly approved after Senate Republicans forced through a rule change that eliminated the 60-vote supermajority required to confirm a Supreme Court nominee. |
| But Trump is bullish on the odds he’ll have more chances to remake the court. | But Trump is bullish on the odds he’ll have more chances to remake the court. |
| Last year, Axios reported that Trump believes he will appoint as many as four supreme court justices by the end of his first term in office. | Last year, Axios reported that Trump believes he will appoint as many as four supreme court justices by the end of his first term in office. |
| According to Axios, citing an anonymous source close to Trump, his predicted Kennedy’s retirement. Then, Trump reportedly reasoned, health issues would take a toll on two other sitting justices. The exchange reportedly went like this: | According to Axios, citing an anonymous source close to Trump, his predicted Kennedy’s retirement. Then, Trump reportedly reasoned, health issues would take a toll on two other sitting justices. The exchange reportedly went like this: |
| “Ok,” one source told Trump, “so that’s two. Who are the others?” | “Ok,” one source told Trump, “so that’s two. Who are the others?” |
| “Ginsburg,” Trump replied. “What does she weigh? 60 pounds?” | “Ginsburg,” Trump replied. “What does she weigh? 60 pounds?” |
| “Who’s the fourth?” the source asked. | “Who’s the fourth?” the source asked. |
| “Sotomayor,” Trump said, referring to the 64-year-old justice appointed by Barack Obama in 2009. | “Sotomayor,” Trump said, referring to the 64-year-old justice appointed by Barack Obama in 2009. |
| “Her health,” he explained. “No good. Diabetes.” | “Her health,” he explained. “No good. Diabetes.” |
| *It should be noted that this is highly speculative and there is no reason to believe that the justice is in poor health. Sotomayor opened up about her diabetes in 2011. | *It should be noted that this is highly speculative and there is no reason to believe that the justice is in poor health. Sotomayor opened up about her diabetes in 2011. |
| Senator Susan Collins , a Maine Republican and a crucial vote who could decide the fate of the nomination, told CNN she was invited to the ceremony tonight but will not attend. | Senator Susan Collins , a Maine Republican and a crucial vote who could decide the fate of the nomination, told CNN she was invited to the ceremony tonight but will not attend. |
| Susan Collins, key swing vote, says she’s not going to WH tonight for SCOTUS event. She says she was invited. She would not comment on any of the four names | Susan Collins, key swing vote, says she’s not going to WH tonight for SCOTUS event. She says she was invited. She would not comment on any of the four names |
| Collins is important because she has said she will not support a nominee who would seek to reverse federal protections for women to access abortions. | Collins is important because she has said she will not support a nominee who would seek to reverse federal protections for women to access abortions. |
| She told ABC earlier this month that “a candidate for this important position who would overturn Roe v Wade would not be acceptable to me because that would indicate an activist agenda that I don’t want to see a judge have”. | She told ABC earlier this month that “a candidate for this important position who would overturn Roe v Wade would not be acceptable to me because that would indicate an activist agenda that I don’t want to see a judge have”. |
| Republicans have a narrow majority, and if Democrats stay united in opposition , a single Republican defection would tank the nomination. Her opposition to a nominee could also help give cover to vulnerable Democrats under pressure to support Trump’s nominee or face accusations of obstructionism from Republicans in their home states. | Republicans have a narrow majority, and if Democrats stay united in opposition , a single Republican defection would tank the nomination. Her opposition to a nominee could also help give cover to vulnerable Democrats under pressure to support Trump’s nominee or face accusations of obstructionism from Republicans in their home states. |
| While we wait, here’s Guardian columnist and former NYT executive editor, Jill Abramson, arguing that “Democrats don’t know how to fight anymore”. | While we wait, here’s Guardian columnist and former NYT executive editor, Jill Abramson, arguing that “Democrats don’t know how to fight anymore”. |
| Senate Democrats simply do not know how to wage a bare-knuckle fight any more. Without Nancy Pelosi, I doubt they could have won and saved Obamacare, the last truly important battle they won. ... | Senate Democrats simply do not know how to wage a bare-knuckle fight any more. Without Nancy Pelosi, I doubt they could have won and saved Obamacare, the last truly important battle they won. ... |
| [Democrats] have lost the devotion of their party’s core constituencies, especially young voters. These voters are woke and virulently anti-Trump. They abhor police misconduct, endemic sexual harassment, babies snatched from their parents at the border and the rise of white nationalist, fascist forces on the right. These and other causes have awakened them. They just stunned the Democratic party and its establishment supporters with the primary victory in New York of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. | [Democrats] have lost the devotion of their party’s core constituencies, especially young voters. These voters are woke and virulently anti-Trump. They abhor police misconduct, endemic sexual harassment, babies snatched from their parents at the border and the rise of white nationalist, fascist forces on the right. These and other causes have awakened them. They just stunned the Democratic party and its establishment supporters with the primary victory in New York of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. |
| Senate Democrats need to pay attention and take a page out of Mitch McConnell’s playbook and organize their hearts out, like Ocasio-Cortez. It’s time to fight fire with fire. | Senate Democrats need to pay attention and take a page out of Mitch McConnell’s playbook and organize their hearts out, like Ocasio-Cortez. It’s time to fight fire with fire. |
| Stocks are rising and falling by the millisecond as the hour ticks closer to the 9pm announcement. | Stocks are rising and falling by the millisecond as the hour ticks closer to the 9pm announcement. |
| Multiple outlets have confirmed that Trump has made his final decision but who it is remains a mystery ... for now. | Multiple outlets have confirmed that Trump has made his final decision but who it is remains a mystery ... for now. |
| The Wall Street Journal reported that “allies of judge Hardiman said they had been told to be ready to start touting the one-time taxi driver’s blue-collar roots, in hopes this would resonate with Mr Trump’s supporters”, according to a person familiar with the matter. It paper added the caveat that it wasn’t clear whether backers of the other judges had been similarly told to prepare in the event their candidate was chosen. | The Wall Street Journal reported that “allies of judge Hardiman said they had been told to be ready to start touting the one-time taxi driver’s blue-collar roots, in hopes this would resonate with Mr Trump’s supporters”, according to a person familiar with the matter. It paper added the caveat that it wasn’t clear whether backers of the other judges had been similarly told to prepare in the event their candidate was chosen. |
| Meanwhile, judge Kavanaugh made a not-so-discreet exit from the courthouse where he works. | Meanwhile, judge Kavanaugh made a not-so-discreet exit from the courthouse where he works. |
| Buzz at the US courthouse in DC: Brett Kavanaugh spotted leaving in a black sedan accompanied by four black SUVs with security agents presumed to be Secret Service, per source. | Buzz at the US courthouse in DC: Brett Kavanaugh spotted leaving in a black sedan accompanied by four black SUVs with security agents presumed to be Secret Service, per source. |