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| Trump says his pick to replace Ginsburg will 'most likely' be a woman – live | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President says he expects to announce choice next week | |
| Trump also told reporters he has approved a deal in principle that will allow the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok to operate in the US after previous threats to ban it due to national security concerns. | |
| “I have given the deal my blessing,” the US president said. “If they get it done that’s great, if they don’t that’s fine too.” | |
| Under the proposed deal, TikTok will partner with US business software firm Oracle to form a new Texas-based company known as TikTok Global, which has reportedly agreed to make a $5bn donation to an educational fund in the state. | |
| “They’re going to be setting up a very large fund,” he said. “That’s their contribution that I’ve been asking for.” | |
| Donald Trump said he expects to announce his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg “next week” and it will “most likely” be a woman. | |
| The president revealed his plans during a 12-minute scrum with reporters outside the White House as he prepared to depart for a rally tonight in Fayetteville, North Carolina. | |
| “We want to respect the process,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to go very quickly, actually.” | |
| Asked to comment on Republican senator Susan Collins’ statement earlier Saturday that Ginsburg’s seat on the high court should be filled by the winner of November’s election “in fairness to the American people”, Trump was to the point. | |
| “I totally disagree with her,” he said. “We won.” | |
| Trump’s suggestion that he will choose a woman to replace Ginsburg only fuels speculation that he is eying 48-year-old Amy Coney Barrett for the lifetime appointment. | |
| Barrett worries progressives as a committed Roman Catholic with conservative views on social issues. At Barrett’s circuit court confirmation hearings, the Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein expressed concern that the judge would be guided by church law instead of the constitution. | |
| “The dogma lives loudly within you and that’s a concern,” Feinstein said, “when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for for years in this country.” | |
| Maine senator Susan Collins has broken her silence on whether Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the supreme court should be filled until after the inauguration of the next president. | Maine senator Susan Collins has broken her silence on whether Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the supreme court should be filled until after the inauguration of the next president. |
| Collins, a moderate who faces an uphill climb in her re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, said the decision should be made by the president who is chosen in the November election. | Collins, a moderate who faces an uphill climb in her re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, said the decision should be made by the president who is chosen in the November election. |
| “In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently – no matter which political party is in power,” Collins said in a statement Saturday. “President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s beginning the process of reviewing his nominee’s credentials. | “In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently – no matter which political party is in power,” Collins said in a statement Saturday. “President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s beginning the process of reviewing his nominee’s credentials. |
| “Given the proximity of the presidential election, however, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election.” | “Given the proximity of the presidential election, however, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election.” |
| Collins is the second Republican senator to go on record against holding a confirmation vote before election day after Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, who said in July she “would not support” filling a vacancy before 2021, fearing it would create a “double standard” after the stonewalling of Merrick Garland in 2016. | Collins is the second Republican senator to go on record against holding a confirmation vote before election day after Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, who said in July she “would not support” filling a vacancy before 2021, fearing it would create a “double standard” after the stonewalling of Merrick Garland in 2016. |
| The GOP, which controls 53 seats in the US senate, needs only a simple majority to confirm a supreme court nominee, meaning it could only weather one more defection in addition to Collins and Murkowski presuming all 47 Democrats vote to oppose. | The GOP, which controls 53 seats in the US senate, needs only a simple majority to confirm a supreme court nominee, meaning it could only weather one more defection in addition to Collins and Murkowski presuming all 47 Democrats vote to oppose. |
| A national survey conducted shortly before Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Friday found substantial majorities of both parties favor hearings on any supreme court nominee in the event of a vacancy this year. | A national survey conducted shortly before Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Friday found substantial majorities of both parties favor hearings on any supreme court nominee in the event of a vacancy this year. |
| The Marquette University Law School poll, which was conducted between 8 to 15 September and released on Saturday, found that 67% of respondents believed confirmation should proceed in 2020 while just 32% said the US senate should hold off. | The Marquette University Law School poll, which was conducted between 8 to 15 September and released on Saturday, found that 67% of respondents believed confirmation should proceed in 2020 while just 32% said the US senate should hold off. |
| The survey did not suggest strong political divisions on the issue, with 68% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats holding that a nomination vote should take place. Independents supported going forward by a 71% margin. | The survey did not suggest strong political divisions on the issue, with 68% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats holding that a nomination vote should take place. Independents supported going forward by a 71% margin. |
| The study mirrors a similar survey in 2016 that found a majority wanted to see the Senate take up the nomination of judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who died in May 2016. | The study mirrors a similar survey in 2016 that found a majority wanted to see the Senate take up the nomination of judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace conservative justice Antonin Scalia, who died in May 2016. |
| In that case, Republicans argued it would be improper to hold a confirmation vote in an election year. Statements by Republican leaders overnight suggest that with a Republican court nomination in play, they are coming to the opposite conclusion. | In that case, Republicans argued it would be improper to hold a confirmation vote in an election year. Statements by Republican leaders overnight suggest that with a Republican court nomination in play, they are coming to the opposite conclusion. |
| Still, 48% of respondents from political factions indicated that any appointment to the court is very important to them, 34% said it is somewhat important, while 17% responded that it is not too important or not at all important to them. | Still, 48% of respondents from political factions indicated that any appointment to the court is very important to them, 34% said it is somewhat important, while 17% responded that it is not too important or not at all important to them. |
| Broken down by likely voters for each presidential candidate, 59% of Joe Biden supporters said that the next court appointment is very important, against 51% of likely Trump voters. The full results of the poll will be released on 23 September. | Broken down by likely voters for each presidential candidate, 59% of Joe Biden supporters said that the next court appointment is very important, against 51% of likely Trump voters. The full results of the poll will be released on 23 September. |
| An envelope addressed to Donald Trump containing a substance that federal investigators identified as the lethal poison ricin was intercepted this week before arriving at the White House, the Associated Press has reported citing a law enforcement official. | An envelope addressed to Donald Trump containing a substance that federal investigators identified as the lethal poison ricin was intercepted this week before arriving at the White House, the Associated Press has reported citing a law enforcement official. |
| The source, who not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the letter was discovered at a government facility where all mail addressed to the president is screened and sorted before it’s forwarded to the executive mansion. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, the official said. | The source, who not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the letter was discovered at a government facility where all mail addressed to the president is screened and sorted before it’s forwarded to the executive mansion. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, the official said. |
| The AP reports: | The AP reports: |
| The New York Times, citing a law enforcement official briefed on the inquiry, has reported that investigators believe the letter was sent from Canada. | The New York Times, citing a law enforcement official briefed on the inquiry, has reported that investigators believe the letter was sent from Canada. |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a regular contributor in these pages, has remembered Ruth Bader Ginsburg as “the best of us” and a champion of “equal opportunity and fair justice”. | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a regular contributor in these pages, has remembered Ruth Bader Ginsburg as “the best of us” and a champion of “equal opportunity and fair justice”. |
| “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of the fiercest, most intelligent defenders of equal opportunity and fair justice for all,” Abdul-Jabbar said on Saturday in a statement to the Guardian. “She was the best of us and her example brought out the best in everyone who believes in a truly democratic America.” | “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of the fiercest, most intelligent defenders of equal opportunity and fair justice for all,” Abdul-Jabbar said on Saturday in a statement to the Guardian. “She was the best of us and her example brought out the best in everyone who believes in a truly democratic America.” |
| California senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, has formally called on the committee’s chairman Lindsey Graham to delay action on filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the supreme court until after the inauguration of the next president. | California senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, has formally called on the committee’s chairman Lindsey Graham to delay action on filling Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the supreme court until after the inauguration of the next president. |
| A letter co-signed by all 10 judiciary committee Democrats dated Saturday invokes Graham’s own words following the death of conservative supreme court justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, which don’t leave the South Carolina senator much in the way of wiggle room. | A letter co-signed by all 10 judiciary committee Democrats dated Saturday invokes Graham’s own words following the death of conservative supreme court justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, which don’t leave the South Carolina senator much in the way of wiggle room. |
| While he has yet to comment on the letter directly, Graham clarified his position on the matter in a thread of tweets on Saturday afternoon, saying: | While he has yet to comment on the letter directly, Graham clarified his position on the matter in a thread of tweets on Saturday afternoon, saying: |
| Earlier Saturday, Graham responded to Donald Trump’s tweet calling for Republicans to move forward on a nominee “without delay”, saying, “I fully understand where [President Trump] is coming from.” | Earlier Saturday, Graham responded to Donald Trump’s tweet calling for Republicans to move forward on a nominee “without delay”, saying, “I fully understand where [President Trump] is coming from.” |
| Democrats have raised more than $31m in the 17 hours since supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death was announced, according to a donation ticker on ActBlue, the party’s online fundraising platform. | Democrats have raised more than $31m in the 17 hours since supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death was announced, according to a donation ticker on ActBlue, the party’s online fundraising platform. |
| Democrats have already registered record fundraising totals over the closing months of the 2020 presidential election season: more than 4m unique donors made 10,654,586 contributions on ActBlue in August, for a total of $485,400,545. | Democrats have already registered record fundraising totals over the closing months of the 2020 presidential election season: more than 4m unique donors made 10,654,586 contributions on ActBlue in August, for a total of $485,400,545. |
| The party is now looking to leverage Ginsberg’s legacy in more than judicial terms. A separate Senate-focused democratic push specifically mentions Ginsburg’s impact. | The party is now looking to leverage Ginsberg’s legacy in more than judicial terms. A separate Senate-focused democratic push specifically mentions Ginsburg’s impact. |
| “In this moment it is vital to give to Senate candidates,” reads an ActBlue fundraising page entitled Protect RBG’s Legacy. “Time to apply maximum pressure so that they do the right thing & refuse to vote to confirm before the 2020 election.” | “In this moment it is vital to give to Senate candidates,” reads an ActBlue fundraising page entitled Protect RBG’s Legacy. “Time to apply maximum pressure so that they do the right thing & refuse to vote to confirm before the 2020 election.” |
| Republicans, too, acted overnight. In Iowa, vulnerable Republican senator Joni Ernst sent out fundraising pleas shortly after Ginsburg’s death was announced.“BREAKING: The future of the Supreme Court is on the line,” Ernst’s campaign wrote in the subject line of an email blast. | Republicans, too, acted overnight. In Iowa, vulnerable Republican senator Joni Ernst sent out fundraising pleas shortly after Ginsburg’s death was announced.“BREAKING: The future of the Supreme Court is on the line,” Ernst’s campaign wrote in the subject line of an email blast. |
| “Our Conservative values and Constitutional rights are now on the line,” the email said. “The next Supreme Court nominee will shape major decisions for decades to come.” | “Our Conservative values and Constitutional rights are now on the line,” the email said. “The next Supreme Court nominee will shape major decisions for decades to come.” |
| After an online backlash, Ernst later issued an apology. “This email never should have gone out,” she said in a statement. “Though I never saw it, it was sent out under my name and I take responsibility for it. Tonight, my prayers are with the family of Justice Ginsburg.” | After an online backlash, Ernst later issued an apology. “This email never should have gone out,” she said in a statement. “Though I never saw it, it was sent out under my name and I take responsibility for it. Tonight, my prayers are with the family of Justice Ginsburg.” |
| Lawrence Douglas explains how Democrats could have the last laugh if Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell succeeds in installing a nominee to the high court before the election, or before Trump leaves the White House, should he lose to Joe Biden: | Lawrence Douglas explains how Democrats could have the last laugh if Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell succeeds in installing a nominee to the high court before the election, or before Trump leaves the White House, should he lose to Joe Biden: |
| Tim Alberta, the chap I quoted a while back re Mitch “Mule Piss” McConnell and his single-minded pursuit of judicial appointments, has a fascinating piece up at Politico. | Tim Alberta, the chap I quoted a while back re Mitch “Mule Piss” McConnell and his single-minded pursuit of judicial appointments, has a fascinating piece up at Politico. |
| “If there’s one Republican who could be convinced that filling the sudden supreme court vacancy is a bad idea,” he writes, “it’s President Donald Trump.” | “If there’s one Republican who could be convinced that filling the sudden supreme court vacancy is a bad idea,” he writes, “it’s President Donald Trump.” |
| The gist of it is that Trump might see the promise of a conservative justice as a more potent weapon in his arsenal against Joe Biden than the actuality of a conservative installed in whatever short and nasty Capitol Hill fight McConnell has lined up and into which Democrats will no doubt determinedly pitch. | The gist of it is that Trump might see the promise of a conservative justice as a more potent weapon in his arsenal against Joe Biden than the actuality of a conservative installed in whatever short and nasty Capitol Hill fight McConnell has lined up and into which Democrats will no doubt determinedly pitch. |
| In short, as Alberta writes, Trump’s decision to publish a list of possible nominees did wonders in 2016 in reassuring evangelicals and others he would not appoint any liberals, thereby aligning such voters behind a candidate they otherwise distrusted. | In short, as Alberta writes, Trump’s decision to publish a list of possible nominees did wonders in 2016 in reassuring evangelicals and others he would not appoint any liberals, thereby aligning such voters behind a candidate they otherwise distrusted. |
| So, the thinking goes, why not do so again? Trump has already published a list of possible nominees and we all know he likes to manage political theatre like reality TV. “Vote for me or Joe Biden will appoint an anti-gun, pro-abortion, atheist Black Lives Matter activist in a same-sex marriage from Vermont,” is the short and flippant version of it. Shorter still but still flippant: “Vote for me or the court gets it.” | So, the thinking goes, why not do so again? Trump has already published a list of possible nominees and we all know he likes to manage political theatre like reality TV. “Vote for me or Joe Biden will appoint an anti-gun, pro-abortion, atheist Black Lives Matter activist in a same-sex marriage from Vermont,” is the short and flippant version of it. Shorter still but still flippant: “Vote for me or the court gets it.” |
| Here’s Alberta: | Here’s Alberta: |
| And here he is again: | And here he is again: |
| News is starting to come out of the Senate Democrats’ caucus call today… | News is starting to come out of the Senate Democrats’ caucus call today… |
| Nothing is off the table, huh? | Nothing is off the table, huh? |
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fellow supreme court justices have paid tribute to their colleague in a series of statements. | Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fellow supreme court justices have paid tribute to their colleague in a series of statements. |
| “Through the many challenges both professionally and personally, she was the essence of grace, civility and dignity,” wrote Clarence Thomas. “She was a superb judge who gave her best and exacted the best from each of us, whether in agreement or disagreement. And, as outstanding as she was as a judge, she was an even better colleague – unfailingly gracious, thoughtful, and civil.” | “Through the many challenges both professionally and personally, she was the essence of grace, civility and dignity,” wrote Clarence Thomas. “She was a superb judge who gave her best and exacted the best from each of us, whether in agreement or disagreement. And, as outstanding as she was as a judge, she was an even better colleague – unfailingly gracious, thoughtful, and civil.” |
| Sonia Sotomayor saluted “an American hero”: | Sonia Sotomayor saluted “an American hero”: |
| I will miss Ruth greatly. She welcomed me to the Court with a warmth I could not have expected, and I came to feel a special kinship with her. She was someone whose wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support I could always rely on. I will forever cherish the moments we shared.” | I will miss Ruth greatly. She welcomed me to the Court with a warmth I could not have expected, and I came to feel a special kinship with her. She was someone whose wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support I could always rely on. I will forever cherish the moments we shared.” |
| Neil Gorusch gave personal memories of Ginsburg: | Neil Gorusch gave personal memories of Ginsburg: |
| “We are blessed by the happy memories that will remain, like traveling with Ruth to London where (to her delight) an uninformed guide kept calling her ‘Ruthie,’ or all the opera she tried so valiantly to teach me, or her sweet tooth at lunch, or the touching stories of her remarkable life with Marty,” he wrote. “We will miss Ruth and our hearts go out to her family. May she rest in peace.” | “We are blessed by the happy memories that will remain, like traveling with Ruth to London where (to her delight) an uninformed guide kept calling her ‘Ruthie,’ or all the opera she tried so valiantly to teach me, or her sweet tooth at lunch, or the touching stories of her remarkable life with Marty,” he wrote. “We will miss Ruth and our hearts go out to her family. May she rest in peace.” |