President Trump was always going to pick a conservative for the Supreme Court. The only question has been whether to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy with a “business conservative” or a “religious conservative.” No one seriously thought that he would consider a moderate, a liberal or an ideologically ambiguous replacement. The […] Read more »
Three Ways of Governing as a Minority Party
The American political system includes no guarantees that the party with the most votes or the most registrants will win the most elections. The Constitution allows for a number of situations in which the minority party can rule. This, however, can create legitimacy problems in a country that fancies itself […] Read more »
‘It’s a Terrible Vote’: Red-State Democrats Face an Agonizing Supreme Court Choice
Democratic senators running for re-election in Trump Country face an agonizing choice over President Trump’s coming Supreme Court nominee: Vote to confirm the pick and risk demoralizing Democratic voters ahead of the midterm elections, or stick with the party and possibly sacrifice their own seats — and any chance at […] Read more »
Is the Supreme Court’s legitimacy undermined in a polarized age?
The U.S. Supreme Court. Shutterstock Kevin J. McMahon, Trinity College When I learned Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire, my thoughts went immediately to the confirmation of the newest justice, Neil Gorsuch. The Senate’s confirmation of Gorsuch was unprecedented in the history of the country. Never before had a “minority president” […] Read more »
What Kennedy’s Retirement Means for the Midterms
What are the electoral implications of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement that he will retire from the Supreme Court? With about a third fewer people voting in midterm than in presidential elections, who votes and who stays home this November is especially important. On April 10, this column noted the disparity […] Read more »
NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll: Most want vote on Trump Supreme Court nominee before midterms
A majority of Americans believe the Republican-led Senate should vote on President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee before the November midterm elections, undercutting the Democratic argument that it should be delayed until after the pivotal fall elections, according to a new NBC News|SurveyMonkey poll. CONT. Dartunorro Clark, NBC News Read more »