U.S. SUPREME COURT - Biden's Choice

Reminder, the GOP is on a campaign to stop ALL of Biden's agendas so they can use failures against him.

"Examining President Biden’s pledge to diversify the federal judiciary" PBS NewsHour 2/2/2022

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SUMMARY:  It is another big week in the U.S. Senate with a major push by President Biden to reshape American courts.  As a candidate he pledged to diversify the federal bench and his decision to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court has dominated recent headlines.  NewsHour's Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

AMERICAN POLITICS - Whitaker Testimony

"Frustration erupts on both sides at Whitaker’s House testimony" PBS NewsHour 2/8/2019

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SUMMARY:  Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker insisted Friday he hasn’t “interfered in any way” in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.  His much-anticipated testimony came before a contentious hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, now led by Democrats.  Lisa Desjardins reports.

AMERICAN POLITICS - Kavanaugh vs Ford

COMMENT:  This whole subject is a glaring spot light on male chauvinist attitude toward women, the woman is always at fault.  It is complete ignorance that sexual assaults are never easy for women to report precisely because of being attacked and not believed.

NOTE:  As of the dates in these articles, another accuser has come forward.

"Kavanaugh accuser ‘struggled’ with decision to go public, Washington Post reporter says" PBS NewsHour 9/17/2018

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SUMMARY:  After having a confidential letter revealed in the press, Christine Blasey Ford came forward this weekend as the woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault more than 30 years ago.  Kavanaugh has issued a strong denial.  Lisa Desjardins reports, then Judy Woodruff talks with Emma Brown from the Washington Post, who was in touch with Ford for months before publishing her account.

"Kavanaugh allegations scramble confirmation outlook" PBS NewsHour 9/17/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump defended nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Monday from allegations by Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her decades ago, but also said Ford should be heard out.  Democrats have been quick to call for a delay, and a handful of Republicans have also voiced concern.  Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor share developments with Judy Woodruff.

"With Kavanaugh allegations, Democrats warn of repeating mistakes of Anita Hill hearings" PBS NewsHour 9/18/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump defended Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh again on Tuesday from allegations by psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford that he sexually assaulted her while drunk at a party 36 years ago.  Meanwhile, senators jousted over a hearing set for Monday to question Kavanaugh and Ford.  Judy Woodruff talks with Lisa Desjardins and Marcia Coyle from the National Law Journal.

"Anita Hill on Kavanaugh: ‘Without an investigation, there cannot be an effective hearing’" PBS NewsHour 9/19/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Donald Trump and key Senate Republicans said this week that an FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh wasn’t necessary before a scheduled hearing next week about a sexual assault allegation made against him.

But Anita Hill, a law professor and author who famously accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his confirmation hearings 27 years ago, told the PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff that “without an investigation, there cannot be an effective hearing.”

Hill provided testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee back in 1991, after she had publicly accused Thomas, then a nominee.  The accusation, which he denied, upended his path to confirmation, but did not derail it: He was confirmed soon after and remains on the court to this day.

"Here’s how the FBI could probe the Kavanaugh allegations" PBS NewsHour 9/20/2018

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SUMMARY:  Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault in high school, now says she might be willing to testify next week, but not on Monday as Senate Republicans want.  Amna Nawaz reports, then William Brangham and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss the fallout on Capitol Hill and what could be gleaned from an FBI investigation.

"Trump challenges Kavanaugh accuser’s credibility, dividing Republicans" PBS NewsHour 9/21/2018

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SUMMARY:  After days of measured talk, President Trump fired off sharp words Friday about Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.  Trump tweeted that if the attack was “as bad as she says,” charges would have been filed.  Ford has talked to the FBI about receiving death threats, as her lawyers negotiate potential testimony.  Lisa Desjardins reports.

"Sexual assault ‘myths and misinformation’ could muddy Kavanaugh hearing, psychologist warns" PBS NewsHour 9/21/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump’s tweet challenging Christine Blasey Ford’s claims because she didn’t report it when it happened set off alarms for survivors and advocates.  In fact, most victims never report the sexual assault to law enforcement, says clinical psychologist Veronique Valliere.  She joins Amna Nawaz to talks about the complexities of reporting sexual violence.

"‘I felt that it was my fault’: A rape survivor shares her story of speaking out" PBS NewsHour 9/21/2018

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SUMMARY:  The allegations against Brett Kavanaugh have compelled people to share their own experiences with sexual assault and why they didn't come forward.  When Chessy Prout was a freshman in high school, she was raped by a classmate.  She spoke to authorities, brought charges and suffered a backlash.  The author of “I Have the Right To,” Prout joins Amna Nawaz to discuss the shame she experienced.

SUPREME COURT - Brett Kavanaugh

Lets start with some definitions:

Conservative
1:  Having the power or tendency to preserve in a safe and entire state

3:  One who adheres to traditional, time-tested, long-standing methods, procedures, or views :  a moderate, cautious, or discreet person

Conserve
1:  To keep in a safe or sound state (as by deliberate, planned, or intelligent care) :  preserve from change or destruction

Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary

The upshot is conservatives do NOT like change.  Change frightens them even when change is needed or if there is a better way to do anything.  This is an irrational view of the world (in fact the Universe).

"How the next justice could reshape the Supreme Court" PBS NewsHour 7/9/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump has a second opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the high court.  Judy Woodruff gets context and analysis on the possible nominees from Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal and former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and Christopher Landau, a former clerk to Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

"Congress ready for battle on Trump’s second high court pick" PBS NewsHour 7/9/2018

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SUMMARY:  President Trump will announce his Supreme Court nominee during a primetime address on Monday evening.  And already, the political storms are brewing as Washington braces for a contentious confirmation battle.  Judy Woodruff previews the announcement from both sides of the aisle from John Yang and Lisa Desjardins.

"Kavanaugh’s long paper trail could decide confirmation fight" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2018

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SUMMARY:  The fight over President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee began today.  Brett Kavanaugh started his climb toward confirmation by meeting with the Senate's top Republican and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.  Democrats are mostly united in opposition, fearing he would overturn key precedents and insulate Trump against the Russia probe.  Lisa Desjardins reports.

"What do senators need to consider in Kavanaugh’s confirmation?" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2018

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SUMMARY:  How would Judge Brett Kavanaugh change the Supreme Court if confirmed, and what does the Senate need to consider in their confirmation hearings?  Judy Woodruff gets reaction from Travis Lenkner, an attorney who clerked for both Justice Kennedy and the new nominee, and Kristen Clarke, president of the National Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Let the Republican lies and spin doctoring begin:

"Hatch:  Roe v. Wade being overturned is ‘false concern’ for Democrats" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2018

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SUMMARY:  Will Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have an easy time being confirmed by the Senate?  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) says he hopes Democrats will be open to voting for him.  Hatch joins Judy Woodruff to discuss whether the court with a Justice Kavanaugh would overturn Roe v. Wade, weaken the Affordable Care Act and the issue of whether Presidents should be subject to indictment.

"Harris:  Kavanaugh has ‘proven track record’ of not supporting fundamental rights" PBS NewsHour 7/10/2018

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SUMMARY:  Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) says she is opposed to the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and that his appointment could essentially lead to the end of a woman’s ability to have an abortion even if Roe v. Wade isn’t overturned.  Harris joins Judy Woodruff to discuss her concerns for issues of reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and other forms of discrimination.

OPINION - Shields and Gerson 4/21/2017

"Shields and Gerson on Georgia election pressure, Bill O'Reilly's Fox News fall" PBS NewsHour 4/21/2017

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SUMMARY:  Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including Democrats falling just short in a surprisingly competitive special election in Georgia, why some Republican lawmakers are starting to criticize the President, foreign policy inaccuracies in the Trump administration and Bill O'Reilly's downfall from Fox News.