Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Liberal Groups Gird For A Fight As Trump Begins Interviewing Supreme Court Nominees
President Donald Trump has interviewed four prospective Supreme Court justices and had plans to meet with a few more as his White House aggressively mobilizes to select a replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. Eager to build suspense, Trump wouldn't divulge whom he's talking to in advance of his big announcement, set for July 9. But he promised that "they are outstanding people. They are really incredible people in so many different ways, academically and in every other way. I had a very, very interesting morning." (7/3)
A new group aiming to serve as a liberal counterweight to the right on judicial nominations plans to spend $5 million opposing President Donald Trump鈥檚 Supreme Court pick. Demand Justice will invest in radio, TV, digital and voter mobilization, an official said. The campaign will focus on Maine and Alaska, homes of moderate Senate Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, respectively, as well as Indiana, North Dakota and West Virginia, where vulnerable Senate Democrats are seeking reelection. (Everett, 7/2)
It鈥檚 the list that won him the presidency. President Donald Trump鈥檚 widely publicized list of potential Supreme Court nominees brought conservative doubters 鈥 including evangelicals 鈥 to the highly unconventional Republican nominee鈥檚 side. It prevented them from fleeing as the 鈥淎ccess Hollywood鈥 tape threatened to tank Trump鈥檚 campaign. And it reassured them throughout Trump鈥檚 turbulent presidency, especially when he pulled from it to ensure Justice Neil Gorsuch鈥檚 smooth ascent to the high court. (Woellert and Cadelago, 7/2)
If nominated to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett may have Sen. Dianne Feinstein to thank. A confrontation with the California senator during her confirmation hearing to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals last October vaulted Barrett, 46, onto the national stage. As Feinstein pressed her on whether she would be able to render judicial rulings faithful to the law given her deeply held religious beliefs, Barrett became a hero to religious conservatives who believe liberal Democrats target them for their faith. (Johnson, 7/2)
