MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Explains What Democrats Will Need to Stop Trump's Next Supreme Court Pick

Cody Fenwick
and
AlterNet
June 28, 2018Media

Most political observers assumed on Wednesday that with Justice Anthony Kennedy's announced retirement from the Supreme Court, President Donald Trump's next appointee is guaranteed to be confirmed.

Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made clear that it's his intention to rubber stamp whoever Trump puts forward — apparently without regard to what is uncovered during any of the Senate hearings.

But Rachel Maddow argued that Democrats still have a chance to block the nomination, as long as they can stay united and pick off at least one wavering Republican.

She noted that with Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) having been replaced by a Democrat and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) away from the capital while he battles cancer, Republicans may need complete unanimity to approve any Supreme Court justice.

"What that means is that if Democrats hold together in one big 'We're not doormats' caucus, the only thing they need to block President Trump from installing his chosen nominee is precisely one Republican vote," she said.

"Every single Republican senator — including the pro-choice ones — will have to decide if they want to go down in history as the deciding vote to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion legal in the United States. And I know that seems nuts! But is it more nuts than what happened in freakin' Alabama being the thing that got Democrats to 49 seats? I mean, this is America! Weird stuff happens."

Watch the clip below: 

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