8 days until the election: Supreme Court nomination highlights Mondayโs news
Barrett, President Donald Trumpโs choice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court after Ginsburgโs death Sept. 18, is expected to be confirmed officially as the newest judge on the nationโs nine-member highest court. The vote would give Republicans a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court, with three new judges being appointed by Trump since he took office in 2017.Who is Barrett? Democrats also argued that a Republican-controlled Senate in 2016 blocked then-President Barack Obamaโs nomination of Merrick Garland to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat, citing it was an election year. Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats, Democrats hold 45 seats and Independents have two seats in the Senate. The Constitution doesnโt specify there has to be a limited number of judges on the Supreme Court.
Astros cheating scandal takes center stage at Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett hearing
HOUSTON โ The Houston Astros cheating scandal took center stage Wednesday at the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, of Nebraska, used the Astros as part of his questioning with Barrett, likening her work with an umpireโs. Watch the full video in the player attached to this story, complete with Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruzโs spicy retort in which he called the legislatorโs remarks about the Astros โscurrilous lies.โHouston Mayor Sylvester Turner has already responded, calling out the Senate Republicans.