Now that Trump is the presumptive nominee, will Republicans cave on Merrick Garland?

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

published 4 May 2016

Many Republicans are reeling Wednesday with the knowledge that Donald Trump is their presumptive nominee — and at least one major conservative publication is already looking to make the best of a bad situation. RedState urged Congress on Wednesday to confirm President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, as soon as possible in order to avoid a much younger, much more liberal pick when — as they see it — Hillary Clinton inevitably takes office next year:

Republicans must know that there is absolutely no chance that we will win the White House in 2016 now. They must also know that we are likely to lose the Senate as well. So the choices, essentially, are to confirm Garland and have another bite at the apple in a decade, or watch as President Clinton nominates someone who is radically more leftist and 10-15 years younger, and we are in no position to stop it. [RedState]

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.