Senate Democrats are apparently ready to end their Kavanaugh boycott


Top Senate Democrats are finally ready to acknowledge the Supreme Court's newest nominee.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have abandoned their weeks-long avoidance of Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee to the high court, a senior Democratic aide tells The Washington Post.
The Democrats previously insisted they wouldn't see Kavanaugh until they reviewed documents from his time working under former President George W. Bush. But after learning the National Archives wouldn't have those records ready for months, they'll reportedly meet with Kavanaugh and ask him to join their call for releasing the records.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Some Democrats have opposed Trump's nominee since long before his name was even revealed, and they have since demanded an extensive review of his very long track record. Republicans say this is an obstruction tactic, used to delay Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing until Democrats perhaps pick up some Senate seats in November's midterms. After all, even after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) requested 900,000 pages of Kavanaugh's records, Schumer still wondered why he didn't ask for more.
So Schumer and Feinstein will start having traditional one-on-one meetings with the nominee once they get back from recess on Aug. 15 — but not just to question him on reproductive rights, per the Post. They'll also ask Kavanaugh to press for the release of all his records, including papers from three of his five years in the Bush White House that Grassley didn't ask for. Regardless of if or when those papers surface, Republicans still plan to start Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing in September.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
October 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's editorial cartoons include Pete Hegseth and the press, an absence of government, and George Washington crossing the Delaware
-
A little-visited Indian Ocean archipelago
The Week Recommends The paradise of the Union of the Comoros features beautiful beaches, colourful coral reefs and lush forests
-
AI: is the bubble about to burst?
In the Spotlight Stock market ever-more reliant on tech stocks whose value relies on assumptions of continued growth and easy financing
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections