Here’s a look at the morning’s top headlines.
Kavanaugh will fight Justice Kennedy’s retirement
Just as many of his critics thought, Brett Kavanaugh will fight the confirmation battle for a seat on the Supreme Court. It now appears that the nominee will fight to serve, especially if he discovers a group of high-profile Democrats are going to stand in his way of the seat. It’s possible that, if his nomination does pass the Senate, he might filibuster.
But do not count out President Trump. Trump said that he does not plan to ask if Kavanaugh wants to recuse himself from the Supreme Court case against the Trump-Russia investigation. He said the case will not be heard until 2020, but the decision is up to the Senate.
Also, he’s got the votes
Just as Trump expected, the House passed two bills on Friday that both move on from the recent dustup over migrant children in custody. One will cut off the federal government’s funds from having family separation, and another will give a system that’s supposed to reunite families once they’re ordered released back into the U.S. only time to work. And both are approved by bipartisan votes.
Menendez, Menendez and Menendez
The Senate on Thursday rejected a bipartisan proposal to fix ICE, thereby strengthening the Trump administration’s stance that the agency is sacred.
It was a bad day for the Democrats on Capitol Hill. The other one was that Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been accused of paying a limo driver for sex, was arrested and is under federal indictment.
Ritter discusses Gettysburg
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and former Gov. Roger Clegg will be on hand at Gettysburg National Military Park for an event next week commemorating 150 years since the Battle of Gettysburg.
The battle in the American Civil War is commonly considered the turning point of the war because in it Abraham Lincoln said “the star-spangled banner” had been raised. They will be joined by other leading civil war historians.
Question of the day
The Supreme Court nominee is about to begin a long tour of the country, but has not been seen in public yet. Is that going to change now that we know he’s here?