1. Survivor: Scotus
Donald Trump said he would announce his first supreme court nominee at 8pm in a highly unusual – for the country, not for Trump – live broadcast. Two federal judges on his shortlist, Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman, had been brought to DC for the evening, CNN reported. Weird.
Senate Ds gearing up for a fight
2. Justice for TBD
The next justice to be confirmed could tip the court’s balance on crucial issues such as immigration and travel bans, voting rights, transgender rights, LGBT discrimination, abortion, healthcare, campaign finance and more.
3. Uproar over AG firing
Trump’s decision to fire the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, on Monday night after Yates refused to defend his travel ban prompted comparisons – in a bad way, for the record – to Richard Nixon and cries of abuse of executive power.
‘Courageous leadership’
Sally Yates displayed fierce intellect, unshakeable integrity, and deep commitment to the rule of law … Her courageous leadership embodies the highest traditions of the Department of Justice, whose first duty is always to the American people, and to the constitution that protects our rights and safeguards our liberties.
– Former attorney general Loretta Lynch
Flashback:
From 2015: Sen. Sessions asks Sally Yates: "If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful should the Attorney General...say no?" pic.twitter.com/o9BUNPlyon
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 31, 2017
4. GOP defends travel ban
Speaker Paul Ryan urged Republicans to stand behind Trump’s executive order, despite global condemnation, domestic protests and a frustration among lawmakers over a lack of communication from the White House.
5. Not just numbers
A man who worked for the US government in Iraq was delayed in moving his family to the United States, while others caught up in the travel ban dragnet were hoping to reunite with their families.
From Hillary Clinton:
What I'm thinking about today:
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 31, 2017
Khizr Khan:https://t.co/wrHK7IkBrG
And a vet who fought with those now excluded:https://t.co/4LhNIT8xVo
6. Moving on up:
Trump’s nominees that got the green light for a full Senate vote on their confirmation today: Betsy DeVos for education, Rick Perry for energy, and Ryan Zinke for interior. Elaine Chao was confirmed as transportation secretary.
But not so fast:
Democrats refused to attend committee votes for Tom Price, Trump’s pick for health secretary, and Steven Mnuchin, his pick for treasury secretary. A vote for AG nominee Jeff Sessions was also delayed, according to the AP.
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... And another thing:
Forget Rose Garden press conferences. Let’s have Rose ceremonies! https://t.co/Jn8hrxPEjO
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) January 31, 2017
... And another thing:
📈Lookups for 'betrayal' spiked after Sean Spicer said "I'm not going to define the word."
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) January 31, 2017
We defined the word. https://t.co/alq6KqMgnF
