If you’re wondering how the Senate impeachment trial is going, consider this historic photo.
A pallet of candy stands outside Sen. Pat Toomey’s office, shrink-wrapped. Notice the Hershey’s bars (milk chocolate with almonds). And the Rolos. And the stray Mike and Ikes (flavor: berry blast).
No, Halloween has not come early. This is the fuel that will power lawmakers through the next stage of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, courtesy the mega-confectioners of Pennsylvania.
Toomey is the current keeper of the Senate candy desk, a longstanding tradition dating back to the 1960s that is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: candy distributed to senators from a desk.
The Pennsylvania Republican relies on the many candy makers of his home state to keep things well-stocked — especially now that the desk is getting its sugary moment in the impeachment sun. Conditions are right for candy, with lawmakers stuck at the Capitol late into the night to hear the case, and journalists scrounging for bits of color to liven up their stories.
Senators are bantering about (and presumably eating) candy. Press secretaries are fielding questions about candy. Reporters are writing about candy.
If anyone is winning this week, it’s the National Confectioners Association.
