On Tuesday, several CNN hosts freaked out over the possibility that Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, if he becomes majority leader, will block President Joe Biden from replacing liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer if his seat becomes vacant.
Alisyn Camerota seemed even more concerned about the issue than her guest, Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Speaking with Congresswoman Lee on CNN Newsroom, Camerota recalled McConnell's recent interview in which talk show host Hugh Hewitt asked him if he would, if he were majority leader, block President Biden from filling any Supreme Court openings, with McConnell indicating that he likely would.
Redundantly citing Justice Breyer's age twice, Camerota posed:
He said that, if Republicans win control of the Senate in 2020, that he -- he seemed to suggest he would not allow President Biden to get his -- whoever he nominates -- if there were an open seat on the Supreme Court, he would not allow Biden's nominee to basically get a vote.
And, as you know, 82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer is 82 years old, and some people have suggested that maybe now, while Democrats still can have a vote like that in the Senate, he should retire. Your thoughts on that?
After Congresswoman Lee did not directly answer whether she thought Breyer should retire soon, instead arguing that Democrats should fight hard on the issue, Camerota jumped in to press her: "Yes, but Congresswoman, I mean, I'm just -- sorry to interrupt -- but he's had his way before. He's done this successfully before, and he says he would do it again. Do you think Justice Breyer, given that information, should retire now?"
A few hours earlier, as she spoke with California Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu, morning host Poppy Harlow also raised the issue:
My question to you is, if you agree with your Democratic colleague, Mondaire Jones, for example. who said that 82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer should retire after this term, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who told my colleague Dana Bash that she is inclined to say that she agrees with that. Do you?
And on the same morning's New Day show, co-host John Berman brought up the issue with chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, leading the liberal legal expert to complain that McConnell and President Donald Trump "manipulated this process to install their judges."
Berman has been so concerned about the issue of Justice Breyer's replacement, a couple of weeks ago, he devoted a segment to discussing the issue of whether he should retire in a hurry.
The episode of CNN Newsroom with Alisyn Camerota and Victor Blackwell was sponsored in part by Colonial Penn. Click on the link to let them know what you think.
Transcripts follow. Click "expand" to read more.
CNN Newsroom
June 15, 2021
10:23 a.m. Eastern
POPPY HARLOW: I'd like to ask you about the Supreme Court, changing issues here, about something that's getting a lot of attention as they head into a next term, where they will decide on a lot of keys issues, including guns, including voting rights, including abortion. Mitch McConnell yesterday, in an interview, said it's highly unlikely he would let President Biden fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2024 if the Republicans retake the Senate.
My question to you is, if you agree with your Democratic colleague, Mondaire Jones, for example. who said that 82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer should retire after this term, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who told my colleague Dana Bash that she is inclined to say that she agrees with that. Do you?
CONGRESSMAN TED LIEU (D-CA): Justice Breyer has been an amazing Supreme Court justice. This is a very personal decision for him. My recommendation would be the same as Representative Jones and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which is that I do believe that he should retire prior to the midterms.
HARLOW: You do.
CONGRESSMAN LIEU: I think that would be best for our country.
(...)
CNN Newsroom
June 15, 2021
2:24 p.m. Eastern
ALISYN CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about something that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seemed to suggest on a radio show or podcast yesterday. He said that, if Republicans win control of the Senate in 2020, that he -- he seemed to suggest he would not allow President Biden to get his -- whoever he nominates -- if there were an open seat on the Supreme Court, he would not allow Biden's nominee to basically get a vote. And, as you know, 82-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer is 82 years old, and some people have suggested that maybe now, while Democrats still can have a vote like that in the Senate, he should retire. Your thoughts on that?
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX): Well, it certainly is sadness and a disappointment for the basic -- how should I say? -- the basic undermining of the Constitution that the minority leader engages in. He should be ashamed of himself because, obviously, we voted on a Supreme Court person by his forcing weeks before -- in the midst of the 2020 election, shameful as that was and should not have been done, regardless of his opinion on the qualifications of that particular jurist. Of course, many of us thought that that person was unqualified and too biased, and the suggestion of one group of individuals, that should not be the case.
So I believe there should be a strategy by the White House. We now recognize the importance of having a fair court. That fair court means that this should be the opportunity for the elected commander in chief, CEO, President of the United States to be able to appoint a jurist within the time frame of his or her leadership. The President, Biden, should push forward regardless of the time. We have an obligation, meaning the United States Senate, which is a majority at this time, to be able to focus and force that, and if it happens to be McConnell, then the American people need to rise up and to ensure that that appointment can go through, at least those hearings can go through.
CAMEROTA: Yes, but Congresswoman, I mean, I'm just -- sorry to interrupt -- but he's had his way before. He's done this successfully before, and he says he would do it again. Do you think Justice Breyer, given that information, should retire now?
