6/26/2018

SUPREME COURT/TRAVEL BAN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took a victory lap on Tuesday [6-26–18], celebrating his background role in the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Donald Trump’s travel ban. But the ruling could complicate the race for Republicans in swing House districts. Minutes after the Court upheld Mr. Trump’s ban on travel to the U.S. by people from several Muslim-majority countries, Mr. McConnell’s campaign tweeted a file photo of the Kentucky Republican shaking hands with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Gorsuch, who joined the court’s 5-4 majority in the ruling, after Mr. McConnell blocked for nearly 10 months the confirmation of Judge Merrick Garland, who was nominated to the high court by President Barack Obama in 2016…The decision on one of Mr. Trump’s most controversial policies comes in the heat of an election year, just as several key congressional races are starting to take shape. It could galvanize Mr. Trump’s supporters—polls show Republicans overwhelmingly back the travel ban. But it could cause headaches for Republicans running in competitive districts that voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Democrats challenging incumbent Republicans in swing districts can be expected to use the ban to link their opponents to the president, who is deeply unpopular with Democrats and many independents.”

-Joshua Jamerson, “As Republicans Cheer Travel-Ban Ruling, Those in Swing Districts Face Headaches,” The Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2018 8:11 pm