NOMINATIONS/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump said he met with four potential Supreme Court justices on Monday [7-2-18], while a person familiar with the selection process said Trump was focused keenly on two people, although others were still in contention. Trump told reporters at the White House that he will meet with ‘two or three more’ candidates to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced last week that he is retiring…He met for 45 minutes with each contender, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. Making his second Supreme Court appointment less than 18 months into his presidency will let Trump cement conservative control of the court for years to come. Such a move would likely fire up Trump supporters eager for a rightward shift on divisive social issues such as abortion and gay rights.”
–Jeff Mason, Andrew Chung, “Trump meets with Supreme Court contenders, two in focus,” Reuters, July 2, 2018 8:56 am