COURTS/MIKE PENCE/ROBERT MUELLER/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Senate on Wednesday [11-28-18] advanced a controversial Trump judicial nominee who has faced strong criticism over his record on voting rights. In a 51-50 vote, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie, the Senate agreed to move forward on the nomination of Thomas Farr, who President Donald Trump nominated to become a district judge in North Carolina.All 49 Senate Democrats and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) voted against proceeding. Flake has vowed to block all judicial nominees until Republican leadership brings to the floor legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller. There was uncertainty that Farr would advance in the days leading up to the vote, and the vote itself was infused with drama after Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who hadn’t publicly announced his support, was almost an hour late to the vote. Now that Farr has cleared Wednesday’s key procedural vote, he could be confirmed as early as this week.”
–Marianne Levine and Elana Schor, “Senate moves forward with controversial Trump judicial pick,” Politico, November 28, 2018 2:15 pm