Author: Alanna Fichtel
The political world this week had its fair share of turmoil, as usual. Primary season is in full swing, and the presidential candidates definitely have their heads in the game. And as if there wasn’t enough to debate about, the vacant Supreme Court seat is still a topic for discussion. To help you understand what’s going on a bit more, here’s a quick breakdown:
Election 2016
What you need to know: You win some, you lose some. On Monday, Ted Cruz said goodbye to his communications director for spreading wrong information about Marco Rubio. There was already some animosity between the campaigns, and in a week of a primary, more drama is not ideal.
giphy.com
The Republican caucus in Nevada took place on Tuesday, with Donald Trump coming out the winner after receiving 46% of the votes. He was followed by Marco Rubio, then by Ted Cruz. And Carson and Kasich who are (surprise?) still in the race.
The GOP candidates debated Thursday night for the umpteenth time. This time, Rubio and Cruz went on offense, and attacked Trump for things like hiring illegal workers. But it was the same old thing for Kasich and poor Ben Carson, who just wanted somebody to “attack [him] please.”
Why it matters: The Cruz/Rubio issues might have created more of a pathway that allowed for Donald Trump to shine in Nevada this week. Trump’s win in Nevada continues his recent momentum in primaries, and could be a sign of future success. With Super Tuesday coming up this week–the day where several states hold primaries and caucuses–Trump could be on a roll.
After Cruz came in third place for the third time this primary season, some Republicans believe Rubio could be the way to stop Trump. Rubio has recently received many endorsements from Republican party elites.
giphy.com
But a Rubio Takeover will require his winning much of the non-Trump votes, as well as gaining more support in Democratic areas.
The Supreme Court
What you need to know: Tension continues to build after Justice Scalia’s death. A 24-year-old video came out from when Joe Biden was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and urged Democrats to block the passing of a potential nomination to the Supreme Court in an election year. Talk about bad timing–the Senate Majority leader, Mitch McConnell of the Republican Party, stated Tuesday that the Senate won’t hold any hearings or confirm any nomination Obama makes. Many fellow Republicans agree. Yikes.
The public also doesn’t entirely have the President’s back. The Washington Post cited several opinion polls regarding the vacant seat, done by different news outlets with varying results. Although the questions were worded differently, overall, the public is divided over whether Obama should appoint a new justice now, or the new president should get that job. If these two positions sound a little based on party lines, that’s because they are.
Why it matters: By discussing the qualities he is looking for in a nominee, Obama has made it clear he isn’t giving up on his plan to fill the seat. The Republican Party doesn’t seem like they will be backing down anytime soon either. Sounds like World War III.
But the Supremes are back in action.
tumblr.com
No, not those Supremes. The Court is however hearing a case on a Texas abortion law next week, which is sure to rile people up even more. It’s going to be a long and messy road to filling the vacancy.
