Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

Biden honors distinguished Americans; Trump back in N.Y. court

Hope Hicks witnessed nearly every Trump scandal. Now she must testify.

State laws measure if a woman is close enough to death for an abortion

Trump Media auditor charged by SEC with ‘massive fraud’

Google’s empire is massive. A judge will soon rule if it’s a monopoly.

An I bond is now at 4.28 percent. Are they still a good deal?

Use these 6 points to say no to a college you and your kid can’t afford

How this new rule protects retirement savers from costly advice

The New York Times, alone in its outrage over access to Biden

Wait, what is Stephen A. Smith talking about? Find out with our quiz.

Stephen A. Smith would like even more of your attention

Israel’s offensive is destroying Gaza’s ability to grow its own food

Riot police and over 2,000 arrests: A look at 2 weeks of campus protests

‘It’s been abused’ Rep. McCaul on motion to vacate threat

What’s the best bus to New York? We tested 5 for comfort and value.

You asked: Do I need a passport for my cruise?

Adaptive equipment is making national parks more inclusive

Ask Amy: Should I be the best man if I think the bride is abusive?

Carolyn Hax: Husband keeps pushing modest spouse to wear sexier clothes

Miss Manners: Host eats luxurious breakfast, leaves cereal for guest

Teen grabs wheel when driver passes out and school bus veers into traffic

Cat climbed into Amazon return box, found alive 630 miles away

Brave Little Hunter is free: Baby orca escapes lagoon for open seas

Journalism in India is under assault

The dangerous new call for regime change in Beijing

Ukrainian men abroad voice anger over pressure to return home to fight 

On Press Freedom Day, little to celebrate for Hong Kong’s journalists

Young Georgians want to be part of Europe. Their government is in the way.

Taxes are inevitable. Paying to prepare them doesn’t have to be.

The Capitals, a team in transition, know what they want this offseason

Is Pastis as good as our food critic thought? He sent spies to find out.

Nationals can’t solve Nate Eovaldi, drop series finale to Rangers

See more coverage in your recommendations

Get the weekly Campaign Moment newsletter

Set alerts for major election developments

Election 2024

The Campaign Moment newsletter

Politics alerts

Sarah Silbiger

Mitt Romney made history in 2020 by becoming the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/05/no-senator-ever-voted-remove-president-his-party-office-until-mitt-romney/" target=_blank>first senator to vote to convict a president of his own party</a> at an impeachment trial. And Romney is now making some history again.

The Republican from Utah announced Monday that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/04/senate-vote-ketanji-brown-jackson/" target=_blank>he would support Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation</a> to the Supreme Court. That’s significant for two reasons:

Because Romney had voted against Jackson for a seat on an appeals court last year, and …

Because it means Jackson will get at least as many crossover votes from Republicans — three — as she did in her previous confirmation.

Both have happened only once in the past half-century, and back then it was under highly unusual circumstances.

The three crossover votes Jackson will get from Republicans will come from Romney and Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). Generally speaking, justices who were confirmed to lower courts and then to the Supreme Court lose opposition-party votes in the process. Amy Coney Barrett got three Democratic votes for an appeals court and then zero for the Supreme Court. Brett M. Kavanaugh went from four down to one. Sonia Sotomayor went from 25 Republican votes in 1988 to nine in 2009.

Where senators stand on confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

Most other justices had been previously confirmed to lower courts either via voice vote or unanimous consent (a much more common practice back in less-polarized times) — meaning there’s no direct comparison between their lower-court confirmations and their Supreme Court confirmations.

Neil M. Gorsuch, for instance, was confirmed via voice vote in 2006 but then received three Democratic votes in 2017 (when Democrats cried foul over Senate Republicans having not allowed hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominee to the same seat). Samuel Alito was confirmed by unanimous consent in 1990 and then got four Democratic votes in 2006. Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork were confirmed to lower courts by voice votes, then received limited crossover support for the Supreme Court. (Bork’s nomination was defeated, with even six Republicans voting against him.)

Allie Caren

To find the only other example of a Supreme Court nominee with matching levels of crossover support from a previous confirmation, you have to go back to 1980 and 1994.

Stephen G. Breyer — the justice Jackson would replace — received 31 GOP votes for an appeals court in 1980 and then 33 for the Supreme Court in 1994. In both cases, of course, he was overwhelmingly confirmed — 80-to-10 and then 87-to-9 — making this a relatively easy vote for all involved.

This also appears to be the last time a senator went from voting against a nominee for a lower court to voting for for the Supreme Court. There were four of those senators, and three of them were Democrats. The Democrats’ reasons for having opposed Breyer the first time: They were upset about how the nomination was handled (including holding a committee vote by telephone) and also about a deal that had been cut with Republicans to win Breyer’s confirmation. President Jimmy Carter had just lost an election, and Breyer was the only nominee allowed to go through during the lame-duck session, while <a href="https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/12/09/The-Senate-after-first-crushing-a-two-man-filibuster-voted/7844345186000/" target="_blank">17 others were kicked to the Reagan administration</a>.

The only opposition-party senator to go from opposing Breyer in 1980 to supporting him in 1994 was Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.), making him about the only true analog to Romney in recent history.

Since then, both appeals court confirmations and Supreme Court confirmations have become much more routinely contentious (the latter especially so, given the stakes).

In voting to confirm Jackson, Romney replaces Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who supported her last time around. As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/03/romney-ketanji-jackson-supreme-court/" target=_blank>The Post’s Seung Min Kim reported</a> before Romney confirmed his plans, the senator from Utah was heavily courted by religious-freedom activists who liked her record, and he was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/01/americans-disapprove-gop-jackson/" target=_blank>sharply critical of how Republicans questioned Jackson</a> at her hearings. Romney is also supporting Jackson even though he <a href="https://www.axios.com/senate-republican-biden-judicial-supreme-court-nominee-d444e891-4202-4431-a167-f1c19ae80388.html" target=_blank>opposed most of Biden’s judicial nominees</a> (unlike Graham, Murkowski and Collins).

Both that and the GOP’s pushback on Jackson makes Romney’s decision more significant. It was expected that Jackson would be confirmed, given Democrats’ effective majority. But now she’ll receive at least as much bipartisan support as for her previous confirmation — only the second time that has happened in at least the last 50 years. She’ll also apparently do so with the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2022/ketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-vote/?itid=hp-top-table-main" target=_blank>same number of votes: 53</a>.

The GOP’s attempts to label her as soft on child pornography in her judicial sentencing — despite evidence of that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/24/these-trump-judges-failed-hawleys-sentencing-test-jackson/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2&amp;itid=lk_inline_manual_18" target="_blank">accusation being unremarkable</a> — didn’t ultimately move the needle when it came to either her <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/30/ketanji-brown-jackson-most-popular-supreme-court-nominee/" target="_blank">strong public support</a> or the Senate’s vote. And judging by Romney’s comments, it might have even helped him get over the line on a nominee he didn’t support just last year.

University of Minnesota

Aaron Blake is senior political reporter, writing for The Fix. A Minnesota native, he has also written about politics for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and The Hill newspaper.

Aaron Blake

washpost

Mitt Romney’s historic flip on Ketanji Brown Jackson

the-washington-post

Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson Meets Senators Following Confirmation Hearing

Bloomberg

Biden administration

The Fix

The 202s

Polling

Democracy in America

Balance of Power Pair

U.S. House Aggregate

U.S. Senate Aggregate

Politics

iptc-media/politics/election/voting

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary/court/judge

iptc-media/politics/election

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary/court

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary

iptc-media/politics/political_process

iptc-media/politics/government

iptc-media/politics

iptc-media/politics/government/heads_of_state

client-blocklists/Client List: Becton Dickinson KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: Nomura KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Johnson & Johnson KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ The Offer KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Bed Bath & Beyond KWs - INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Exxon Mobil  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Google PG KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: USAA KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Discover Card KWs – EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/T. Rowe Price KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Microsoft KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/HBO KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Ford/Lincoln KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Capital One (One Tech) KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL - 12.23.20

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Louis Vuitton KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/United Airlines KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Diageo - Johnnie Walker KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ Client List: Mercedes EQS KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FlexForm KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Boeing KWs 2021 - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Organon KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Verizon KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Synchrony Financial KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Ukraine-Russia (Apple News) KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Showtime KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple TV+ KW – INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Ronald McDonald House KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client Neg KW List: Omega KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/P+ Halo KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/PMI KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Marcus Goldman Sachs Neg KW List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/GEICO KWs - INCLUDES ANY_4.26.21

client-blocklists/Client List: Eli Lily KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Citibank KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/SAP KW List - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Citibank KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Purina KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/Citrix Mindfulness

client-blocklists/Client List: Fidelity Investments KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Turbo Tax KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CME KW List 2022 - EXCLUDES ALL 

client-blocklists/Bank of America KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/Racing and Nascar Enthusiasts

client-blocklists/BP KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Intel KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/National Instruments KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T Digital Divide  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ExxonMobil 03312021 KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Samsung 2021 KWs - INCLUDE ANY

advertising/B2_Politically Active - DO NOT REMOVE_legacyaux_lmp

client-blocklists/Google PG Competitor KWs - EXCLUDES ALL 

advertising/B2_Politics_legacyaux_8f3

advertising/B2_Positive News_legacyaux_hlt

advertising/B2_Republicans_legacyaux_33h

client-blocklists/Client List: GEICO KWs

client-blocklists/Client List: KPMG KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/WaPo: Human Disaster

client-blocklists/Client List: Novo Nordisk KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Siemens KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Cisco KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Capital Concerts KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T ALT KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Mercedes KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FX Excludes All Disney

client-blocklists/Client List: Boeing KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Inpixon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Google KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Philip Morris KWs - INCLUDES ANY 

client-blocklists/Dupixent neg kws - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Capital One KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY - 1.4.21

advertising/B2_Federal Courts and SCOTUS_legacyaux_i63

client-blocklists/Bank of America Merrill Lynch KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/CME KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Chase KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Amazon KWs - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/Client List: Office Depot KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: ETrade KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

prism://prism.query/site,/politics/the-fix?limit=20

The Washington Post's political analysis blog.

prism://prism.query/site-articles-only,/politics&limit=20

Cut through the 2024 election noise. Get The Campaign Moment newsletter.

Post Politics from The Washington Post is the source for political news headlines, in-depth politics coverage and political opinion, plus breaking news on the biden administration and White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, elections and more.

prism://prism.query/site,/politics/the-fix&limit=6

Keeping up with politics is easy with The 5-Minute Fix Newsletter, in your inbox weekdays.