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| It’s ‘The Apprentice, Supreme Court Edition,’ as Trump Summons Finalists to White House | It’s ‘The Apprentice, Supreme Court Edition,’ as Trump Summons Finalists to White House |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| ■ President Trump is bringing his top two candidates for the Supreme Court to the White House on Tuesday, adding to the tension ahead of his prime-time court announcement. | ■ President Trump is bringing his top two candidates for the Supreme Court to the White House on Tuesday, adding to the tension ahead of his prime-time court announcement. |
| ■ Networks will give Mr. Trump the show he wants, cutting into prime-time programming to broadcast his Supreme Court choice. | ■ Networks will give Mr. Trump the show he wants, cutting into prime-time programming to broadcast his Supreme Court choice. |
| ■ They may be “getting away with murder” but President Trump played the nice guy with drug makers at the White House. | ■ They may be “getting away with murder” but President Trump played the nice guy with drug makers at the White House. |
| It’s “The Apprentice, SCOTUS Edition.” | It’s “The Apprentice, SCOTUS Edition.” |
| Mr. Trump, who has a penchant for the theatrical and loved teasing out suspense in his key appointments throughout the campaign, plans to bring his two top choices for the United States Supreme Court to the White House ahead of his announcement tonight at 8 p.m., according to a CNN report. | Mr. Trump, who has a penchant for the theatrical and loved teasing out suspense in his key appointments throughout the campaign, plans to bring his two top choices for the United States Supreme Court to the White House ahead of his announcement tonight at 8 p.m., according to a CNN report. |
| The two judges, Neil M. Gorsuch and Thomas M. Hardiman, are traveling to Washington this afternoon, the report said. The move is highly unusual for Washington, where Supreme Court announcements are treated with solemn gravity. But it is very familiar for Mr. Trump, who was the original star of the reality television show “The Apprentice” and who used to produce beauty pageants. | The two judges, Neil M. Gorsuch and Thomas M. Hardiman, are traveling to Washington this afternoon, the report said. The move is highly unusual for Washington, where Supreme Court announcements are treated with solemn gravity. But it is very familiar for Mr. Trump, who was the original star of the reality television show “The Apprentice” and who used to produce beauty pageants. |
| Mr. Trump has given conflicting signals about which way he is leaning. Judge Hardiman has been recommended by Mr. Trump’s sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, who is a federal judge. But Judge Gorsuch has strong supporters. | Mr. Trump has given conflicting signals about which way he is leaning. Judge Hardiman has been recommended by Mr. Trump’s sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, who is a federal judge. But Judge Gorsuch has strong supporters. |
| The Trump administration is also mindful of making a choice that would be seen as moderate enough that Justice Anthony Kennedy, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, could feel comfortable with retiring in the next few years, opening up another seat for the current president to fill. | The Trump administration is also mindful of making a choice that would be seen as moderate enough that Justice Anthony Kennedy, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, could feel comfortable with retiring in the next few years, opening up another seat for the current president to fill. |
| Judge Gorsuch was a clerk for Mr. Kennedy. | Judge Gorsuch was a clerk for Mr. Kennedy. |
| And here are your contenders. To mix our reality television show metaphors, who will end up with the rose? | |
| The major broadcast networks are set to carry President Trump’s Supreme Court announcement live on Tuesday evening, cutting into regular prime-time programming. | The major broadcast networks are set to carry President Trump’s Supreme Court announcement live on Tuesday evening, cutting into regular prime-time programming. |
| The coverage by ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox broadcast affiliates is likely to significantly expand the television audience for the president’s announcement, which has taken on the air of a reality television special. Mr. Trump has used his Twitter account to encourage Americans to tune in for the event. | The coverage by ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox broadcast affiliates is likely to significantly expand the television audience for the president’s announcement, which has taken on the air of a reality television special. Mr. Trump has used his Twitter account to encourage Americans to tune in for the event. |
| Typically, the introduction of a Supreme Court nominee occurs during the daytime, when viewership is relatively lower. The major cable-news networks also plan to carry tonight’s announcement live. | Typically, the introduction of a Supreme Court nominee occurs during the daytime, when viewership is relatively lower. The major cable-news networks also plan to carry tonight’s announcement live. |
| President Trump, who just weeks ago accused the pharmaceutical industry of “getting away with murder,” demanded on Tuesday that major drug companies lower their prices and return operations to the United States. But he vowed to help them by shredding regulations and leveling the playing field with foreign countries. | President Trump, who just weeks ago accused the pharmaceutical industry of “getting away with murder,” demanded on Tuesday that major drug companies lower their prices and return operations to the United States. But he vowed to help them by shredding regulations and leveling the playing field with foreign countries. |
| Mr. Trump gathered the heads of pharmaceutical companies in the Roosevelt Room for what has become a regular feature of his first days in the White House: a meeting with corporate leaders, at which the president holds forth on an pet issue for the television cameras. | Mr. Trump gathered the heads of pharmaceutical companies in the Roosevelt Room for what has become a regular feature of his first days in the White House: a meeting with corporate leaders, at which the president holds forth on an pet issue for the television cameras. |
| On drug pricing, the president has aligned himself with Democrats, who have long argued that the government should be allowed to bargain for lower drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid, a position fought tooth and nail by Republicans. But Mr. Trump was diplomatic, at least for the cameras. | On drug pricing, the president has aligned himself with Democrats, who have long argued that the government should be allowed to bargain for lower drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid, a position fought tooth and nail by Republicans. But Mr. Trump was diplomatic, at least for the cameras. |
| “The U.S. drug companies have produced extraordinary results for our country, but the pricing has been astronomical,” Mr. Trump said. “We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons.” | “The U.S. drug companies have produced extraordinary results for our country, but the pricing has been astronomical,” Mr. Trump said. “We have to get prices down for a lot of reasons.” |
| “We’re also going to be streamlining the process, so that, from your standpoint, when you have a drug, you can actually get it approved if it works, instead of waiting for many, many years,” he added. | “We’re also going to be streamlining the process, so that, from your standpoint, when you have a drug, you can actually get it approved if it works, instead of waiting for many, many years,” he added. |
| Much of his message had to do with luring corporate investment back to the United States. He promised that the Food and Drug Administration would speed its approval of new drugs. And he said the United States would end “foreign freeloading,” which he described as countries devaluing their currencies to undercut the competitiveness of the American market. | Much of his message had to do with luring corporate investment back to the United States. He promised that the Food and Drug Administration would speed its approval of new drugs. And he said the United States would end “foreign freeloading,” which he described as countries devaluing their currencies to undercut the competitiveness of the American market. |
| “Because our country has been run so badly, we know nothing about devaluation,” he said. “You look at what China’s doing, you look at what Japan has done over the years. They play the money market, they play the devaluation market, while we sit here like a bunch of dummies.” | “Because our country has been run so badly, we know nothing about devaluation,” he said. “You look at what China’s doing, you look at what Japan has done over the years. They play the money market, they play the devaluation market, while we sit here like a bunch of dummies.” |
| China’s currency has actually been appreciating of late, and Japan has not intentionally manipulated its currency values for several years. | China’s currency has actually been appreciating of late, and Japan has not intentionally manipulated its currency values for several years. |
| The acting attorney general has been fired, protests are rocking the nation’s largest airports, and a constitutional clash is brewing between the executive and judicial branches, but Mr. Trump thinks the Democrats are a real mess because their audio equipment malfunctions, as do their tear ducts. | The acting attorney general has been fired, protests are rocking the nation’s largest airports, and a constitutional clash is brewing between the executive and judicial branches, but Mr. Trump thinks the Democrats are a real mess because their audio equipment malfunctions, as do their tear ducts. |
| The rally he was referring to was surprisingly large for what amounted to a political event on the steps of the Supreme Court. But what is really sticking in the president’s craw is the glacial pace of confirmations in the Senate — which is intentional. His choice for transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, is likely to be confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, and his nominee for secretary of state, Rex W. Tillerson, will probably get a vote on Wednesday. Committee votes are expected today for his nominees for attorney general, Jeff Sessions and small business administrator, Linda McMahon. The Senate Education Committee voted out the nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary on a party-line vote. | The rally he was referring to was surprisingly large for what amounted to a political event on the steps of the Supreme Court. But what is really sticking in the president’s craw is the glacial pace of confirmations in the Senate — which is intentional. His choice for transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, is likely to be confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, and his nominee for secretary of state, Rex W. Tillerson, will probably get a vote on Wednesday. Committee votes are expected today for his nominees for attorney general, Jeff Sessions and small business administrator, Linda McMahon. The Senate Education Committee voted out the nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary on a party-line vote. |
| But Democrats are deliberately slowing the process as they demand more answers to questions about ethics and the nominees’ views on Mr. Trump’s temporary immigration ban from citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations. | But Democrats are deliberately slowing the process as they demand more answers to questions about ethics and the nominees’ views on Mr. Trump’s temporary immigration ban from citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations. |
| Mr. Trump’s tweets only gave Democratic leaders the opportunity to grab the high ground. Ms. Pelosi, the House minority leader, responded: | Mr. Trump’s tweets only gave Democratic leaders the opportunity to grab the high ground. Ms. Pelosi, the House minority leader, responded: |
| So did Mr. Schumer’s spokesman, Matt House: | So did Mr. Schumer’s spokesman, Matt House: |
| Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee sought to stall the confirmations of Steven Mnuchin and Tom Price, Mr. Trump’s picks for Treasury secretary and secretary of health and human Services, refusing to attend scheduled votes on Tuesday. | Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee sought to stall the confirmations of Steven Mnuchin and Tom Price, Mr. Trump’s picks for Treasury secretary and secretary of health and human Services, refusing to attend scheduled votes on Tuesday. |
| Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said that recent news reports suggested that Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Price had given false statements in their nomination hearings and that the committee members needed more information before making judgments about the nominees. | Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said that recent news reports suggested that Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Price had given false statements in their nomination hearings and that the committee members needed more information before making judgments about the nominees. |
| “We have made clear that we need additional information,” Mr. Wyden said outside of his office, explaining the reason for the boycott. | “We have made clear that we need additional information,” Mr. Wyden said outside of his office, explaining the reason for the boycott. |
| Republicans expressed dismay at the delay. But with a Supreme Court vacancy nearing its 12-month point after an unprecedented blockade by Republicans, Democrats weren’t exactly feeling the heat, at least not yet. | Republicans expressed dismay at the delay. But with a Supreme Court vacancy nearing its 12-month point after an unprecedented blockade by Republicans, Democrats weren’t exactly feeling the heat, at least not yet. |
| The late-night firing of the acting attorney general, Sally Q. Yates, over her refusal to defend Mr. Trump’s executive order banning refugees, immigrants and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries has put a lot of people in a sticky position: senators. | The late-night firing of the acting attorney general, Sally Q. Yates, over her refusal to defend Mr. Trump’s executive order banning refugees, immigrants and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries has put a lot of people in a sticky position: senators. |
| Democrats now have every reason to drag out the confirmation fight over Mr. Sessions as long as possible, leaving Mr. Trump’s order defended by a Justice Department rived by dissent against a growing list of opponents. | Democrats now have every reason to drag out the confirmation fight over Mr. Sessions as long as possible, leaving Mr. Trump’s order defended by a Justice Department rived by dissent against a growing list of opponents. |
| Mr. Trump seems to understand this. | Mr. Trump seems to understand this. |
| But what about Republican senators like John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Cory Gardner of Colorado? | But what about Republican senators like John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Cory Gardner of Colorado? |
| They have leverage to demand changes before they seat Mr. Sessions at the Justice Department. But as the fight drags on, so does the lag in warrants. The pressure will only intensify. | They have leverage to demand changes before they seat Mr. Sessions at the Justice Department. But as the fight drags on, so does the lag in warrants. The pressure will only intensify. |
| At her confirmation hearings to be deputy attorney general, Ms. Yates faced a grilling from Republicans who were furious about former President Barack Obama’s order liberalizing immigration policy. | At her confirmation hearings to be deputy attorney general, Ms. Yates faced a grilling from Republicans who were furious about former President Barack Obama’s order liberalizing immigration policy. |
| The question: Would Ms. Yates be willing to stand up to the president? | The question: Would Ms. Yates be willing to stand up to the president? |
| Her inquisitor? Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, and now Mr. Trump’s nominee for attorney general. | Her inquisitor? Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, and now Mr. Trump’s nominee for attorney general. |
| “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say ‘No?’” Mr. Sessions asked. | “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say ‘No?’” Mr. Sessions asked. |
| “I believe the attorney general or deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and Constitution and give their independent legal advice to the president,” Ms. Yates replied. | “I believe the attorney general or deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and Constitution and give their independent legal advice to the president,” Ms. Yates replied. |
| The European Union negotiator on Britain’s exit from the European Union returned from the United States and declared that a united Europe now faces three threats: Islamist terrorism, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Mr. Trump. | The European Union negotiator on Britain’s exit from the European Union returned from the United States and declared that a united Europe now faces three threats: Islamist terrorism, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Mr. Trump. |
| “I have just come back from U.S., and my view is that we have a third front that is undermining the E.U., and that is Donald Trump,” the negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, said in a speech at Chatham House, a think tank in London, according to a German newspaper. | “I have just come back from U.S., and my view is that we have a third front that is undermining the E.U., and that is Donald Trump,” the negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, said in a speech at Chatham House, a think tank in London, according to a German newspaper. |
| “Trump spoke very favorably of the fact that also other countries will want to break away from the European Union, and that he hoped for a disintegration of the European Union,” he added. | “Trump spoke very favorably of the fact that also other countries will want to break away from the European Union, and that he hoped for a disintegration of the European Union,” he added. |
| President Trump and his administration have enraged Mexico, bewildered Japan, incensed China and angered much of the Muslim world. So what’s wrong with tweaking the Germans? | President Trump and his administration have enraged Mexico, bewildered Japan, incensed China and angered much of the Muslim world. So what’s wrong with tweaking the Germans? |
| Peter Navarro, the director of Mr. Trump’s new National Trade Council, told The Financial Times that Germany was using a “grossly undervalued” euro to “exploit” the United States and its European Union partners. | Peter Navarro, the director of Mr. Trump’s new National Trade Council, told The Financial Times that Germany was using a “grossly undervalued” euro to “exploit” the United States and its European Union partners. |
| That did not sit well with Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel. | That did not sit well with Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel. |
| “Germany is a country that has always called for the European Central Bank to pursue an independent policy, just as the Bundesbank did that before the euro existed,” Ms. Merkel told a news conference with Stefan Lofven, the prime minister of Sweden, according to Reuters. “Because of that we will not influence the behavior of the E.C.B. And as a result, I cannot and do not want to change the situation as it is,” she added. | “Germany is a country that has always called for the European Central Bank to pursue an independent policy, just as the Bundesbank did that before the euro existed,” Ms. Merkel told a news conference with Stefan Lofven, the prime minister of Sweden, according to Reuters. “Because of that we will not influence the behavior of the E.C.B. And as a result, I cannot and do not want to change the situation as it is,” she added. |