Summary
Highlights
The documentary opens with the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, just over a month before the 2020 presidential election. Mitch McConnell, then Senate Majority Leader, immediately seized the opportunity to solidify a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Despite Ginsburg's dying wish not to have her seat filled until a new president was elected, McConnell contacted President Trump to push for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, aiming to secure a conservative court for decades.
The film then flashes back to the 1987 nomination of Robert Bork by President Reagan. Bork, a prominent conservative legal scholar, faced intense opposition from liberal Democrats, led by Senator Ted Kennedy and Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden. The confirmation hearings, televised nationally, became a highly theatrical and politicized event. Bork's frank answers about his conservative judicial philosophy ultimately led to his rejection (42-58), a defeat that deeply affected first-term Senator Mitch McConnell, who vowed retaliation.
The nomination of Clarence Thomas in 1991 to replace Thurgood Marshall marked another pivotal moment. The White House, mindful of Bork's defeat, meticulously prepared Thomas. While Democrats were initially hesitant to aggressively challenge an African-American nominee, allegations of sexual harassment from Anita Hill, a former colleague, emerged. The subsequent hearings, again televised, were dramatic and divisive. Thomas's powerful "high-tech lynching" speech helped secure his confirmation by a narrow margin (52-48), further intensifying the partisan nature of judicial appointments.
Over the next two decades, McConnell steadily climbed the Senate ranks, becoming Majority Leader. His long-held grievance over Bork's treatment shaped his strategy. In 2016, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, McConnell made an unprecedented move, refusing to hold hearings or a vote on President Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, citing the proximity to a presidential election. This decision, though controversial, allowed McConnell to keep the seat open for a Republican president.
With Donald Trump's election, McConnell's strategy paid off. Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to Scalia's seat. Then, in 2018, Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement created another vacancy. Brett Kavanaugh's nomination sparked intense opposition, especially after sexual assault allegations from Christine Blasey Ford emerged. The hearings were deeply emotional and highly partisan, with Kavanaugh himself launching a partisan attack on Democrats. Despite the controversy, McConnell ensured Kavanaugh's confirmation, moving the Court further to the right.
The film concludes with the swift confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett following Justice Ginsburg's death. McConnell, again prioritizing his long-term goal, pushed through the nomination just weeks before the 2020 election, despite accusations of hypocrisy. The confirmation vote was almost entirely along party lines (52-48), cementing a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court. The documentary highlights McConnell's strategic mastery and ruthlessness in achieving his objective, drawing concerns about the damage inflicted on the Senate and the increased politicization of the judiciary.