PBS NewsHour - Supreme Court

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including the dramatic decisions made by senators on whether or not to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, as well as the deeper national impact of the contentious process.

Outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, some 3,000 protesters demanded the Brett Kavanaugh nomination be rejected, while inside the Capitol, senators read the FBI's report on the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. Democrats said the report was incomplete, but all eyes were on key votes like Sen. Jeff Flake and Sen. Susan Collins. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff for more.

The FBI has finished its background investigation into Brett Kavanaugh and now the Senate must decide. Democrats have charged that the probe was "incomplete" and a "sham," while lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford complained that she and other witnesses were never interviewed. Judy Woodruff speaks to former FBI official Gregory Brower about the ways the White House guides the process.

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., says the FBI report on its reopened background investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and claims of sexual misconduct "confirmed what we had already heard" in the hearings. Rounds joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the concerns raised by Democrats about the probe, how Christine Blasey Ford's allegations were handled, as well as Kavanaugh's temperament.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., says she is frustrated and disappointed at the narrow scope of the FBI's probe of Brett Kavanaugh, and that the decision to not interview Christine Blasey Ford or several other witnesses was an attempt to sweep the allegations "under the rug and move on." Murray joins Judy Woodruff to explain her reservations about Kavanaugh's character, and the message it sends women.

Three key Republican senators joined Democrats in condemning President Trump's attacks on Christine Blasey Ford during a rally in Mississippi Tuesday night, placing Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation further in doubt. Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss the state of play in Congress, the latest on the FBI investigation and how this battle may influence voters.

Following Brett Kavanaugh’s testimony last week, some Democrats in the Senate are raising questions about the nominee’s truthfulness and demeanor--and worrying they won’t have enough time to reflect on the FBI’s findings. Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest developments on the investigation, the temperature in the Senate and what the president is saying.

With only a few more days before the Senate is expected to vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, Judy Woodruff talks with Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., of the Senate Judiciary Committee, about the progress of the FBI investigation, questions he’d like to see answered and his perception of Kavanaugh’s demeanor during last week’s hearing.

In our news wrap Monday, eight sitting Supreme Court justices heard cases involving the Endangered Species Act and age discrimination. They have the option of holding the case once a ninth justice is seated. Also, the death tolle from Friday's earthquake and tsunami has reached 844, and officials fear it could run into the thousands.

President Trump said on Monday that he thinks the FBI should "do what they have to do to get to the answer" behind sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, including interviewing anyone within reason, but Trump also said he wanted speed. Democrats had accused the White House of limiting the investigation. Yamiche Alcindor sits down with Amna Nawaz.

Putting aside politics, what’s happening behind the scenes of the FBI's background investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh? Amna Nawaz learns more from retired FBI agent Frank Montoya.

Brett Kavanaugh’s fight for confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court is not over. President Trump has ordered the FBI to investigate sexual assault allegations against his nominee, who has agreed to cooperate. The development comes after the Senate Republicans pushed Kavanaugh's nomination forward but also requested the probe. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff with the latest.

High drama played out in a day-long hearing on the allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Christine Blasey Ford offered her much-awaited testimony about the summer day in 1982 that she remembers being assaulted, while Kavanaugh defiantly called it a “political hit.” Amna Nawaz reports, then Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff for more.

Judy Woodruff takes a deep look at the day-long hearing into allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh with Amy Walter from the Cook Political Report, Michael Gerson of The Washington Post, and former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, also a former prosecutor.

Samantha Guerry, a friend of Christine Blasey Ford, says that Brett Kavanaugh’s testimony that he didn’t know Ford seemed “like an evasive answer.” Guerry talks with Amna Nawaz about watching Ford testify in front of Congress and how she might feel if Kavanaugh is confirmed.