President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, who was picked to fill the seat left open by the late Justice Anthony Scalia, was grilled for hours on Tuesday by Senate lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans quizzed Gorsuch on his judicial philosophy, including his views on key court decision like Roe v. Wade, and pressed him on how he would handle being on the high court. If Republicans hold to standard protocol, they’ll need some Senate Democrats to join them to hit the benchmark of 60 votes, but Republicans could change the rules so that only a simple majority is needed for confirmation. Joining Jim Braude (@jimbraude) for analysis on what’s at stake are former Attorney General and candidate for Governor Martha Coakely @marthacoakley) who is now a partner at Foley Hoag, and Renee Landers, a constitutional law expert from Suffolk Law School.
By one estimate, at least 11,000 children are living in Massachusetts, even though they're not in the country legally. And with that, comes the sense their lives could dramatically change at any moment. Jim is joined by WGBH News’ Stephanie Leydon (@stephanieleydon) who reports, that uncertainty is creating a new challenge for local schools.
There’s a new kid on the block – on Sesame Street that is. In April, audiences around the country will be introduced to Julia, the show’s first new Muppet in 10 years. And like an estimated one in every 68 American children, she has autism. Advocates are hoping she can help brake barriers like so many shows have attempted in the past. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen (@JaredWGBH) and Rachel Rubin, a professor of American Studies at UMass-Boston, join Jim for a discussion on what the producers of Sesame Street might achieve with Julia.
Jim share’s his thoughts on why Patriots’ owner Bob Kraft could be a divided-America’s secret diplomatic weapon.
