Jackson's confirmation hearing devolved into bickering among senators

Jackson's confirmation¹ hearing devolved into bickering² among senators

　　Transcript³

　　Supreme⁴ Court nominee⁵ Ketanji Brown Jackson faced two long days of questions with the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a hearing that was at times combative⁶ and emotional.

　　RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

　　This is the final day of Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Outside witnesses will testify on her personal and professional background. Yesterday was the last day senators had to question Judge Jackson publically. It devolved into bickering as Republicans repeatedly returned to Judge Jackson's sentencing decisions on a small number of cases involving child pornography. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley asked Jackson if she regretted those decisions.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: Senator, what I regret is that in a hearing about my qualifications to be a justice on the Supreme Court, we've spent a lot of time focusing on this small subset of my sentences.

　　MARTIN: NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell joins us this morning. Hi, Kelsey.

　　KELSEY SNELL, BYLINE⁸: Hi there.

　　MARTIN: Let's start with that, these sentences that she gave out over the small number of child pornography cases. How did this become central in these hearings?

　　SNELL: Well, it started with Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who started talking about this last week, well before the hearings began. They're talking about about six or seven cases out of over a hundred sentences she handed down, and Republicans say she gave unusually low sentences. You know, it started out with most Republicans ignoring it, but it picked up pace when Republicans like Ted⁷ Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina started repeating the theme, which, I should say, has also become popular in the QAnon conspiracy⁹ movement and fits with the broader message that Democrats¹⁰ are soft on crime. You know, their claims about her record have been repeatedly debunked¹¹ and criticized. Legal scholars, including prominent conservatives, say her sentences were in line with other federal judges in similar cases.

　　MARTIN: So how did Democrats - the Democratic senators on the committee respond?

　　SNELL: They didn't want to legitimize the claims, but they were forced to respond. Democrats really struggled to reclaim¹² the message until Cory Booker, the only Black person on the committee, took his turn and talked about Jackson's figure as an inspiration.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　CORY BOOKER: Nobody's going to steal the joy of that woman in the street or the calls that I'm getting or the texts. Nobody's going to steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy¹³. You are a great American.

　　SNELL: It was a really emotional moment, and both he and Jackson teared up at that time.

　　MARTIN: NPR congressional correspondent Kelsey Snell. Thank you, Kelsey. We appreciate it.

　　SNELL: Thanks for having me.

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

6 combative   

adj.好战的；好斗的

参考例句：

• Mr. Obama has recently adopted a more combative tone.奥巴马总统近来采取了一种更有战斗性的语调。
• She believes that women are at least as combative as are.她相信女性至少和男性一样好斗。

7 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

8 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

9 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

10 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 debunked   

v.揭穿真相，暴露( debunk的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His theories have been debunked by recent research. 最近的研究揭穿了他的理论的真相。
• Some advertising slogans should be debunked. 某些夸大的广告用语应予揭露。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

13 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。