Confirmation hearings for Biden's Supreme Court nominee continue for a 3rd day

Confirmation¹ hearings for Biden's Supreme² Court nominee³ continue for a 3rd day

　　Transcript⁴

　　President Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, faces a second day of questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

　　STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

　　You know, I got a chance to watch some of the Supreme Court hearings yesterday. In theory, it was a chance for senators to ask questions of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. In practice, the judge did not always say that much. She was mainly present while senators delivered speeches, vented⁵ anger and talked to the cameras for social media videos and fundraising. Today comes a little more. NPR congressional correspondent Susan Davis is covering the hearings. Sue, good morning.

　　SUSAN DAVIS, BYLINE⁷: Hey, Steve.

　　INSKEEP: At least three Republican senators focused on Jackson's rulings in a handful of child porn cases. Why?

　　DAVIS: Well, there has been a pretty clear strategy, at least from a handful of Republican senators, to try to cast her as someone who is soft on crime. Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley, in particular, focused the entirety of his time on this issue. Now, I should note the White House did criticize Hawley specifically. They said he was flirting⁸ with conspiracy⁹ theories promoted by the QAnon movement that the Democratic Party is somehow run by people who support or protect child predators¹⁰. Here's a little bit of Hawley's exchange with the judge.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: You said before the probation¹¹ office is making recommendations and they do so on a case-by-case basis. That is what Congress requires. Once...

　　JOSH HAWLEY: But you had discretion¹², Judge. You admit that, right? I just want to be clear on that.

　　JACKSON: Senator, sentencing is a discretionary act of a judge, but it's not a numbers game.

　　DAVIS: Now, Steve, it is accurate that in a handful of cases involving child pornography, Jackson did not hand down the maximum sentence. But this has been pretty closely examined by fact-checkers and even some conservative legal writers who have largely debunked¹³ the idea that it was out of the norm or that Jackson's rulings - and saying that Jackson's rulings were consistent, not just with precedent¹⁴, but with other judges in similar cases. Also important context here - Jackson has the support of the Fraternal Order of Police. It's a group that would not necessarily support a nominee believed to be lax, especially on a crime like that.

　　INSKEEP: Let me ask about another issue. What did she say about abortion¹⁵ rights?

　　DAVIS: You know, like most nominees¹⁶, she did not directly answer the question. But it was interesting how she answered it. She aligned¹⁷ herself with how recently confirmed conservative judges have answered the same question.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　JACKSON: I do agree with both Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Barrett on this issue. Roe¹⁸ and Casey are the settled law of the Supreme Court.

　　DAVIS: Steve, this is a great example how both conservative and liberal nominees can answer the same question the same way, but are very widely expected to vote differently on this issue. If she's confirmed, she won't join the court until after a case challenging Roe is decided¹⁹ later this year. And her appointment won't change the ideological²⁰ makeup²¹ of the court. It will still be a 6-3 conservative majority.

　　INSKEEP: It's interesting that she managed to get on the record again what those justices have said about Roe and Casey in the past. Let me ask now about Senator Ted⁶ Cruz, Republican from Texas. He focused on the judge's role on the board of Georgetown Day School, this private school in Washington, D.C. And he focused on the school's curriculum, including a book on how to talk to kids about racism²² by Ibram X. Kendi.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　TED CRUZ: Do you agree with this book that is being taught with kids that babies are racist²³?

　　INSKEEP: That was the question as phrased by Cruz. How did she respond?

　　DAVIS: Well, she stressed that she has no control over that or any other school's curriculum. She also testified that this legal academic idea of critical race theory is not something that affects her role as a judge.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

　　JACKSON: It doesn't come up in my work as a judge. It's never something that I've studied or relied on, and it wouldn't be something that I would rely on if I was on the Supreme Court.

　　DAVIS: Republicans like Cruz have focused on this concept of critical race theory to basically question any sort of anti-racism curriculum in schools, because it's a position that has been, frankly²⁴, very motivating to Republican voters.

　　INSKEEP: Sue, pleasure talking with you, as always. Thanks so much.

　　DAVIS: Thanks, Steve.

　　INSKEEP: That's NPR's Susan Davis.

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 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 vented   

表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He vented his frustration on his wife. 他受到挫折却把气发泄到妻子身上。
• He vented his anger on his secretary. 他朝秘书发泄怒气。

6 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。

7 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。

8 flirting   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Don't take her too seriously; she's only flirting with you. 别把她太当真，她只不过是在和你调情罢了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• 'she's always flirting with that new fellow Tseng!" “她还同新来厂里那个姓曾的吊膀子！ 来自子夜部分

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 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 probation   

n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期)

参考例句：

• The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱，而且将他缓刑察看一年。
• His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后，他的工资增加了800元。

12 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

13 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》

14 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

15 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

16 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

17 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

18 roe   

n.鱼卵；獐鹿

参考例句：

• We will serve smoked cod's roe at the dinner.宴会上我们将上一道熏鳕鱼子。
• I'll scramble some eggs with roe?我用鱼籽炒几个鸡蛋好吗？

19 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

20 ideological   

a.意识形态的

参考例句：

• He always tries to link his study with his ideological problems. 他总是把学习和自己的思想问题联系起来。
• He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。

21 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

22 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

23 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

24 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。