McConnell Announces His Retirement And Trump Signs Another Executive Order
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Who announced their retirement from the Senate?
I'm Susan Davis. I also cover politics. And I'm Mara Liason, senior national political correspondent.
And just a short time ago, Senator Mitch McConnell announced his retirement on the Senate floor.
Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate. Every day in between, I've been humbled by the trust they placed in me to do their business right here. Representing our Commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last.
Why is Mitch McConnell retiring now?
The Kentucky Republican was one of the most influential politicians of the modern era. Sue Davis, you've been covering him for years. What is he saying about why he's ready to retire now?
It is not a surprise. I think that it was long expected that McConnell would retire. He was up for reelection in 2026. He announced last year he would step down as leader of the party, paving the way for John Thune to become majority leader. But he's had a He just physically, I think, is a big driver of it. And also politically, I think that Mitch McConnell, his time in the Republican Party in a lot of ways is coming to an end.
Well, Sue, explain the role that he played in the Senate and why he was so consequential and also the role he played in Trump's return after 2020.
What was Mitch McConnell's impact on the Supreme Court?
Yeah, I mean, I think, and McConnell would be the first person to say this, that he thinks the most consequential thing he did in his time in the Senate, and he is the longest serving Republican leader ever, is that 2016 decision to block Merrick Garland from going through the Supreme Court nomination process under former President Barack Obama. He tactically did that as a move ahead of a presidential election, which frankly, even Mitch McConnell would admit that he thought Hillary Clinton was likely to win in 2016. But- The decision to keep open that Supreme Court seat, as the political history lore will prove, is that it was very motivating to evangelical Christian voters who were skeptical about Donald Trump.
And Donald Trump made great overtures to these voters to say he would put conservatives on the court. And so it goes. Donald Trump won that election, which paved the way for him to ultimately reshape the court by getting three conservative Supreme Court justices, which is today a 6-3 conservative court.
And of course, it's beware of what you wish for. You just might get it. He got Donald Trump elected. And then there was January 6th. And very famously, Mitch McConnell decided not to vote to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House. for fomenting the January 6th insurrection. And he said at the time, famously, the criminal justice system can take care of Donald Trump.
How did Mitch McConnell influence Trump's return?
And I wonder if Mitch McConnell is both responsible for helping Trump get elected so he could reshape the judiciary, but also helping him come back when McConnell clearly did not think he was fit to be president.
I think this is so interesting, and this is sort of the history that was never written, is that there was this moment in time after the January 6th attack, where McConnell seemed to open the door to the idea that he might be willing to vote to convict Trump in the Senate trial. Which would have prevented him from running again. Yes.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
Who announced their retirement from the Senate?
0:57–1:45
2
Why is Mitch McConnell retiring now?
1:45–2:36
3
What was Mitch McConnell's impact on the Supreme Court?
2:36–3:59
4
How did Mitch McConnell influence Trump's return?
3:59–6:03
5
What is Mitch McConnell's relationship with Trump?
6:03–9:02
6
Who might replace Mitch McConnell in the Senate?
9:02–10:59
7
What is Trump's new executive order about?
10:59–17:03