What Happened In The Brett Kavanaugh Hearing

Micah, I think it’s pretty obvious. Ford was very effective in her opening statement, to the point that even Fox News hosts were conceding as much. And Mitchell didn’t really land a blow on her and didn’t seem that interested in doing so — we can debate how much of that was the format or whatever else. Both phases of that — the opening statement and the questions — went about as poorly as they could for the GOP.

Micah, I think the only thing people will remember is Ford’s emotional opening statement. Mitchell came across well but her questions were so gentle that they didn’t make much of a difference. Frankly, they were kind of boring.

Overall, I think the first half of the hearing was very very good for the anti-Kavanaugh camp. But the pro-Kavanaugh camp hasn’t had a chance to respond, so it’s too early to say the hearing’s impact is decided.

Well, Micah, I would say that Ford performed well as a witness. She wasn’t easily flustered. I found Mitchell’s line of questioning sort of anemic ultimately. She was trying to paint Ford in a partisan light, but the evidence wasn’t all that strong.