Thread by @GregStohr

At the Federalist Society dinner, where Justice Kavanaugh will be giving his first major speech since his controversial confirmation. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Justices Alito and Gorsuch have been announced as in the house, as was Attorney General Barr.

Protesters dressed as handmaidens, shouting “Shame! Shame!” greeted people waiting to check in.

As did a giant video screen showing Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.

*Handmaids* - but you probably knew that.

All this is taking place just hours after Donald Trump for the first time asked the Supreme Court to derail an investigation of him. Trump wants the court to prevent his tax returns from being turned over to a New York prosecutor.

Sen. Mitch McConnell gets an enthusiastic ovation, calls the event his "favorite evening of the year."

Kavanaugh is supposed to speak around 9 or 9:15.

Former White House Counsel Don McGahn introducing Kavanaugh, calls him "a man of honor, a man of integrity." "He stood for principle and paid the price."

Standing ovation for Kavanaugh lasts about a minute and 15 seconds.

Protesters are making a high-pitched whistling sound while he speaks.

Kavanaugh says Don McGahn would buck him up by quoting Herb Brooks' speech to the 1980 US Olympic hockey team from the movie Miracle. "This is your time. Now go out there and take it."

Kavanaugh says Federalist Society's "primary point of view is to be open to all points of view." "I have always been a proud member of the Federalist Society."

Kavanaugh, who as the junior justice is a member the court's cafeteria committee, said he has made it so that there will be pizza in the cafeteria. I can't guarantee quality, but there's really no such thing as bad pizza."

Kavanaugh hails Scalia. Among his lessons: "Don't make up new rights that are not in the Constitution. Don't shy away from enforcing rights that are in the constitutional text."

He says he is part of a "team of nine with a superb and wise chief justice."

Kavanaugh calls Thomas and Ginsburg "two dedicated, hard-working generous souls." Notes that they walk "arm-in-arm" on and off the bench (as Thomas helps Ginsburg navigate the stairs).

In thanking his friends, Kavanaugh says: "I signed up for what I knew would be an ugly process, maybe not that ugly."

Kavanaugh starts to tear up when thanking his wife and daughters, then says: "Matt Damon would have made it through this" (referencing the famous SNL skit).

He concludes his 35-minute speech by saying, "I am optimistic about the future of America and our independent judiciary."

One of the few people Kavanaugh didn't thank, or mention: Donald Trump, who just filed an appeal this afternoon asking the court to shield his tax returns from a New York grand jury.