Conservatives want to weaponize his bitterness. Liberals are inviting him over for dinner. And a generation of jurisprudence could come down to an unnerving question: Is Brett Kavanaugh out for revenge?
My new profile, in the June issue of The Atlantic: theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
My new profile, in the June issue of The Atlantic: theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Friends told me Kavanaugh still privately seethes over his confirmation: “I assume when he’s lying in bed at night, it’s hard not to think about it,” one told me. “He was really angry at Democrats for what they did to him and his family," another said. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
But Kavanaugh also desperately wants to gain readmission into polite society. “I don’t think Thomas or Alito gives a shit what The New York Times says about them,” one friend told me. “But I think Brett does.” theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
I spoke to one woman who went on a date with Kavanaugh at the same time he was working on the Starr investigation. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi… 
The most surprising part of reporting this story was learning about the deeply weird internal dynamics of the Supreme Court, and the internal maneuvering Kavanaugh’s arrival prompted among his new colleagues. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Elena Kagan led a liberal charm offensive once Kavanaugh arrived on the court. "She saw him as up for grabs," said one insider. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
I report that Clarence Thomas, whose own confirmation was nearly quashed by allegations of sexual harassment, was eager to take Kavanaugh under his wing. Thomas would be "a good mentor," Armstrong Williams, a friend of Thomas's, told me. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Meanwhile, I heard lots of talk among Court insiders—former clerks, friends of the justices, etc.—about the tense relationship between Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, and what's behind it. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Hearing from lots of people like this today—MAGA types who are angry that Kavanaugh hasn't Hulked out on the bench like he did during his confirmation. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
“He was no fan of Donald Trump,” one friend of Kavanaugh's told me. “But he’s not going to say no to the nomination. He had to kiss the ring to get there.” theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
After months of reporting, my biggest takeaway was about the nature of the Supreme Court itself: There may be no greater indictment of America’s democratic system than the fact that Brett Kavanaugh’s feelings are so potentially consequential. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
Whatever you think of Kavanaugh (or any of his colleagues), we need to think a lot harder about how much power these Supreme Court justices have in our dysfunctional political system. OK, I'm done tweeting. Please read the piece! theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
