Week In The News: Barrett Confirmation Hearing, Early Voting

This week, a split screen on the future of American democracy. From early voting to Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearings, we make sense of the week's news.

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

Stephen Henderson, host of "Detroit Today" on WDET since 2015. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who worked for the Detroit Free Press, the Baltimore Sun and the Chicago Tribune. (@SHDetroit)

Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor for Slate. Host of the Amicus podcast. (@Dahlialithwick)

Meg Kinnard, politics reporter for the Associated Press. (@MegKinnardAP)

Washington Post: "Across the country, Democratic enthusiasm is propelling an enormous wave of early voting" — "With less than three weeks to go before Nov. 3, roughly 15 million Americans have already voted in the fall election, reflecting an extraordinary level of participation despite barriers erected by the coronavirus pandemic — and setting a trajectory that could result in the majority of voters casting ballots before Election Day for the first time in U.S. history."

Slate: "Amy Coney Barrett Won’t Say Trump’s Obvious Lawlessness Is Lawless" — "Judge Amy Coney Barrett sent a few shockwaves through her otherwise fairly predictable confirmation process on Tuesday and Wednesday by declining to answer a series of easy questions about democracy and the rule of law."

Associated Press: "Graham’s $28M sets quarterly fundraise record for Senate GOP" — "U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has set a fundraising record for Republican Senate candidates, bringing in $28 million in the third quarter of a reelection battle that is swiftly becoming among the more expensive in the country — and his toughest to date."

Washington Post: "To Democrats’ frustration, GOP predicts clear sailing as Barrett testimony ends" — "Senate Republicans predicted clear sailing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as she concluded her confirmation testimony Wednesday, and said she will forge a new and prominent path as a conservative, religious woman who opposes abortion."

The Hill: "States experience record early voting turnout amid pandemic" — "Election Day is still 19 days away, but voting — both in-person and by mail — has started around the country, shattering voter turnout records."