Political infighting: The Tipline for 17 July 2017

As we approach the six-month mark of the Trump Administration, many positions in the executive branch remain unfilled, largely because Senate Democrats – unhappy about Republicans’ refusal to hold open hearings on and permit amendments to health care legislation – are slow-rolling even uncontroversial nominees. The length of time since Makan Delrahim’s nomination looks less unusual, however, when one compares to his immediate predecessor as a non-acting assistant attorney general for antitrust. Nominated on 6 February 2012, Bill Baer was not confirmed by the full Senate until 30 December of that year.