Hi again, Chuck Todd here, one of the most enduring political fights in my entire adult

lifetime in politics has been the war over control of the courts.

It's a battle fought differently by Republicans and Democrats, starting with the famous

boardcarings in 1987.

In this episode of Meet the Press reports, we're going to look back at how the war for

the court started and what it means for politics today.

I hope you enjoy it, thanks for listening.

Hello, I'm Chuck Todd and welcome to Meet the Press reports, where we choose a single

topic in our news and politics and dive in deep.

This episode, the dirtiest wrestling match you've ever seen.

I'm talking of course about the fight over an opening on the US Supreme Court.

That's how it was described by NPR's Nina Totenberg, who you'll hear from in a moment.

In the rare event of Supreme Court vacancies, we've grown accustomed to the political

gamesmanship, both sides of the aisle ready the party's talking points, their dire warnings,

and increasingly their special interest fundraising arms.

But at the stakes feel higher than ever, it might be because they are.

The pressure on the court has mounted with every recent vacancy, heightened by the other

two branches of government refusing, frankly, to do their job or compromise.

And of course by state legislatures who are passing bills on some of the most highly

debated cultural issues of our time.

And Americans, more distrusting of the other side than ever before.

Yes, it's a lifetime appointment.

...