Scoop: Senate gears up for Trump 2.0 judge confirmations

• Trump took longer to nominate judges this time around than he did in 2017 or former President Biden did in 2021. Grassley is now setting the hearing for the earliest day possible.
• Committee rules require him to wait 28 days after receiving the nominations.

What he's saying: "Far too many judges are attempting to play policymaker instead of plainly interpreting the law, as our Constitution requires," Grassley said in a statement provided to Axios.

• "It's clear the federal judiciary needs more constitutionalist judges, and that's what President Trump's judicial nominees will deliver."

Zoom in: All five current nominees will be questioned in the same committee hearing.

• Trump has nominated Zachary Bluestone, Joshua Divine, Maria Lanahan and Cristian Stevens to serve on the U.S. District Court in Missouri.
• He also nominated Whitney Hermandorfer to serve on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

By the numbers: There are just 46 judicial vacancies for Trump to fill, right now — far fewer than at the start of his first term.

• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made judges a top priority when he was leader. He set a record of 234 confirmed judges in one presidential term, which included three Supreme Court justices.
• Then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) broke that record in late December, reaching 235 confirmed judges.
• It will be difficult for Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to beat his predecessors, barring a wave of retirements leading to more judicial vacancies.