While most of Washington was focused on a House hearing to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, Senate Republicans on Wednesday confirmed another one of President Donald Trump’s picks for a lifetime court seat ― and once again broke from precedent to get it done. The Senate voted 54-42 to confirm Joseph Bianco to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, based in New York. Every Republican voted for him. All but two Democrats ― Sens. Doug Jones (Ala.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) ― opposed him. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Kirsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) did not vote. Bianco’s confirmation marks the third time in history that the Senate has confirmed a judicial nominee over the objections of both of a nominee’s home-state senators. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats, didn’t turn in their so-called “blue slips” for Bianco, which are literally blue pieces of paper that signal a senator is ready to move forward with a nominee from his or her home state.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is intent on filling up federal courts with as many of President Donald Trump's judges as possible, even if it means blowing through Senate traditions to get there.