MSNBC’s Chris Matthews was on the air this afternoon to offer commentary on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and potential Trump nominees to replace him. Matthews made one thing very clear: Either Democrats prevent Trump from getting an appointment before the midterms, or pay the price.

In fact, there will be “hell to pay”, said Matthews. And part of the reason, but not the whole reason, is revenge for Merrick Garland.

“I think the Democrats […] have to fight this tooth and nail, they have to use every process, opportunity they have to stop this until next year when we have a new Senate,” said Matthews. “To give this to the Republicans when they control the Senate basically 51 or 50 to 49, really, with John McCain perhaps not voting again, to give them this last chance to pack the court 5-4 again, hard conservative, I say this: the base will attack the leadership if they allow it to happen, and they should.”

“This is time for vengeance for what happened two years ago,” he said.

“If they don’t reap the vengeance now, with four and half months to go before the election,” he added, “I think you’ll see more Joe Crowleys go down.”

Watch the clip above, courtesy of MSNBC

[Featured image via screengrab]

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