"It is not every day that a potential constitutional showdown over a presidential subpoena coincides with a confirmation hearing for a crucial Supreme Court seat. Less likely yet is a nominee who has written extensively about the very question at the heart of the dispute," the N.Y. Times' Adam Liptak writes.

The bottom line: "[T]hat novel historical moment is here."

Walter Dellinger, acting United States solicitor general in the Clinton administration: "It is not at all far-fetched to think that the question of whether President Trump must respond to a subpoena could come before the Supreme Court shortly after the confirmation process."

All politics is local: Lead of today's WashPost Metro section ... "Kavanaugh's confirmation would be a high distinction for school: Georgetown Prep already has one graduate — Gorsuch — on the Supreme Court."