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Pre-obituary blames McConnell for civil-rights rollback, sparks transparency bill

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Columnist Joseph Gerth published a July 22 “pre-obituary” accusing Senator Mitch McConnell of undoing civil-rights gains, shaping a far-right Supreme Court, and enabling President Donald Trump.
Gerth said McConnell blocked Merrick Garland in 2016, confirmed Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, created a 6-3 Court majority and cut approval from 58 % to 36 %.
After his June 14 hospitalization for pneumonia, McConnell missed every Senate vote, spurring a Duty of Transparency Act proposal.

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Story summary

Columnist Joseph Gerth published a July 22 “pre-obituary” accusing Senator Mitch McConnell of undoing civil-rights gains, shaping a far-right Supreme Court, and enabling President Donald Trump.
Gerth said McConnell blocked Merrick Garland in 2016, confirmed Amy Coney Barrett in 2020, created a 6-3 Court majority and cut approval from 58 % to 36 %.
After his June 14 hospitalization for pneumonia, McConnell missed every Senate vote, spurring a Duty of Transparency Act proposal.