MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace asked Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) on Wednesday if he and other Democrats were ready to "get mean and fight" in light of recent events concerning the Supreme Court.
Swalwell agreed he was willing to do just that following news Wednesday that Justice Anthony Kennedy will retire from the Supreme Court this summer and considering a stream of recent rulings from the Court that did not favor liberals.
"We've now heard almost word-for-word the same analysis from former Republican Steve Schmidt, from former Democratic Congresswoman Donna Edwards, from our own Rachel Maddow that it is time for you guys to get mean and fight," Wallace said. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, Nicolle," Swalwell said. "And we've seen this week that we cannot count on the Court to save us from the wrecking ball that is Donald Trump. And as far as what I can do as a congressman, electing a Democratic majority that can push that big red button to stop the wrecking ball, that's what we have to do."
In response to Kennedy's retirement announcement, Democrats are worried President Donald Trump will have the opportunity to nominate another justice to the nation's highest Court. Trump has already successfully nominated Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was confirmed to the bench and has been part of the majority in the recent decisions.
Democrats have been in conflict about how to oppose the Trump administration, with some arguing more traditional methods of political opposition and others arguing stronger "resistance" and using more personal attacks. This has led to disagreement in the party, one source of a split that has shown through in recent primaries. Most recently, 10-term Rep. Joe Crowley (D., N.Y.), a member of the House Democratic leadership, was ousted by a 28-year-old Democratic Socialists of America member who as voiced support for impeaching Trump.