Busy Day On The Hill

July in DC would be notorious for the lack of news and of anything much happening except that August is even worse. Today is a welcome exception. The Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the Kagan Supreme Court nomination; Carte Goodwin is sworn in as West Virginia’s new senator (he’s a mere 56 years younger than his predecessor); the Senate votes on extending unemployment benefits; and Senate Democrats and Republicans have their respective weekly lunches, which gives reporters a chance to buttonhole senators. We’ve got our reporters in the field and will bring you the latest. Get it while it lasts, before DC returns to the inexorable march toward the torpor of August.