If you’ve followed the coverage of California senator Dianne Feinstein in the aftermath of her passing last week, then you’re likely well aware of her historical significance in Golden State politics: multiple glass ceilings shattered during a career in public service that spanned six decades.
And, if you’re a true political junkie, you may also know that her death raised the possibility of a genuine stink within an otherwise stately US Senate — the ruckus coming if Senate Republicans were to change their minds and try to keep Feinstein’s seat on the body’s Judiciary Committee vacant, thus creating a deadlocked panel that could stymie President Biden’s judicial nominees.
Given the avalanche of attention to the late senator’s life and times, here are three items for your consideration: