President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett, 48, is a longtime favorite among religious conservatives. The Senate plans to begin confirmation hearings on Oct. 12. In order to get Barrett confirmed before election day, senators must have a far quicker confirmation process than any in recent history. Those who oppose a rushed confirmation process are crying foul, citing the precedent set by Senate Republicans in 2016, when they blocked President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland for nearly 10 months leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

The Senate is about to see a brutal fight over Barrett's nomination. If Trump's nominee is confirmed, it would mean an enormous shift in power on the Supreme Court, because it would give conservatives a 6-3 majority. That kind of majority would wield weighty legal strength. It could also impact the everyday politics of the future, on both the left and the right. A future Democratic President—whether Joe Biden or someone else—may face pressure to 'pack the court' to offset the conservative majority, for example.

On this episode, host Claire Thornton (@claire_thornto) talks with USA TODAY Supreme Court reporter Richard Wolf (@richardjwolf) and national political correspondent Phillip Bailey (@phillipmbailey), who explain why conservative lawmakers are pushing so hard for Barrett's confirmation. Congressional approval ratings are already low and now is the time for conservatives to act if they want to gain power in government. A Justice Amy Coney Barrett would join the branch of government that enjoys high approval ratings. Keep up with news from her confirmation hearings at usatoday.com.