Scoop: Schumer and Biden staffers race to beat Trump's judge confirmation record

It’s horrifying and terrifying. I'm watching my country be destroyed really fast and I feel hopeless.— Teri Lenfest, a 79-year-old docent at California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco Zoo who showed up to the San Francisco protest.

"The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights."— Dr. Alan M. Garber, President of Harvard, in an open letter rebuffing the Trump administration's demands.

"The question is preposterous."— Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, regarding the return of Kilmar Ábrego García to the US.

If you have evidence, take it to the court. That’s where we litigate these things, and otherwise just shut up on social media.— Senator Chris Van Hollen, accusing members of the Trump administration of litigating through social media.

I'm going to say no.— Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, during an appearance at the Economic Club of Chicago when asked if there was a 'Fed put' in the stock market.

"President Trump exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State."— Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, in a memo regarding President Trump's health status.

I am deeply concerned given the scope and speed of the agency's action ... about whether the agency is now in compliance with the preliminary injunction.— U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said during a hearing called after Thursday's dismissals.

We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end.— Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated this after meeting with European and Ukrainian leaders in Paris.

"These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court. We are relieved that the Supreme Court has not permitted the administration to whisk them away the way others were just last month."— Lee Gelernt, lead attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, following the Supreme Court ruling.

"We know what we are defending. We know what we are fighting for."— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a social media video urging Ukrainians not to give up hope that peace will one day return.

"We are all afraid."— Senator Lisa Murkowski made this statement at a summit of nonprofit and tribal leaders in Alaska.

Steve Kerr praises Harvard for 'standing up to the bully' in President Trump.— Steve Kerr made this statement during a post-game press conference, emphasizing the importance of educational freedom amidst governmental pressures.

"Italy will announce at the next NATO summit that it will increase spending to 2 percent as requested."— Giorgia Meloni during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

"All over this country, people are struggling, every single day, just to survive. Brothers and sisters, in the richest country in the history of the world, we can do a hell of a lot better than that!"— Bernie Sanders addressing the crowd in Folsom, California.

It was malpractice on the side of Harvard’s lawyers not to pick up the phone and call the members of the antisemitism task force who they had been talking to for weeks.— May Mailman, the White House senior policy strategist, commenting on Harvard's response to the Trump administration's demands.

With a $53.2 billion endowment, Harvard can fund its own chaos - DHS won't.— Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in a statement regarding the termination of grants to Harvard.

"Donald Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally impose the largest tax hike of our lifetime with his destructive tariffs."— California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X about the lawsuit against President Trump.

"Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead."— Zelensky in an interview for CBS's 60 Minutes programme.

It felt like seeing someone you care about start to regress. We just wanted him to enjoy retirement like other presidents — not go out like this.— A former White House official reflecting on Biden's recent public address and the hope for his retirement.

It’s amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science.— Seth Rogen during the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, pointing out the irony that tech magnates supported Trump.

It’s an injustice.— Barry Knittle, 64, a manager at an engineering firm who lives in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., expressed his concerns regarding the political situation.

"If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on."— US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this to reporters before departing Paris.

"Birthright citizenship was enshrined in the Constitution in the wake of the Civil War, is backed by a long line of Supreme Court precedent and ensures that something as fundamental as American citizenship cannot be turned on or off at the whims of a single man."— New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement regarding the Constitution and the challenges against Trump's order.

The Court simply holds that under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists — be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere — it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints.— U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who issued the ruling lifting restrictions on the Associated Press.

The challenge that Trump has is that he’s trying to solve so many important issues all at once, and a lot of them are very difficult.— John McLaughlin, a Trump pollster, discussing the challenges of Trump's second term.

Worst administration in the history of our country. Worse than Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter died a happy man. You know why? Because he wasn’t the worst. President Joe Biden was.— Donald Trump during an Oval Office meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"My husband is not a criminal. My husband is an amazing person. An amazing father."— Jennifer Vasquez about Kilmar Abrego Garcia in an interview with CBS News.

"We all noticed that in Greenland."— Aqquluk Lynge, an Inuit elder statesman, speaks about the reaction to Trump's joint address before Congress.

The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it.— U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, who found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for violating his orders regarding deportees.

Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism. Other universities should follow their lead.— Senator Bernie Sanders praised Harvard for rejecting the Trump administration's demands.

"Attorney General James is focused every single day on protecting New Yorkers, especially as this Administration weaponizes the federal government against the rule of law and the Constitution."— A spokesperson for James' office said in a statement provided in response to an ABC News request for comment.

"How people should handle their business is in the voting booth."— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told reporters that there is no reason for screaming and yelling during town hall meetings.

It’s an honour… I’m a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family.— US President Donald Trump said this during a meeting in the Oval Office after being invited by King Charles.