Hirono: Wait, are you telling me policy considerations are something *we* should address?

Barrett: Yes, you write the laws.

Hirono: are you saying that the stories of people are legal arguments? The real life stories? Those are part of the law? [Yes, she's really this unintelligible]

The really astounding thing was how Hirono seemed genuinely baffled by the concept that maybe the job of a judge is not the same as the job of a legislator. As if hearing it for the first time. https://twitter.com/ishapiro/status/1316119240945082368

Hirono says that a distinction between making policy & reading law is "a fiction" - wholly rejects the idea that judges are not exactly the same as legislators.

Hirono says that she guesses that Barrett disagrees with caring about people.

Hirono has to ask Barrett for the word "severability" which was unfamiliar to her, a person who writes federal laws for a living.

Hirono's tone of voice constantly suggests a person reading something aloud for the first time without knowing what most of the words mean.

Hirono has now reached the inflection where a question mark goes about a dozen times without stopping to see if Barrett might answer.

[Internal monologue: "Bless your heart, Senator']

[Pity for Hirono intensifies]