The Democrats and “the press” let the Merrick Garland nomination founder. I suspect they didn’t want an investigation into Justice Scalia’s death. Probably a quid pro quo: they don’t go to the mat for Garland and we don’t look too deeply into Scalia’s death.
They dropped their plan of action re. getting Garland pushed through like a hot potato. I agree, it had to be they got caught. I can't imagine any other reason these tantrum artists would simply let the opportunity to nominate a SC Justice fade away.