| Presented by Citi | View in Browser |
| |
| BREAKING IN THE KAVANAUGH CONFIRMATION FIGHT | |
Two swing senators are praising the FBI report: |
| 
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) praised the FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as being thorough. Flake said there doesn't appear to be any corroborating information for the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.
From Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine): "It appears to be a very thorough investigation," Collins told reporters. She also said: She plans to read the full report later. http://bit.ly/2zSLovB From Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.): "I think Susan Collins was quoted saying it was very thorough but no new corroborative information came out of it. That's accurate. I wanted this pause, we've had this pause. We've had the professionals, the FBI, determine -- given the scope that we gave them, current credible allegations -- to go and do their review which they've done." http://bit.ly/2Rr13ZC Keep in mind: The votes that matter right now are Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). If two of these undecided votes sway 'yes,' then Kavanaugh is confirmed. CNN's political director David Chalian weighs in -- why these two reactions are important: "I think the ballgame's over here." He added: "I think that's why… Susan Collins' statement is a hugely significant moment, because the entire argument from the Democratic side about the investigation was that it wasn't thorough, that it wasn't complete." http://bit.ly/2Nks7GZ |
| |
| 
|
| |
| OTHER REACTIONS: |
| From Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): "There's nothing in it that we didn't already know ... This investigation found no hint of misconduct...I'll be voting to confirm Judge Kavanaugh." http://bit.ly/2yhMlvg Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee: The FBI report "looks to be the product of an incomplete investigation that was limited. Perhaps by the White House. I don't know." http://bit.ly/2yhMlvg Oh and -- from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): "We had many fears that this was a very limited process that would constrain the FBI from getting the facts. ...Those fears have been realized." http://bit.ly/2RstwOJ |
| |
| It's Thursday. 10-4! I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook. Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn |
| |
| THIS MORNING -- DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE KAVANAUGH NOMINATION | |
America's reaction can best be described in one gif |
| --> http://bit.ly/2DZDp3U:
The FBI finished its report on sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The findings are classified, but senators have been viewing the document today. https://cnn.it/2QsSdJS
|
| |
| WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FBI FILE ITSELF: |
| How senators have been viewing the FBI file -- it switches parties every hour: "Lawmakers from rival parties will be able to view the report in one-hour shifts, as the document changes hands between parties every hour." http://bit.ly/2RqXhj6 But aren't there multiple copies?: No, Republicans have placed strict limits on viewing the document to prevent leaks. Just one copy will be available at a time. Democrats are not pleased with this decision. http://bit.ly/2RqXhj6 Besides senators, who else on Capitol Hill can view the FBI file: Nine staff members, including both Republicans and Democrats, are authorized to read the file. Why: To brief members who don't want to read the entire file. http://bit.ly/2zQXlSg How many people the FBI contacted: 10, according to the White House. http://bit.ly/2xYxhmX |
| |
| WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CONFIRMATION VOTE: |
| Timing: The Senate will likely vote to end debate on Kavanaugh's nomination on Friday, meaning a final vote on his confirmation could happen as early as Saturday. http://bit.ly/2Nr5IrC Collins has had quite the week: Video of reporters surrounding Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is still undecided about Kavanaugh, as she walks to the floor vote. Watch: http://bit.ly/2RnIINn |
| |
| HOW TRUMP'S SHOT AT CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD BACKFIRED: |
| On Tuesday, President Trump took shots at Ford's story, questioning her lack of details of the incident. Via The Hill's Niall Stanage, here's how that backfired: http://bit.ly/2IEIFZB Lol, this CNN chyron: The Washington Post's Amy Argetsinger tweeted a screenshot of CNN's chyron with the caption, "OMG CNN. Please let us interview your chyron artist." Screenshot: http://bit.ly/2NlPmjW Reaction from the White House: "The president was stating the facts," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during yesterday's press briefing. http://bit.ly/2y1XhOk New op-ed from Kavanaugh's college roommate: James Roche, who lived with Kavanaugh in college, wrote in Slate that "Brett Kavanaugh stood up under oath and lied about his drinking and about the meaning of words in his yearbook." His claims about living with Kavanaugh: http://bit.ly/2QukzDw |
| |
| |
Seven Russian officers have been indicted: |
| "The Trump administration on Thursday indicted seven Russian intelligence officers on a slew of federal charges for allegedly conducting malicious cyber operations against the United States and its allies." http://bit.ly/2QvvUmv |
| |
Late this morning — Pence accuses China of ... election meddling!: |
| Vice President Pence accused China of meddling in U.S. elections to hurt President Trump and the Republican Party. Why this is important: It shows the Trump administration is taking tough stance against Beijing for the midterms. http://bit.ly/2IBgD0R |
| |
| |
Socialism is trendy for millennials: |
| Almost half of millennial Democrats say they identify themselves as either a socialist or a democratic socialist, according to a new poll from BuzzFeed News and Maru/Blue. The numbers: 48 percent identified themselves as either a democratic socialist or socialist; 39 percent did not. Dem vs. Republican: 48 percent of millennials polled identified themselves as Democrats over 25 percent as Republicans. http://bit.ly/2y9FWlK |
| |
| WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?: |
| Business Insider explains the difference between a socialist and a democratic socialist: https://read.bi/2xYc3px |
| |
| HERE'S A NEW YORK TIMES QUIZ TO DETERMINE IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST: |
| https://nyti.ms/2ICPH0S |
| |
Interesting read -- how the Kavanaugh vote could help Republicans in the Senate, but hurt Republicans in the House: |
| Via The Hill's Scott Wong, Lisa Hagen and Mike Lillis, the fight over Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination may give Senate Republicans a boost, but damage Republicans' chances of keeping the House. http://bit.ly/2ycQtwQ For the House: "Republicans acknowledge that the fight over Kavanaugh's nomination could dampen their prospects of holding onto the House majority, which is already an uphill battle this cycle." Why: Christine Blasey Ford's allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school threatens to hurt the party with female and moderate voters who are key in swing seats." For the Senate: But Republicans maintain it's a boost in the Senate, where they're fighting to protect their slim 51-49 majority by targeting deep-red seats where voters overwhelmingly backed the president. Full reasoning: http://bit.ly/2ycQtwQ |
| |
| |
This stresses me out: |
| 
Watch -- she zooms in on the washer repelling off the dome: http://bit.ly/2DYd3iM |
| |
I've had trouble making it through this entire video because I kept rewatching the first few seconds and couldn't stop: |
| 
Watch -- I'm laughing, I'm cringing: http://bit.ly/2O5TnhE |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| The Senate is in. The House is out. 12:40 p.m. EDT: President Trump leaves the White House for Minneapolis. 3:50 p.m. EDT: President Trump participates in a roundtable with supporters. 4:50 p.m. EDT: President Trump speaks at a joint fundraising committee reception in Minneapolis. He then heads to Rochester, Minn. 5:35 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence campaigns for Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.). 6:10 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence campaigns for Nevada congressional candidate Danny Tarkanian. 11:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump gets back to the White House. |
| |
| |
| 7:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump holds a campaign rally in Rochester, Minn. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2II8s37 Happening today: Two NASA astronauts are returning to earth after almost 200 days in space. Livestream of their return: http://bit.ly/2DYXs2B |
| |
| |
| Today is National Taco Day! Here's where to get free tacos today: http://bit.ly/2RoAxQF |
| |
| And because you made it this far, here's one of the best Halloween costumes I've ever seen: a dad dressed up his wobbly toddlers as the slinky dog from 'Toy Story.' I get why this went viral: http://bit.ly/2NoIItj |
