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The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump shows new frustration with Sessions in exclusive Hill.TV interview | Hints at immigration action | Kavanaugh accuser wants FBI investigation before testifying | GOP wants to move forward with hearing | Trump wants accuser to testify | Trump tours NC hurricane damage | 'Marg,' 'guac,' TL;DR' added to the dictionary

LATEST WITH THE KAVANAUGH CONTROVERSY

This a.m. — now that’s a diplomatic response:

Speaking to reporters on his way to North Carolina, President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE expressed sympathy for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh without questioning Christine Blasey Ford’s story. On Kavanaugh: “Really, they’re hurting somebody’s life,” Trump said, referring to the senators working on Kavanaugh’s confirmation. “I think it’s a very unfair thing what’s going on.” On Ford: “I really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say ... If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that’ll be very interesting.” https://nyti.ms/2xmqMKD

Ford or no Ford, the show will go on:

Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, will not testify until the FBI investigates her claims. Why this is newsy: Her lawyer previously said she was generally willing to testify. Would this hearing be public?: GOP senators have offered to ban cameras. From Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (R-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "She has the option of a closed session, with cameras or without." http://bit.ly/2Nm0WjQ

DEMOCRATS SUPPORT HER DECISION: Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinFeinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Biden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll MORE (D-Calif.) supported Ford's call for an FBI investigation. "An immediate FBI investigation is not only consistent with precedent, it is also quite clearly the right thing to do," Schumer said in a statement. http://bit.ly/2MJ7TpP

AND REPUBLICANS WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE HEARING WITH OR WITHOUT FORD: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy Read: Senate GOP's controversial Biden report MORE (R-Iowa) is moving forward with Monday's planned hearing with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "Dr. Ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay," Grassley said. Grassley also said Ford's claims are: "Serious allegations and Dr. Ford deserves to be heard. ... The invitation for Monday still stands." http://bit.ly/2OEp65x

OH AND -- KAVANAUGH'S CLASSMATE SAYS HE WON'T TESTIFY: Mark Judge, the former classmate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh whom Christine Blasey Ford says was in the room when Kavanaugh allegedly sexually assaulted her, said he will not testify because he has no memory of the event. From Judge: "More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes. I have no more information to provide the Committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford's letter." http://bit.ly/2pm6YlZ

HOW KAVANAUGH IS PREPARING: Via The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey: “In a prep session for next week, Kavanaugh was grilled today in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building about his past, dating, the accuser's account and more for about two hours. Inquisitors included Donald McGahn Donald (Don) F. McGahnCongress hits rock bottom in losing to the president in subpoena ruling Rudy Giuliani's reputation will never recover from the impeachment hearings In private moment with Trump, Justice Kennedy pushed for Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination: book MORE, Bill Shine, Sarah Sanders, Raj Shah& more.” http://bit.ly/2pmskj9

Tidbit:

Per our CBS News cameraman at Kavanaugh's house, his wife handed out cupcakes from Sprinkles to any of the photogs and producers who wanted them. — Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) September 18, 2018

It's Wednesday -- today is Yom Kippur. 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.

BREAKING

An active shooter situation has been reported at an office building in Wisconsin:

Via The Wisconsin State Journal, police and ambulances are responding to reports of an active shooter in an office building in Middleton, Wis. From a State Journal reporter: "[O]ne woman was taken out of the building screaming, saying it was 'a devastating loss.' She was being held up by another person." Keep in mind: Not much is known right now. Updates: http://bit.ly/2xyoTtt

EXCLUSIVE

There's no way Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE can read this and then proceed to have a 'good day' at work:

During an exclusive 45-minute Oval Office interview with Hill.TV's John Solomon and Buck Sexton, President Trump gave one of his most ferocious attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions and hinting at upcoming executive action on immigration. http://bit.ly/2xn2akO

ON JEFF SESSIONS:

The $$ line -- ouch: "I don't have an Attorney General. It's very sad," Trump said about Jeff Sessions. http://bit.ly/2xn2akO

And it's not just about Sessions's recusal from the Russia investigation: "I'm not happy at the border, I'm not happy with numerous things, not just this." http://bit.ly/2xn2akO

Jeff Sessions really isn't going to enjoy reading this: "I'm so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me. He was the first senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be attorney general, and I didn't see it. And then he went through the nominating process and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers. Answers that should have been easily answered. And that was a rough time for him." http://bit.ly/2xn2akO

Soooo, why doesn't Trump fire Sessions?: "We'll see what happens. A lot of people have asked me to do that. And I guess I study history, and I say I just want to leave things alone, but it was very unfair what he did," he said, referring to the recusal decision. http://bit.ly/2xn2akO

ON IMMIGRATION: Hint, hint: President Trump hinted that he will soon use his executive powers to do more on immigration. "I'll be doing things over the next two weeks having to do with immigration, which I think you'll be very impressed at," he said. http://bit.ly/2MI28c8

His inspiration for a border wall -- a 9/11 memorial: "They built this gorgeous wall where the plane went down in Pennsylvania, Shanksville. And I was there. I made the speech. And it's sort of beautiful, what they did is incredible," Trump said. "They have a series of walls, I'm saying, it's like perfect. So, so, we are pushing very hard." http://bit.ly/2MI28c8

ON THE FILIBUSTER:

Trump wants nine more Republicans in the Senate: "We gotta get to 60. So 10 Democrats are controlling the Senate. We shouldn't have the filibuster rule. The first thing that [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE would do if he ever took control of the Senate is get rid of the filibuster rule. And for whatever reason, and nobody can explain it, they just won't do it. Which means we need to get nine more Republicans. So, it's a very tough thing, even though we need it." http://bit.ly/2MI28c8

ON FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY:

#NoRegrets: "If I did one mistake with Comey, I should have fired him before I got here. I should have fired him the day I won the primaries," Trump said. "I should have fired him right after the convention, say I don't want that guy. Or at least fired him the first day on the job. ... I would have been better off firing him or putting out a statement that I don't want him there when I get there."

ON RUSSIAN COLLUSION:

The probe is a "hoax": Trump said the Russia investigation started as a "hoax" and that exposing it could become one of his "crowning achievements" of his presidency. http://bit.ly/2NsTmUM

IN OTHER NEWS

Michael Flynn may not be as important as we thought:

Via The Hill's Morgan Chalfant, special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE requested that a federal judge move forward with sentencing for President Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Why this is important: "Some observers interpreted the move, which followed months of delays in Flynn's sentencing, as an indication that Mueller is unlikely to call Flynn to testify at any future trials that may arise from the Russia probe." I.e.: Flynn may not be as critical to the investigation as was once thought. But others disagree. How to interpret this: http://bit.ly/2pj02WR

NOTABLE TWEETS

Ugh, nope:

Back story: Yes, Heinz just announced they will begin selling a mayonnaise-ketchup combination. Details: https://fxn.ws/2DcHrFM

ON TAP

The House and Senate are out.

9 a.m. EDT: President Trump left the White House for Havelock, N.C., to survey the hurricane damage.

10:20 a.m. EDT: President Trump arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C.

Noon: Vice President Pence campaigns in Washington, D.C., for his brother Greg Pence, who is the Republican nominee for an Indiana congressional seat.

3 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence meets with the Mongolian prime minister.

6:35 p.m. EDT: President Trump gets back to the White House.

WHAT TO WATCH

10:45 a.m. EDT: President Trump tours the storm damage in North Carolina and receives a briefing on the hurricane's relief efforts. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2xogw4t

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Butterscotch Pudding Day.

'Marg' and 'guac' are important words in society:

Via CNN's Lauren Kent, Merriam-Webster has added 840 new words to the dictionary, including a few trendy words. Additions that will get a good reaction: "Rando," "adorbs," "fav," "mocktail," "hangry," "TL;DR," "Instagramming," "marg" and "guac." Definitions if you aren't sure: https://cnn.it/2NU24dL

And because you made it this far, here's a puppy who thinks she's an elephant: http://bit.ly/2xuM1sQ