Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are denying authorship of the controversial anti-Trump New York Times op-ed written by what the newspaper said was a senior administration official.

As the Washington Post writes, speculation about Pence had been rampant because of the piece’s use of the word “lodestar,” which the vice president has used in speeches. Thursday morning, Pence spokesman Jarrod Agen said on Twitter, “The Vice President puts his name on his Op-Eds” and called the article “false, illogical, and gutless.” Pompeo also denied he wrote it. “It is sad that you have someone who would execute that choice,” he said about the anonymous writer.

Read: Who wrote the anti-Trump op-ed? That’s the million-dollar question.

Kavanaugh stumbles over Mueller question: Wednesday night, Sen. Kamala Harris asked Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh if he’d ever discussed special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe with a lawyer at President Donald Trump’s longtime law firm. After Kavanaugh said he wasn’t sure if he knows everyone at the firm Kasowitz Benson & Torres, California Democrat Harris wouldn’t let up, Politico writes.

“How can you not remember whether you’ve had a conversation about Robert Mueller or his investigation with anyone at that law firm?” Harris asked, suggesting that Kavanaugh was “thinking of someone and you don’t want to tell us.” But Politico says Harris offered no further context for her line of questioning with Kavanaugh, which suggested he may have discussed an investigation affecting Trump with Trump-connected lawyers but lacked any solid proof.

Opinion:Why Democrats are foolish to oppose Kavanaugh.

Doubts on tax bill: The Hill writes House GOP leaders insist they plan to hold a floor vote on a second package of tax cuts this month, even as questions arise about whether such a move is politically smart for Republicans. Republicans see a vote on the package, often called “tax cuts 2.0,” as a way to expand upon the tax law they passed late last year and to remind voters about the strength of the economy less than two months before the midterm elections. Democrats, meanwhile, think a vote on more tax cuts would actually benefit them politically, since the first tax law hasn’t been overwhelmingly well-received, the Hill says. Not all Republicans are on board with a vote on the second tax package, given that the legislation would extend limits on a deduction popular in high-tax states with vulnerable GOP representatives.

See:What tax reform 2.0 could look like.

Trump ready with China tariffs: The Trump administration is ready to move ahead with a next round of tariffs on Chinese goods after a public comment period ends at midnight Thursday in Washington, but the timing is uncertain, people familiar with the administration’s plans told Reuters.

China will be forced to retaliate if the U.S. implements any new tariff measures, China’s commerce ministry warned. Trump has threatened tariffs on another $200 billion in Chinese imports.

Trade war tracker:Here are the new levies, imposed and threatened.