Morning Report. It’s Friday. What a week, and it’s not over! ... This daily email gets you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. ( CLICK HERE to subscribe! ) Jonathan Easley and Alexis Simendinger are the co-creators, and you can find them on Twitter @joneasley and @asimendinger. Welcome to The Hill'sIt’s Friday. What a week, and it’s not over! ... This daily email gets you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. (andare the co-creators, and you can find them on Twitter @joneasley and @asimendinger.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are expected to vote this morning on President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh following an emotional day of testimony on Thursday from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who accused him of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers.

Kavanaugh’s consideration by the Judiciary Committee and his confirmation by the full Senate, perhaps by Tuesday, are in suspense.

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 Judiciary Committee member, said Thursday night he was undecided. In a committee with 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, Flake’s vote is consequential, although Kavanaugh’s nomination could still move to the Senate floor if the committee is split. Watch live coverage of the planned vote, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., via C-SPAN .

The plan, at least for now: After the committee votes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power MORE (R-Ky.) is expected to move to procedural votes that could end debate as soon as Monday, the first day of the Supreme Court’s new session. If those votes in the Senate are successful, the final vote on the Kavanaugh nomination could take place on Tuesday ( The Hill ).

Reuters : Senate panel heads to vote on Kavanaugh.

The New York Times : American Bar Association on Thursday evening called for postponement of vote and FBI investigation of Kavanaugh.

The assault allegations against Kavanaugh give red-state Democrats up for reelection in 2018 the cover they may need to vote against Trump’s appointee.

With a 51-49 majority in the Senate, the GOP can only afford to lose one Republican senator. Overnight, no one knew how Flake or Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Billionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden Credit union group to spend million on Senate, House races MORE (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House passes sweeping clean energy bill | Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials | Corporations roll out climate goals amid growing pressure to deliver The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Abortion stirs GOP tensions in Supreme Court fight MORE (Alaska) intend to vote. In the case of a 50-50 tie, Vice President Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PencePence vows for law and order everywhere Trump met with chants of protest as he pays respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose MORE would vote to tip the confirmation into a majority.

“In the end, there is likely to be as much doubt as certainty coming out of this room today.” – Flake

The Hill : Moderate Republicans remain undecided after testimony.

The Hill : Takeaways from the Kavanaugh-Ford hearings.

If Republicans don’t stick together, there is likely not enough time to push a new nominee through before the lame-duck session ends in January.

That means that if Kavanaugh’s nomination fails and Democrats overcome the odds to take a majority in the Senate, Trump’s window to confirm a replacement appointee – who would potentially tip the balance of the Supreme Court in favor of conservatives for decades – might be closed for good.

It appeared early on Thursday that Kavanaugh might be sunk, as Ford presented herself as a credible and deeply sympathetic witness.

Ford’s testimony included an excruciating description of Kavanaugh and a friend of his laughing as the alleged assault took place. Rachel Mitchell, the independent prosecutor GOP senators appointed to question Ford – Republicans feared the optics of an all-white and male panel grilling a victim of sexual assault – failed to dent Ford’s credibility or raise any meaningful questions about her alleged political motivations.

The New York Times : How Americans across the country reacted to Ford’s testimony.

This exchange between Ford and Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Feinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (D-Ill.), which rolled endlessly on cable news, was the defining moment of her testimony.

Durbin: “With what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?”

Ford: “100 percent.”

Kavanaugh had a similar exchange later in the day with Sen. John Kennedy John Neely KennedyMORE (R-La.).

Kennedy: “None of these allegations are true?”

Kavanaugh: “Correct.”

Kennedy: “No doubt in your mind?”

Kavanaugh: “Zero, I’m 100 percent certain.”

Republicans and conservatives agreed that Ford’s account was compelling. There was panic on the right that the strategy of relying on an outside prosecutor to question her on live television was ineffective.

However, Kavanaugh followed in the afternoon with his own emotional testimony.

In opening remarks that lasted about 45 minutes, Kavanaugh categorically denied every allegation made against him. The appellate court judge repeatedly had to stop, sip water and compose himself as he described the strain on his family. He berated Democrats, accusing them of wrecking his life and his reputation for political gain.

“My family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations … I will not be intimidated into withdrawing from this process … you may defeat me in the final vote, but you will never get me to quit.” – Kavanaugh

Judiciary Committee Republicans rallied to Kavanaugh’s defense. Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Key Democrat opposes GOP Section 230 subpoena for Facebook, Twitter, Google MORE (R-S.C.) exploded in anger in one viral exchange, saying the appellate court judge had his sympathy and his support.

"To my Republican colleagues, if you vote `no,’ you're legitimizing the most despicable thing I've seen in my career in politics … this is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics.” – Graham

Trump was satisfied with the testimony and urged the Senate to move ahead without delay.

The drama on Capitol Hill riveted the nation for a day, playing out in furious debates over social media and in wall-to-wall coverage on cable and network television across the country.

“This is a circus … the consequences will be with us for decades." – Kavanaugh

The Hill : After stirring testimony, senators must decide.

Perspectives

Ruth Marcus : Ford’s devastating testimony.

Ashley Baker : Why I’m standing with Kavanaugh.

Emily Witt : The Kavanaugh saga has electrified the feminist movement.

Melissa Danford : Women need to protect their men from unproven allegations.

Emily Yellin : Ford speaks for us all.

Rich Lowry : Kavanaugh is right to be angry.

Randall D. Eliason : The GOP hired a pro to question Ford. It did not go well.

Rachael Larimore : Choosing the prosecutor to run the Republican part of Ford's questioning was the smartest thing the Senate has done in months.

The Washington Post (editorial board) : The Senate can’t vote on Kavanaugh now.

The Wall Street Journal (editorial board) : Confirm Brett Kavanaugh.

America (Jesuit Review) : It is time for the Kavanaugh nomination to be withdrawn

The Cook Political Report : Trump, not Kavanaugh, will matter in November.







LEADING THE DAY





CONGRESS: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' Pelosi asks panels to draft new COVID-19 relief measure MORE, during a newsmaker interview with The Hill, said Republicans, contrary to some recent polls, have not lost the messaging advantage on cutting taxes ( The Hill ).

“We’re just beginning to see the impact, and I think over the next few years we’ll see that continue on,” Mnuchin said on Thursday.

Taxes: The Hill’s fifth of seven investigative articles examining the GOP’s signature enactment of major tax changes last year describes how a provision allowing oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge made it into the tax law ( The Hill) .

The House on Thursday passed two of the three tax-cut bills proposed by the GOP this year. Republican lawmakers want to focus voters’ attention on the 2017 tax law and the economy in advance of the November elections ( The Hill ).





IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES





➔ INVESTIGATIONS: Trump will meet with Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE at some point next week amid speculation that the deputy attorney general, who is overseeing 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’s probe, is preparing to resign or be fired ( The Hill ).

Trump and Rosenstein were supposed to meet Thursday but the meeting was postponed for the Kavanaugh-Ford hearings.

The New York Times reported last week that Rosenstein had spoken to colleagues about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office and had discussed secretly taping the president early in the administration.

Rosenstein has denied the story and the president has said he believes him.

“He said he never said … he has a lot of respect for me. And he was very nice. And we’ll see.” – Trump

Michael Mukasey and C. Boyden Gray : Declassify Mueller records to protect against abuse.

➔ CAMPAIGNS & POLITICS: The deck is stacked against Democrats as they seek to overcome the GOP’s 51-49 majority in the upper chamber. Ten senators are up for reelection in states the president carried in 2016, but Democrats believe the political winds might be strong enough to help them overcome the tough electoral map.

GOP outside groups are hitting the gas on spending to save the Republican majority. The network of groups helmed by billionaire conservative Charles Koch launched new ads on Thursday attacking Sen. Jon Tester Jonathan (Jon) TesterDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Pence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans MORE (D-Mont.) and former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D), who is running against Rep. Marsha Blackburn Marsha BlackburnHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Key Democrat opposes GOP Section 230 subpoena for Facebook, Twitter, Google Senate panel threatens subpoena for Google, Facebook and Twitter executives MORE (R-Tenn.) for Senate ( YouTube ).

There’s one Senate race the Koch network has made a point to stay out of: They are not backing Rep. Kevin Cramer Kevin John CramerAbortion stirs GOP tensions in Supreme Court fight Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day On Paycheck Protection Program, streamlined forgiveness is key MORE (R-N.D.), who is running against Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Centrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (D-N.D.) in a state Trump carried easily in 2016.

The Hill’s Max Greenwood reports that Cramer’s controversial comments about sexual assault have opened him up to criticism in the hotly contested race ( The Hill ).

The New York Times : The crisis of election security. America’s electronic voting systems are more vulnerable than ever.

The Morning Report is created by journalists Jonathan Easley jeasley@thehill.com & Alexis Simendinger asimendinger@thehill.com. Suggestions? Tips? We want to hear from you! Share The Hill’s reporting and newsletters, and encourage others to SUBSCRIBE!

OPINION





Detroit buckles under pressure from unions, by The Wall Street Journal editorial board. https://on.wsj.com/2xMbZcd

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley needs full authority to investigate the Catholic Church in the state, by The Kansas City Star editorial board. https://bit.ly/2xTDgc7





WHERE AND WHEN





The House meets at 9 a.m. to continue consideration of a piece of the GOP tax agenda.

The Senate meets at 2 p.m. At 9:30 a.m., the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up the nomination of Kavanaugh, which could send his appointment to the full Senate.

The president at noon in the Oval Office participates in a signing ceremony for the Department of Defense and Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act and Continuing Appropriations Act. Trump holds a bilateral meeting with the president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera.

The White House convenes a 5G summit at 10 a.m. in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Speakers: Larry Kudlow, national economic adviser; Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai; Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration head David Redl; and Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios.

> The Hill reports today that security experts hope a new 5G network could eliminate a surveillance vulnerability that allows those nearby to spy on phone calls. Lawmakers have been pressing the Trump administration to crack down on the technology, known as "Stingrays," after they were found near sensitive facilities in Washington, D.C., including the White House. But the structure of new 5G networks could block the way the devices operate.

The annual, two-day Washington Antiquarian Book Fair, a curated festival of rare and collectible books, begins this evening in Arlington, Va. Information is HERE .







ELSEWHERE





> U.S. economic growth accelerated in the second quarter at its fastest pace in nearly four years as previously estimated, putting the economy on track to hit the Trump administration’s goal of 3 percent annual growth ( Reuters ).

> The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Tesla CEO Elon Musk for fraud, according to court documents filed on Thursday. The company may also be sued, although Tesla was not named as a defendant in the government’s complaint ( CNBC ). The Justice Department, meanwhile, has opened an investigation into the advertising industry’s media-buying practices ( The Wall Street Journal ).

> The North American Free Trade Act is not dead yet, despite a missed deadline. The Trump administration plans to publish, possibly as soon as today, the draft of a Mexico-only deal ( The Wall Street Journal ).

> Book excerpt: “The Fifth Risk,” by Michael Lewis. The inside story of the Trump transition. “Chris, you and I are so smart that we can leave the victory party two hours early and do the transition ourselves,” Trump said at one point ( The Guardian ).

THE CLOSER





And finally … Morning Report QUIZ CONTEST readers knew a lot about Albert Einstein and science!

Among the quiz responses this week (thank you!), we received five correct answers from John van Santen, Mary Vita P. Treano, Michael Calder, Jack Harding, Lorraine Lindberg, Sandy Sycafoose, Kane Martin, Nor Schramm, William Rickett, Rick Mito, Tony Sander and Patrick Alford.

They knew that the “c” in E=mc2, the famous theory of relativity published by Albert Einstein on Sept. 27, 1905, refers to the speed of light.

Schrodinger’s Cat is the thought experiment, named after Erwin Schrodinger, one of the founders of quantum mechanics, that describes how measuring or observing a phenomenon causes it to change.

Carl Sagan was the popularizer of modern science who helped compile a golden record embedded with human achievements, including a message from former President Carter and music from Mozart and Beethoven, which was launched into space on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977 to give alien life a taste of culture on Earth.

The edge of a black hole from which nothing can escape is called the event horizon.

And finally, Peggy Whitson is the NASA astronaut who has spent more cumulative time in outer space than anyone else: 665 days.