(CNN) Thursday was an emotional whirlwind for millions of Americans transfixed by the hearing where Christine Blasey Ford accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. He denied the allegations in the most vehement possible way and later, he fired back that Democrats had coordinated it all as a political attack and some sort political payback for his work against the Clintons.

It was emotional. It was raw. It was impossible to escape on broadcast television, cable news and online.

The nation watched, but it was a political trial -- with a jury of between three and six senators.

The country will be split on who to believe. At least four GOP governors have called for a delay in the vote on Kavanaugh. None of that really matters. Republicans will now try to vote at lightning speed and there are only a few votes in play.

After nearly two weeks of digging into Kavanaugh's past and the dissection of his accuser's life -- and a vitriolic process that may have forever changed how Supreme Court justices are confirmed -- senators are finally set to make a decision on the fate of a nominee who could determine the direction of the high court for a generation. Votes are scheduled in committee for Friday morning and then the first votes on the Senate floor are set for Saturday.

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