Trump's oddly docile willingness to open an FBI investigation, Grassley's sudden cooperation and Graham's almost gleeful cheerfulness make me pretty sure something's up.— Jay Bookman (@jaybookmanajc) September 29, 2018This New Republic story, What the hell just happened on Capitol Hill?, seems to have the right take:Further, if the FBI investigation goes through…it could help Kananaugh’s nomination. If the FBI finds no wrong-doing or comes to an ambiguous conclusion (as seems entirely plausible for a one-week investigation of a three-decades old case) this might give coverage to those Republicans who are reportedly undecided, like Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine Senator Susan Collins.Specifically, the fact that Ford’s account in the Senate differs from the one in her therapist’s records (two people present v. four earlier) could be treated as proving her memory isn’t reliable enough, and if people interviewed in support of the Ramirez and Swetnik allegations have too many inconsistent details among them, those could be deemed to be inconclusive. Two risks for Kavanaugh are if Mark Judge won’t back Kavanaugh’s story or if the much-derided Kavanaugh calendar isn’t produced or is determined forensically to be a fresh creation. Kavanaugh almost certainly lied about his drinking habits, but as I read the scope of the inquiry, that’s not part of the probe. But if it is, he’s already admitted to being a binge drinker:Thread on Judge Kavanaugh and character. I think the way a middle-aged man reflects on his youth, & what he models for those he mentors, can provide important clues about his character. A speech Kavanaugh gave recently seems telling to me. /1— Sean Hecht (@seanhecht) September 24, 2018For Trump and White House, Kavanaugh hearing was a suspenseful drama in two acts Washington Post. UserFriendly: “Lovely, Kavanaugh’s performance was to an audience of 1, Trump. Or he was gonna get pulled. And good thing the Democrats rehabilitated Shrub! He’s whipping votes. Absolutely pathetic.”Senator Chris Coons tells the full story of what happened in the anteroom today with Jeff Flake to@nancycordes. Attempting my best @SopanDebimpression through @EllenUchimiya's legworkpic.twitter.com/dtNhWfQYYO— Alan He (@alanhe) September 29, 2018E-mails Show That Republican Senate Staff Stymied a Kavanaugh Accuser’s Effort to Give Testimony New Yorker (furzy)The Ford-Kavanaugh Hearings Will Be Remembered As a Grotesque Display of Patriarchal Resentment New Yorker (furzy)Brett Kavanaugh hearing: key moments Financial Times. If you didn’t watch the hearing, a detailed recap.
Midterm Early Voting Is in Full Swing — Will It Matter?RealClearPolitics (UserFriendly)
Democratic Socialist Nomiki Konst Announces Campaign for New York City Public Advocate Intercept (UserFriendly)