We’re back and we’re reading – everything from the “New York Times” to the “Wall Street Journal.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and policy. Today we’ve got the latest on Kavanaugh, temporary protected status, and some legislation on Capitol Hill.
Under further review
The Senate has received the FBI’s report on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. They began to review the report Thursday morning.
The White House has continued to support Kavanaugh and officials have said that they are “fully confident” that Kavanaugh will be confirmed. White House spokesman Raj Shah said FBI agents interviewed nine out of 10 witnesses, none of whom could support Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault accusation.
According to the Washington Post, Democrats and Republicans will each have access to the FBI report in shifts throughout the day Thursday and possibly into Friday.
Of course, this report could not go un-tweeted about by President Trump.
Status: Protected
A federal judge in San Francisco blocked the Trump administration from ending protections for immigrants from four countries.
According to NBC News, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen granted a request Wednesday for an injunction against the Trump administration’s decision.
Temporary protected status (TPS) allowed immigrants from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua to stay and work legally in the U.S., after facing a war or natural disaster. TPS affects around 300,000 immigrants.
That’s not what I meant
Wait, we’re going to take out Russian missiles? No. The United States ambassador to NATO started a diplomatic issue when she suggested we were going to though.
According to The New York Times, Kay Bailey Hutchison made a comment in Brussels that was unclear whether she meant the U.S. would blow up missiles on the launchpad or intercept them after launch.
By the end of the day, Hutchison had to issue a statement (on Twitter according to the Trump administration custom) saying the U.S. was not planning a strike on Russian missile sites.
Talk about misunderstood.
Easy pass
The Senate easily achieved something Wednesday as they passed the final version of an opioid package. The opioid legislation will now go to President Trump.
The legislation was easily passed 98-1. This package will expand different programs and policies across federal agencies. It aims to focus on prevention, treatment and recovery.
This bipartisan achievement comes at a very divided time as the Capitol’s main focus is Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.
Sanders wants a breakup
Senator Bernie Sanders wants to cap the size of Wall Street firms such as JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. Sanders unveiled legislation Wednesday that would force regulators to break up JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley.
According to the Washington Post, this bill would bar these firms and any others from holding assets and borrowing, in any form, more than 3 percent of the U.S. economy. That’s $584 billion right now. These six firms currently hold more than $13 trillion collectively.
This is unlikely to get very far with the current president and a Republican Congress. For right now, Sanders’ legislation will most likely be D.O.A.
Rate my professor
You won’t be able to enroll in Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s class at Harvard anymore. Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow said that Kavanaugh opted to cancel his law course in January.
According to the Harvard student newspaper, these comments from the president come after the dean sent an email to students regarding the canceling of the judge’s class.
Students have demanded that Kavanaugh not return to Harvard without an independent investigation of the allegations.
So for now, class is canceled.
No friends on Fox
Fox News criticizing President Trump? Yes, you read correctly.
On what is most likely the president’s favorite morning show, Fox & Friends, the hosts criticized the president from their usual couch after he mocked Christine Blasey Ford.
“Last night, he chose to blow it,” said Brian Kilmeade as his co-hosts looked on with concern.
President Trump imitated Ford at a rally Monday, saying “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” regarding the details of her alleged attack in 1982.
Trump previously called Ford a “very credible witness,” which is why Kilmeade and friends think he took it a step too far.
Trump probably didn’t see that coming from his friends at Fox.
That’s all we have for today. Check back tomorrow for more.
