Oct 3, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Jeff Flake says Trump's mockery of Ford was "appalling"

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Sen. Jeff Flake said that President Trump's mockery of Christine Blasey Ford at his rally on Tuesday night was "appalling" during an appearance on NBC's "Today" Wednesday.

"Well, there is no time and no place for remarks like that, but to discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right. … I wish he hadn't of done it and I just say it's kind of appalling."

The big picure: Flake has been vocal about the political divide caused by Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, admitting over the weekend that he believes "our country’s coming apart on this." His compromise last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee secured the supplemental FBI investigation of the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against Kavanaugh.

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Rebecca Falconer

Updated 19 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Where key GOP senators stand on replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell talks to reporters on Capitol Hill last Thursday. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

With President Trump planning to nominate his third Supreme Court justice nominee this week, key Republican senators are indicating their stance on replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with less than 50 days until Election Day.

The state of play: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has vowed that "Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate." Two GOP senators — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — have said they oppose holding a vote before the election, meaning that two more defections would force McConnell to delay until at least the lame-duck session of Congress.

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Axios

Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 4 p.m. ET: 30,873,714 — Total deaths: 958,383— Total recoveries: 21,103,559 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 4 p.m. ET: 6,788,343 — Total deaths: 199,421 — Total recoveries: 2,577,446 — Total tests: 94,211,463 — Map.
Politics: Testing czar on Trump's CDC contradictions: "Everybody is right" — Ex-FDA chief: Career scientists won't be "easily cowed" by political vaccine pressure
Education: What we overlooked in the switch to remote learning
Health: The dwindling chances of eliminating COVID-19.
World: England sets £10,000 fine for breaking self-isolation rules — The countries painting their pandemic recoveries green.

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Alexi McCammond

3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden to Senate GOP after RBG passing: "Please follow your conscience"

Joe Biden made a direct appeal to Senate Republicans in a speech addressing the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, urging them to "cool the flames that have been engulfing our country" by waiting to confirm her replacement until after the election.

The state of play: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said soon after the news of Ginsburg's death that President Trump's nominee would get a vote on the Senate floor.