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Developing now, Wednesday, September 5, 2018
- Another contentious day is expected on Capitol Hill Wednesday as the confirmation hearings for President Trump\’s Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh enters its second day. Tuesday\’s hearing was marked by political theater from Democrats, outbursts and protests as Kavanaugh vowed to be impartial and open-minded on the high court
- Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat backed by political upstart and self-proclaimed Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, upset 10-term U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in Massachusetts\’ Democratic primary Tuesday
- Facebook and Twitter executives are expected to be on the hot seat in two congressional hearings Wednesday as lawmakers grill them about alleged political bias on their social media platforms and efforts to prevent foreign parties from meddling in the November midterms
- Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall late Tuesday near the Alabama-Mississippi border, leaving thousands without power
- President Trump questioned whether famed reporter Bob Woodward is a \’Dem operative\’ as he refuted allegations in his upcoming new book about the Trump White House
- Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly willing to accept some written answers from President Trump in his Russia investigation
THE LEAD STORY – POLITICAL THEATER OF THE ABSURD: Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday vowed to be a “a neutral and impartial arbiter” if confirmed to the Supreme Court, after a chaotic first day of hearings on Capitol Hill amid political theatrics and protests from Democrats … “If confirmed to the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case,” Kavanaugh said. “I will do equal right to the poor and to the rich. I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law.” Kavanaugh\’s confirmation hearings are set to continue through the week. Testimony is scheduled to resume Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. ET.
Democrats, in their opening remarks Tuesday, sounded the alarm about Kavanaugh’s past work in Republican politics, including as a lawyer in George W. Bush’s White House. Protests from Democratic lawmakers and demonstrators delayed the formal start of proceedings by more than an hour. Within moments of Tuesday\’s confirmation hearing kickoff, top Democrats tried to sideline the session with a rapid-fire string of objections concerning access to the nominee\’s records.
The spectacle underscored the political nature of the confirmation hearings, coming two months before the midterms and as some senators gear up for a possible 2020 presidential run against President Trump. Several of those senators led the charge Tuesday in objecting to Kavanaugh.
THE CHANGING FACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Boston city councilor Ayanna Pressley unseated 10-term U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in a Democratic primary Tuesday in the latest shakeup of the House Democratic caucus by a far-left challenger … Capuano conceded defeat to Pressley in the race to represent Massachusetts\’ 7th District approximately 30 minutes before the Associated Press formally called the race. With 69 percent of precincts reporting late Tuesday, Pressley had the lead by 10,682 votes. Pressley, who is running unopposed in November, is set to become the first African-American woman elected to Congress from the Commonwealth.
Capuano is the fourth House member to lose a primary this year, along with Reps. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C.; Mark Sanford, R-S.C., and fellow 10-term Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y.
In the afternoon, House Energy and Commerce Committee will host only Dorsey in a hearing focused on bias and Twitter\’s algorithms. President Trump and conservatives have argued that Twitter is \”shadow banning\” some Republicans because of the ways search results have appeared, a charge officials have denied.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was investigating. Gordon was expected to lose strength as it made its way inland across the lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
\’A CON ON THE PUBLIC\’: President Trump on Tuesday asked whether Bob Woodward could be \”a Dem operative\” after an early copy of the veteran reporter’s soon-to-be-released book portrayed a chaotic White House plagued by infighting and bad-mouthing against the president … Labeling details of the book “a con on the public” with “made up” quotes, the president also seemingly questioned the “timing” of the book reveal. “The,” Trump tweeted. “Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?”
An early copy of The Washington Post associate editor’s book was obtained by The Washington Post. According to the Post, it portrays a Trump White House that’s filled with second-guessing by members of Trump’s staff, who repeatedly bad-mouth him behind closed doors.
LEGAL DANCE BETWEEN MUELLER AND TEAM TRUMP: Special Counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to accept some written responses from President Trump in his Russia investigation, the New York Times reports, and the president\’s legal team says it is still deciding whether to \”accept the proposition\” … \”I will tell you this,\” Trump attorney Jay Sekulow told FOX News\’ Sean Hannity. \”I’m not concerned about the President of the United States responding, if we decide to accept the proposition of responding to written questions, responding to questions about Russia and interference with the election.\”
Sekulow said Trump’s lawyers and Mueller’s team have “an ongoing dialogue.\” He said that he’s not going to “discuss the contents of what has been agreed to or not agreed to.” Mueller did not say he would be giving up on an interview altogether, including on questions of obstruction of justice, according to the Times. Mueller also reportedly did not ask for written responses on the obstruction investigation.
\’LAME\’ POLITICIANS ON DISPLAY: \”I do think that the left started this fight, but I think both of these parties are really, really, lame in teaching basic civics to our kids right now.\” – Sen. Ben Sasse, on \”Special Report,\” saying that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh\’s confirmation hearing showed that both Republicans and Democrats are doing a poor job teaching civics to American children. WATCH
LOOK IN THE MIRROR, CHUCK: \”So, let me get this straight. While NBC is embroiled in multiple scandals, including completely blowing it on the Weinstein sexual assault story, Chuck Todd is telling FOX and others how to handle its business? Nice try.\” – Laura Ingraham, on \”The Ingraham Angle,\” blasting NBC News\’ Chuck Todd for targeting FOX News and conservatives in a recent article in The Atlantic. WATCH
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE NIKE-COLIN KAEPERNICK CONTROVERSY
FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Sen. John Cornyn on the Kavanaugh hearings. Rep. Jim Jordan on the need for border security in the spending package. California wants ICE to stop arresting illegal immigrants in courtrooms; former ICE acting director Tom Homan reacts. Steve Hilton talks Republicans vs. Silicon Valley. Plus, special guests White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and FOX News contributor Andrew McCarthy.
Special Report, 6 p.m. ET: Don\’t miss an exclusive interview with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Special guests include: Hank Greenberg, former AIG chairman and CEO; Rep. Greg Walden; Sam Zell, founder and chairman of Equity International; Roger Kay, Endpoint Technologies Associates founder.
Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Rep. Adam Kinzinger; David Stockman, former budget director for President Reagan; Curtis Ellis, former Trump campaign trade and jobs adviser.
The FOX News Rundown podcast: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed former Sen. Jon Kyl to fill the vacant seat left after the death of Sen. John McCain. FOX News chief congressional correspondent Mike Emanuel discusses what the appointment may mean in the long run. Russian planes have reportedly bombed rebel-held targets in the Syrian province of Idlib. This follows President Trump’s tweet warning Syria and its allies, Russia and Iran, against attacking the Syrian province. FOX News Radio’s international reporter, Simon Owen, gives the latest update. Plus, commentary by Harry Kazianis, director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest.
The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: The hot topics of the day will be the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, Bob Woodward\’s new book and the Nike-Colin Kaepernick controversy with special guests: New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin, Carrie Severino, Gina Loudon, Shannon Bream and Steve Hilton.
The Tom Shillue Show, 3 p.m. ET: Author and media personality Dr. Gina Loudon joins Tom Shillue to discuss her new book, \”Mad Politics: Keeping Your Sanity in a World Gone Crazy.\”
2005: President George W. Bush nominates John Roberts to succeed the late William Rehnquist as chief justice of the United States.
1975: President Gerald R. Ford escapes an attempt on his life by Lynette \”Squeaky\” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, Calif.
1972: The Palestinian group Black September attacks the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer are killed in the resulting siege.
FOX News First is compiled by FOX News\’ Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We\’ll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.
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