On Kavanaugh allegations, Murkowski sends message to GOP: ‘Take them seriously’

While her party's leaders are plowing ahead with their support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, one of the key swing votes, wants the sexual assault allegation to be taken seriously. "It's very important to take allegations of those who have come forward, to take them seriously and I think we need to go into this hearing with the view that we will listen to Dr. Ford's story, we will listen to Judge Kavanaugh's response and then we will weigh what we have heard," the Alaska Republican told a massive scrum of reporters.

House votes to ban ‘gag clauses’ that prevent pharmacies from lowering customers’ drug costs

The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act and the Know the Lowest Price Act passed through voice vote Tuesday and are intended to help patients find out whether a prescription would cost less if they were to pay for it out of pocket rather than through their health plan. The first bill applies to private health insurance while the other applies to patients who are covered by Medicare, the government program for adults 65 and older and people with disabilities.

Poll: Democrats have narrow lead in top Florida contests

Democrats are ahead in the competitive Senate and gubernatorial races in Florida, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll of this key battleground state, although their leads are within the margin of error. Democrats are ahead in the competitive Senate and gubernatorial races in Florida, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll of this key battleground state, although their leads are within the margin of error.

GOP lawmaker: Second Kavanaugh accuser refusing to talk to Congress

Yale University classmate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, is refusing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee about her accusation against Kavanaugh, a GOP lawmaker said Tuesday. Ramirez lawyer John Clune tweeted Tuesday that "We have been working hard to cooperate with the Senate Judiciary Committee...and they have refused to meet all scheduled appointments."

Bill Nelson is turning 76. Is age just a number in politics?

Sen. Bill Nelson, shown taking a selfie with public school educators in Miami Gardens in August, turns 76 on Saturday, and the issue of age is an undercurrent in Florida's closely watched Senate race between Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott. Sen. Bill Nelson, shown taking a selfie with public school educators in Miami Gardens in August, turns 76 on Saturday, and the issue of age is an undercurrent in Florida's closely watched Senate race between Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott.

With newfound aggressiveness, Republicans ramp up Brett Kavanaugh fight

Brett Kavanaugh says he won't let "false accusations drive me out of this process" as he, US President Donald Trump and top Republicans mount an aggressive drive to rally the public and GOP senators behind his shaky Supreme Court nomination. Trump and Republican leaders accused Democrats on Monday of a smear campaign by using accusations by two women of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh in the 1980s to try scuttling his Senate confirmation.

Sundar Pichai, Google CEO, to meet with Republicans to discuss alleged bias, China

Google's chief executive, Sundar Pichai, will meet privately with Republican lawmakers on Friday in the face of lingering questions involving its operations in the U.S. and abroad. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, has scheduled a meeting with Mr. Pichai for the end of the week, The Wall Street Journal first reported Monday.

Conservative congressmen demand Rosenstein testify or face impeachment

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said Tuesday morning demanded Mr. Rosenstein appear before lawmakers to explain reports he discussed secretly taping President Trump and advocated removing him from office. "You can't have the number two official at the Department of Justice making comments about wiring the President and not address it," Mr. Meadows , North Carolina Republican, tweeted.

GOP bringing in Arizona prosecutor for Kavanaugh hearing

Senate Republicans are bringing in Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell to handle questioning about allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. A news release from committee chairman Chuck Grassley's office describes Mitchell as "a career prosecutor with decades of experience prosecuting sex crimes."

GOP Senate candidate on Kavanaugh accuser: ‘I mean, how many 15-year-olds handle a lot of alcohol?’

North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer, the Republican challenging Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, suggested the allegation of sexual and physical assault -- even if it's true -- should not disqualify Brett Kavanaugh from the Supreme Court. Cramer's comments in a Monday interview with North Dakota television station KX4 came three days after he said the accusation against Kavanaugh was "even more absurd" than Anita Hill's accusation against Clarence Thomas because Kavanaugh and his accuser were drunk teenagers when the alleged incident occurred.

Push to end bullet train in 2020 could signal GOP strategy

Worried they would lack big-name candidates at the top of the ticket this November, California Republicans turned to a ballot measure that would eliminate a recent gas tax increase in hopes of exciting conservatives and ensuring they show up to support lower-profile legislative and congressional candidates. A potential similar strategy for 2020 emerged Tuesday, when a conservative radio host who is the public face behind this year's gas tax initiative announced he will pursue another measure - this one eliminating the state's beleaguered high-speed rail project.

With newfound aggressiveness, GOP ramps up Brett Kavanaugh fight

On Monday, Donald Trump called the accusations among "the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., returns to his office after speaking on the Senate floor about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Sept.

Florence flooding worsening

Thousands of coastal residents remained on edge Sunday, told they may need to leave their homes because rivers are still rising more than a week after Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolinas. About 6,000 to 8,000 people in Georgetown County, South Carolina, were alerted to be prepared to evacuate ahead of a "record event" of up to 10 feet of flooding expected from heavy rains dumped by Florence, county spokeswoman Jackie Broach-Akers said.

Trump leads aggressive drive to save Kavanaugh

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