memeorandum: FBI navigates political minefield and deadline in Kavanaugh inquiry (Devlin Barrett/Washington Post)

11:15 PM ET, October 2, 2018

Top Items:

Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father — The president has long sold himself as a self-made billionaire, but a Times investigation found that he received at least $413 million in today's dollars from his father's real estate empire, much of it through tax dodges in the 1990s.

New York Times:

11 Takeaways From The Times's Investigation Into Trump's Wealth — Donald J. Trump built a business empire and won the presidency proclaiming himself a self-made billionaire, and he has long insisted that his father, the legendary New York City builder Fred C. Trump, provided almost no financial help.

Discussion: CNBC, Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA, Joe.My.God., Political Wire and Mediaite

New York Times:

4 Ways Fred Trump Made Donald Trump and his Siblings Rich — In Donald J. Trump's version of how he got rich, he was the master dealmaker who parlayed an initial $1 million loan from his father into a $10 billion empire. It was his guts and gumption that overcame setbacks, and his father, Fred C. Trump, was simply a cheerleader.

Discussion: Washington Post, The Week, Raw Story, VICE, Unfogged and Mediaite

Politico:
White House slams NYT report on Trump tax schemes

Discussion: Axios and The Daily Caller

Ariane de Vogue / CNN:

FBI expands inquiry into Ford allegations — (CNN)The FBI is expanding its inquiry into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh beyond the initial four interviews that the White House directed to be conducted. — The efforts come as anticipation builds …

Wall Street Journal:

FBI Probe of Kavanaugh Is Expected to Wrap Up Very Soon — People familiar with the process said Tuesday that the FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh could wrap up very soon, well ahead of the end-of week deadline.

Brian Ries / CNN:

Trump mocks Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault testimony at Mississippi rally — President Donald Trump for the first time directly mocked Christine Blasey Ford's testimony before the Senate Judicary Committee at a rally in Mississippi, casting doubt on her testimony about her alleged sexual assault.

Discussion: New Republic and Mediaite

RealClearInvestigations:

Renovation Records Undercut Ford's Exit-Door Account — Real estate and other records undercut a key part of Christine Blasey Ford's account of why she finally came forward with charges of attempted rape against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after some 30 years.

Discussion: Patterico's Pontifications, RedState, LifeNews.com and twitchy.com

Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:

2 Of Brett Kavanaugh's Former Classmates Withdraw Support For Him — “We fear that partisanship has injected itself into Judge Kavanaugh's candidacy,” write Michael J. Proctor and Mark Osler. — WASHINGTON Two former law school classmates of Brett Kavanaugh's who previously vouched …

Discussion: The Week

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Judiciary Committee Receives Statement Regarding Swetnick Allegations — WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today received a signed statement from Mr. Dennis Ketterer, the former Democratic candidate for Congress and weatherman for WJLA Channel 7 in Washington …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, National Review and The Gateway Pundit

Sean Davis / The Federalist:

CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD'S EX-BOYFRIEND TOLD SENATE JUDICIARY HE WITNESSED HER COACH A FRIEND ON POLYGRAPHS — An ex-boyfriend of Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford told Senate investigators he witnessed her coach a friend on how to take a polygraph, contradicting her sworn testimony …

Discussion: National Review, Chicks On The Right, twitchy.com, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Mediaite, Patterico's Pontifications, The Daily Caller and Daily Wire

Jordain Carney / The Hill:
McConnell says only senators will see FBI's Kavanaugh report

Discussion: Politico, Washington Post, Breitbart, Townhall, Joe.My.God., The Intellectualist, ABC News and Axios

Elise Viebeck / Washington Post:
Republicans on Senate panel release explicit statement about Kavanaugh accuser's sex life

Discussion: Politico and Breitbart

Elaina Plott / The Atlantic:
Jeff Flake: 'We Can't Have That on the Court'

Discussion: Hot Air, The Week, TheBlaze, The Gateway Pundit, Taylor Marsh, CNN, The Resurgent, Political Wire, Talking Points Memo and Common Dreams

NBC News:
FBI could wrap up Kavanaugh probe as early as Tuesday night

Aryssa Damron / Washington Free Beacon: Booker: Whether Kavanaugh Is ‘Innocent or Guilty,’ Let's ‘Move Onto Another Candidate’

NBC News:
FBI has no current plans to interview Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, source says

Discussion: HuffPost, Splinter, The Intellectualist, Talking Points Memo, Washington Free Beacon, Mediaite, The Root, Daily Kos and CNBC

Michael Reynolds / Bangor Daily News:
Kavanaugh is unfit for Supreme Court

Discussion: USA Today, Splinter, Mashable, Right Wing Watch, Shareblue Media, Vox and Daily Kos

Fox News:
State of play on Kavanaugh confirmation: McConnell preparing to hold votes

Discussion: Chicks On The Right, Townhall, Breitbart and The Daily Signal

Wall Street Journal:
With Uncertainty in GOP Ranks, McConnell Plans Votes on Kavanaugh

Discussion: ThinkProgress, CNBC and CBS News

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Trump defends Kavanaugh: ‘Very scary time for young men in America’

Discussion: Breitbart and Washington Post

Thomas Lipscomb / Real Clear Politics:
Records Raise Questions About Ford's Double-Door Story

Discussion: Daily Wire

New York Times:

Kavanaugh's 1983 Letter Offers Inside Look at High School Clique — The beachfront property was rented, the guests were invited and an ever-organized Brett M. Kavanaugh had some advice for the seven Georgetown Preparatory School classmates who would be joining him for the weeklong escapade.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, CNN, Jezebel, Splinter, The Daily Caller, KRTV-TV, The Week, Raw Story, Mediaite and The Right Scoop

Mollie Hemingway / The Federalist:

THE NEW YORK TIMES PREPARING HIT PIECE ON BRETT KAVANAUGH FOR PARTY PLANNING — Multiple sources tell The Federalist that the New York Times is prepping yet another attack piece on Brett Kavanaugh for his party planning efforts in the 1980s. — Having failed to corroborate any allegations …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Townhall, Daily Wire, Washington Times, Breitbart and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »

Jason Schwartz / Politico:
New York Times says it made mistake by assigning opinion writer to Kavanaugh story

Discussion: Splinter and NewBostonPost

Jason Kander:

I Suffer From Depression and Have PTSD Symptoms — After 11 years, I'm finally ready to do something about it — About four months ago, I contacted the VA to get help. It had been about 11 years since I left Afghanistan as an Army Intelligence Officer, and my tour over there still impacted me every day.

Discussion: Military Times, Politico, Daily Kos, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, HuffPost, ThinkProgress, KRTV-TV, Associated Press, IJR, Washington Post, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo and Axios

Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:

I Know Brett Kavanaugh, but I Wouldn't Confirm Him — If I were a senator, I would not vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. — These are words I write with no pleasure, but with deep sadness. Unlike many people who will read them with glee—as validating preexisting political, philosophical …

Discussion: Washington Post, Politico, Raw Story, Above the Law, Instapundit and Just Security

Associated Press:

Mueller shedding more attorneys in Russia investigation — WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller is shedding more attorneys, another sign that his team of prosecutors has begun winding down parts of their investigation. — Two prosecutors detailed to the Russia investigation …

Sara Murray / CNN:
Roger Stone built a ‘dirty trickster’ image. Now Robert Mueller might build a case on it.

Discussion: Raw Story

Kadhim Shubber / Financial Times: Money laundering expert to leave Robert Mueller team

Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:

FBI navigates political minefield and deadline in Kavanaugh inquiry — FBI leaders are warily trying to navigate their way through the politically charged background-check investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, as the bureau seeks to protect itself now …

Discussion: The Atlantic, Washington Times, The Daily Caller, National Review, New York Times, Washington Free Beacon and New Republic

The Harvard Crimson:

Students Filed Title IX Complaints Against Kavanaugh to Prevent Him From Teaching at Harvard Law — In the days before Harvard Law School announced embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh will not teach in Cambridge this January, undergraduates eager to block his return to campus struck …

Discussion: Chicks On The Right, twitchy.com, Daily Wire and BostonGlobe.com

Robby Soave / Hit & Run:
Harvard Students Filed Multiple Title IX Complaints Against Brett Kavanaugh To Get Him Fired

Discussion: New York Post, ABC News, ThinkProgress and Instapundit

Dan Alexander / Forbes:

How Trump Is Trying—And Failing—To Get Rich Off His Presidency — When Donald Trump opened Trump Tower in 1983, it marked a seminal moment in American retail, as six stories of glitzy shops like Harry Winston and Cartier beckoned luxury buyers who strode past a live pianist and a 60-foot indoor waterfall.

Discussion: Daily Kos, Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Joe.My.God., CNBC and Politico

Wall Street Journal:
Trump Directed Legal Action to Enforce Stormy Daniels's Hush Agreement

Discussion: Newsweek, The Atlantic, Raw Story, Washington Post, The Root, Shakesville, HuffPost, Vox, Washington Monthly, Talking Points Memo, Chicks On The Right, Spectator USA, Daily Kos, Joe.My.God., Splinter, NPR and KRTV-TV

Jonah Goldberg / National Review:

You Idiot Reporters Are Making It Worse — Every 15 seconds, you're demonstrating why millions of people love it when Trump calls you the fake news. — Before I get started, let me clarify something. Groupthink, mob behavior, panic, etc. have a powerful capacity to make smart people dumb.

Scott Snowden / NBC News:

A colossal elevator to space could be going up sooner than you ever imagined — Researchers are racing to make this science-fiction idea a reality. — For more than half a century, rockets have been the only way to go to space. But in the not-too-distant future, we may have another option …

Robert Costa / Washington Post:

Michael Bloomberg jolts Senate battle with $20 million for Democrats — Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City who is considering a 2020 presidential campaign, will give $20 million to the main Democratic Senate super PAC this week — jolting the national battle …

Discussion: Politico, TheBlaze, Joe.My.God., Talking Points Memo and Political Wire

Scott Thistle / Press Herald:

Collins walks a political tightrope with Kavanaugh decision — How she votes on the controversial Supreme Court nominee could loom large in a 2020 re-election campaign. — Sen. Susan Collins may be in the biggest “no-win” situation of her career. — Facing increasing pressure …

Maggie Haberman / New York Times:

White House Has a Message for Republican Candidates: Stay Close to Trump — SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — President Trump's advisers are planning an aggressive schedule in the month before the midterm elections for Mr. Trump to campaign with House candidates who have supported his agenda …

Josh Rogin / Washington Post:

Days before trade deal, Trump said Canada's foreign minister ‘hates America’ — President Trump publicly praised Canada's leaders this week after announcing a new trade deal, sending them his “highest regards.” But only three days before the deal was announced, Trump privately railed …

Ellen Knickmeyer / Associated Press:

APNewsBreak: Trump's EPA moving to loosen radiation limits — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is quietly moving to weaken U.S. radiation regulations, turning to scientific outliers who argue that a bit of radiation damage is actually good for you — like a little bit of sunlight.

Discussion: The Intellectualist

Gabriel Hays / NewsBusters:

Celebs Try to Make Voting Sexy: ‘Slide It In’ for That ‘First Time’ — Famous faces always do well in selling a product - and sex does even better. So if Carl's Jr. can do it for burgers, why can't Hollywood do it for midterm election votes? Same principle, right?

Jacey Fortin / New York Times:

For Just the Third Time in 117 Years, a Woman Wins the Nobel Prize in Physics — Since 1901, when the annual Nobel Prize in Physics was first awarded, it has been given almost exclusively to men, year after year. Women had won the award exactly twice. — That changed this week, when the number rose to three.

Discussion: NPR, The Atlantic and Vox