Which will move Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanagh a step closer to confirmation. Two critical republican votes, senator Susan Collins of maine and jeff flake of arizona, indicated yesterday that the fbi probe into kavanaugh was adequate. However, both caution they would continue to read the closelyheld report. Satisfying flake and collins as well as Lisa Murkowski of alaska would be enough to confirm kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Democrats are nearly unanimous in their opposition to kavanaughs nomination. Hi one senator announced she will oppose kavanaughs nomination. That leaves senator joe manchin of West Virginia. He has yet to announce his plans. Yesterday manchin was seen reviewing the fbi report and said he would return today to study it more. After speculation that republican senator steve danes could miss the confirmation vote on saturday due to his daughters wedding in montana, a spokesperson for the senator says that danes spoke to kavanaugh on the phone last night and assured the judge that he has made arrangements to be there to get him across the finish line as needed. President trump was in rochester, minnesota, last night. Speaking to a cheering crowd, the president once again defended kavanaugh and argued that resistance will motivate Republican Voters this november. You see whats going on in congress right now with one of the most respected people potentially, hopefully Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanagh. The dems are willing to do anything to hurt anyone to get the power they so desperately crave. They want to resist, they want to obstruct, they want to delay, demolish, they want to destroy. Thats what happens. Thats what happens. All you have to do is look at the polls over the last three or four days and it shows that their rage fuelled resistance is starting to backfire at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Meanwhile, allies of President Trump are also hoping the fight to confirm judge kavanagh will rally voters ahead of the midterms. But according to the new york times, republican strategists say they cannot be sure what issues the electorate would be most animated by five weeks from now when voters actually cast their ballots. Senators spent the day taking turns reviewing the fbi report on Brett Kavanagh. And the general consensus from republicans is that it yields no new information. What we know for sure is the fbi report did not corroborate any of the allegations against judge kavanagh. This man is qualified and to put him through this type of a mess just because they are unhappy that donald trump had the right to appoint him is just plain wrong. Senators who requested the supplemental fbi background check got what they requested, and i am ready to vote. Youve humiliated this guy enough and there seems to be no bottom for some of you. Democrats claim it was limited in scope and incomplete. This is not a thorough investigation. It looks to be a product of an incomplete investigation. I heard the chairman of the Committee Say theres no hint of misconduct. In plain english what i just read, there were hints of misconduct. Im not allowed to discuss it. The public cant see it. Its a complete sham. The investigation was a sham. To put it bluntly, it smacks of a whitewash, even a coverup. One former Supreme Court justice is speaking out about Brett Kavanagh, saying that he should not be confirmed. Retired Justice John Paul stevens told a crowd that kavanaugh should not be placed on the Supreme Court because he lacks the temperament for the lifetime appointment. Stevens explained his changing view on the judge. I changed my views for reasons that have really no relationship to his intellectual ability or his record as a federal judge. Hes a fine federal judge and he should have been confirmed when he was a nominee. But i think his performance during the hearings caused me to change my mind. Hundreds of people were arrested aftercare rii carrying mass demonstration against kavanaugh. Amy schumer and emily radkowski were among those arrested. Orrin hatch was confronted by a group of protesters, facing their anger as he tried to brush them off while attempting to get into an elevator. Why arent you brave enough to talk to us and exchange with us . Dont you wave your hand at me. I wave my hand at you. You grow up. How dare you talk to women that way how dare you [indiscernible] senator, do you believe women . Speaking on the floor of the senate this week, Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell said republicans wont be bullied or intimidated by the kavanaugh protesters. If facts and evidence couldnt get the job done, then intimidation tactics and bullying would have to do. Im not suggesting were the victims here, mr. President , but i want to make it clear to these people who are chasing my Members Around the hall here or harassing them at the airports or going to their homes, well not be intimidated by these people. There is no chance in the world theyre going to scare us out of doing our duty. Joining us now from washington, Senior Writer nils. Great to have you with us on this friday morning, what is appearing to be a historic day one way or the other. Lets talk about republicans and their confidence if they have enough votes to confirm judge kavanagh. I think that more likely than not, judge kavanagh is going to have the votes to proceed today to limit the debate on his nomination and then probably eventually to be confirmed some time likely tomorrow afternoon or evening. Really there are, as youve said, a very few number of senators who are still undecided. All eyes today, i think, are going to be largely on obviously the two republican women who have been in question here, Susan Collins from maine and Lisa Murkowski from alaska, as well as as the one outstanding democrat here which is joe manchin from West Virginia. Manchin had said that he hadnt had time, enough time to review the report of the fbi in that closed setting because of the way it was being done and democrats and republicans were alternating time. Im guessing that manchin is going to try and get to the capitol early this morning to review it some more. You have to look at the political fallout from all of this and it brings to mind Heidi Heitkamp. What does this mean for the election . I think that the big question there is that time gap between now and election day, because certainly if this were to be the last thing on the minds of voters in someplace like north dakota or maybe West Virginia or indiana or any of those states that voted overwhelmingly for donald trump but have democrats in the senate, the question really is how thats going to play out when it comes to the election. As you said, its so far from the election still really and how many news cycles were going to have between now and then, i dont know if this wont even be the issue people are voting on. Great to talk to you. Stick around for us. Still ahead, what Brett Kavanaugh himself had to say ahead of todays senate vote. Were going to read from the new oped in the wall street journal he wrote. President trump raised some eyebrows when he declared china was meddling in the midterms. Mike pence is saying the same thing and beijing responding. Sa thing and beijing responding mechanic midas has all the top brands of tires. King yes indeed. Take these michelin tires for example. King or these goodyear tires over here now at midas, get up to 200 off select goodyear and cooper tires with the midas credit card. Request your appointment today. Youll make my morning, buty the price ruin my day. Ou . Complicated relationship with milk . Pour on the lactaid, 100 real milk, just without that annoying lactose. Mmm, thats good. Take your razor, yup. Up and down, never side to side, shaquem, you got it . Come on stay focused. Hard work baby, it gonna pay off. One look at you and i cant disguise ive got hungry eyes applebees new 3course meal starting at 11. 99. Now thats eatin good in the neighborhood. Welcome back, everyone. Last week at the u. N. The president accused china of interfering in americas political system in the upcoming midterm elections. Yesterday Vice President mike pence held nothing back in echoing the president s allegation. Beijing is employing a whole of government approach to advance its influence. Its employing this power in more proactive and coercive ways to interfere in the domestic policies of this country and to interfere in the politics of the United States. China has initiated an unprecedented effort to influence American Public opinion, the 2018 elections and the environment leading into the 2020 president ial elections. There can be no doubt china is meddling in americas democracy. Our Intelligence Community says that china is targeting u. S. State and local governments and officials to exploit any divisions between federal and local levels on policy. As a senior career member of our Intelligence Community told me just this week, what the russians are doing pales in comparison to what china is doing across this country. So why is beijing targeting americas political discourse . According to the Vice President , it all has to do with one man only, President Trump. To put it bluntly, President Trumps leadership is working and china wants a different american president. When it comes to influencing the midterms, you need only look at beijings tariffs in response to ours. The tariffs imposed by china to date specifically targeted industries and states that would play an Important Role in the 2018 elections. By one estimate, more than 80 of u. S. Counties targeted by china voted for President Trump and i in 2016. Now china wants to turn these voters against our administration. My administration has taken the toughest ever action cracking down on chinas trading abuses. For years china has been draining us, taking our factories and building up their country with our money and at the expense of our workers and our companies. Were not going to have it. No more. Chinas Foreign Ministry has responded firmly denying the allegations as unfounded and extremely ridiculous while accusing the u. S. Of slander. Lets switch gears and bring in nbc meteorologist bill karins. Flooding this weekend, a little Severe Weather. Were going to see this extreme weather pattern where a lot of us are going to be having the airconditioners on during the weekend. Up in northern minnesota, thats snow. It is snowing just north of duluth and fargo northwards. Heres the Severe Weather outlook for today. We will see a chance of slight risk of severe storms north texas, oklahoma, wichita, Central Kansas and isolated strong storms up near chicago. Im more concerned with this map. This is the one that shows the risk of flash flooding. The slight risk is from wichita to kansas city all the way through southern wisconsin. Then we have this moderate risk area in between madison all the way down through the quad cities in northern illinois. Its rained numerous times this week, were going to get thunderstorms and thats why we have a moderate risk of flash flooding. Were wedged in the middle of then count the country right now between fall and summer. This pink is four inches of rain, widespread four inches of rain in this area of north texas to Wichita Falls to wichita, kansas. Heres the forecast for today. Still very warm, summerish in ar a the south. Cool in new england. Theres the Early Morning rain in chicago. Lets get to the weekend forecast. The heavy rain thareat stays hee from st. Louis to kansas city and Oklahoma City. The east coast is fine on saturday. Still cool and snow in the high elevations of the west. Sundays map doesnt really change. Its kind of a washout weekend for you in north texas, kansas and oklahoma. We start cooler today and by the end of the weekend were 80 again in new york city, mid 80s in washington, d. C. And a touch of humidity returning to many areas of the east by the weekend. My eyes just lit up. I saw mountain snow. On monday ill have pictures of snow from the rockies. Theres always that one resort in colorado that wants to be first. President trump is perhaps the most photographed person in the world. Hes also bound to have one of those caught on camera moments. Yesterday while boarding air force one in minneapolis, see there on his left foot . Commander in chief climbing the stairs with what appears to be some toilet paper stuck to his shoe. At the top of the stairs, a wave to the crowds below. Trump then turns and it seems like he was finally freed from the pesky piece of paper. How does that happen . How does nobody see that happening and they take that piece all of his aides and body men and everybody. I cant you could see some people on the bottom of the stairs looking up like what should we do . It happens. Still ahead andrew luck and tom brady duke it out in new england in a tale of two games. S gentle means everything, so we improved everything. 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Colorado rallies in the top of the nooininth to tie the game a 22. Heres a baseball name for you, mike mustakis. To los angeles. No drama here. The dodgers come out swinging against the braves in game one. Peterson with a solo shot followed by a three run homer in the second. Then a third long ball, this one by hernandez puts l. A. Up 50 in the sixth. The dodgers go onto shut out atlanta 60 and now lead the series 10. If youre a baseball fan, today is the day. Its kind of the equivalent to the beginning of march madness in basketball. There are four games. If you love baseball, todays your day. I went to high school in atlanta. I wasnt too happy. Its been a while. From the 90s when the braves were americas team. Still ahead, much more on what to expect from capitol hill today ahead of the vote on Brett Kavanagh. Were going to read some of what the nominee had to say on the eve of the vote. Plus, President Trump mocks former minnesota senator al franken. 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Cancel anytime and your books are yours to keep forever. Audible. The most inspiring minds. The most compelling stories. Text listen5 to 500500 to start your free trial today. Welcome back. It is the