Peter Alexander: “We Heard From Kellyanne Saying That The First Accuser Should Be Heard. After Ramirez Came Out Yesterday She Described This As A Vast Left Wing Conspiracy. They Now Pushing Back Much More Aggressively On This.” PETER ALEXANDER: “Right, it was unusual. This was remarkable. We haven’t seen anything like this. Th felt to me like something out of the Trump playbook. deny, dig in, defend. Now they are going on offense to Kasie’s point latest allegation from Deborah Ramirez, we heard from kellyanne saying that the first accuser should be heard. After Ramirez came out yesterday she described this as a vast left wing conspiracy. They now pushing back much more aggressively on this.” [Today, NBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
Peter Alexander: “But Republicans Are Also Scared. They Have Real Concerns That He Would Not Be Confirmed, That There The Potential For Erosion Among Republicans” [Today, NBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
Katty Kay: “I Think It’s Unfortunate Brett Kavanaugh Has Called This Part Of A Smear Campaign Because That By Default Is Passing Judgment On What These Women Are Saying.” KATTY KAY: “I think it’s unfortunate Brett Kavanaugh has called this part of a smear campaign because that by default is passing judgment on what these women are saying. But I think that is why we have to have some kind of an investigation that probably is not what we’re going to get on Thursday, which is the senate hearing.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
John Heilemann: “I Don’t Understand To This Day, This Hour Especially Listening To Brett Kavanaugh Last Night Why It Is His Position And The Position Of The Party Other Than Pure Politics Is Not Calling For An FBI Investigation.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
John Heilemann On Rushed Nomination Process: “We’re Basically Trying To Get Through This Process As Rapidly As Possible Rather Than Trying To Find Out What Happened.” JOHN HEILEMANN: “Right now you have, in the case of Dr. Ford you have a woman who is making an allegation who is not just willing to go before the FBI under oath and attest to her allegation but has previously been demanding an FBI investigation and you have an accused supreme court nominee. You have a court nominee who is not willing to do that and Republican party who has shut that down. And Mitch McConnell saying we’ll have a fair hearing on Thursday. Mitch McConnell went on the senate floor and made an impassioned argument which is essentially to say this hearing on Thursday is utterly irrelevant. He said it last Friday and again yesterday that judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed. There’s going to be an up or down vote. We’re basically trying to get through this process as rapidly as possible rather than trying to find out what happened.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
John Heilemann: “Looking At The Two Sides Those That Are Willing To Go Under Oath And Be Investigated Have A Lot More Credibility Just On The Face Of It, Than All Of Those Who Are Unwilling To Conduct That Investigation Even On An Expedited Basis.” JOHN HEILEMANN: “If you’re confident that the nominee is being smeared by Dr. Ford and by the new allegations and potentially by forthcoming allegations from this client that is going to be brought forward, if you’re confident he’s innocent why would you not take the time and have the FBI put these people under oath, investigated as only the FBI, the greatest investigative body we have in this country as only the FBI can. To me it doesn’t prove that Brett Kavanaugh is guilty of anything. But looking at the two sides those that are willing to go under oath and be investigated have a lot more credibility just on the face of all of those who are unwilling to conduct that investigation even on an experiod indicted basis.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
Mary Bruce: “The White House Is Pushing For The Committee To Vote Right After Blasey Ford And Kavanaugh Testify On Thursday. And We Heard Today, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Insistent, He Said There Will Be An Up Or Down Vote On The Senate Floor On Kavanaugh’s Nomination ‘In The Near Future.’” DAVID MUIR: “How soon could there actually be a vote after the testimony?” BRUCE: “Well, David, The White house is pushing for the committee to vote right after Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh testify on Thursday. And we heard today republican leader Mitch McConnell insistent, he said there will be an up or down vote on the senate floor on Kavanaugh’s nomination ‘In the near future.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 9/24/18; VIDEO]
Terry Moran On Order Of Thursday’s Testimony, “She Will Go First, Followed Only By Brett Kavanaugh. She Had Wanted To Call Witnesses, A Man She Says Was An Eyewitness, He Denies It, A Polygraph Expert. Republicans Said No. It Will Just Be She Said, He Said.” DAVID MUIR: “Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford are both expected to testify on Thursday. No other witnesses, just the two of them. And Dr. Ford will go first?” MORAN: “That’s right, David. She will go first, followed only by Brett Kavanaugh. She had wanted to call witnesses, a man she says was an eyewitness, he denies it, a polygraph expert. Republicans said no. It will just be she said, he said.” [World News Tonight, ABC, 9/24/18; VIDEO]
Terry Moran On Dr. Ford And Her Lawyer’s Concerns About Thursday’s Hearing: “They Sent A Letter To The Chairman Of The Judiciary Committee, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley Of Iowa, And They Objected To How This Hearing Is Being Set Up, Especially The Hiring Of An Experienced Sex Crimes Prosecutor To Perform Some Of The Questioning Of Dr. Blasey Ford.” MORAN: “Last night, the lawyers for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, that’s Kavanaugh’s first accuser, scheduled to testify Thursday. They said a letter to the chairman of the judiciary committee Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, and rejected as having this hearing set up and the hiring of an experienced sex crimes prosecutor to perform some of the questioning of Dr. Blasey Ford and say Republicans are using a tactic to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 9/25/18; VIDEO]
John Dickerson: “Judge Brett Kavanaugh Says He’s Not Going Anywhere, In A Very Unusual Public Defense Of His Fitness To Serve On The Supreme Court.” JOHN DICKERSON: “Judge Brett Kavanaugh says he’s not going anywhere, in a very unusual public defense of his fitness to serve on the Supreme Court. He strongly denied allegations of sexual misconduct from Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez during an TV interview last night. He used extremely personal information to claim he is not that kind of person.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 9/25/18; Video]
Nancy Cordes: “Kavanaugh Insisted He Was Not A Rowdy Teen.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 9/25/18; Video]
Nancy Cordes: “With His Wife At His Side, Kavanaugh Said He Looks Forward To Clearing His Name.” NANCY CORDES: “Republicans leaders say they are going forward with the hearing despite the new allegations. In fact, they say they may hold a vote on his confirmation in the judiciary committee as early as Friday. With his wife at his side, Kavanaugh said he looks forward to clearing his name.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 9/25/18; Video]