1/ Brett Kavanaugh’s high school yearbook page lists him as the treasurer of the “100 Kegs or Bust’ club” and a “Renate Alumnius” – a reference to Renate Schroeder, then a student at a nearby Catholic girls’ school. “Renate” appears at least 14 times in Georgetown Preparatory School’s 1983 yearbook, including on individuals’ pages and in a group photo of nine football players. Two of Kavanaugh’s classmates say the Renate mentions were football players’ boasting about their supposed sexual conquests with girls. (New York Times / CNN / Washington Post)

2/ Kavanaugh claimed he “never sexually assaulted anyone” in high school because he was a virgin at the time and “did not have sexual intercourse, or anything close to sexual intercourse, in high school or many years thereafter.” Kavanaugh appeared on Fox News with his wife at his side to fight the “smears” against him and declare: “I’m not going anywhere.” (New York Times / ABC News / USA Today / NBC News / Washington Post)

3/ Trump accused Democrats of playing “a con game” and using “false acquisitions” to derail Kavanaugh’s nomination. Trump also dismissed the allegation of Deborah Ramirez – the second woman to accuse Kavanaugh of wrongdoing – saying “she was totally inebriated” and “all messed up” when Kavanaugh allegedly exposed himself at a dorm party and “thrust his penis in her face and caused her to touch it.” Trump later deleted his misspelled tweet and corrected himself to say Democrats are using “an array of False Accusations the likes of which have never been seen before.” Trump called Kavanaugh “a wonderful man,” and urged voters to “REMEMBER THE MIDTERMS!” (Politico / New York Times / CNBC / CNN)

4/ A third woman is expected to publicly accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in the next 48 hours, according to Michael Avenatti, the woman’s attorney. Avenatti is currently representing multiple clients and “at least one” is prepared to come forward “relating to what she witnessed and experienced concerning Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge, and ultimately we’re going to let the American public decide who’s telling the truth.” (The Guardian / CNN)

  • Lisa Murkowski: “It’s not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified. It is about whether or not a woman who has been a victim at some point in her life is to be believed.” Murkowski is a key Republican swing vote and one of two Republican women in the Senate who supports abortion rights. (New York Times)

5/ The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Senate Republicans have also hired a female attorney to question Christine Blasey Ford at Thursday’s hearing on a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, but are declining to release her name. (Politico)

6/ Trump bragged that his “administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country” at the United Nations General Assembly – world leaders laughed at him. “I didn’t expect that reaction,” Trump continued, acknowledging the laughter, “but that’s okay.” (Politico / ABC News / Washington Post)

Notables.

  1. Ted Cruz was heckled out of a restaurant in D.C. by protesters. A video posted to Twitter shows activists chanting “We believe survivors!” and demanding to know Cruz’s stance on Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Cruz told the crowd: “God bless you.” (Daily Beast / CNN)

  2. Ted Cruz was spotted looking at a photo of Rep. Beto O’Rourke, his Democratic opponent in the race for a U.S. Senate seat. O’Rourke is within four percentage points of Cruz. (Politico / Vice News)

  3. A Justice Department spokesperson drafted a statement in the voice of Jeff Sessions to announce Rosenstein’s departure as Deputy Attorney General. The statement does not include the word “resignation.” Part of the statement reads: “Rod Rosenstein has served the Department of Justice with dedication and skill for 28 years. His contributions are many and significant. We all appreciate his service and wish him well.” The White House received the statement yesterday. (Axios)

  4. The White House’s deputy press secretary plans to leave after Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings. Raj Shah has been leading the communications efforts in support of the confirmation process since Kavanaugh’s nomination in July. (Yahoo News)

  5. Mike Pence spoke at a conference hosted by a group designated as an “anti-LGBT hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. He is the first vice president to address the Values Voter Summit, and last year Trump became the first sitting president to do so. (NBC News)