Min kim who has been following every development in this story all week long. At the table, phil rucker, elise jordan and now cocoast of the excellent podcast words matter. Bill kristol and nick confisore for the New York Times. Lets start with you sung min. So major breaking news. Were still waiting for chairman grassley to Chuck Grassley to release his statement on this and any response because if you recall, there were some ways that grassley and his staff and Senate Republicans were willing to accommodate dr. Ford and her testimony. Earlier this week they had offered perhaps flying Senate Investigators out to california to speak with her there at her home if that would make her feel more comfortable. They offered public sessions, private sessions. But the one thing two things they werent budging on was that monday date as well as the their view that an fbi investigation before she testifies was not necessary. But now dr. Ford through her attorneys has offered a timeline thats not too far from the monday date line. Shes still saying shes willing to come next week. Shes still asking for that fbi investigation, and this aligns with what Democratic Senators called for, for days, when all this news broke. We actually at the Washington Post, we went back and looked at old clippings about, during the anita hill hearings in 1991 and looked at how long the fbi probe in that case took. It took about three days. It wasnt very long. And Democratic Senators are saying the fact that dr. Ford is asking for an fbi investigation actually bolsters her credibility. At an event on capitol hill, Kirsten Gillibrand said someone that is lying doesnt ask the fbi to investigate their claims. It will be interesting to see what Chuck Grassley says in the next, you know, five minutes or ten minutes or an hour, whenever he chooses to respond, if hes willing to move that monday date. The white house view 24 hours ago had been this confirmation was looking more secure, more i wouldnt say sure but like it had sort of turned from the shock of the of professor fords account over the weekend. This seems to reverse that tide a little bit. A little bit, but the white house has been preparing for her to come forward and testify. Theyve been spending all week with judge kavanaugh who has been hunkered down with don mcgahn to try to prepare for these questions and how hes going to answer these accusations. And i think theres a feeling in the white house still that his nomination will get through. Certainly more confidence now than there was on monday at the beginning of the week when it wasnt clear what more evidence this accuser might be able to bring or whether there could be other accusers or other components to the story. Are there chances there are other accusers or components to the story . Im not a magician. I dont know. The specter of a televised hearing with both judge kavanaugh and professor ford was ominous because of the unknown. That it was unknowable whether she would come across as a woman with nothing to gain and a credible story to tell. And whether, for all of the regard, high regard in which hes held in conservative legal circles and beyond that that would be insurmountable. Are you hearing anything different from that assessment from sources close to kavanaugh . Its a source the white house told me that judge kavanaugh is confident in his innocence. Hes confident in the case that he will present. And i think there is sadness that, clearly, dr. Ford has experienced some kind of trauma. Its evidence from how she has spoken of her experience, but judge kavanaugh is very confident in his innocence. Perhaps this is a case of mistaken identity. Everyone is waiting to hear what dr. Ford is going to say and what evidence she can give to support that it, in fact, was judge kavanaugh. This seems to me, bill kristol, like the moment in time when the me too movement collides with this sort of idea, equally cherished belief in due process. And i dont think anybody knows where its going to end. But it seems like for everyone else sort of swept up in the me too movement, there were a couple things different and distinct from the kavanaugh example. There were multiple accusers. Thats why i asked if there were any reports of anybody else. But the other is that no one has been given permission to question whether a woman misremembered. This case does seem to be breaking the mold a bit. If theres a hearing in which both testify and they can each make their case and professor ford wants to argue that other witnesses should be invited as well, mark judge who allegedly was there, if she wants to say that id like to have the fbi investigate, she can say that right to chairman grassley and have him explain why they shouldnt. What possible explanation for not im not sure. To say that, i was in the first Bush White House. The fbi did about a threeday investigation. It didnt resolve anything. That was before the hearingings. They talked to acheetah hill. She said one thing. They talked to clarence thomas. They have so the fbi arent magicians. And they cant just resolve it all. But the hearing would be healthy and maybe some additional witnesses would be healthy. I think it will happen in the middle of next week. Probably not on monday. And i think the republican senators will not be foolish enough to do the questioning themselves but will get a counsel this is bold saying republicans wont be foolish enough to do you think Chuck Grassley and oren hatch arent up to sensitive questioning of something that may have experienced a very difficult thing. I think theyre up to it but they i think theyll get ive been told theyre talking about getting a counsel who would do the questioning. I dont know what the democrats will do, all those people running for president may not be willing to yield their time or yield it to one or two of them who experienced questioners. So this is all sort of depressing in a certain way. Maybe it will be healthy. Theyll both testify and be treated respectfully. Well learn what well learn. Maybe this is a sense he wasnt either railroaded based on one accusation, nor was she treated in some way that was unfair or disrespectful. She seems to be holding the cards at this moment. Shes not agreeing to the monday deadline. Its unclear what the magic was in monday to begin with. And shes asking for some good conditions to be met that her safety be secured and that its fair. That seems to have in mind maybe what youre talking about, a questioner that adds some gender diversity at a minimum to the allrepublican makeup of the republicans on the judiciary committee. What do you make of where the power dynamic is in this moment . I think the only good scenario or the best scenario for republicans is to keep it moving and to keep the discussion within the bounds of he said she said. That sounds cynical but its one of the reasons they arent pushing to bring in march judk or any other witnesses. They want to move on as fast as they can. The second it gets bogged down, i think kavanaugh is in trouble. I dont think that any publicized hearing or airing of her story is good for judge kavanaugh, is good for the republicans. Its going to be wrenching and difficult. And they have not shown themselves as a party to be very smart and deft in handling these kinds of problems. Thats the understatement of the century. Let me ask you seung min to weigh in. Already burdened by an unpopular president the maledominated gop is now facing a torrent of scrutiny about how its handling kavanaughs accuser and whether the partys push to install him on the high court by next week could come at a steep political cost with women and independent voters who are the keystone for congressional majorities. Your picking up on that anxiety as you walk the halls up there . Its interesting. Publicly, republicans are confident until the news earlier just about an hour ago that dr. Ford would be willing to testify some time next week. Weve talked on the show all this week about how republicans have been publicly growing very confident in first of all, that theyd get or achieve a major conservative priority, that they would get judge kavanaugh installed. They are looking at the longer term impact, particularly with women. Its too early to figure out what the actual impact will be on the on the republicans handling of this. The independent voters, suburban women swing voters that both parties are watching very closely, and earlier, there was a report out by the nevada independent late last night with senator dean heller who is the most Vulnerable Senate republican on the ballot this november appearing to refer to the assault allegations against judge kavanaugh as a, quote, hic hiccup. Ive heard privately from those who are not too pleased with that remark and how senator heller used that phrase. So clearly theres a Political Risk for republicans. I also want to point out another interesting News Development today. The governor of alaska, hes an independent, bill walker, and the lunieutenant governor, issu a statement saying they oppose judge kavanaughs nomination. They are not republicans. They are independents, but they are pointing to his health care or kavanaughs health care record and labor record as a reason he should be voted down. And remember one of the key swing republican votes that still remain up in the air, Lisa Murkowski of alaska. Thats all very interesting. And it also sort of this political layer cant be ignored. Theres no one on capitol hill operating from a place of principle anymore. Its fair to assert that. Let me read some reporting from axios. Mike allen reports if Brett Kavanaughs nomination sinks, democrats would turn the midterms into a referendum not just on President Trump but also on womens rights abortion and the future of the Supreme Court. They always do that, to be fair, but this would give them a fresh example. Thats right. And everybody in both parties is looking at this through a political lens. They can talk about the Supreme Court and justice and values and all of that, but the democrats are thinking about the november elections which are only seven weeks away. If they can derail kavanaugh, i know democrats think they have a chance to really further energize their base. It may not even change, frankly, who sits on the Supreme Court because President Trump is going to turn around the next day and nominate an equally conservative judge if not a more conservative judge. Im told hell do the latter out of spite. That out of spite if they sink the kavanaugh nomination, hell pick someone more conservative to spite them. Thats who weve got as president. Let me read something said in the post. Ford has a powerful story to tell in trying to jam her into their abbreviated onesided process. Senate republicans open the door to far more dangerous options where the American People get to judge for themselves whether shes credible. As kavanaughs Approval Rating slides, republicans need to consider whether its worth unleashing a firestorm to defend a nominee who may be a further drag on their midterm races. Now this is unlike the last one, this is the political analysis republicans can make. Most people share your assessment this is a man standing by his innocence, but the Political Considerations do represent some risk for republicans. And i think that weve seen where this nomination fight, this conformation battle has moved so far beyond even who is Brett Kavanaugh and its just pure brutal partisan warfare. You look at his Approval Rating throughout this entire process and theyve been historically lower than other nominees who should have actually been more controversial compared to judge kavanaugh. And its a window into the times and into how divided and tribal and partisan we really are. Its an interesting point. I read somewhere that he probably in the post that he votes with Merrick Garland close to 90 of the time. But the other side of that is Supreme Court nominations are always partisan. They are. I was in the Bush White House for the thomas nomination. Got that through with democratic votes. A democratic senate. The two nevada senators who were democrats. A couple other southern democrats. Moderate conservative democrats before him. Quite a lot of support in the Africanamerican Community which helped. Its a political vote. And its going to be a partisan vote anyway just on sort of judicial philosophy. It would be nice. This is a case. This would be a case where if senator grassley and feinstein can stitt doit down and work ou judge kavanaugh and professor ford or her attorney a dignified and appropriate way to do this so it doesnt become a total circus. Its perfectly fair she have a hearing and judge kavanaugh be able to make his case. Youd think the senate could find a way to make this not an embarrassing moment for the country. Im going to start eating for lunch what you had. All this optimism is freaking me out. It lasts for about 12 minutes a day. Cocktail hour. I love it. So mike murphy, old campaign hand in republican circles said the perception of this, regard fls wh regardless of what the truth is could be yet another political problem for republicans. Were living in the woke era and Supreme Court nominations have become tv shows. And if your cast is mostly older, white republican male senators, youll have issues in that environment. Its the same thing weve been talking about. But the optics couldnt be worse for republicans. The me too movement collide with right wing politics. A president who has been accused by multiple women of sexual abuse and harassment has put forward for the court a man who has been accused by one woman of sexual abuse, Sexual Assault or attempted Sexual Assault, i should say. And he is poised likely to strike down apportion rights. So of course the optics are terrible. Everything the president is connected to takes on some of his liabilities. And judge kavanaugh has taken on the president s liabilities unfort nunately for him. Its why his rating is so low compared to other nominees. Whats one irony. What helped elect donald trump in 2016 . Among some swing voters it was the Supreme Court. Mitch mcconnell kept that seat open. A lot people didnt like trump. It was a rationalization. No doubt. Irony if two years later the Supreme Court becomes again a huge issue in the midyear election and maybe cuts the other way. Elise . Republican men who are endorsed by donald trump and who are attached to the apparatus that is the modern Day Republican Party of donald trump, they do not get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to women these days. And thats the byproduct of trumps atrocious behavior and language and own record and history of over a dozen allegations. The Republican National committee and trump supported. Seung min kim, come back if you hear anything from anybody up there. The attorney for Christine Blasey ford will appear with Rachel Maddow tonight at 9 00. Dont miss that. When we come back, more breaking news that will likely have some in the west wing even more rattled. Michael cohen sitting down with Robert Muellers team for multiple sessions lasting over many hours. Plus amid new reporting in the Washington Post painting a vivid picture of a president about to blow under crushing pressure. One of the reporters who wrote that story is sitting right here. And russias hijacking of an American Election in more detall than ever before. Brand new reporting in the New York Times that paints the fullest picture yet of what happened in the 2016 election. Stay with us. How can we say when you book direct at choicehotels. Com you always get the lowest price on our rooms, guaranteed . Lets say it in a really low voice. Carl . Lowest price, guaranteed. Just stick with badda book. Badda boom. Book now at choicehotels. Com billions of problems. Morning breath . Garlic breath . Stinky breath . Theres a therabreath for you. Therabreath fresh breath oral rinse instantly fights all types of bad breath and works for 24 hours. So you can. Breathe easy. Theres therabreath at walmart. Are you worried that Michael Cohen might flip . Look, i did nothing wrong. You have to understand, this stuff would have come out a long time ago. I did nothing wrong. Is Michael Cohen still your friend . News breaking just in the last hour from abc news that Michael Cohen has participated in hours of interviews with Robert Muellers team over the last month. From that report, quote, the special counsels questioning of cohen, one of the president s closest associates over the past decade has focused on trumps dealings with russia including financial and business dealings and the investigation into alleged collusion with russia by the Trump Campaign and its surrogates to influence the outcome of the 2016 president ial election. Sources familiar with the matter tell abc news. Investigators were also interested in knowing the sources say whether trump or any of his associates discussed the possibility of a pardon with cohen. Joining the conversation is former u. S. Attorney and former Deputy Assistant