*By Carlo Versano*
With the clock ticking on a deadline for the FBI to wrap up its investigation into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the Senators who asked for it still don't have an idea of what to expect.
"I don't yet know the scale and scope of the investigation," said. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), a member of the judiciary committee who worked with Republican Sen. Jeff Flake in dramatic fashion on a compromise that led to the FBI reopening its background investigation.
Speaking to Cheddar, Coons said that regardless of the outcome of Kavanaugh's confirmation, the fact that the nomination wasn't voted on immediately following last week's emotional testimony would end up being a good thing for the country.
"I think my friend Jeff Flake did something really positive," Coons said. "He got us to hit the pause button for a week."
"It's got to help the country that we're trying to work for more shared facts," the Senator added.
Investigators are under extreme pressure from Republicans to deliver a report in time for a vote on Friday, a deadline Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has demanded. Sources told Cheddar's J.D. Durkin that a report is likely to be delivered to senators Thursday.
CNN reported late Tuesday that the FBI has actually widened the scope of its investigation, adding a specific party from Kavanaugh's calendar to its inquiry.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) told Cheddar that, even if Kavanuagh is confirmed to the high court, the nominee has revealed himself to be so partisan that it will be difficult for the judge to impartially decide certain cases. King alluded to a portion of Kavanaugh's testimony in which he blamed the allegations against him on a Democratic witch hunt. The Senator called that moment "very disturbing."
"I don't see how he can sit on a case involving partisan gerrymandering, for example," King said.
Meanwhile, President Trump shed all his prior restraint on the topic of Kavanaugh's first accuser, Prof. Christine Blasey Ford. Days after saying he found her to be a "credible witness" and a "very fine woman, he mocked and questioned Ford's testimony at a rally in Mississippi on Tuesday night to roaring applause from the audience. Earlier in the day, Trump also expressed concern that the #MeToo movement had made it "a very scary time for young men in America."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), a key swing vote in the Kavanaugh confirmation process, said on NBC's "Today" show he found Trump's comments "kind of appalling."
The comedian, known as the 'Egyptian Jon Stewart,' was exiled from his home country and imprisoned after being critical of the government on his political comedy show. But he sees similarities between how those who protest are treated both in Egypt and the U.S.
Mallory Hagan, the 2013 title winner, is running against the 16-year Republican incumbent Mike Rogers. Hagan says she wants to change the stereotypes people have about her home state and to engage young people in the voting process.
President Trump arrived in Singapore Monday morning for a historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And while the U.S. commander-in-chief may be looking for a lot of credit in arranging the summit, Travis Jeppesen, author of "See You Again in Pyongyang" says Trump's counterpart has been working hard on the issue himself.
Canada's Senate has voted to legalize recreational marijuana. We spoke to cannabis activist Jodie Emery, who thinks this vote is going to send a major message to the rest of the world.
Comedians including Samantha Bee and Michelle Wolf may have caught heat for their controversial comments about President Trump and members of his administration, but Lydic says comedians shouldn't let fear deter them from pursuing a joke.
The comedian Julian McCullough talks about how jokes about President Trump aren't as funny to audiences as they once were. McCullough says liberals and conservatives have tired of the material and "no one wants to hear it."
Facebook admitted this week it shared user data with Chinese phone maker Huawei, which has been flagged as a national security threat. This slow drip of Facebook's data practices will be a difficult PR crisis for the company to overcome, says Former White House Chief Informatoion Officer Theresa Payton.
Democrats are still waiting to see who will take on Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in a key California district. That seat is one their party needs to flip in November in order to retake control of the House of Representatives.
Facebook is facing more backlash after a New York Times report revealed the social media company shared user data with at least 60 device makers. It turns out Facebook shared information with four Chinese firms, including Huawei. The Chinese company Huawei is the third largest smartphone maker in the world and has also faced intense scrutiny from U.S. government officials.
Tesla shareholders voted to keep Elon Musk on as chairman of the electric carmaker. At the annual shareholder meeting, Musk said the company is on track to deliver 5,000 Model 3 vehicles per week by the end of this month. Tesla will also open a new gigafactory in Shanghai, its first outside of the U.S.
And we talk to WNBA legend and Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie. She stars in the new film 'Uncle Drew' alongside Kyrie Irving, Chris Webber, Shaq, and other comedy and basketball greats. Leslie also weighs in on the NFL kneeling controversy.
Denying people the right to express their opinions doesn't represent America's democratic values, says Lisa Leslie. Trump "focuses so much on trying to be the dictator of our country," Leslie tells Cheddar.
