Kavanaugh Shadow Darkens Supreme Court Opening

Matt Damon’s sniffing, shouting Brett Kavanaugh on 'SNL.' [NPR]( Daily Headlines Monday, October 1, 2018 HEADS UP Happy Monday. Here’s what is going on in the news today. The [death toll has risen to 1,200]( after a tsunami hit Indonesia. Huge waves crashed into the island of Sulawesi after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday. Critics have questioned why residents weren’t warned of the coming tsunami. [A car sits wedged into a building on Monday, Oct. 1, days after a tsunami struck the city of Palu, Indonesia, triggered by an earthquake. At least 844 people have been confirmed dead in the disaster.]( Carl Court/Getty Images The [Supreme Court opened today without a ninth justice]( in place. A month ago, Judge Brett Kavanaugh seemed to be a lock for the seat vacated by retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, who often cast the pivotal swing vote on cases. Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the high court is now in question. President Trump said today that the FBI, which began a new background check of Kavanaugh over the weekend, should do [a “very comprehensive investigation” of his Supreme Court nominee]( but deferred to Republican senators to define exactly what that means. Trump said “it wouldn’t bother me” if the FBI interviewed Julie Swetnick, who said she was raped at a high school party where Kavanaugh was present. The FBI has already reached out to Deborah Ramirez, the woman who alleges that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her while the two were students at Yale. After weeks of talks, the U.S. and Canada reached a last-minute deal on Sunday to [replace NAFTA with a new pact (called the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement, or USMCA)](. DIGGING DEEPER [Dozens of protesters, including sexual assault survivor Mary Jane Maestras of Delta, Colo., demonstrate against the appointment of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.]( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Female rage in a pivotal political moment. Writer Rebecca Traister's new book, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, explores how women's anger has affected American politics, and how both have triggered social change and progress. Women know they've been taught that rage is impolite, unattractive or even unhealthy, and they often cloak their anger in sadness, religious fervor or even humor. Traister’s advice to women: ["Don't ever let them talk you out of being mad again."]( Traister looks at the racial divisions within mainstream feminism that white feminists are beginning to understand. Our reviewer notes that Traister fails to include voices from conservative women, including white evangelical women who have voiced fury at society's treatment of women. THE DAILY GOOD [L to R: Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Joan Plowright, Dame Eileen Atkins and Dame Judi Dench spill the tea in Tea with the Dames.]( Mark Johnson/IFC Films The Dame Test — on being a Maggie, Eileen, Judi or Joan. Let’s assume you already know which Sex and the City character you are, what Beatle you’d be or what Hogwarts house the Sorting Hat would throw you in. Now we have [a new archetype test]( thanks to NPR’s Glen Weldon, whose review of the new documentary Tea with the Dames breaks down the four personality types of the film’s stars, actresses Maggie Smith, Eileen Atkins, Judi Dench and Joan Plowright. TODAY'S LISTEN [This week's episode of Alt.Latino offers songs for recovery and healing.]( Bianca Polak/Flickr For the news weary: Alt.Latino’s meditative playlist. In the days leading up to the November 2016 election, NPR’s Felix Contreras taped an episode of Alt.Latino that was intended to be a [musical healing session]( for all. After last week’s avalanche of political news, it feels like a good time to offer [another curated musical session]( to calm frayed nerves. (Listening time for [original show]( 31:36). THE PICTURE SHOW [A house band performs a lunchtime set at an Italian restaurant in Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is regarded as ushering in an era of comparatively relaxed fashion, hairstyles and popular culture.]( David Guttenfelder for NPR North Korea is changing — at its own pace. After seven years under Kim Jong Un’s rule, North Korea's economy is improving despite sanctions, and overall, quality of life has come a long way since the famine of the 1990s. NPR journalists Mary Louise Kelly and Becky Sullivan and freelance photographer David Guttenfelder traveled north of the 38th parallel where [they found glimpses of normal life]( amid a flurry of modernization and diplomatic shifts. BEFORE YOU GO [Matt Damon played Brett Kavanaugh on the 44th season opener of Saturday Night Live.]( Saturday Night Live via YouTube/Screenshot by NPR - [Matt Damon’s take on Brett Kavanaugh]( was a hollering, weepy mess on Saturday Night Live’s season premiere. And the show’s musical guest Kanye West — now known as Ye — closed the show with [a MAGA-inspired monologue defending President Trump](. - Legendary [Chicago bluesman Otis Rush died Saturday]( at age 84. - Scientists and Twitter are loving [the rare, two-headed copperhead snake]( found in Northern Virginia. The rest of us think, “Oh, hell, no.” - A Harvard economist’s [Boston Basics list]( looks at five ways to encourage brain development in your baby to close the achievement gap later in life. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s newsletter was written by [Korva Coleman]( and Jill Hudson. You received this message because you're subscribed to our Daily News emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]