On Politics: The Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week

From President Trump’s meeting with Kanye West to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, it’s been a busy week. Here are some of the biggest stories in American politics. [Trouble seeing this email? View in browser]( [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( October 13, 2018 | Evening Edition From President Trump’s meeting with Kanye West to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, it’s been a busy week. Here are some of the biggest stories in American politics (and some links if you want to read further). [President Trump invited reporters into his cabin on Air Force One during the Senate’s vote to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh last weekend.] President Trump invited reporters into his cabin on Air Force One during the Senate’s vote to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh last weekend. Pete Marovich for The New York Times Trump on the trail: A week of presidential messaging President Trump publicly seized control of his messaging this week, frequently speaking to reporters, hosting a series of rallies and [entertaining Kanye West in the Oval Office]( before TV cameras. [[Read the White House memo]( Among other topics, the president [attacked]( the Federal Reserve for falling stock prices and repeatedly branded his Democratic opponents as “an angry mob.” [[Read the story]( At his rallies, Mr. Trump also appeared to be banking on the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as a likely motivator for his supporters. [[Read the story]( ADVERTISEMENT Mr. Trump’s rallies often follow a script, regardless of where they are held. The Times captured one rally as if it were a play. [[Read our interpretation here]( Additional Reading • [A Guide to Trump’s Stump Speeches for the Midterm Campaigns]( • [At Ohio Rally, Trump Delivers Trademark Mix of Exaggerations and Vague Assertions]( • White House Memo: [Trump’s Contradiction: Assailing ‘Left-Wing Mob’ as Crowd Chants ‘Lock Her Up’]( A journalist disappears, a pastor returns and other foreign policy developments Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, has not been seen since he entered the Saudi Arabia Consulate in Istanbul last week. [[Read the story]( His disappearance, and [allegations that he was killed by Saudi agents in the consulate]( have thrust Mr. Trump and United States-Saudi relations into the center of a more significant diplomatic conflict. [[Read the story]( Andrew Brunson, an American pastor detained in Turkey for 24 months over charges of espionage and aiding terrorists, was freed on Friday and is set to return to the United States. [[Read the story]( Nikki Haley, the ambassador to the United Nations, said on Tuesday that she would step down at the end of the year. She is one of the few high-profile women in the Trump administration. [[Read the story]( Additional Reading • [Trump Calls Relations With Saudi Arabia ‘Excellent,’ While Congress Is Incensed]( [• Khashoggi’s Disappearance Puts Kushner’s Bet on Saudi Crown Prince at Risk]( • News Analysis: [North Korea Weaponizes Its Deal With Trump to Tangle Talks]( • [On Africa Trip, First Lady Reveals a Trump-like Side]( Justice Kavanaugh takes the bench at the Supreme Court After a bitter confirmation battle, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh was formerly sworn in to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court and quickly got to work. [[Read the story]( He joined his colleagues on the bench for the first time Tuesday to hear oral arguments. It was a day devoid of much of the rancor that had prolonged and defined his confirmation process. [[Read the story]( The justice also made history with his all-female class of law clerks — a first in the Supreme Court’s history. [[Read the story]( Additional Reading • [F.B.I. Director Defends Kavanaugh Investigation as ‘Standard’]( • [At Immigration Argument, Justice Kavanaugh Takes Hard Line]( • [Kavanaugh Is One of Only 114 to Join the Exclusive Club of Justices. Here’s How He Fits In.]( The country received a dire climate warning as another hurricane hit the Southeast A landmark report from the United Nations released Monday said the consequences of climate change could be far more dire and arrive sooner than anticipated: food shortages and wildfires, and a mass die-off of coral reefs as soon as 2040. Yet it appears that Mr. Trump and his administration will continue to remain isolated from an otherwise global effort to attempt to address the problem. [[Read the story]( He said he would most likely visit next week parts of the Southeast ravaged by Hurricane Michael. Residents in Florida, Georgia and other states are struggling to find resources in the aftermath of the storm. [[Read the story]( Additional Reading • [New U.N. Climate Report Says Put a High Price on Carbon]( • [As Storms Keep Coming, FEMA Spends Billions in ‘Cycle’ of Damage and Repair]( • [E.P.A. to Disband a Key Scientific Review Panel on Air Pollution]( In other midterm news: Beto O’Rourke, attack ads and a look toward 2020 Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic candidate looking to unseat Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, on Friday unveiled a historic level of fund-raising in the last three months. But the announcement also revealed tensions about what Democrats think he should contribute to races other than his own. [[Read the story]( A Democratic challenger in Kentucky, Amy McGrath, has promised not to run any attack ads during her campaign. It will serve as a test of whether negative ads, which are generally disliked at face value by voters, are effective. [[Read the story]( Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. levied some of his harshest criticism on Friday against Mr. Trump, in an apparent test of what could be a campaign to defeat the president’s re-election. [[Read the story]( Additional Reading • [Republican Candidate in Pennsylvania Threatens to ‘Stomp All Over’ Opponent’s Face]( • [Michelle Obama Wanted Democrats to ‘Go High.’ Now They Aren’t So Sure.]( • [Republicans Abandon Vulnerable Lawmakers, Striving to Keep House]( • [Complaints of Voter Suppression Loom Over Georgia Governor’s Race]( _____________________ Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Emily Cochrane in Washington. Check back Monday for On Politics With Lisa Lerer, a nightly newsletter exploring the people, issues and ideas reshaping the political world. Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. 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