Kavanaugh isn't popular with Middle America  —  First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.  —  WASHINGTON — For all of the talk and evidence of how the fight over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh …

Khashoggi friend says journalist angered Saudi government with column during its ‘charm campaign’  —  WASHINGTON — In October 2017, Saudi journalist  —  Jamal Khashoggi crossed a line that made him a marked man and led, most likely, to his brutal death, according to one of his close friends.

Khashoggi intrigue: A text from the Saudi ambassador, then silence  —  On Monday afternoon, I received an unsolicited note on the encrypted messaging service, WhatsApp, from the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman.  He is the younger brother of Saudi Crown Prince …

Brown has raised $27M in Senate race  —  Renacci spokesman says Brown got money from lobbyists and ‘Hollywood friends.’  —  Sen. Sherrod Brown has raised nearly $27.1 million so far in his quest to receive a third term in the U.S. Senate — a figure higher even than Sen. Rob Portman's total fund-raising in 2016.