1/ The Senate voted 51-49 to advance Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination. Republican Lisa Murkowski voted not to advance the nomination. She called the cloture vote “a mistake,� saying Kavanaugh is “not the best man for the court at this time.� Flake told reporters he would support Kavanaugh on the final vote, “unless something big changes.� A final floor vote is expected to take place on Saturday. (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / NBC News / Wall Street Journal)

🗳 How senators voted. (Politico)

🔥 LIVE UPDATES: The Guardian / Wall Street Journal / CNN / CBS News

2/ Susan Collins will support Kavanaugh’s nomination, effectively ensuring enough votes for his confirmation. During a lengthy speech, Collins said the confirmation process has “been in steady decline for more than 30 years,� with Kavanaugh’s nomination hitting “rock bottom.� She said it’s her “fervent hope� that Kavanaugh will “work to lessen the divisions in the Supreme Court.� Collins added that “the MeToo movement is real,� that “it matters,� is “needed and it is long overdue,� but that Christine Blasey Ford’s “allegations fail to meet the more-likely-than-not standard� and “I do not believe that these charges can fairly prevent Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the court.� (CNBC / NBC News / Associated Press / Washington Post)

3/ Joe Manchin will also vote “yes� on Kavanaugh’s nomination, announcing his decision immediately after Collins. Manchin is a Democrat up for re-election in a red state. Machin said he had “reservations about this vote given the serious accusations against Judge Kavanaugh and the temperament he displayed in the hearing,� but “found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist who will follow the Constitution and determine cases based on the legal findings before him.� (Axios /