1/ Trump: It “certainly looks� as if Jamal Khashoggi is dead. Trump said there would be “very severe� consequences if the Saudis killed him, but that it was still “a little bit early� to draw conclusions about who ordered the killing. (Associated Press / New York Times / Washington Post)

Republican lawmakers are threatening to sanction and end arms sales to the Saudis, despite Trump’s objection to canceling a $110 billion arms deal. He claims the deal would create 500,000 U.S. jobs. Additionally, a bipartisan group of senators have invoked the 2016 Magnitsky Act, giving the administration 120 days to respond to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about potential sanctions against officials responsible for human rights violations. (Bloomberg)

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will not attend next week’s investment conference in Saudi Arabia after talking with Trump and Pompeo. (CNBC / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times)

2/ U.S. intelligence agencies are confident that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in the disappearance and murder of Khashoggi. While spy agencies haven’t been able to collect direct evidence about whether Mohammed ordered the killing of Khashoggi or if his intention was to have Khashoggi captured and taken back to Saudi Arabia, circumstantial evidence points to the prince’s involvement. (New York Times)

3/ Mike Pompeo said the U.S. will give Saudi Arabia “a few more days� to investigate the death of Khashoggi while the Saudi royal family looks for an explanation that doesn’t implicate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pompeo said the Saudis could be trusted to “conduct a complete, thorough investigation,� because they “made a personal commitment to me, and the Crown Prince also made a personal commitment to the president.� Asked if his administration was trying to give the Saudis room to come up with an explanation absolving Mohammed, Trump said: “I’m not giving cover at all. They are an ally.� (NBC News / Washington Post / Politico /