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Good morning. I'm James Holman from the Washington Post and this is the Daily

202 for Friday, October 26th. In today's news, President Trump considers closing the southern border to asylum seekers.

CIA Director Gina Hasbroke briefs the president on her trip to investigate Jamal Koshoggi's death.

And the discovery of more pipe bombs... to investigate Jamal Koshogi's death,

and the discovery of more pipe bombs

plus several false alarms intensifies the search for the culprit.

But first, the big idea. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has begun

telling associates that Republicans are in a strong position not only to hold

the Senate but to pad their narrow 51 to 49 advantage by a couple of seats, though he's

avoiding precise predictions. This optimism marks a shift from early September

when officials were fretting over struggling

candidates and contemplating the possibility of losing both chambers of Congress.

Although Republicans still feel like underdogs to hold the House amid anger with Trump, especially in the suburbs.

They believe they've energized enough voters in Trump-friendly regions to keep the Senate,

thanks to an uptick in the President's popularity and GOP energy surrounding the

confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of sexual assault.

Sean Sullivan who covers Senate races for us has been talking with all the

operatives in DC and the top states. He says Republicans are well positioned to pick up

a seat in North Dakota where Heidi Hightcamp is vulnerable and they're closing in on another one in Missouri, where

polls show a close race and Democrat Claire McCaskill in trouble.

...