on tight on "kqed newsroom," a supreme courtmi tion in jeopardy as kavanaugh faces sexual assault accusations. we'll talk with the bay area lawmakers who was the first member of congre to hear about the sexual assault allegation from christineey bl ford. research reveals an alarms achievement gaph starts at a young age. >>weome to "kqed newsroom." we begin with the high court anl ics. trump nominee r the supreme court irett kavanaug being accused of physical and sexual assault. ford said he assaulted her at a high school p 3tyyears ago. ? july ford described details of the alleged attack to her local

congresswoman. ford and kavanaugh have been asked to testify before the senate judiciary committee. >> and joining me now by skype from her office. is congresswoman. thank you for being here. >> good to be with you. thank you. >> can you take us back to the day in july when you met with bley ford in your office. how did she seem as she told you her >> i was struck by the following. she is aninlligent woman. she is highly educated.ed very dev to her family. concerned about her family. i thinkitas wrenching for her to share the story. difficult to tell. it was had a layer of emotion over it. which is not untypical of sexual abuse victims. victims of sexual abuse are

terrified. ified that their name will get out. what people will say. they will be blamed. there's a whole raft of issues to touch to that. and i also shared with her that i was not here to tell her what i thought she should d but rather if there were something she wished me to do on her behalf that i was prepared to do that. >> did you believe her? >> at the entd of meeting i said to dr. ford i want you to know that i believe you.d i then, i do now. >> president trump posted this morning say suggesting he has doubts about ford's srry. what's y reaction to that? >> he's so misguided and informed. all he had to do was to check with his own departme of justice to understand that there are these ares, fa that two

out of three sexual abuse cases are not reported. and there are many good reasons fo that. again, the victims are frightened. and msey c when they're young they don't want their families to know. they feel ashamed. they think they are going to be blamed. son't think the president is the in the ahority on this issue. let's leave it at that. >> miss ford says she will testify. kavanaugh has already agreed to testify. there are no other witnesses sul mono-ed. what's your reaction to the rocess unfolding? >> it's been a rocky road. it's been a rock ri i think that the over all that the committee has been more inclined in the following way. that is a rush to judgment.

just rush it all, bring it to the floor and ehte it. get itd them. this is one of the mostco sequential decisions that the united states senate kes. one of the most consequential decisions for the american people. and ihink the country and the american people are being left out of this. it's an appointment to a lifetime position. on the highest court of the land. so, i think that there should be a full hearing. e fbi should investigate because these are new allegations. the administration is said that judge kavanaugh has been vetted several times. and he has. and that's appropriate. but dr. ford's story w not part of the vetting. i also believe that mark ju should be subpoenaed. he was the third alleged party

to be in the room. and forim to be left out is a glaring, glaring i think purposeful over sight. >> we live in a different era than from the 1991 hill, thomas hear lgs. it was a panel ofe all wh men questioning ms. hill. ur the committee has f women. four people of color. and the me too movement. do you think we have come far enough and willke that m a difference this time around in terms of what we're seein with the ford kavanaugh situation. >> it's important to note the which are so welcome. they are on the democratic side. the women. several of the senators on the republican side were there for the aneatill hearings. and they are still there. it's in all white male older cast that is in the majority.

and of cour they have the power to subpoena, they have the power of whatever the process is that's determined. so one side changed. and i would s the other side hasn't. i think where the most change has taken place is across thew countrh the american people. because there a is broad and deeper knowledge and appreciation for what the sexual use is in our country. that is needs to be addressed. that it needs to be take seriously. and that those that come forwar need to respected. >> with the midterm election seven weeks away we're hearing facebook is settinp a war room. this is to root out false news and fake accounts as we head into the eleion. how much confidence do you have in facebook's efforts here to try to curb foreign influence in our election?

>> well i think it's important that they are doing what they're doing relativ their platform. and i appreciate that. i think it's important. t it doesn'tresolve the over all issue that we have in our country. of relative to the security of our voting syste we kn that the russians interfered. in 2016. our national elections and votes that are cast if those are tampered with, then the democracy has been attacked. and so i would fault the majority incongress th despite our pleas, despite the legislation that has been written. the congress is not really lifted a finger to assure the merican people that they are secur >> here in california the state legislature hads passed a net neutrality bill that is waiting for the governor bill. this goes against recent mbyves

the trump administration. it would stop internet providers from blocking and slowing certain web sites unless they pay more.er do you stand on the bill? >> my colleagues i think out of affection dubbed me the mother of net neutrali in the house. i have been on the issue for a long time. and have written with all of my colleagues the northern californiana congressi delegation urging that governor brown sign that bill. >> all right. we thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> for more on the conversation orbetween kavanaugh and and a look at california politics chl i'm joined by president of the democracy in color. republican political strategist. and senior writer at plit co. good to have you back. we'll talk about the kavanaugh blasey ford show down in a

thoment. "new york times" is reporting today that deputy attorney general ro rosenstein wanted to secretly tape meetingu with and invoke the 25th amendment to have him removed from office? what do you make from this. he's denying all this. any credibility? >> he's having a bad night at hap he got a professional hit on him by people within his ownagency. both at the department of justice and the fbi. based on the fact they don't tonk he's standing up enou president trump. on releasing their material on russia and a host of other issues. >> it's ironic the president has disparaged the "new york times" as a failing paper. for so long. he's tweeting out this story. as his son is. and standing up to the story. as you said rosenstein is denying it. the other point it does seem suspicious.

it is anonymous sources. >> what's it do to the credibility of all of those institutions? it's difficult to know what to believe now. >> this really is damaging to our federal government. particularly the top lawnt enforce >> speaking of institutions. let's move to the supreme court. thas is whateen the major story all week christine blasey ford is saying she will testify. we don't know when. there was some resistance to it in the beginning and still a timing it now, to the and the conditions. how is all of this playingut? >> look, senator feinstein has taken criticism from both sides of e aisl from president trump and her u.s. senate challenger. and at the same time christine ford is this center of this fire storm. her defenders say she wants to testify. she just wants to meet and have conditions met by the senate. it looks like there maybe some

accommodation there. not all the way. the fact is what we need to look at is how is this going to affect the confirmation. the timing. which is critical. he first monday in october when the supreme court sits and theni how did effect the turn out f the election and energy on both sidese aisle. there's so much at stake for both sides. >> i was reading o speakingthe "new york times" the op-ed that hill wrote. i grew up watching her testify. >> we all did. >> years ago. do you know, she pointed out the structure the snate judiciary committee and senate has to deal with the claims of sexual harassment hasn't changed in 30 yea feinstein knew that. she's been in office. >> she road the year of the woman. all the way to office.ht rig after the hill hearings. >> she does bear absponsibility. ut the rules still in place. that make it difficult for people to have some level of transparency. there should be a way.

r and a process to deal with and discuss and investigate theselas. and there isn't. so those should be changed in a long term thing. but i think senator feinstein and i think her c hizensre in california expect her to do everything she can as a democrat to at least take the cover off of what is going on with l kavanaughht of the fact papers and his writings haven't been released to the public. or leaked. i think she fell short on that. >> it's acurious situation when you have the senate challenger agreeing with president trump. on something. which is a both feel like feinstein mishandled this ituation. for different reasons. >> she still won't win the senate district. >> he's trying. >>n this instance, it is murky. feinstein had this for six weeks. it could have been looked at and

vetted. it could have be part of the process going forward. there's a lot of republicans who feel that rut bader ginsburg gets put forward 97-3. ginsburg comes up and smokes a marijuana smoked and knocked out every republican that comes up goes through abuse. what republicans feel is abuse by democrats on the partisan basis. i was in the bush white house for the thomas hearings. on the other side. at was he jr. staffer t staffing this hearing. and people felt then this cakeu n the last minute a last mip attack. from republican perspective they think these are rank, political bias issues. this is a serious charge. and it needs to be looked at in a credible way. and if evidence comes rward credible, then it should be taken. >> shing to a hearing and rushing to a vote. without involving fbi a other

investigation. does it make sense? we have to move one year ago. from democratic party. i will s th president obama had a supreme court nominee. garland. for a listening time. and thelicans delayed and delayed until they got to make their pick. and so from my perspective, the republicans aren't playing fair on this. it's not a transparent process. >> senator sfin feinstein in her defense says the privacy was the over riding concern. and couldn't ask for investigation or turn it over without betraying the confidentiality. >> a week before the hearings it goes off the table. >> how did it get leaked. >> a bush member of the bush has said there's no reas why they can't do the fbi investigation. that should be the bottomline. >> i would say she should be be

heard, he should be .hea if evidence or testimony comes up. that then goes t the nextstep. you can stop. look at exactly what she said. she hasn't talked to the abo stf this matter when they want to interview her in close door session or talk to the senators in close door. will the her be heard. if this is credible and oth witnesses come forward, the vote >> the burden of responsibility of innocence is on kavanaugh. >> it's not. >> it isn't on christine ford. this is the same reason there was a me too movement in the first place. women were not believed. and so we should be in 2018 operating from a different point of view. trump's recent tweet saying if it was that bad yo should have one to the fbi shows the attitude of hasn't changed. it's ridiculous to say that about a 15 year-old girl. >> we have to move on. clearly a lot more to discuss on

this. i'm sure this wil carry into next week. we may have you back. in the meantime let's move to the congressional races and midterms. because of course hanging over all of this the kavanaugh hering, are the midterm elections. republicans are hoping to get it wrapped up as soon as ssible. fore the election. we have democrats now trying to flipe 23 congressional ho seats. seven in california. key battleground state here. what is happening those races? >> they're becoming tight sfwl very let's look at congressional strict 39. redistricting has made the population shift. it's 68% people of color. rt 30% asian pacific islander. the reason i point that out is because a across the countr and lifornia primary there have been late surges and pollsters

and people have been surprised. by those who made it through primaries without establishment support. in fact one of three of the nominees that are on the november ballot are women of colo people who came through without democratic party blessing. what's happening in orange county is that a sort of similar situatio where we have a heavily people of color and so it's all about turn out. and pollsters are sang it's slightly republican advantage. they're not lookiat the incredible growth of women and women of in that district alone. that will be the x factor. they're not counting it thw. >> it's heart of the revolution. i was in orange county this week. to see the turn out of women at these events. t was impressive. many say have been involved politically was at the

women's march. many wome of color. it's going to be interesting to see. did they come out and vote? you're seeing signs that yes the energy is there now. and we may be in sor a bigft in orange county. >> with those key tight republican races, do you think there's enough momentum on the democratic sideor ablue wave? >> i think the actual kavanaugh process now has had a bit of a negative impact on the races. i think republicans are getting more solidified thinking there's raw politics being played and may raise the number of republicans that turnout. you're right. young kim is a woman of color. asian woman. and s will do well in the district. i think all said and done acrosh country the race probably comes down to whether africano americann come out in large numbers. >> we'll rest there. shawn walsh, amy and colin. thank you a.

turning to education. a new research project reveals big achieveme gaps by race, income and ethnicity among california 6 million school children. theem achit gap starts in kindergarten. while student test scores a improving. fourth and eighth grade udents stillerform low ine ring and math. black and latin students having worse out comes than white peers. >> joing me now. one of the researchers who contriuted to t report called getting down to facts too. al san francisco chronicle education reporter. jill tucker. welcome to you both. heather, one of the most troubling findings in your study was the achievement gap begins even before kids enter kindergarten. how is that so? >> great question. this set of studies we want ton

ut where the achievement gap was happening and who it was affecting most. long time wn for a have gaps in fourth and eighth gr te. we havse by race income lines by language status. to what this paper and set of studies contributed is that we can see the gaps before students even set foot in school. >> what contributes to that. >> it's a fragmented early childhood system. a fragmented and under funded system.sn that some say a system at all. children have -- so when they start, they're on different footing. based on their characteristic coming into scrmol. >> in t of quality of child care or preschool education? what are the things that are part of the patch work quilt that you point out. >> any parent who has child this age knows that right now in our state child care is very expensive. and also the quality of child care is not highly regulated.

across the state. so a lot of kids that parents can't afford to put into child care at all. and of the kids that are in a early childhood care or training or education, there's a lot of variation. in terms of what they get from an educational perspective. there's a lot of variation in terms of theha teachers are in those positions. serving them. it's not aigh wage position. there's not a lot of regulation around training. >> when i think was so interesting about that aspect of the study, the one thing i thought was really interestin about that information about children coming into kindergarten behind was once they got into kindergarten california schools and the children kept pace. with other states across the country. which means ifhey could actually start on equal footing, our schools are keeping pace in terms of teaching them once they get there.

it gives this really narrow zone of where to focus some of the efforts. if we can get them into kindergarten at the same levels as pe across the country. they'll keep up. >> what needs to happen to close the gap? prior to. funding alone the dference? >> there's a variety of issues with that. access, it's quality. any so m in the state have been calling for universal preschool for many years. which would allow more control over thatm.sys so far we haven't been able to. we made baby steps. we have transitional kindergarten. and we have preschool progrs or low income family. it is a w bit of patk right now. it's not universal for all families and children.rt to f get us to the start line. >> funding alone is never enough. we have shown across all of the

36 studies that we need more money in the system. we know from decades of education research that if you put money into this sysm other things need to be in place to make sure that money is well spent. it's the same withthis early childhood situation. we need to make sure we have a good data system. so we can understand the service ts that the c youngestildren are receiving. and how that's affecting the out come. we netr toin those early childhood teachers. so all kids are getting that high quality insuction. and make sure everyone gets that place in a classroom. >> there's an achievement gap. once they get into the public e' school system able to help gap. close that but is it enough for the to completely catch on par with students in other states. or do they start so far behind they never catch up? >> they a not able to catch up. because of that gap and how big on day one, our schools are doing better than schools in

othery states actuat closing it. they're not able to accelerate it to completely close the gap. so what we see in california is most affluent studentsare achieving compared to the high lefls in other states. our low income our black students and eveninglish langua leaesers. >> thearch teams california used to be a leader in early school education. but havefaen behind other states. how did this happen? >> great question. e of the things this is why we have tried to step back and think about the entir system. why we look at prek through 12 educllion chlts of these pieces are related. and what we have seen is there is a huge emp ss on k 12 education in the past decade. and we have made som really vast improvement in the area. round funding and around suppor changes to the accountability system. and so not onl do we still need

improvement in k 12. but the early childhood paces haven't been attended to. >>jill, funding alone can't fix everything. you would think some of the problems would have been mitigated because california hasz put in place finance reform. aimed at improving education. since 2005. at formula t lets local districts determine how to spend state money. b butst serves their students. so why haven't we seen more improvement? >> we have seen some. and some places. but we need to look at how focus those dollars better. the report also states that california is last when itt coms counsellors and things like that. $10per kid we could have better mental healthcare and healthcare for all students in the stay. the report says that to adequately fund schools compared

o other states we need another $22 million. which is about a third more. so it's not money solves all the equation. but mheney is part of equation. and according to the study, we're about ahird behind of where we should be. >> i want to ask you abouten ish learners. a million of nem in california public education system. 40% of california students who nter the school system ar english learners. how are they faring? >> some of the problems i discussed earlier are most felt by this group. so their achievement at kindergarlon is r. they aren't able to catch up to peers. and there's a lot of reasons for that. a few identified in the 36 studies that we conducted are around the quality of services that are ovided to the students and around teachers. the teachers that those studen have. we didn't talk yet about teacher shortage is something that'sas identified looming issue. for the state. and it's not everywhere. we have teachers shortages in

urbanreas and rural areas. and specifically for the students in groups. and english learners are particularly hit by that issue. >> all rght. thank yo for bringing us up to speed. jill tucker and ather. thanks for your time. >> that will do it for us. as alwa find more of the coverage at kqed.org slash news room. thank you for joining us.

robert: september surprise. intensifying battle over supreme court ninee brett kavanaugh. i'm robert costa, welcome to "washington enek." prestrump: to see what's going to is just very, very sad. t ll the f.b.i. 3years ago?y robert: presidump questions the credibility of the allegations against supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh, firing off t a tweet about accuser and her parents. mr. trump wrote, in part ," i have no doubt that if the attack had been as bad as she says, charges would have beendi imely filed. vanaugh denies the allegations and says he is ready to testify. in the senate judiciary