Politics

The Associated Press reports: The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on a major holiday. Several hours after the invasion began, Hamas …

CBS News reports: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy denied reports on Friday that he’s thinking about resigning from Congress before his term concludes in 2025, after after hardline Republicans and Democrats forced him out of the speaker’s chair earlier this week. “I’m not resigning,” McCarthy said twice Friday. When asked if he will run for reelection next year, McCarthy responded, …

Florida Politics reports: Attorney General Ashley Moody says she will ask the state Supreme Court to block a proposed abortion rights amendment from appearing on the 2024 ballot. Moody released an op-ed for Florida’s Voice where she argued that the measure’s ballot summary would mislead voters. If passed by 60% of voters, the amendment would prohibit the Legislature from banning …

Politico reports: Kevin McCarthy is considering resigning from the House before the end of his term, two people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. The deposed former speaker has made clear he plans to stay at least through the speakership election that begins next week before ending his House career in order to help the party steady itself after a …

NBC News reports: Days before Rep. Matt Gaetz led an effort to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, Gaetz and Rep. Matt Rosendale, a fellow Freedom Caucus member, denounced as a political stunt Republicans’ high-stakes effort to impeach President Joe Biden, according to a video obtained by NBC News. At an invitation-only fundraiser held over Zoom last week, Gaetz, R-Fla., …

The Des Moines Register reports: Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign vehicle was hit Thursday afternoon in what the campaign said was an intentional act by protesters but police say was nothing more than an accident involving a driver unconnected to the protest. No one was hurt in the incident in which an unoccupied black Ford Expedition being used by the …

Axois reports: A growing number of anti-Trump Republicans are giving up — and giving into the belief that nothing will stop him from winning the GOP’s presidential nomination. Despite former President Trump’s poor record in the last three elections, his increasingly violent rhetoric and four felony indictments, many anti-Trump Republicans quietly are stepping back from pushing for an alternative. They’ve …

The Washington Post reports: Former president Donald Trump is throwing his support behind Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to become House speaker after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted in a rebellion by far-right Republicans. In an early-morning post Friday on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Jordan had his “complete” and “total” endorsement. “He will be a GREAT …

The Associated Press reports: Protesters upset about Vivek Ramaswamy’s remarks in opposition to aid for Ukraine yelled and swore at the presidential candidate in Iowa on Thursday before jumping into a vehicle, ramming a campaign car and speeding off, according to his campaign. Ramaswamy spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said no one was in the campaign vehicle when it was hit in …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis was born and raised in Florida, and spent much of his adult life in the state. Yet in all his 45 years on the planet, he says he never met someone who was mugged on the street, drawing a dramatic contrast to California. “My wife and I were in Southern California. We’re doing different …

Courthouse News reports: North Carolina lawmakers have been exempted from public records requests, through an item in the North Carolina budget which took effect Monday at midnight and was three months late. Buried in the 625-page document allocating $30 billion in funding are provisions that shield legislators from public records requests, even once they’ve left office. Section 27.7 of the …

Politico reports: Democrat Adam Frisch’s campaign reported a massive third quarter haul of nearly $3.4 million — more than many nationally touted Democratic Senate candidates — as he seeks to win a rematch with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) next year. Frisch’s campaign said the average donation was less than $32 and reported $4.3 million cash on hand. He lost to …

ABC News reports: After a protracted legal battle, Alabama voters will vote in their next congressional elections, in 2024, using a map that includes a second district designed to empower the state’s Black voters, a federal court ruled on Thursday. The state Legislature had been previously ordered to redraw its House districts to include “two districts in which Black voters …

NBC News reports: Rep. Jim Jordan said Thursday that he has spoken about his bid to be the next speaker with Donald Trump and that he would not support ousting Rep. Matt Gaetz from the Republican caucus even amid anger by some lawmakers after he led Kevin McCarthy’s removal. “I don’t think that’s warranted,” Jordan said. “We’ve got a four-seat …

The Hill reports: Republican senators are shocked and unnerved by the sudden collapse of Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) career in leadership and fear the turmoil in the House will put Congress on the path to a government shutdown. Senators are worried about who will succeed McCarthy and whether that successor will be so beholden to a small group of conservatives …

“It was Republicans who, even prior to that vote that weekend, failed to pass their own bills to fund the government. But if you look at the recent history of Republican speakers, the cause of death becomes a little clearer. McCarthy, ousted. Paul Ryan, quit in disgust over his right flank. John Boehner, pushed out by the Freedom Caucus. Dennis …

CNN reports: Kevin McCarthy was behind interim Speaker Patrick McHenry’s move to kick former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer out of their office spaces, two Republican sources told CNN. GOP Rep. Garret Graves told reporters on Wednesday that McCarthy is getting the office that McHenry has ordered her to vacate. “Look the deal is that …

The Washington Examiner reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urged former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) replacement on Wednesday to eliminate the motion to vacate after the procedural tool was used to force the latter’s historic ouster. “I have no advice to give to House Republicans, except one: I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the …

The Messenger reports: Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said he will not support a new Speaker unless they commit to reforming the motion to vacate after Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the speakership. “Nobody has my vote,” Gimenez said. “I think the one-person motion to vacate, I think it’s actually a little bit insane.” McCarthy agreed to change the …

NBC News reports: Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who became a national figure after he survived a brutal assassination attempt during a congressional baseball practice, announced Wednesday he will seek to be the next House speaker. On Wednesday morning, he was making calls seeking to shore up support for a bid to succeed ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, according to two lawmakers …