‘Sometimes You Have to Hit Rock Bottom’  —  In a phone interview, Kevin McCarthy said he had thought about dropping out over the last week after the Benghazi gaffe, but figured, “I'd push through.”  He realized he couldn't.  The House Freedom Caucus, whose members he'd need to pick off …

Right flexes muscle ahead of Speaker vote  —  The conservative House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday endorsed little-known Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) for Speaker — a bold move that raises serious doubts about whether Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy can cobble together the 218 votes on the House floor he needs to be promoted.

The Renee Ellmers Rumor and Kevin McCarthy's Decision  —  There's a guy out in America who has emails for a massive number of members of Congress and the email addresses of highly influential conservatives outside Congress.  —  A few days ago, he emailed out to 91 people …

The speaker chase: Who's next?  —  The sudden decision Thursday by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) to withdraw from the speaker's race thrust congressional Republicans into chaos and left the contest wide open, with a crowd of lesser-known players jockeying for power and rank …

Scarborough: Paul Ryan Doesn't Have A Choice, He Has To Run For House Speaker  —  MSNBC “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough said Thursday that former vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) needed to “step up” and run for House speaker.  —  Ryan has repeatedly said he doesn't want to seek …

Pleading for Paul Ryan  —  A full-court press is on to get him to reconsider his refusal to run for speaker.  Will he change his mind? … It's all about Paul Ryan right now.  —  House Republicans are frantically lobbying Ryan to run for speaker after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy …

Spencer Stone, French Train Attack Hero, Stabbed in Sacramento  —  Spencer Stone, one of three Americans who helped foil a terror attack on a French train in August, was stabbed in Sacramento on Wednesday night, the U.S. Air Force confirmed to NBC News.  —  Airman First Class Stone …

Wall Street rattled by House GOP bedlam  —  ‘This is the political equivalent of a dumpster fire.’  —  Chaos in the U.S. House of Representatives makes an already scary autumn even more uncertain for Wall Street with debt limit and shutdown fights looming and no one clearly in charge.

Four Syria-Bound Russian Missiles Crashed in Iran, U.S. Officials Say  —  BRUSSELS — Four cruise missiles, among 26 fired by Russia from warships in the Caspian Sea at targets in Syria, crashed in a rural area of northern Iran, senior United States officials said on Thursday.