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.

‘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 …

Why did Kevin McCarthy quit?  —  House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy stunned Washington — and much of America — on Thursday afternoon when he abruptly withdrew his bid to become the next speaker of the House.  —  All indications were that the California Republican was aggressively campaigning …

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 …

McCarthy withdraws from speaker race, election postponed  —  Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has abandoned his bid for House speaker Thursday afternoon, just minutes before the election was about to begin.  —  Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who resigned the post last month, announced in the meeting that elections were being postponed.

Rep. Walter Jones Warns Leadership Candidates to Drop Out of Race if Moral Turpitude Issues in Personal Lives Emerge  —  Republican North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) is urging all candidates for Speaker of the House to drop out of the race if skeletons in their closet might embarrass the Republican Party.

Kevin McCarthy's Stunning Exit From the Speaker's Race  —  Behind Kevin McCarthy's stunning decision Thursday to end his bid for speaker lay a simple calculation: Even if he could scrape together the 218 votes he needed to win the formal House election later this month, he would begin his term …

Dick Cheney to endorse Kevin McCarthy  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney is stepping into the suddenly feverish House speaker's race to endorse the leading candidate, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as “a good man and a strong leader.”  —  McCarthy has a challenge from the right …

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 …

France train hero Spencer Stone stabbed multiple times in Sacramento  —  Police: Stone taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries  —  France train hero Spencer Stone was stabbed multiple times early Thursday morning near several popular bars in midtown Sacramento, KCRA has confirmed with the U.S. Air Force.

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.