Playbook: Inside the grudge that paralyzed the House  —  Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  THE FRIDAY READ — “Nikki Haley Doesn't Want to Choose a Side,” by Michael Kruse: “The conventional wisdom is that this is a time for choosing, for all Republicans, and for her, too.

Far-right Republicans kill GOP bill to keep government running in ‘embarrassing failure’ for McCarthy: report  —  With a shutdown less than 36 hours away, far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives Friday afternoon voted against their party's own legislation to keep the federal government running.

How Trump Is Complicating McCarthy's Attempts to Avoid a Shutdown  —  The former president has been publicly pushing a shutdown, but his views are shaped by his own handling of the 2018 shutdown.  —  When a group of House Republicans thwarted Speaker Kevin McCarthy's attempt at averting …

Comer's Fiasco  —  “Republicans are the party that says that government doesn't work, and then they get elected and prove it.”  — P.J. O'Rourke  —  As we roll into the weekend:  — Dysfunction squared: Hardliners plot to replace McCarthy as government shutdown looms - The Washington Post

Feinstein's death throws Senate judicial confirmations into new limbo  —  Filling the open seat on the Judiciary Committee requires at least 60 votes in the Senate, meaning it would require GOP support.

Trump floats plan to attend New York trial on business fraud  —  The surprise move would bring Trump face-to-face with a Manhattan judge he has repeatedly derided.  —  Former President Donald Trump plans to show up in person for at least the first week of a civil trial set to open in New York …