Jim Jordan won't be the next speaker  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  We'd like to applaud Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.) for incorporating a reference to the Whigs — the extinct 19th-century political party — into his tweets about the speakership fight.  Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) is still funnier, though.

Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case  —  Former Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case, one day before her trial was set to start.  —  Fulton County prosecutors are recommending a sentence of six years probation.

Trump Is Winning Over Swing-State Voters Wary of Biden's Economic Plan  — Voters in seven states trust Trump more on economy, poll shows  — Suburban women swing-state voters are a bright spot for Biden  —  Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden in several key swing states …

American journalist detained and charged in Russia  —  Alsu Kurmasheva's detention follows the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is still awaiting trial on espionage charges.  —  A U.S. journalist has been detained in Russia, her employer said, the second such case since the w ar in Ukraine started.

Multiple members are detailing death threats and other intimidation they've faced for opposing Jim Jordan's speakership bid.  —  Jordan said the threats “are terrible and that should never happen.”

Exclusive: Tech billionaire Peter Thiel was an FBI informant  —  Peter Thiel has worn many hats over the years: Silicon Valley founder, Trump megadonor, cryptocurrency booster, democracy skeptic.  —  But there is yet another facet to Thiel, one that has remained secret until now: FBI informant.

Donald Trump Is Going to Get Someone Killed  —  Donald Trump's life has been a master class in the evasion of consequences.  Six of his businesses have declared bankruptcy but he is still acclaimed as a business visionary; he's been married three times but is still beloved by evangelicals …

Here's the available evidence of what happened at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza  —  Video and photographic evidence, along with eyewitness accounts, are providing some clues about Tuesday's massive explosion at Gaza's Al Ahli Arab Hospital, which Palestinian officials say killed hundreds.

The Morning Briefing: Biden's ‘Hamas Helper’ Trip to Israel Was an Embarrassing Disaster  —  Top O' the Briefing  —  Happy Thursday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends.  Ydwyylla ignored the doubters and feverishly worked on making her dream of an all-xylophone production of “Guys and Dolls” come true.

Teen Journalist Booted From GOP Event, Accused Of Being Democratic Operative  —  High schooler Quinn Mitchell went viral for an exchange with Ron DeSantis over the summer, but isn't sure what played out at a New Hampshire event this week.  —  LOADING  —  A teenage political enthusiast …

America's Biggest Charities Bankrolled RFK Jr.'s Anti-Vax Outfit  —  Children's Health Defense and other groups promoting vaccine misinformation discreetly raked in money from anonymous donors through some of the largest charities in the country … In April 2020, as the first wave …

‘Major expansion’: China now has more than 500 nukes, Pentagon says  —  DOD also estimates China will likely double that to more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.  —  China has blown past previous projections for the size of its nuclear arsenal and is now producing even more weapons …

Marine in custody in suspected homicide of another at Camp Lejeune base in North Carolina  —  A marine was killed in a “homicide” on Wednesday in an barracks room at Camp Lejeune, the U.S. Marines said in a statement.  —  A Marine has been apprehended in connection with the death of another marine …

Forget dating apps.  Sen. Grassley's office has produced 20 marriages.  —  Alex and Molly Severn held hands near the front of an Iowa church a few years ago, excited for the pastor to pronounce them husband and wife.  But for a moment, Molly thought the pastor was going to ruin her wedding.