New speaker of the House Mike Johnson once wrote in support of the criminalization of gay sex  —  Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has a history of harsh anti-gay language from his time as an attorney for a socially conservative legal group in the mid-2000s.

Trump Hit With $10,000 Fine for Gag Order Violation After Judge Puts Ex-President on Witness Stand and Finds Him ‘Not Credible’  —  The former president claimed under oath that he had been referring to his former fixer Michael Cohen, who was on the witness stand throughout the day and the focal point …

Exclusive: Fulton County DA has discussed plea deals with at least 6 more Trump co-defendants  —  Fulton County prosecutors have discussed potential plea deals with at least six additional co-defendants charged alongside Donald Trump for attempting to subvert the 2020 presidential election, multiple sources tell CNN.

Justice Thomas's R.V. Loan Was Forgiven, Senate Inquiry Finds  —  The justice failed to repay much, perhaps all, of the $267,230 loan.  His benefactor wiped the slate clean, with ethical and potential tax consequences.  —  The terms of the private loan were as generous as they were clear …

Rep. Jamaal Bowman charged with misdemeanor for pulling fire alarm in a Capitol building  —  The alarm was set off Sept. 30 in the Cannon office building last month as Republicans sought to initiate voting on a spending measure to keep the government open.  —  Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y. …

It's the culture war, stupid: How Republicans view the presidency  —  One of the central refrains of Donald Trump's campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — a refrain focused, justifiably, on a general election rematch against President Biden — is that the economy was more robust during his tenure in the White House.

Voters soundly reject Gabrielle Hanson, other MAGA candidates in historic Franklin, Tennessee election  —  FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — In perhaps the most bizarre race that this picturesque Middle Tennessee community has ever experienced, Franklin voters resoundingly rejected a candidate for mayor …

12-year-old who emailed bomb threats to Maryland schools knew state law would prevent charges  —  A 12-year-old admitted to emailing seven bomb threats to schools, but state law says children younger than 13 can only face “crime of violence” charges.  —  A 12-year-old responsible …

Israel Agrees to Delay Invasion of Gaza So U.S. Can Rush Missile Defenses to Region  —  Israel has agreed, for now, to a request from the U.S. to get its air defenses in place to protect U.S. troops in the region ahead of an expected ground invasion of Gaza, U.S. and Israeli officials said.

Michigan State investigation finds Mel Tucker sexually harassed rape survivor  —  Former Michigan State University football coach Mel Tucker has been found responsible for violating the school's sexual harassment policy - a huge victory for the woman who accused him, prominent rape survivor …

North Carolina lt. governor quoted Hitler in newly unearthed social media posts  —  Mark Robinson, the leading GOP candidate for governor, also likened the toppling of a Confederate statue to Kristallnacht, among other incendiary remarks  —  Mark Robinson, the lieutenant governor of North Carolina …