Can the GOP ever come to grips with the lies of 2020?  —  Mike Johnson's election, and the process getting there, showed a party not willing to address the fundamental question facing it.  —  Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was hours away from winning the speakership when a reporter asked …

Republican Speaker Nominee Mike Johnson Has a Plan to Avoid a November Shutdown  —  House Republican speaker nominee Mike Johnson is working to convince ultraconservatives to avert a Nov. 18 government shutdown, a signal that even hardliners in the GOP may be willing to compromise on a short-term spending deal.

And the Winner Is...  “If you don't think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you're not paying attention,” — Matt Gaetz to Steve Bannon Wednesday morning.  —  And of course, he was right.

Robert Card: What we know about Maine shooting person of interest  —  Maine police have identified a person of interest in the mass shootings across the state Wednesday night that left at least 18 dead and dozens injured.  —  The Lewiston Maine Police Department identified 40-year-old Robert Card as a …

At least 16 dead, dozens wounded in Lewiston shootings; police give few details on overnight search for gunman  —  A commercial man lift falls off trailer and blocks Route 4 in Rangeley  —  Hundreds of new laws take effect in Maine Wednesday.  Here's what you need to know

DeSantis sending drones, weapons, ammunition to Israel  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has sent drones, weapons and ammunition to Israel to support its war against Hamas, a move that bolsters his pro-Israel stance in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination.

Mitt Romney is the fixed point revealing the Republicans' slide  —  A new biography shows how far that slide has gone  —  So a politician in the evening of his career, with a vast family, a rich spiritual life and great wealth to fall back upon, summoned the nerve to declare …

Bowman pleads guilty to misdemeanor for pulling fire alarm in House office building  —  Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor for falsely pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building last month ahead of a key House vote.  —  Bowman appeared …

Thomas lawyer disputes Senate Democrats' claim on loan forgiveness  —  An attorney for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is disputing Senate Democrats' claim that his client did not pay back a “significant portion” of a loan used to purchase a luxury motorcoach.

U.S. economy grows at blockbuster pace in third quarter  —  GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.9 percent from July to September, the highest reading since 2021  —  The U.S. economy grew by an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the third quarter, the strongest pace since 2021, as spending …

Russian military executing soldiers who don't follow orders, White House says  —  White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday that the Russian military is executing soldiers who aren't following orders amid Moscow's war with Ukraine.

Texas House passes three immigration bills after contentious night of debate  —  Democrats fumed when Republicans tried to block more amendments on a bill that would create a new state crime for illegally crossing the border into Texas.  —  Editor's note: This story contains explicit language.