In his first act, Speaker Mike Johnson uses Israel aid to pick a fight with Joe Biden  —  The newly minted Republican speaker is seeking to pay for aid to Israel by slashing $14.3 billion from IRS funds in the Democratic president's signature law.  —  WASHINGTON — In his first major move …

3 Expert Shoemakers Say Ron DeSantis Is Probably Wearing Height Boosters  —  The internet has questions about the governor's boots.  So I asked the experts.  —  In the last few weeks, posts mocking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' strangely shaped cowboy boots have racked up millions of views …

“It Was Always Going to End Badly”: The Untold Story of Tucker Carlson's Ugly Exit From Fox News  —  Fox never explained that abrupt firing of cable news' biggest star, allowing conspiracy theories to fester.  Now, in his new book, Network of Lies, Brian Stelter explores the myriad factors contributing to Carlson's cancellation.

Kinzinger says family disowned him over loss of Hannity's trust  —  Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said he was disowned by his family after he left Congress and “lost the trust” of Fox News host Sean Hannity.  —  “So, I had family that sent a certified letter disowning me,” Kinzinger said in a CNN interview Monday.

Hedge fund billionaire Leon Cooperman, in rare public rebuke of a Republican candidate, says Trump ‘belongs in jail’  —  New York CNN —  Leon Cooperman, the hedge fund billionaire who has famously clashed with Sen. Elizabeth Warren over her proposed wealth tax, is cautioning voters …

Rep. Earl Blumenauer to retire after nearly three decades in Congress  —  Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), who has spent nearly three decades in Congress, announced Monday night that he does not plan to seek reelection next year.  —  “I have dedicated my career to creating livable communities …

Senate Dems plan to subpoena conservative justices' billionaire patrons … - “[I]t is imperative that we understand the full extent of how people with interests before the Court are able to use undisclosed gifts to gain private access to the justices,” the senators said.

America's Rifle Fetish Is Destroying Its Sense of Freedom  —  In Anthony Mann's 1950 western “Winchester '73,” a rare and much-desired Winchester rifle brings misery and death to the unlucky souls who manage to bring it into their possession.  In the West as brought to you by Mann …

Hamas could inspire attacks in the U.S., FBI chief Christopher Wray says  —  The FBI is conducting “multiple, ongoing investigations” into people affiliated with the terrorist group, Wray said.  —  WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday warned that Hamas' actions in the Middle East …

CNN Poll: Trump dominates South Carolina GOP primary, with Haley a clear but distant second  —  Former President Donald Trump currently holds majority support in the early primary state of South Carolina, where his strongest challenger is Nikki Haley, the state's former governor, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

Supreme Court weighs whether public officials can be sued for blocking critics on social media  —  The justices will decide a legal question that was never conclusively decided when then-President Donald Trump blocked critics on Twitter.  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is delving …

Biden-Harris Administration Continues Efforts to Provide Debt Relief for More Student Loan Borrowers  —  U.S. Department of Education releases draft regulatory text that would provide much-needed debt relief to borrowers across the country  —  Contact: Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

Harris had a contingency plan for campus protests over Israel  —  The vice president, like other Democrats, is feeling some heat from her base.  —  Former aides to Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential campaign are collecting signatures for a letter urging the vice president to “seek an immediate ceasefire” …

N.C. Gov. Cooper: Republicans' new map ‘will be challenged’  —  Good morning, Early Birds.  We're curious if there are any politicians in either party sporting more impressive costumes than Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who dressed as Albus Dumbledore.  Send us your nominations: earlytips@washpost.com.

Why Doug Burgum Is Staying in a Race He Can Afford to Lose  —  With a substantial personal fortune, the North Dakota governor is insistent on spreading his message despite calls to drop out.  —  Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota knows that many people, including powerful voices in his own party …