It's a one-candidate race — with two backups  —  IT'S A ONE-CANDIDATE RACE — WITH TWO BACKUPS.  Some Republicans have long wanted the GOP presidential field to narrow.  They hoped the also-ran candidates would drop out.  So far, there hasn't been much of that.  Instead, the field has effectively narrowed itself.

Nancy Mace's Staff Guide Shows Her True Priority: Nancy Mace  —  A lengthy internal handbook for aides to the Republican lawmaker—obtained by The Daily Beast—demonstrates Mace's thirst for the spotlight. … Well before her fateful vote to remove Kevin McCarthy from the House speakership …

Senate Republicans erupt in anger over Tuberville's military freeze  —  A surprising public confrontation made clear that some of Sen. Tommy Tuberville's colleagues have hit their limit as hundreds of senior military promotions remain stalled  —  The war in Gaza and a serious medical emergency suffered …

Alabama court says state can execute inmate with nitrogen gas  —  The decision moves Alabama closer to being the first state to attempt an execution with nitrogen gas, although there is likely to be additional litigation.  —  MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A divided Alabama Supreme Court said the state …

Oral arguments begin to see if Trump's eligibility to appear on Minnesota ballot should proceed  —  This is the second hearing this week challenging Trump's eligibility.  —  Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Oct. 29, 2023.

Biden calls for humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war  —  President Joe Biden said he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war, after his campaign speech Wednesday evening was interrupted by a protester calling for a cease-fire.  “I think we need a pause,” Biden said.

Second effort to expel George Santos from House fails  —  A motion to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from the House failed Wednesday evening, with New York Republicans taking the helm in an attempt to remove him over his public false statements and ongoing federal criminal case.

Trump Jr distances himself from documents at center of fraud trial: 'I don't recall'  —  Donald Trump's eldest son testifies in New York civil trial, claiming repeatedly: 'I don't recall'  —  Donald Trump Jr took the stand in the ongoing fraud trial against his father and the family business …

Democrats scrap plans to vote on Greene censure resolution  —  House Democrats scrapped plans to vote on a resolution to censure Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Wednesday, a last-minute move that came immediately after a coalition of Republicans joined with Democrats in torpedoing …

Ukraine's top general on the breakthrough he needs to beat Russia  —  General Valery Zaluzhny admits the war is at a stalemate  —  Five months into its counter-offensive, Ukraine has managed to advance by just 17 kilometres.  Russia fought for ten months around Bakhmut in the east “to take a town six by six kilometres”.

Ady Barkan, Health Care Activist, Dies at 39  —  Mr. Barkan campaigned for Medicare for all while struggling with A.L.S., the terminal neurodegenerative disease.  —  Ady Barkan, a well-known activist who campaigned for Medicare for all while struggling with the terminal neurodegenerative disease A.L.S., has died.

HBO Bosses Used ‘Secret’ Fake Accounts to Troll TV Critics  —  Casey Bloys ordered staffers to create fake accounts to fire back at critics, according to text conversations reviewed by Rolling Stone as part of a new lawsuit  —  I … Bloys — who was named HBO's CEO and chairman in October 2022 …

Don Jr. Has a Conveniently Fuzzy Memory of Trump Org Finances: “I Leave It to My CPAs”  —  The executive vice president introduced himself simply as a “real estate broker” while on the witness stand, and claimed to “know nothing” about basic accounting principles.