Five Takeaways From the Republican Debate  —  An ascendant Nikki Haley endured a barrage from Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy.  Chris Christie delivered a strong showing.  And with time ticking down, there were few direct attacks on Donald Trump.  —  Nikki Haley clashed repeatedly …

House GOP releases Biden impeachment inquiry resolution ahead of planned vote  —  The House GOP released a resolution Thursday to formalize its months-long impeachment inquiry into President Biden, with a full House vote planned for next week.  —  The resolution authorizing the inquiry …

House Censures Jamaal Bowman for False Fire Alarm Charge  —  Lawmakers voted to formally rebuke Mr. Bowman for setting off a false fire alarm in a House office building, the latest partisan use of a once-rare congressional action formerly reserved for grave offenses.

Kevin McCarthy uses PAC to lavish cash on high-end resorts, private jets and fine dining  —  Rambling above the rust-colored cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Terranea Resort is known for its ocean views, world-ranked spa and villas that can command $3,000 a night or more.

Behind the Curtain — Exclusive: How Trump would build his loyalty-first Cabinet  —  Former President Trump, if elected, would build a Cabinet and White House staff based mainly on two imperatives: pre-vetted loyalty to him and a commitment to stretch legal and governance boundaries …

Georgia prosecutors predict jail sentences in Trump 2020 election case  —  Exclusive: Fulton county prosecutors say in emails their legal careers will continue long after defendants go to jail  —  Fulton county prosecutors have signaled they want prison sentences in the Georgia criminal case …

Trump Returns to NY Court as Trial Comes to Close  —  The former president's anticipated return to a New York court in his civil fraud case falls on what may be the second-to-last day of the defense case  —  JWPlayer  —  For the better part of two months, former President Donald Trump …

New research undercuts Republican views of racism  —  Republicans are more likely to say White people experience racism than Black people.  That's not true.  —  The emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement almost a decade ago was predicated on the killing of Black people at the hands of law enforcement.

Do Trump's rivals know what time it is?  —  With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  LIFE COMES AT YOU FAST — “Candidate for Santos' old seat is convicted on Jan. 6 charges after testifying he had ‘no idea’ Congress met in the Capitol,” by NBC's Megan Lebowitz

Fink Says GOP Debate Was Filled With Misinformation About BlackRock … Fink pushed back on several claims made during this week's Republican debate, suggesting in a Thursday post on Linkedin that candidates were ignoring the main issues facing the US such as “ballooning national debt.”

Senator's Son Involved in Police Chase That Killed Deputy  —  The lawmaker said his child “suffers from serious mental disorders.”  —  A son of North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer was involved in a police chase on Wednesday evening that ended with a crash that killed a deputy, the lawmaker and authorities said.

Washington Post staffers walk out in biggest labor protest in 48 years  —  The workers say they will cease work for 24 hours to protest deadlocked contract negotiations and the terms of a buyout offer.  Management says it will keep the daily news report going.

College Presidents Under Fire After Dodging Questions About Antisemitism  —  The leaders of Harvard, M.I.T. and Penn appeared to evade questions about whether students should be disciplined if they call for the genocide of Jews.  —  Support for the presidents of Harvard …

How Were the Universities Lost?  —  The Ivy league and their kindred so-called elite campuses may soon go the way of Disney and Bud Light  —  After October 7, the public was shocked at what they saw and heard on America's campuses.  —  Americans knew previously they were intolerant, leftwing, and increasingly non-meritocratic.

What Is Happening at the Columbia School of Social Work?  —  During orientation at the Columbia School of Social Work at Columbia University, the country's oldest graduate program for aspiring social workers, students are given a glossary with “100+ common terms you may see or hear used in class …

GOP Wife in Sex Scandal Erased From Conservative Site  —  Bridget Ziegler had a top position at the Leadership Institute.  She's reportedly out after her husband was accused of raping their threesome partner.  —  Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler appears to have departed her role …

Six fake Donald Trump electors, indicted by Nevada grand jury  —  President Biden told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday night that Donald Trump is running for president, so he has to as well.  Earlier, Biden told campaign donors that he wasn't sure he'd be running for reelection if Donald Trump wasn't also in the race.

US Marshal in custody after accused of sexually abusing woman during flight to London  —  Two law enforcement sources said two federal marshals had been drinking during the flight.  The second marshal was being sent back to New York without facing any charges

Wind and solar pose climate threat too, oil giant Saudi Arabia argues  —  The kingdom is elevating the use of fans and filters to pull carbon dioxide out of the sky.  But its motives are under scrutiny at global climate talks.  —  Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is urging nations to take action …

A Biden donor calls it quits  —  Welcome to POLITICO's West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration.  With help from producer Raymond Rapada.  —  Democratic donor and humanitarian AMED KHAN is done with President JOE BIDEN.