The Conversation -- October 27, 2023

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "There are no moderate Republicans in the House of Representatives. Oh, no doubt some members are privately appalled by the views of Mike Johnson, the new speaker. But what ... matters is what they do -- and every single one of them went along with the selection of a radical extremist.... Johnson's extremism, and that of the party that chose him, goes beyond rejecting democracy and trying to turn back the clock on decades of social progress. He has also espoused a startlingly reactionary economic agenda.... [Johnson's policy proposals call] for the evisceration of the U.S. social safety net -- not just programs for the poor, but also policies that form the bedrock of financial stability for the American middle class.... [Under Johnson's policies,] we would become a vastly crueler and less secure nation, with far more sheer misery.... The G.O.P. has gone full-on extremist, on economic as well as social issues. The question now is whether the American public will notice." Thanks to Ken W. for the link. See also his commentary below. ~~~

~~~ Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times: "The far-right extremism and open contempt for democracy that marks much of modern Republicanism is not an aberration.... And while Trump may, for either legal or political reasons, eventually leave the scene, there's no reason to think the Republican Party will revert to a state where the Mike Johnsons are back on the sidelines." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: As to Krugman's point, that the American public may not notice, he's right. We have been living for decades on the promises of the 20th century: the expansion of the social safety net, of public higher education, and of civil rights for minorities and women. But that entire time, the right has been fighting tooth-and-nail against the liberal trend that began during FDR's long presidency and expanded up through the 1960s & even 1970s. But beginning with the election of Reagan, the trend slowly reversed. It has been thanks to Democrats that the federal government and some state governments have managed to stave off -- and effectively mask -- right-wing excesses. People keep voting for Republicans either because they are selfish SOBs themselves or because they don't believe those nice Christiany Republican politicians would leave them without the rights and benefits they have enjoyed all or most of their lives. I am old enough (and white enough!) that I will probably survive the worst Republican efforts to ruin my life, but that is not true for the next generations. Those of us in my generation who wanted to leave at least our part of the world a better place have failed.

Jennifer Peltz of the AP: "... Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in the civil business fraud case against him, following testimony from his three eldest children, state lawyers said Friday. It was already expected that the ex-president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. The timing became clear Friday, when the judge ruled that daughter Ivanka Trump also must take the stand.... Ivanka Trump was dismissed as a defendant months ago. Defense attorneys and her lawyer contended that she shouldn't have to testify, noting that she moved out of New York and left her Trump Organization job in 2017. The state's lawyers argued that [she] ... has relevant information. Judge Arthur Engoron sided with the state, citing documents showing that Ivanka Trump continued to have ties to some businesses in New York and still owns Manhattan apartments."

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Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: "Ever since Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana assumed office on Wednesday, a question has been on Democrats' minds: Could the elevation of Mr. Johnson, who worked in league with... Donald J. Trump in trying to undermine the 2020 election results, allow him to succeed in 2024 where he failed the last time? The speakership, which is second in line to the presidency, comes with broad powers over the functioning of the House. And Mr. Johnson, a constitutional lawyer whose stature in his party has grown with his election to the top post, could try again to interfere. But there are several reasons that Mr. Johnson's new job alone would not allow him special powers to overturn the will of the voters unilaterally. Here's how it works." Main arguments against: (1) Kamala Harris will be the veep who oversees the electoral vote count; (2) the Electoral Count Reform Act has tightened restrictions against any attempt to repeat Mike's 2020 trick; (3) hey, Mike may not be speaker on January 6, 2025.

Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said mass shootings happen because of 'the human heart' -- not guns. The newly-elected leader of the House of Representatives gave an hourlong interview to Sean Hannity on Thursday in which he told the Fox News host that his worldview is, 'go pick up a Bible.' In that vein, Johnson offered his prayers in the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which left 18 people dead.... 'It's not guns, it's not the weapons. At the end of the day, we have to protect the right of the citizens to protect themselves and that's the Second Amendment. And that's why our party stands so strongly for that.'"

Scott Lemieux in LG&$: Mike Johnson says the way to reduce school shootings is to ban abortion and gay sex.

And the Lord Hath Anointed His Servant Michael. Sarah Posner of MSNBC: "In her nominating speech for [Mike] Johnson, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., invoked the biblical story of God commanding Samuel to anoint David king. Stefanik quoted from 1 Samuel 16:7, according to which God told Samuel that he looked not at appearances, but 'at the heart.' Johnson, who Stefanik said 'epitomizes what it means to be a servant leader,' was the choice, she implied, of Republicans who were following God's direction in choosing him. Between the Bible talk and Johnson's record, Republicans have made abundantly clear that they have emerged from the uncertainty and chaos of the last few weeks with one clear mission: to run a Christian nationalist House." Posner outlines Mike's professional career as a virulent anti-gay, anti-abortion, Trump-loving Christian nationalist fighting the principle of separation of church and state.

Dinosaur with a Gavel. Liz Skalka & Paul Blumenthal of the Huffington Post: Speaker Mike Johnson's "close ties to a leader of the creationist movement and his past legal work -- on behalf of the Ark Encounter creationist theme park, where children can learn that dinosaurs were passengers on Noah's Ark -- seem to suggest that he's also personally aligned with these beliefs. 'The Ark Encounter is one way to bring people to this recognition of the truth, that what we read in the Bible are actual historical events,' Johnson said in a 2021 interview with Ark Encounter founder Ken Ham while guest-hosting the radio show of Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an evangelical activist group."

Yes But the House Is Back in Business! Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) read a lengthy and scathing censure resolution aimed at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). On Thursday, Greene introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who is Palestinian American for 'leading an anti-American and anti-Semitic insurrection.'... Hours later, Balint read her own resolution -- which she actually first introduced in July ... [which deliniatied] a litany of offenses[']"

As Jesus Would Say, "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing":

Alexander Bolton of the Hill: "Several senators seen as vulnerable in next year’s elections voted Wednesday for a controversial amendment to defend the gun rights of veterans who are in the Department of Veterans' Affairs fiduciary program. Sens. Joe Mancin (D-W.Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) all backed the amendment.... The amendment ... would prevent veterans from losing their right to purchase or own firearms when they receive help to manage their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.... The amendment, sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), was adopted by a vote of 53 to 45.... 'Let me put a finer point on it. One third of the veterans we're talking about in this category are diagnosed schizophrenics. This amendment allows for every single one of them to have their gun rights restored,' [Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.] said." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Hours after the Senate vote, an Army reservist with mental health issues who reportedly was hearing voices and was hospitalized for erratic behavior allegedly shot dead at least 18 people and wounded 13 others. At this writing (6:15 am ET), the alleged gunman is still at large.

Alan Feuer & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "Federal prosecutors have quietly withdrawn a subpoena seeking records from ... Donald J. Trump's 2020 campaign as part of their investigation into whether Mr. Trump's political and fund-raising operations committed any crimes as he sought to stay in power after he lost the election, according to two people familiar with the matter. The decision this week by the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, to effectively kill the subpoena to the Trump campaign came on the heels of the withdrawal of a similar subpoena to Save America, the political action committee that was formed by Mr. Trump's aides shortly after he lost the race in 2020. The rescission of the subpoenas to Donald J. Trump for President Inc. and Save America was an indication that Mr. Smith';s office was slowing down or even closing its monthslong inquiry into whether Mr. Trump's political operation broke any laws by citing baseless claims of election fraud to raise money."

The Trump Show Will Not Be Televised. Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal judicial panel has turned down a bid to allow live television coverage of two historic criminal trials of ... Donald Trump scheduled for next year. Without apparent dissent, a committee that handles potential changes to the federal courts' criminal rules concluded Thursday that it had no ability to alter the existing ban on broadcasting federal criminal trials. Thirty-eight Democratic House members and some media outlets had requested that the rules be changed or an exception be created to allow Trump's looming federal trials to be televised. 'We have an absolute rule,' said the panel's secretary, or 'reporter,' Duke Law Professor Sara Sun Beale. 'We have no authority to authorize exceptions to an across-the-board, straight rule.' The head of the Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules, U.S. District Judge James Dever, also said the glacial pace federal law prescribes for amending federal court rules means that, even if the panel approved a change, it wouldn't take effect until 2026 or 2027....

"Media outlets have asked the judge assigned to the Washington trial, Tanya Chutkan, to allow TV broadcasting of the trial notwithstanding the current rules. Chutkan has ordered prosecutors to respond to the requests by next week. She has not solicited a response from Trump's attorneys, although Trump has said he supports 'transparency' in the court cases he is facing." MB: I'm not sure about this, but it seems to me that with the stroke of a pen, CJ John Roberts could allow cameras in the Trump courtroom. If not, the Supremes, en masse, could do so. But I suppose they're afraid that any exceptions would ultimately lead to the public being able to watch the Supremes themselves picking their noses. And as the edifice of the Supreme Court building and the elevated bench itself testify, the Supremes are above us all.

Annals of Journalism or Something:

All that access journalism apologia Maggie Haberman did for Trump during his administration, soft-selling Republican insanity, explaining away Trump's hate and bigotry and unhinged madness, boy, that really paid off for her. pic.twitter.com/i77oUxDZZr

— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) October 26, 2023

~~~ Marie: Is there a Himelick Manoover for chocking? X tweet via Anne Laurie of Balloon Juice.

The committee's investigation is clear: The person who loaned Justice Thomas $267,000 provided numerous documents indicating that a substantial portion of that debt was never repaid.... If Justice Thomas disputes that conclusion, he has an obligation to provide proof to the committee. Carefully worded statements from high-priced lawyers are not a substitute for facts. -- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), statement to Ruth Marcus ~~~

~~~ Show Us the Money. Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post: A Senate committee found that Clarence Thomas failed to pay off a $267K loan for the purchase of a luxury motor home and that the lender forgave the principal. But his lawyer says, "'The loan was never forgiven.... The Thomases made all payments to [lender & friend Anthony] Welters on a regular basis until the terms of the agreement were satisfied in full.'... Thomas -- with his multiple failures to disclose his wife's employment, his receipt of free private plane travel and tuition payments made on behalf of his grandnephew -- has forfeited the benefit of the doubt.... Let's see the canceled checks.... [According to the committee report,] there seems to be no record that the Thomases ever repaid any of the loan principal."

Lydia DePillis of the New York Times: "The United States economy surged in the third quarter as a strong job market and falling inflation gave consumers the confidence to spend freely on goods and services. Gross domestic product, the primary measure of economic output, grew at a 4.9 percent annualized rate from July through September, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The pace exceeded forecasts and was the strongest showing since late 2021, defying predictions of a slowdown prompted by the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases. The acceleration was made possible in part by slowing inflation, which lifted purchasing power even as wage growth weakened, and a job market that has shown renewed vigor over the past three months. Although the growth rate is an initial estimate that may be revised..., it's a far cry from the recession that many had forecast at this time last year, before economists realized that Americans had piled up enough savings to power spending as the Fed moved to make borrowing more expensive." (Also linked yesterday.)

Presidential Election 2024

Will Weissert & Holly Ramer of the AP: "For months, Dean Phillips has been calling for a Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden. He's drawn no public interest from governors, lawmakers, and other would-be alternatives. On Friday, the Minnesota congressman will finally enter the race himself. The 54-year-old Phillips has scheduled a campaign announcement Friday morning at the New Hampshire statehouse in Concord.... As speculation picked up this week about the New Hampshire event, Biden planned to head next week to Phillips' home state for an official event and fundraiser.... New Hampshire primary challenges have a history of wounding incumbent presidents.... [New Hampshire's] influence on Democrats was curtailed this year by changes engineered by the DNC at Biden's behest. A new Democratic calendar has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on Feb. 3 and Nevada going three days later. New Hampshire has refused to comply, citing state laws saying its primary must go first, and plans a primary before South Carolina's. The DNC could, in turn, strip the state of its nominating delegates." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I got a robocall last night inviting me to Phillips' announcement. It would take me 10 or 15 minutes to get there. I won't be going. But, you know, good luck. Three cheers for democracy and all that. (If Phillips wins in New Hampshire & the party "strips the state of its delegates," that would be something of a Pyrrhic victory for both Phillips AND democracy.)

Summer Concepcion of NBC News: "A Colorado judge on Wednesday denied the latest attempt by ... Donald Trump to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to remove him from the state's 2024 ballot because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The decision comes just days before a trial on Trump's eligibility for the ballot is expected to begin." (Also linked yesterday.)

Maxine Joselow of the Washington Post: "The listing agent [of Fox 'News' host Bret Baier], Daniel Heider of TTR Sotheby's International Realty, confirmed to The Washington Post that 86 solar panels were installed last year on a portion of the 16,250-square-foot French chateau-style home. This comes as Baier -- who hosts the highest-rated cable news program in its time slot -- has used his platform to amplify criticism of action on climate change, including the adoption of solar and other clean energy sources. Some prominent conservatives -- including Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine -- have also privately embraced solar while pushing back against climate initiatives aimed at speeding the transition away from fossil fuels. Despite their climate stances, all three men appear to have accepted a market reality: Solar panels increasingly make economic sense, especially for those who can afford the upfront costs.... Baier's show, 'Special Report,' has consistently misled the public about climate change, according to a 2021 analysis by Media Matters...."

Say, maybe you need a business consultant. Tip o' the Day: this will work out very well for you if you're a CEO; if not, a chorus of McKinsey "experts" may serenade you with "Hit the Road, Jack."

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Georgia. Emily Cochrane & Rick Rojas of the New York Times: "Republicans in Georgia violated a landmark civil rights law in drawing voting maps that diluted the power of Black voters, a federal judge in Atlanta ruled on Thursday, ordering that new maps must be drawn in time for the 2024 elections. Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia demanded that the state's legislature move swiftly to sketch out congressional and General Assembly districts that provide an equitable level of representation for Black residents, who make up more than a third of the state's population. In the ruling, Judge Jones wrote that the court 'will not allow another election cycle on redistricting plans' that had been found to be unlawful. Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, responded on Thursday by calling a special session of the Georgia General Assembly that will begin on Nov. 29, giving lawmakers 10 days to meet a Dec. 8 deadline set by Judge Jones." The NPR story is here; thanks to Ken W. for the link. MB: I'm no fan of Kemp, but he could have been a much worse governor than he has turned out to be.

Maine. Emily Cochrane of the New York Times: "Representative Jared Golden of Maine, a centrist Democrat, called for a ban on assault weapons Thursday afternoon, reversing a long-held stance after 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston.... Mr. Golden, a Marine Corps veteran, has repeatedly broken with his party to oppose legislation that would ban assault weapons, a policy that Democrats have repeatedly tried and failed to revive in the nearly two decades since it lapsed.... That position, Mr. Golden said on Thursday, reflected in part 'a false confidence that our community was above this, and that we could be in full control, among many other misjudgments.'... Standing by him at a news conference, Senator Susan Collins, a centrist Republican, declined to back a ban on assault weapons." Politico's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Which raises the question: which is dumber? (1) a legislator who believes every American should own an assault weapon until a lunatic wipes out his own constituents with an assault rifle, or (2) a legislator who believes every American should own an assault weapon even after a lunatic wipes out her own constituents with an assault rifle? Anyone with ordinary intelligence and a teensy bit of knowledge should be able to figure out that ordinary citizens should not have access to weapons of war. Anyone who holds elective office, no matter his IQ, who hasn't figured that out should be drummed out of office & relegated to a job that requires no decision-making. Mass-murder advocates wear me out.

Maryland. Justin Jouvenal & Omari Daniels of the Washington Post: "A man who allegedly shot and killed a Maryland judge hours after the jurist awarded custody of the man's children to his estranged wife was found dead Thursday after a week-long search that spanned multiple states, authorities announced. Searchers discovered the body of Pedro Argote, 49, in a heavily wooded area of Washington County, about 10 miles from where Argote allegedly opened fire on Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson in the driveway of his Hagerstown, Md., home on Oct. 19. Argote's Mercedes-Benz SUV was found over the weekend by a member of the public about a mile from where he was found dead. Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert said at a news conference Thursday that he would not comment before Argote's body is examined on when or how Argote died." The AP's story is here.

Virginia. Meltdown. Teo Armus & Hadley Green of the Washington Post: "... the statue of [Robert E. Lee] that once stood in Charlottesville — the one that prompted the deadly 'Unite the Right' rally in 2017 -- [has been] cut into fragments and dropped into a furnace.... On Saturday [Charlottesville's Black history] museum went ahead with its plan in secret at [a] small Southern foundry outside Virginia, in a town and state The Washington Post agreed not to name because of participants' fears of violence.... Swords Into Plowshares ... will turn bronze ingots made from molten Lee into a new piece of public artwork to be displayed in Charlottesville." Includes video clips of the foundry workers doing the deed.

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Israel/Palestine. The New York Times' live updates of developments Friday in the Israel/Hamas war are here: "The United States carried out airstrikes on targets linked to Iran in eastern Syria early Friday, striking facilities used by Iran's own forces, U.S. officials said, in an effort to ward off more attacks on American forces in the region. The Biden administration has redoubled U.S. military resources in the region to deter Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq from engaging in a regional war following Hamas's Oct. 7 surprise attack into southern Israel. The U.S. strikes were in retaliation for nearly daily attacks against U.S. forces over the past 10 days and were an escalation from targeting the militias in Iraq and Syria that Tehran helps to arm, train and equip. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement that the airstrikes were 'narrowly tailored strikes in self-defense,' and that they 'do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.'... Nineteen U.S. troops based in Iraq and Syria have suffered traumatic brain injuries after rocket and drone attacks from Iran-backed militants last week, the Pentagon said on Thursday....

"Israel's military said early Friday that it had carried out 'targeted raids' into the Gaza Strip over the past day, as the country's political and military leaders remained divided about how, when and even whether to invade the coastal enclave.... The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote Friday on a nonbinding resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. The humanitarian crisis for Gaza's population of two million is spiraling under Israeli bombardment, and supplies of fuel, food and water are nearing depletion."

CNN's live updates are here.

News Ledes

CNN: "An intensive manhunt is still underway for a suspect in Wednesday's shooting rampage at a bowling alley and a restaurant that left at least 18 dead and 13 injured in Lewiston, Maine, according to authorities. Robert Card, 40, is facing an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. He is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserves, according to law enforcement. Police are urging residents to shelter in place and report any suspicious activity to authorities. Lewiston is the state's second-largest city and is located about 36 miles north of Portland. The rampage in Maine is the deadliest US mass shooting since the Uvalde school massacre. It adds to a grim docket of 566 such incidents, where four or more people are shot excluding the shooter, across the country this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive." This is a liveblog.

New York Times: "The extent of the destruction [of Mexico's Pacific coast] left by Hurricane Otis, which turned a once popular tourist destination into a scene of chaos, only started to come into view [Thursday] morning. More than two dozen people were killed and three were missing after the storm made landfall in the early hours of Wednesday with an intensity that shocked forecasters and government officials. Thousands of military officers, medical teams and government officials confronted a devastated Guerrero State on Thursday. Communication and power systems remained largely off in much of the state, making the scope of the hurricane's toll difficult to ascertain." ~~~

     ~~~ AP: "Survivors of the Category 5 storm that killed at least 27 people and devastated Mexico's resort city of Acapulco are getting desperate amid a slow government response worrying that the focus will remain on repairing infrastructure for the city's economic engine of tourism instead of helping the neediest. Despite hopes of incoming aid by many in Acapulco, the coastal city of 1 million once known for its beachside glamour was still in a state of complete chaos by the end of Thursday."

The Conversation -- October 26, 2023

Lydia DePillis of the New York Times: "The United States economy surged in the third quarter as a strong job market and falling inflation gave consumers the confidence to spend freely on goods and services. Gross domestic product, the primary measure of economic output, grew at a 4.9 percent annualized rate from July through September, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The pace exceeded forecasts and was the strongest showing since late 2021, defying predictions of a slowdown prompted by the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases. The acceleration was made possible in part by slowing inflation, which lifted purchasing power even as wage growth weakened, and a job market that has shown renewed vigor over the past three months. Although the growth rate is an initial estimate that may be revised..., it's a far cry from the recession that many had forecast at this time last year, before economists realized that Americans had piled up enough savings to power spending as the Fed moved to make borrowing more expensive."

Presidential Election 2024. Summer Concepcion of NBC News: "A Colorado judge on Wednesday denied the latest attempt by ... Donald Trump to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to remove him from the state's 2024 ballot because of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The decision comes just days before a trial on Trump's eligibility for the ballot is expected to begin."

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Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana won election on Wednesday to become the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives, as Republicans worn down by three weeks of infighting and dysfunction turned to a little-known conservative hard-liner beloved by the far right to end their paralysis. The elevation of Mr. Johnson, 51, an architect of the effort to overturn the 2020 election and a religious conservative opposed to abortion rights, homosexuality and gay marriage, further cemented the Republican Party's lurch to the right. It came after a historic fight that began when the hard right ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3, and raged on as the divided House G.O.P. nominated and then quickly discarded three other candidates to succeed him. Exhausted from the feuding, which unleashed a barrage of recriminations and violent threats against lawmakers, both the right wing and mainstream Republicans finally united to elect Mr. Johnson, 51, in a 220-to-209 vote." Politico's story is here.

Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "In the end, Republican hard-liners got their man. He wasn't the person whom the most extreme element of House Republicans really wanted -- that was Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the godfather of the far right in the House who ultimately was too toxic to ascend to the top post and fell short. But the new Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, a man unknown to most Americans, is a second choice the far right can enthusiastically embrace. He shares the deeply conservative ideology of his mentor Mr. Jordan but lacks the confrontational profile or hard-edge style of the Ohioan. In fact, he has little profile at all. Mr. Johnson, a second-tier member of the House leadership first elected in 2016, is the most obscure lawmaker to rise to the helm of the House since J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois was plucked from near the backbenches in 1998 to become speaker after Representative Tom DeLay, that period's version of Mr. Jordan, realized he could not succeed Newt Gingrich.... Mr. Hastert ... was disgraced in a sexual abuse scandal...."

Brendan Buck in Politico Magazine: "I've seen firsthand how difficult it is to be thrust into the speakership, serving as an aide at [Paul] Ryan's side after he took over from my former boss John Boehner.... Mike Johnson "faces a terrifyingly steep learning curve and almost no margin for error.... Nothing can fully prepare you for the speakership.... In the short term..., a neophyte speaker will naturally create a leadership void.... While Johnson goes through some on-the-job training, [Steve] Scalise may be the person best positioned to shape and drive legislative outcomes. If he's willing to wield power, Scalise could have enormous influence on the ultimate success of the Johnson speakership." Buck outlines just some of the duties of the speaker, most of which probably never occurred to Johnson.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: Mike "Johnson's anonymity was his greatest asset.... During Wednesday's roll-call vote on the House floor, Kay Granger (R-Tex.) ... rose and mistakenly voted for 'Mike Rogers' -- the chairman of the Armed Services committee -- before correcting herself to Mike Johnson. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), in a statement.... called him Jim Johnson. [Sen.] Susan Collins of Maine ... told CNN's Lauren Fox Wednesday morning that she'd have to Google him.... In just his seventh year in Congress, [Johnson] hadn't been around long enough, or had enough power, to make enemies. He is the least-experienced speaker in a century and a half.... Three weeks before the next deadline to avoid a government shutdown, Republicans have elected a no-name speaker with no experience and no agreement on a way forward.... In a huge scrum of reporters after [Tom] Emmer quit [the speaker's race], journalist Ben Jacobs asked Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) whether the speakership chaos had become absurd. Replied Womack: 'It was absurd last week.'" Read on.

The New York Times liveblogged developments yesterday in the House speaker's race. Here are a few of the entries I copied in yesterday's Conversation. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

[Marie: Looks like once again the so-called :moderate Republicans: caved to the crazies. It's Matt Gaetz' party now.]

Luke Broadwater: "Johnson started yesterday with only 34 supporters, just 15% of the conference. Now he's headed toward being the unanimous choice of House Republicans."

Robert Jimison: "'As one who knows and respects the role of speaker, Hakeem Jeffries,' former Speaker Nancy Pelosi says of voting for the Democrat."

[Marie: Mike Johnson won every GOP vote: 220; Jeffries won every Democratic vote: 207.]

Catie Edmondson: "After three weeks, Patrick McHenry, the interim speaker, says Johnson is the 'duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.'"

[This Was All God's Idea.] Annie Karni: "Johnson's speech is light on policy and heavy on personal history. He has talked about his own history -- first in his family to graduate from college, lost his father to cancer three days before he was first elected to Congress -- but said little about what he plans to do in the new job. It's also heavy on God: he is an Evangelical Christian, and he says that he doesn't think anything is a coincidence and hints that God has put him where he is today."

Kayla Guo: "Democrat Jamie Raskin ... is brutal in his evaluation of Johnson and Republicans more broadly, saying the new speaker has 'much better manners' than G.O.P. firebrands but 'is a MAGA extremist in substance.' The dominating religious tenor of Johnson's remarks, Raskin added, 'demonstrates that there are no public policy values that unify the Republican caucus anymore. They don't have a secular program. And so they have fallen back on theocracy as the final binding mechanism of their cause.'"

Edmondson: "'I look forward to meeting with Speaker Johnson soon to discuss the path forward to avoid a government shutdown,' [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer said in a statement. 'When I meet with him, I will convey that bipartisanship is the only way we can deliver results for the American people. The only way to avoid a government shutdown, pass critical supplemental funding, and deliver common-sense investments to the American people is bipartisanship.'"

Erica Green: "President Biden, when asked about Johnson's history of rejecting the 2020 election results, said he was not worried about Johnson attempting to overturn the results of the next presidential election. 'Just like I was not worried the last campaign would overturn the election,' Biden said. 'They got 60 lawsuits, and all the way to Supreme Court and every time they lost. I understand the Constitution.'"

     ~~~ CNN's liveblog of yesterday's House proceedings is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Get to Know Your New Speaker

Annie Karni of the New York Times: "In Congress, [Mike] Johnson has voted for a national abortion ban and co-sponsored a 20-week abortion ban, earning him an A-plus rating from the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. After the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in June last year, he celebrated.... Last year, Mr. Johnson introduced a bill that prohibited the use of federal funds for providing education to children under 10 that included L.G.B.T.Q. topics -- a proposal that critics called a national version of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law. Mr. Johnson called the legislation 'common sense.' He also opposed legislation to mandate federal recognition for same-sex marriages -- a bill that passed with strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate."

Summer Concepcion of NBC News: "... Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., played a key role in efforts by ... Donald Trump and his allies to overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 election. Johnson, who currently serves as the GOP caucus vice chair and is an ally of Trump, led the amicus brief signed by more than 100 House Republicans in support of a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate the 2020 election results in four swing states won by Biden: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.... The [New York] Times reported last year that many Republicans who voted to discount pro-Biden electors cited an argument crafted by Johnson, which was to ignore the false claims about mass fraud in the election and instead hang the objection on the claim that certain states' voting changes during the Covid-19 pandemic were unconstitutional." ** Update: A New York Times story is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Ah, But Here Again This Was God's Plan. Kyle Cheney & Nicholas Wu of Politico: "One day before a mob bludgeoned its way into the Capitol, Rep. Mike Johnson huddled with colleagues in a closed-door meeting about Congress' task on Jan. 6, 2021. A relatively junior House Republican at the time, Johnson was nevertheless the leading voice in support of a fateful position: that the GOP should rally around Donald Trump and object to counting electoral votes submitted by at least a handful of states won by Joe Biden. 'This is a very weighty decision. All of us have prayed for God's discernment. I know I've prayed for each of you individually,' Johnson said at the meeting.... Throughout [the months before the insurrection], Johnson was routinely in touch with Trump, even more so than many of his more recognizable colleagues.... Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a former member of the select panel investigating the Capitol attack, quipped that Johnson was an 'insurrectionist esquire.' 'His arguments are obviously more sophisticated than those of Donald Trump, but it's the same essential authoritarianism''..."

Will Steakin of ABC News: "... prior to joining Congress in 2017, [Mike Johnson] spent years building his career and profile by denouncing gay people and fighting against gay rights, which he staunchly opposes, citing his Christian faith and views on liberty. An ABC News examination of public records, news reports and documents shows the extent to which Johnson dedicated earlier phases of his career to limiting gay rights, including same-sex marriage and health care access, and through anti-gay activism on college campuses." ~~~

~~~ Andrew Kaczynski & Allison Gordon of CNN: "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. In editorials that ran in his local Shreveport, Louisiana, paper, The Times, Johnson called homosexuality a 'inherently unnatural' and 'dangerous lifestyle' that would lead to legalized pedophilia and possibly even destroy 'the entire democratic system.' And, in another editorial, he wrote, 'Your race, creed, and sex are what you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do,' he wrote. 'This is a free country, but we don't give special protections for every person's bizarre choices.' At the time, Johnson was an attorney and spokesman for Alliance Defense Fund, known today as Alliance Defending Freedom, where he also authored his opposition to the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas -- which overturned state laws that criminalized homosexual activity between consenting adults." (Also linked yesterday.)

Rachel Frazen & Zack Budryk of the Hill: "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ... has close ties to the oil industry and has cast doubt on human-caused climate change.... Johnson, whose district includes the onetime oil-industry hub of Shreveport, scored a 100% rating from the American Energy Alliance in 2022, along with every other Republican in Louisiana's House delegation. In 2017, speaking at a town hall, Johnson ... [said,] 'The climate is changing, but the question is, is it being caused by natural cycles over the span of the Earth's history? Or is it changing because we drive SUVs? I don't believe in the latter. I don't think that's the primary driver.'" Emphasis original. More on the subject, by Budryk, here.

Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post: "If you are feeling any sense of relief that Jim Jordan won't be the next House speaker, stop and worry again. The new speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), might be more dangerous than the firebrand Ohio Republican. For Jordan's shirt sleeves demeanor and wrestler's pugnacity, substitute a bespectacled, low-key presentation, a law degree and an unswerving commitment to conservative dogma and ... Donald Trump.... This is ... Jordan in a more palatable package -- evidently smoother, seemingly smarter and, therefore, potentially more effective."

Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "It was clear from the start that House Republicans would struggle to govern this year given their deep ideological divisions, narrow majority and myriad personal feuds and grudges. But even the most pessimistic of predictions could not have captured the remarkable, drawn-out Republican self-own now raging on Capitol Hill. In merrily decapitating their third speaker candidate on Tuesday in a move worthy of the French Revolution, House Republicans took a situation that did not seem like it could get any worse to a breathtaking new low. They piled chaos upon chaos as members threw up their hands in frustration and anger over their inability to coalesce." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Reign of Terror. Marie: The other day contributor Patrick wrote that the general meaning of politically "conservative" "fluxed around the idea of protecting the political status quo as the the result of long, slow change rather than rapid revolutionary change." Patrick suggested a more apt description of today's far-right Republicans might be "Jacobins." And what do you know? -- the very next day, Carl Hulse compared the House hoohah to the French Revolution.

How Not to Behave When You're Out on Bail

Alan Feuer & Glenn Thrush of the New York Times: "... this week, after a federal judge temporarily froze the gag order she imposed on him..., Donald J. Trump has acted like a mischievous latchkey kid, making the most of his unsupervised stint. At least three times in the past three days, he has attacked Jack Smith, the special counsel leading his federal prosecutions, as 'deranged.' Twice, he has weighed in about testimony attributed to his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, who could be a witness in the federal case accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Each of Mr. Trump's comments appeared to violate the gag order put in place less than two weeks ago to limit his ability to intimidate witnesses in the case, assail prosecutors or otherwise disrupt the proceeding. And after the former president was fined $10,000 on Wednesday for flouting a similar directive imposed on him by the judge presiding over a civil trial he is facing in New York, federal prosecutors asked that he face consequences for his remarks about the election interference case as well.... Prosecutors said on Wednesday that the order should be kept in place as the appeals court considers Mr. Trump's request." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Latchkey kid? Trump reminds me more of a terrible-twos toddler who continually tests his parents' admonishments. The imp knows what he's doing, thinks he can outsmart the parents, & puts his finger in the light socket. ~~~

... without the Court's intervention, the defendant will continue to threaten the integrity of these proceedings and put trial participants at risk. -- Prosecutors' Opposition to Motion to Stay, filed Wednesday ~~~

     ~~~ Lock Him Up. Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "Special counsel Jack Smith argued in new court filings Wednesday that recent comments by Donald Trump show not only that a federal gag order should be reimposed, but that the court should weigh stricter sanctions, including sending him to jail, if he keeps talking about witnesses in his case." Politico's report is here.

Judge Finds Trump Defamed Clerk & Lied Under Oath, Fines Trump $10K. Jonah Bromwich & Kate Christobek of the New York Times: "A Manhattan judge briefly ordered Donald J. Trump to the witness stand on Wednesday after accusing him of breaking a gag order with critical comments that seemed aimed at a law clerk, and then fined him $10,000. The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, who is presiding over Mr. Trump's civil fraud trial, issued the punishment after finding that Mr. Trump earlier in the day had violated an order that prevents him from discussing court staff. Mr. Trump said that his comments had referred not to the clerk, whom he had previously attacked, but to his former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, a witness. From the stand, Mr. Trump ... said that while he had not been speaking about the clerk, Allison Greenfield, he thought she was 'maybe unfair, and I think she's very biased against me.' Mr. Trump left the stand after about three minutes. Justice Engoron said that he had not found the former president credible and levied the fine.

"While Mr. Trump has been voluble in his own defense outside the courtroom, he had not testified in open court in more than a decade, and as soon as he did, the judge found against him.... During a break in the proceedings on Wednesday, Mr. Trump had called Justice Engoron partisan -- which is allowable under the order. But he continued, saying, 'with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside him. Perhaps even much more partisan than he is.'" This is an update of a story linked earlier. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: IOW, Trump can't speak under oath for three minutes without lying.

Electionstollen. Stephen Collinson of CNN: "In a rage-filled stream of consciousness on his Truth Social network on Tuesday night, [Donald] Trump lashed out at the ABC report about [his chief of sfaff Mark] Meadows. 'I don't think Mark Meadows would lie about the Rigged and Stollen 2020 Presidential Election merely for getting IMMUNITY against Prosecution (PERSECUTION!),' the former president wrote. 'Some people would make that deal, but they are weaklings and cowards, and so bad for the future our Failing Nation. I don't think that Mark Meadows is one of them, but who really knows? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!'" (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: "Trump responded by issuing a broadside not just against a potentially cooperating [Mark] Meadows, but seemingly -- by extension -- allies who have cut deals in recent days in his other election interference case, in Fulton County, Ga.... Trump's comments would seem to transparently violate the limited gag order that U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan issued in Trump's federal case but later suspended while Trump's legal team appeals the decision.... Trump signed a form in August acknowledging that it would be a crime to 'intimidate or attempt to intimidate a witness, victim, juror, informant, or officer of the court.'... Trump in his Tuesday post also called [prosecutor Jack] Smith 'deranged' yet again, despite Chutkan's having explicitly cited that attack as being beyond the pale." (Also linked yesterday.)

Zachary Cohen, et al., of CNN: "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.... A source with knowledge of the Fulton County DA's strategy tells CNN that it would be open to discussing plea deals with anyone, but there is little room for compromise when it comes to the charges against Trump."

Travis Gettys of the Raw Story: "Despite pleading guilty to interfering with the 2020 presidential election result, Sidney Powell continues to promote conspiracy theories about Donald Trump's election loss.... The right-wing attorney pushed baseless claims of election fraud and accused Georgia prosecutors of politicizing their office, and a newsletter published by her dark-money group shared articles claiming that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis secured Powell's guilty plea through extortion, reported Insider.... Since her plea, Powell has also used her Truth Social and Telegram accounts to promote the Substack newsletter published by her dark-money group, Defending the Republic, urging followers to 'hold fast' and share articles and YouTube videos claiming her guilty plea was 'extorted.'" See also Akhilleus's commentary at the top of yesterday's thread. (Also linked yesterday.)

David Atkins of the Washington Monthly: "... the Republican base is beset with conspiratorial fantasies. One in four Republicans believes in QAnon, a grab bag of paranoid theories claptrap that includes the notion that Trump is still president prosecuting a secret war against cannibal child predators and John F. Kennedy, Jr. did not die in a 1999 plane crash and is alive and well and working in tandem with the 45^th president. Seven in ten Republicans believe in the racist Great Replacement theory, which posits that white Americans are being intentionally 'replaced' with non-white immigrants for various nefarious reasons. Crucially for understanding the speaker fiasco, seven out of 10 Republicans also believe the Big Lie that Trump won the 2020 election. It doesn't help that the GOP has lost control of its own communications apparatus, which was replaced long ago with a right-wing media complex that promotes lies and thrives on its audience's rage whether Republicans win elections or not, much less whether the country functions." Thanks to Akhilleus for the link. See also his commentary yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.)

Katie Rogers of the New York Times: In view of the crises at home and abroad, President Biden kept the state dinner honoring Australian PM Anthony Albanese low-key. "Before the dinner was over, Mr. Biden had stepped out for a briefing from his advisers on the latest mass shooting, this time in Maine, according to a senior administration official. He also called several Maine lawmakers ... to offer federal support. The president left the dinner shortly after 10 p.m.... Mr. Albanese will take back to Australia a presidential promise that his country will receive nuclear-capable submarines, plus an antique writing desk and a vintage turntable. In return, the president will get support from the Australians, who have agreed to send over military personnel and aircraft to the Middle East, along with ramping up the shipment of missiles to Ukraine."

Kayla Guo of the New York Times: "Prosecutors in the District of Columbia on Wednesday charged Representative Jamaal Bowman, Democrat of New York, with setting off a false fire alarm in a House office building last month in an episode that added to a day of mayhem on Capitol Hill as Congress rushed to avoid a government shutdown. Mr. Bowman will plead guilty to the single false fire alarm charge, and has agreed to pay the maximum fine of $1,000, according to ... a spokesman for the D.C. attorney general's office. Any charges will be dropped in three months if Mr. Bowman provides a formal apology to the Capitol Police and pays the fine, as is standard with such charges. Mr. Bowman is expected to be booked, fingerprinted, photographed and processed by the U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday. The charges come about three weeks after Mr. Bowman was caught on video setting off the alarm during a vote on the House floor.... Mr. Bowman was accused of intentionally pulling the alarm to cause a delay [in House proceedings], but he claimed it was accidental."

** Jo Becker of the New York Times: "With no money down, Justice Clarence Thomas could borrow more than a quarter of a million dollars from a wealthy friend to buy a 40-foot luxury motor coach, making annual interest-only payments for five years. Only then would the principal come due. But despite the favorable nature of the 1999 loan and a lengthy extension to make good on his obligations, Justice Thomas failed to repay a 'significant portion' -- or perhaps any -- of the $267,230 principal, according to a new report by Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee. Nearly nine years later, after Justice Thomas had made an unclear number of the interest payments, the outstanding debt was forgiven....

"The Senate inquiry was prompted by a Times investigation published in August that revealed that Justice Thomas bought his Prevost Marathon Le Mirage XL, a brand favored by touring rock bands and the super-wealthy, with financing from Anthony Welters, a longtime friend who made his fortune in the health care industry.... At the very least, Justice Thomas appears to have flouted an ethics rule requiring that he include any 'discharge of indebtedness' as income on required annual financial disclosure reports. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service treats debt forgiveness as income to the borrower." (Also linked yesterday.) The CBS News report is here.

     ~~~ Here's Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden's (D) press release on the committee's findings.

Jeanne Whalen & Lauren Gurley of the Washington Post: "The United Auto Workers and Ford said they reached a tentative contract agreement that will end the union's strike against the automaker if ratified by workers, in a crucial step toward resolving a nationwide work stoppage that continues against two other Detroit automakers.... The preliminary deal increases pressure on General Motors and Stellantis to reach agreements with similar terms."

~~~~~~~~~~

North Carolina. Advanced Gerrymandering 402. Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff of the Washington Post: "In a move that could solidify GOP power in the state for years to come, North Carolina Republicans passed new congressional and state legislative maps Wednesday that could flip three or four U.S. House seats while easing a path for the party to hold onto veto-proof majorities over state legislation.... 'North Carolina is now one the most egregiously gerrymandered states in the country,' said Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general and current head of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Proponents say they are allowed to draw maps that favor political parties because of recent court precedent, and that Republicans have the power to do so because they won more seats in both chambers.... The newly-enacted districts come almost a year after the state Supreme Court flipped from Democratic to Republican control in the 2022 elections, and GOP justices ruled in April that redistricting for partisan gain was constitutional under state law. That decision reversed a ruling a year earlier from the state's highest court that threw out proposed boundaries because of what it saw as illegal partisan gerrymandering."

~~~~~~~~~~

Israel/Palestine

The Washington Post's live updates of developments Thursday in the Israel/Hamas war are here. CNN's live updates are here. ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times' live updates are here: "The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had briefly sent tanks into the northern Gaza Strip overnight as part of preparations for the next stage of fighting, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that a ground invasion of the enclave was likely.... In a televised speech on Wednesday evening, Mr. Netanyahu did not offer details on the scope of a possible invasion, but vowed that Israel would exact a price for the Oct. 7 incursion led by the Hamas armed group that resulted in the massacre of more than 1,400 people.... In the meantime, Israel has been relentlessly bombing Gaza from the air, carrying out more than 250 strikes over the past day, its military said....

"Fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip have grown so dire that the U.N. agency that has helped feed, school and shelter Palestinians there for decades said that it had begun to significantly reduce its operations. It said it had nearly exhausted its reserves of fuel, which it needs to run generators. Israel has blocked fuel from entering Gaza on the grounds that it could be used by Hamas for military objectives. A total of just 74 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies had entered Gaza as of Thursday morning, far short of the 100 a day or more that the United Nations says the territory needs...."

News Ledes

Maine. New York Times: "At least seven people were killed in a pair of shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, according to the local sheriff. Law enforcement officials said early Thursday that the shooter remained at large and released information for a man they described as a 'person of interest.' Sheriff Eric Samson of Androscoggin County, which includes Lewiston, said the gunman first went to the bowling alley and fatally shot at least seven people, before moving on to a nearby bar. He said the number of fatalities was 'growing, unfortunately.' He did not immediately provide details on the number of casualties at the bar, and said he was 'unsure' of how many others may have been injured. Lewiston and nearby towns, including the campus of Bates College, remained on lockdown into the early morning hours of Thursday as the police search continued. Mike Sauschuck, who oversees public safety for the state of Maine, said at a news conference that police were searching for Robert R. Card, 40, of Bowdoin, Maine. On social media, law enforcement agencies said he 'should be considered armed and dangerous' and posted a photo of a man wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and carrying a military-style semiautomatic rifle." This is a liveblog. ~~~

     ~~~ Update: Washington Post liveblog: "At least 16 people have been killed in shootings in Lewiston, Maine, a law enforcement official said, based on initial information gathered by first responders at three locations. Dozens more were injured, said the person.... The death toll, which could rise, is the largest from a mass shooting this year...." ~~~

     ~~~ Oh, lordy, it's 7:20 pm, and CNN is airing a liveshot of a house in Maine with the chyron, "Now: FBI at suspect's home: 'Come out with your hands up.'" MB: I've seen CNN coverage like this before, of a prison escapee who was known to be very close to a lake cottage I had in upstate New York. It did not end well.

     ~~~ Marie: This is why I do my shopping in nearby no-gun-laws New Hampshire at 6 am; that is, in the hours I hope are before the lunatics get out of bed.

Texas. New York Times: "Two jets collided at an airport in Houston on Tuesday when one took off without permission as another was landing, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The collision came as aviation officials have been concerned by the regularity of near misses across the country that have been caused by understaffed air traffic control facilities and failures to install warning systems. No injuries were reported."

The Conversation -- October 25, 2023

The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the speaker's race. ~~~

Catie Edmondson: "As Representative Elise Stefanik of New York formally nominates [Mike] Johnson on the House floor, every Republican rises to their feet and cheers."

Annie Karni: "Representative Pete Aguilar of California, the no. 3 Democrat, once again nominates Hakeem Jeffries for speaker."

Karni: "Here we go. The roll call has begun. Republicans expect this to be settled on the first ballot."

Edmondson: "Any Republican defectors now would be a big surprise."

[Marie: Looks like once again the so-called "moderate Republicans" caved to the crazies. It's Matt Gaetz' party now.]

Luke Broadwater: "Johnson started yesterday with only 34 supporters, just 15% of the conference. Now he's headed toward being the unanimous choice of House Republicans."

Robert Jimison: "'As one who knows and respects the role of speaker, Hakeem Jeffries,' former Speaker Nancy Pelosi says of voting for the Democrat."

[Marie: Mike Johnson won every GOP vote: 220; Jeffries won every Democratic vote: 207.]

Edmondson: "After three weeks, Patrick McHenry, the interim speaker, says Johnson is the 'duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.'"

Edmondson: "Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana won election on Wednesday as the 56th speaker of the House of Representatives, putting an end to three weeks of chaos that left the chamber without a leader and put Republican divisions on display. Republicans elevated Mr. Johnson, 51, a little-known and deeply conservative lawmaker after a tumultuous fight that began after the hard right ousted then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and raged on as the divided House G.O.P. nominated and then quickly discarded three other candidates to succeed him."

[This Was All God's Idea.] Karni: "Johnson's speech is light on policy and heavy on personal history. He has talked about his own history -- first in his family to graduate from college, lost his father to cancer three days before he was first elected to Congress -- but said little about what he plans to do in the new job. It's also heavy on God: he is an Evangelical Christian, and he says that he doesn't think anything is a coincidence and hints that God has put him where he is today."

Kayla Guo: "Democrat Jamie Raskin ... is brutal in his evaluation of Johnson and Republicans more broadly, saying the new speaker has 'much better manners' than G.O.P. firebrands but 'is a MAGA extremist in substance.' The dominating religious tenor of Johnson's remarks, Raskin added, 'demonstrates that there are no public policy values that unify the Republican caucus anymore. They don't have a secular program. And so they have fallen back on theocracy as the final binding mechanism of their cause.'"

Edmondson: "'I look forward to meeting with Speaker Johnson soon to discuss the path forward to avoid a government shutdown,' [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer said in a statement. 'When I meet with him, I will convey that bipartisanship is the only way we can deliver results for the American people. The only way to avoid a government shutdown, pass critical supplemental funding, and deliver common-sense investments to the American people is bipartisanship.'"

Erica Green: "President Biden, when asked about Johnson's history of rejecting the 2020 election results, said he was not worried about Johnson attempting to overturn the results of the next presidential election. 'Just like I was not worried the last campaign would overturn the election,' Biden said. 'They got 60 lawsuits, and all the way to Supreme Court and every time they lost. I understand the Constitution.'"

     ~~~ CNN's liveblog is here.

~~~ Steve Kornacki of MSNBC says the Speaker-designee Mike Johnson can afford to lose 5 Republican votes.

Summer Concepcion of NBC News: "... Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., played a key role in efforts by ... Donald Trump and his allies to overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 election. Johnson, who currently serves as the GOP caucus vice chair and is an ally of Trump, led the amicus brief signed by more than 100 House Republicans in support of a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate the 2020 election results in four swing states won by Biden: Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.... The [New York] Times reported last year that many Republicans who voted to discount pro-Biden electors cited an argument crafted by Johnson, which was to ignore the false claims about mass fraud in the election and instead hang the objection on the claim that certain states' voting changes during the Covid-19 pandemic were unconstitutional." ** Update: A New York Times story is here.

Andrew Kaczynski & Allison Gordon of CNN: "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. In editorials that ran in his local Shreveport, Louisiana, paper, The Times, Johnson called homosexuality a 'inherently unnatural' and 'dangerous lifestyle' that would lead to legalized pedophilia and possibly even destroy 'the entire democratic system.' And, in another editorial, he wrote, 'Your race, creed, and sex are what you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do,' he wrote. 'This is a free country, but we don't give special protections for every person's bizarre choices.' At the time, Johnson was an attorney and spokesman for Alliance Defense Fund, known today as Alliance Defending Freedom, where he also authored his opposition to the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas -- which overturned state laws that criminalized homosexual activity between consenting adults."

Carl Hulse of the New York Times: A floor vote for speaker is expected today at noon ET. "It was clear from the start that House Republicans would struggle to govern this year given their deep ideological divisions, narrow majority and myriad personal feuds and grudges. But even the most pessimistic of predictions could not have captured the remarkable, drawn-out Republican self-own now raging on Capitol Hill. In merrily decapitating their third speaker candidate on Tuesday in a move worthy of the French Revolution, House Republicans took a situation that did not seem like it could get any worse to a breathtaking new low. They piled chaos upon chaos as members threw up their hands in frustration and anger over their inability to coalesce."

Judge Finds Trump Lied Under Oath & Defamed Clerk, Fines Trump $10K. Jonah Bromwich & Kate Christobek of the New York Times: "A Manhattan judge briefly ordered Donald J. Trump to the witness stand on Wednesday after accusing him of breaking a gag order with critical comments that seemed aimed at a law clerk, and then fined him $10,000. The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, who is presiding over Mr. Trump's civil fraud trial, issued the punishment after finding that Mr. Trump earlier in the day had violated an order that prevents him from discussing court staff. Mr. Trump said that his comments had referred not to the clerk, whom he had previously attacked, but to his former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, a witness. From the stand, Mr. Trump ... said that while he had not been speaking about the clerk, Allison Greenfield, he thought she was 'maybe unfair, and I think she's very biased against me.' Mr. Trump left the stand after about three minutes. Justice Engoron said that he had not found the former president credible and levied the fine.

"While Mr. Trump has been voluble in his own defense outside the courtroom, he had not testified in open court in more than a decade, and as soon as he did, the judge found against him.... During a break in the proceedings on Wednesday, Mr. Trump had called Justice Engoron partisan -- which is allowable under the order. But he continued, saying, 'with a person who's very partisan sitting alongside him. Perhaps even much more partisan than he is.'" This is an update of a story linked earlier. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: IOW, Trump can't speak under oath for three minutes without lying.

Electionstollen. Stephen Collinson of CNN: "In a rage-filled stream of consciousness on his Truth Social network on Tuesday night, [Donald] Trump lashed out at the ABC report about [his chief of sfaff Mark] Meadows. 'I don't think Mark Meadows would lie about the Rigged and Stollen 2020 Presidential Election merely for getting IMMUNITY against Prosecution (PERSECUTION!),' the former president wrote. 'Some people would make that deal, but they are weaklings and cowards, and so bad for the future our Failing Nation. I don't think that Mark Meadows is one of them, but who really knows? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!'" ~~~

     ~~~ Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: "Trump responded by issuing a broadside not just against a potentially cooperating [Mark] Meadows, but seemingly -- by extension -- allies who have cut deals in recent days in his other election interference case, in Fulton County, Ga.... Trump's comments would seem to transparently violate the limited gag order that U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan issued in Trump's federal case but later suspended while Trump's legal team appeals the decision.... Trump signed a form in August acknowledging that it would be a crime to 'intimidate or attempt to intimidate a witness, victim, juror, informant, or officer of the court.'... Trump in his Tuesday post also called [prosecutor Jack] Smith 'deranged' yet again, despite Chutkan's having explicitly cited that attack as being beyond the pale."

Travis Gettys of the Raw Story: "Despite pleading guilty to interfering with the 2020 presidential election result, Sidney Powell continues to promote conspiracy theories about Donald Trump's election loss.... The right-wing attorney pushed baseless claims of election fraud and accused Georgia prosecutors of politicizing their office, and a newsletter published by her dark-money group shared articles claiming that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis secured Powell's guilty plea through extortion, reported Insider.... Since her plea, Powell has also used her Truth Social and Telegram accounts to promote the Substack newsletter published by her dark-money group, Defending the Republic, urging followers to "hold fast" and share articles and YouTube videos claiming her guilty plea was 'extorted.'" See also Akhilleus's commentary at the top of today's thread.

David Atkins of the Washington Monthly: "... the Republican base is beset with conspiratorial fantasies. One in four Republicans believes in QAnon, a grab bag of paranoid theories claptrap that includes the notion that Trump is still president prosecuting a secret war against cannibal child predators and John F. Kennedy, Jr. did not die in a 1999 plane crash and is alive and well and working in tandem with the 45^th president. Seven in ten Republicans believe in the racist Great Replacement theory, which posits that white Americans are being intentionally 'replaced' with non-white immigrants for various nefarious reasons. Crucially for understanding the speaker fiasco, seven out of 10 Republicans also believe the Big Lie that Trump won the 2020 election. It doesn't help that the GOP has lost control of its own communications apparatus, which was replaced long ago with a right-wing media complex that promotes lies and thrives on its audience's rage whether Republicans win elections or not, much less whether the country functions." Thanks to Akhilleus for the link. See also his commentary below.

** Jo Becker of the New York Times: "With no money down, Justice Clarence Thomas could borrow more than a quarter of a million dollars from a wealthy friend to buy a 40-foot luxury motor coach, making annual interest-only payments for five years. Only then would the principal come due. But despite the favorable nature of the 1999 loan and a lengthy extension to make good on his obligations, Justice Thomas failed to repay a 'significant portion' -- or perhaps any -- of the $267,230 principal, according to a new report by Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee. Nearly nine years later, after Justice Thomas had made an unclear number of the interest payments, the outstanding debt was forgiven....

"The Senate inquiry was prompted by a Times investigation published in August that revealed that Justice Thomas bought his Prevost Marathon Le Mirage XL, a brand favored by touring rock bands and the super-wealthy, with financing from Anthony Welters, a longtime friend who made his fortune in the health care industry.... At the very least, Justice Thomas appears to have flouted an ethics rule requiring that he include any 'discharge of indebtedness' as income on required annual financial disclosure reports. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service treats debt forgiveness as income to the borrower."

The New York Times' live updates of developments in the Israel/Hamas war are here. CNN's live updates are here.

~~~~~~~~~~

** Luke Broadwater, et al., of the New York Times: "House Republicans chose and then quickly repudiated yet another of their nominees for speaker on Tuesday and rushed to name a fourth, pressing to put an end to a remarkable three-week-long deadlock that has left Congress leaderless and paralyzed. Representative Mike Johnson, a little-known social conservative from Louisiana, emerged on Tuesday night as the latest contender for the post after Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 House Republican, dropped his bid only hours after securing the nomination. Mr. Emmer's downfall followed a swift backlash from the right, including ... Donald J. Trump, that left his candidacy in shambles and the G.O.P. as divided as ever. But by late Tuesday night, Mr. Johnson appeared to have put together a coalition that brought him closer to capturing the speakership than any candidate has been since hard-right rebels deposed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy three weeks ago. Though it was not certain he had the votes to be elected, he said he planned to call for a floor vote on Wednesday at noon.... In a secret-ballot vote on Tuesday night, Mr. Johnson got 128 votes, with 44 Republicans voting for nominees not on the ballot, including 43 for Mr. McCarthy, whom many view as unfairly ousted. Still, in a separate vote afterward, only a few Republicans indicated they would not back Mr. Johnson on the floor, while about 20 Republicans were absent.

"... Mr. Johnson is a lawyer and the former chairman of the Republican Study Committee. He served on ... Donald J. Trump's impeachment defense team, played a leading role in recruiting House Republicans to sign a legal brief supporting a lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 election results and was an architect of Mr. Trump's bid to object to certifying them in Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Pressed by reporters on Tuesday night about his efforts to overturn the election, Mr. Johnson smiled and shook his head, saying, 'next question,' as Republicans beside him booed. Last year, Mr. Johnson, an evangelical Christian, sponsored legislation that would effectively bar the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity at any institution serving children younger than 10 that receives federal funds.... He has also opposed continued funding for the war in Ukraine...." An NBC News story is here.

Meredith McGraw & Alex Isenstadt of Politico: "Just hours after Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) won the Republican Conference's nomination to be Speaker on Tuesday..., Donald Trump took to Truth Social to deride the congressman as 'totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters' and a 'Globalist RINO.' He then got on the phone with members to express his aversion for Emmer and his bid for Speaker. By Tuesday afternoon Trump called one person close to him with the message, 'He's done. It's over. I killed him.' Just minutes later, Emmer officially dropped out of the race."

Here are a few of the entries from yesterday's New York Times liveblog of yesterday's chaotic developments in the GOP speakership contest. The individual entries ended early in the evening, just after Tom Emmer dropped his bid for the job. (I posted more entries yesterday, so if you don't have a NYT subscription, you can read them in yesterday's Conversation.)

~~~ Catie Edmondson & Luke Broadwater: "... [Mike] Johnson, 51, was a key architect of Republicans' objections to certifying the victory of President Biden on Jan. 6, 2021. Many Republicans in Congress relied on his arguments." MB: Gosh, he sounds ideal.

** Kayla Guo: "Tom Emmer of Minnesota wins the speakership nomination, making him the third to do so since Kevin McCarthys ouster."

Broadwater: "Tom Emmer defeated Mike Johnson, 117 votes to 97, according to members in the room."

Broadwater: "... the narrow margin of [Emmer's] victory reflected that House Republicans were still deeply at odds, and a swift backlash from the right, including from ... [MB: insane narcissist] Donald J. Trump, suggested his candidacy was in peril. Immediately following his nomination, about two dozen right-wing Republicans indicated that they did not intend to vote for Mr. Emmer on the floor.... Then as he met with holdouts to try to win them over, the former president issued a scathing statement on social media expressing vehement opposition to Mr. Emmer, calling him a 'Globalist RINO' ... whose elevation would be a 'tragic mistake.... I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great Warriors,' Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement, or the breadth and scope of MAGA -- MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN![']"

** Queen for a Day Three or Four Hours. Broadwater: "Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 House Republican, dropped his bid for speaker on Tuesday hours after securing his divided party's nomination, after a swift backlash from the right, including ... Donald J. Trump, left his candidacy in shambles. Mr. Emmer’s abrupt exit signaled that Republicans were as far as ever from breaking a deadlock that has left Congress leaderless and paralyzed for three weeks. It made Mr. Emmer the third Republican this month to be chosen to lead the party, only to have his bid collapse in a seemingly endless cycle of G.O.P. grievances, personality conflicts and ideological rifts."

Carl Hulse: "What's going on with House Republicans is a stark example of what happens when party discipline is abandoned. Members feel free to go their own way with no fear of payback."

Marie: Hulse's remark reminds me of something Mark McKinnon -- GOP consultant & doofus who co-founded No Labels -- said Monday night on MSNBC: It was Kevin McCarthy himself who placed Chekhov's gun over the mantel when he agreed to allow any Republican member of the House to bring a motion to vacate the speakership. In so doing, McCarthy made it a foregone conclusion that somebody would pull that trigger.

Mark Walker of the New York Times: "The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Michael G. Whitaker, a former Obama administration official, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, filling a key vacancy that had persisted for more than 18 months. Mr. Whitaker, 62, was confirmed by a vote of 98 to 0, bringing an end to the carousel of leadership that had plagued the agency for more than half of President Biden's time in office. His swift bipartisan confirmation underscored the desire of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to install a permanent administrator atop the nation's aviation regulator. Mr. Whitaker now faces the challenge of stabilizing an agency that has been in turmoil and providing the flying public with the confidence that the country's air travel system is safe and reliable."

The Trials of Trump

** Katherine Faulders, et al., of ABC News: "... Donald Trump's final chief of staff in the White House, Mark Meadows, has spoken with special counsel Jack Smith's team at least three times this year, including once before a federal grand jury, which came only after Smith granted Meadows immunity to testify under oath, according to sources familiar with the matter. The sources said Meadows informed Smith's team that he repeatedly told Trump in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election that the allegations of significant voting fraud coming to them were baseless, a striking break from Trump's prolific rhetoric regarding the election.... According to Meadows' book, the election was 'stolen' and 'rigged' with help from 'allies in the liberal media,' who ignored 'actual evidence of fraud, right there in plain sight for anyone to access and analyze.'... Under the penalty of perjury, Meadows offered a vastly different assessment to Smith's investigators, telling them he's never seen any evidence of fraud that would undermine the election's outcome, according to what sources told ABC News." Emphasis added. Read on. MB: The dam done broke & Donald Trump has drownded. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Marcy Wheeler: "... I caution against concluding too much about what the testimony means. Most importantly, there's no hint that Meadows has flipped. Meadows has testified (which a past ABC scoop made clear). But giving immunized testimony is not flipping.... His January 6 testimony seems to conflict with what [Fulton County, Georgia, DA Fani] Willis knows." Emphasis original.

Jonah Bromwich, et al., of the New York Times: "... on Tuesday, [Michael] Cohen confronted his onetime boss from the witness stand in a Manhattan courtroom, attacking the former president as a criminal and a cheat and defending his own credibility under a barrage of questions.... It was the first time the men had come face to face since 2018, and the reunion was tense. [Donald] Trump, seated feet away at the defense table, scoffed and shook his head in apparent frustration. Mr. Cohen had been called to testify about Mr. Trump's annual financial statements, which are at the heart of the civil case that the New York attorney general, Letitia James, brought against Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen testified, directed him to 'reverse engineer' the statements to reach the former president's desired net worth.... The temperature rose when Mr. Cohen was cross-examined by one of Mr. Trump's lawyers, Alina Habba. She called Mr. Cohen's credibility into question, noting that he had admitted to lying under oath when he pleaded guilty to federal crimes in 2018, wrongs that he had said he committed on Mr. Trump's behalf.... Their exchange devolved. Several times, Mr. Cohen made legal objections from the witness stand; in a trial, only lawyers trying the case can make objections." (This is another update of a story linked yesterday.)

** And Then There Were 15. Richard Fausset & Danny Hakim of the New York Times: "Jenna Ellis, a pro-Trump lawyer who amplified ... Donald J. Trump's baseless claims of election fraud as part of what she called a legal 'elite strike force team,' pleaded guilty on Tuesday as part of a deal with prosecutors in Georgia. During a public hearing Tuesday morning in Atlanta, Ms. Ellis pleaded guilty to a charge of aiding and abetting false statements and writings.... Ms. Ellis agreed to be sentenced to five years of probation, pay $5,000 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service. She has already written an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, and she agreed to cooperate fully with prosecutors as the case progresses." CNN's report is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: "For the third time in less than week, a lawyer who worked for Donald Trump has pleaded guilty in the Fulton County, Ga., election interference case. Jenna Ellis on Tuesday joined Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro in cutting a deal that will require her to testify truthfully about the other defendants, including presumably Trump himself. Her centrality to the case, relative to the others, is debatable. Ellis often served more as a spokesperson than an actual practicing lawyer, though certain actions clearly involved legal strategizing and proximity to Trump. But her plea came with something the others did not: a tearful statement to the court that suggested she is prepared to cast blame up the chain. Whether and how much that includes Trump is a big question. But it would seem to be bad news for Rudy Giuliani and potentially, by extension, for Trump himself.... [Her plea] deal cited false claims from Giuliani, her frequent traveling companion as they worked to overturn the election results, and a Trump campaign lawyer in Georgia, Ray Smith. Both were indicted alongside Trump, Ellis and the others."

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Texas Sues to Continue Crime Against Humanity. Valerie Gonzalez of the AP: "Texas sued the Biden administration on Tuesday, seeking to stop federal agents from cutting the state's razor wire that has gashed or snagged migrants as they have attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico at the Rio Grande. In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Del Rio, Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses the Biden administration of 'undermining' the state's border security efforts. 'Texas has the sovereign right to construct border barriers to prevent the entry of illegal aliens,' Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, said in a news release Tuesday."

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Israel/Palestine

The Washington Post's live updates of developments Wednesday in the Israel/Hamas war are here.

The New York Times' live updates Tuesday of developments in the Israel/Hamas war are here (also linked yesterday): "The secretary general of the United Nations said on Tuesday that the attacks by Hamas that left 1,400 people dead in Israel on Oct. 7 were 'appalling' but did not justify the 'collective punishment' of civilians in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli military has significantly stepped up its bombardment in recent days.... The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, called for a humanitarian cease-fire in an address to the U.N. Security Council, saying that it was important to recognize that the attacks by Hamas 'did not happen in a vacuum' and that Palestinians had been subjected to 56 years of 'suffocating occupation.'... Israel said it had struck more than 700 targets in Gaza in the past two days. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said that it had recorded the highest single-day death toll of the war on Tuesday: at least 704 people killed in dozens of strikes on homes, a refugee camp and other places. It was not possible to independently verify the toll."

Times of Israel: "Israeli officials railed at UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Tuesday after he appeared to suggest the impetus for the Hamas terror group's devastating October 7 attack on Israel was the Jewish state's continued control of Palestinian territories, with the Israeli Ambassador to the UN demanding that he resign."

Iran/U.S. Steve Holland of Reuters: "The White House on Monday said Iran was in some cases 'actively facilitating' rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, and President Biden has directed the Department of Defense to brace for more and respond appropriately. White House spokesman John Kirby said there had been an uptick in such attacks over the last week, and especially over the last few days, but the U.S. would not allow threats to its interests in the region to 'go unchallenged.'"

News Ledes

New York Times: "The Nashville police chief's estranged son, who was recently identified as a suspect in the shooting of two police officers outside a Dollar General store in La Vergne, Tenn., was found dead on Tuesday night, officials said. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement late Tuesday that John Drake Jr. had died in Nashville from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

New York Times: "Otis made landfall near the resort city of Acapulco on the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico as a Category 5 hurricane, bringing record winds and rainfall that could create a 'nightmare scenario' of flooding and mudslides, forecasters said early Wednesday. Hurricane Otis's maximum sustained winds had grown to 165 miles per hour with stronger gusts at about 12:25 a.m. local time, when it made landfall, the National Hurricane Center said.... Otis threatens a coast dotted with fishing villages and beach resorts as they gear up for their peak winter season. Along its path lies Acapulco, a large port city and a popular tourist destination home to more than 852,000 people...." The AP story is here.

New York Times: "An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut off the engines during a flight on Sunday told investigators that he had been sleepless and dehydrated since he consumed psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before boarding and that he had been depressed for a long time, state and federal court documents said. The pilot, Joseph D. Emerson, 44, also told the police in an interview after he was taken into custody that he believed he was having a 'nervous breakdown,' according to federal court documents. He said he had struggled with depression for about six years and that a friend had recently died." The AP's story is here.

New York Times: "Richard Roundtree, the actor who redefined African American masculinity in the movies when he played the title role in 'Shaft,' one of the first Black action heroes, died on Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.... While indelibly tied to the role that made him famous in 1971, the actor remained active for more than four decades afterward."