Washington is adjusting to the new reality presented by Mike Johnson’s ascension to the speaker’s podium in the House of Representatives. The Louisiana lawmaker is a staunch but low-profile conservative who wants abortion banned, doubts the scientific consensus regarding climate change and has promoted Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims over the 2020 election. But as much as they are likely to seize on those positions next year to argue Republicans are too extreme to govern, Democrats must first work with Johnson and his party on legislative business. In remarks on the Senate floor, Democratic leader Chuck Schumerurged the new speaker to embrace bipartisanship and avoid “the Maga road”.

“,”elementId”:”e2f7063d-21bf-49c3-8b86-19c2a9feeb62″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s what else happened today:

“,”elementId”:”ae9b2869-bf89-46d2-8267-bfff22b7d406″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• Federal prosecutorsaccusedDonald Trump of threatening Mark Meadows, his former White House chief of staff who spoke to them about the ex-president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

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• Joe Biden and Johnson met at the White House to discuss the president’s request for more aid to Israel and Ukraine.

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• A federal judgeordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to draw new congressional maps with another majority Black district, potentially offering Democrats an opportunity to gain a seat in the US House.

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• The presidentcheered better-than-expected economic growth data that undercut forecasts of a looming US recession, and warned Republicans against sparking a government shutdown.

n

• Patrick McHenrydished on what it was like to be acting speaker of the House for three weeks.

n

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At her briefing today, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Joe Biden had invited Mike Johnson to meet shortly after he won election as House speaker last night.

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She said the Louisiana Republican was with the president for “a bipartisan briefing with leadership and relevant committee chairs and ranking members on the president’s supplemental national security package”.

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In a primetime television address from the Oval Office last week, Biden called on Congress to approve billions of dollars in aid to Israel and Ukraine. While the former is a popular cause with both parties, a growing number of Republicans is against further funding Kyiv’s defense against the Russian invasion. Here’s more on that:

“,”elementId”:”1f7c720b-65f7-45dd-9942-9f2392a4e7dc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/20/biden-israel-ukraine-gaza-aid-request-congress”,”text”:”Biden sends $106bn aid request to Congress for Israel, Ukraine and Gaza”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”c2514ffc-444c-443c-bbf4-905b87dcd867″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1698348087000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.21 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1698348345000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.25 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1698348345000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.25 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.25″,”title”:”Republican Home speaker Mike Johnson meets Biden at White Home on Ukraine, Israel support”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 26 Oct 2023 16.00 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Thu 26 Oct 2023 08.46 EDT”},{“id”:”653aac748f0880c2481900a3″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting Donald Trump for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, accused the former president of threatening his former chief of staff after he spoke to investigators, ABC News reports.

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Smith’s team cited posts Trump made on Truth Social after reports emerged that Mark Meadows, his chief of staff in the final months of his presidency, spoke to investigators about his attempts to stop Joe Biden’s election victory.

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Trump’s comments “send an unmistakable and threatening message to a foreseeable witness in this case,” Smith’s team wrote in a Wednesday filing.

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Here’s more from ABC:

“,”elementId”:”edcf80ab-a1cd-4255-9988-59a86031f523″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

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In a filing Wednesday night to the judge presiding over Trump’s federal election interference case in Washington, Smith’s team said Trump’s “harmful” post on Truth Social was trying to “send an unmistakable and threatening message to a foreseeable witness in this case.”

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Smith’s team argued to U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan that the alleged threat is just one more example of why a limited gag order in the case is needed as soon as possible.

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Chutkan had issued such a gag order early last week but then temporarily suspended it after the former president’s legal team appealed the judge’s order to a higher court.

n

…

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In their filing Wednesday, Smith’s team argued that Trump is now trying to “use external influences to distort the trial in his favor,” and that “These actions, particularly when directed against witnesses and trial participants, pose a grave threat to the very notion of a fair trial based on the facts and the law.”

n

Trump has a “long and well-documented history of using his public platform to target disparaging and inflammatory comments at perceived adversaries,” and “When the defendant does so, harassment, threats, and intimidation foreseeably and predictably follow,” Smith’s team wrote.

n

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Washington is adjusting to the new reality presented by Mike Johnson’s ascension to the speaker’s podium in the House of Representatives. The Louisiana lawmaker is a staunch but low-profile conservative who wants abortion banned, doubts the scientific consensus regarding climate change and has promoted Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims over the 2020 election. But as much as they are likely to seize on those positions next year to argue Republicans are too extreme to govern, Democrats also have to work with Johnson and his party on legislative business. In remarks on the Senate floor, Democratic leader Chuck Schumerurged the new speaker to embrace bipartisanship and avoid “the Maga road”.

“,”elementId”:”f2a2f5d7-b169-44c8-b02b-bdf2afe9c0a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s what else has happened today so far:

“,”elementId”:”f59598dc-d462-4c3a-a283-9b201265c66e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• Joe Bidencheered better-than-expected economic growth data that undercut forecasts of a looming US recession, and warned Republicans against sparking a government shutdown.

n

• A federal judgeordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to draw new congressional maps with another majority Black district, potentially offering Democrats an opportunity to gain a seat in the US House.

n

• Patrick McHenrydished on what it was like to be acting speaker of the House for three weeks.

n

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A federal judge has ordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to draw another majority-Black congressional district, arguing that the state’s current lines violate the Voting Rights Act.

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The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports the legislature will have to convene for a special session to make a new map, which could present Democrats an opportunity to pick up another House seat from the state, since African American voters tend to support the party:

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Just in: A federal judge has struck down Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps, ruling that they violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Georgia lawmakers have until Dec. 8 to draw new lines, setting up a special legislative session. #gapolpic.twitter.com/aK5Hkoh8C5

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1717572744059957732″,”id”:”1717572744059957732″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”a729b1ce-72d3-438c-8131-cabebd37ce92″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

The ruling is a victory for Democrats and their allies who challenged the maps, contending they illegally diluted the voting power of Black Georgians. And some Democrats were already lining up to run in GOP-leaning districts that could be redrawn. #gapolhttps://t.co/vLZo1FoP8k

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1717573639418085816″,”id”:”1717573639418085816″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”45d63745-4c76-4d45-a309-35574f2ea95e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

The decision could result in the election of additional Black representatives next year, with Democrats hoping to gain a seat in the U.S. House, where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority, @markniesse reports. #gapolhttps://t.co/Xa6JGxJRTG

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

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Marjorie Taylore Greene, one of the most outspoken far-right Republicans in the House, has proposed a resolution to censure Democrat Rashida Tlaib on claims of antisemitism.

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The Michigan lawmaker is one of two Muslims in the House and has been outspoken against Israel’s conduct in its bombing campaign against the Gaza Strip following the 7 October terrorist attack. Greene’s censure resolution makes a number of far-fetched and dubious claims, including that Tlaib engaged in “insurrection” earlier this month when protesters entered a House office building and staged a noisy protest that ended with many arrests.

“,”elementId”:”aa881391-a883-4040-976e-94f67eec516e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s Greene on the House floor announcing the censure resolution:

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI): "A resolution censuring representative Rashida Tlaib for anti-Semitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organization and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol complex." pic.twitter.com/Cp0MH9XXke

— CSPAN (@cspan) October 26, 2023

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1717556253617262663″,”id”:”1717556253617262663″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”2d501a1c-f367-4b6b-bb70-907c6cff5dc4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Politico managed to get their hands on a copy of the resolution, which you can read below:

“,”elementId”:”b92be294-ac4d-4e68-83c0-94d21169e565″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s the resolution pic.twitter.com/8fDziixzkA

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 26, 2023

n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1717551598916731044″,”id”:”1717551598916731044″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”fbed45bb-5065-4fc0-b989-0203db4e8b50″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1698335168000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.46 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1698335626000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.53 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1698335626000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.53 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.53″,”title”:”Rightwing congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene strikes to censure progressive Rashida Tlaib for alleged antisemitism”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 26 Oct 2023 16.00 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Thu 26 Oct 2023 08.46 EDT”},{“id”:”653a84f88f08a94db583914d”,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Joe Biden has released a statement calling yesterday’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that left 18 people dead “senseless and tragic”, and urging Republicans to support tightening access to firearms.

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“Once again, our nation is in mourning after yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting. Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors and community members enduring shock and grief,” the president said.

“,”elementId”:”42faa511-6cf3-4c22-85e3-d4c30422cc71″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“Today, in the wake of yet another tragedy, I urge Republican lawmakers in Congress to fulfill their duty to protect the American people. Work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. This is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars – physical and mental – of this latest attack.”

“,”elementId”:”4663faa9-bb4b-4a65-825a-0c5799d0a64a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

For more on this developing story, follow our live blog:

“,”elementId”:”7d5fd014-e277-4a90-abda-1a833ef6803c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2023/oct/26/maine-shooting-lewiston-deaths-us-latest-updates”,”text”:”Maine shootings: 18 killed and suspected gunman still at large, police say – latest updates”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”role”:”thumbnail”,”elementId”:”11ece60a-2039-4c20-843c-f91f67424d0c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”abstract”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1698333944000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.25 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1698334402000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.33 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1698334116000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.28 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.28″,”title”:”Biden condemns Maine mass taking pictures, requires GOP to help ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thu 26 Oct 2023 16.00 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First revealed on Thu 26 Oct 2023 08.46 EDT”},{“id”:”653a800c8f08fea9e14db0c1″,”parts”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In remarks on the Senate floor, Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer urged the newly elected Republican House speaker to embrace bipartisanship, and warned him against tumbling down “the Maga road”:

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“If Speaker Johnson lives up to the label that Congressman Gaetz has given him, ‘MAGA Mike,’ he will fail as the previous Speakers have… I look forward to working constructively…and congratulate him on his election.”

— Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the Senate floor pic.twitter.com/sAZTR3vuw1

— The Recount (@therecount) October 26, 2023

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Anything the GOP-dominated House passes must be approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate, and vice versa – including legislation to fund the government beyond 17 November. That is expected to be Congress’s top priority in the weeks to come.

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In a just-released statement, Joe Biden cheered today’s commerce department data showing the US economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years in the third quarter, while warning Republicans against shutting down the government.

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“I always say it is a mistake to bet against the American people, and just today we learned the economy grew 4.9% in the third quarter. I never believed we would need a recession to bring inflation down – and today we saw again that the American economy continues to grow even as inflation has come down. It is a testament to the resilience of American consumers and American workers, supported by Bidenomics – my plan to grow the economy by growing the middle class,” the president said, using the term his administration coined to describe his economic policies.

“,”elementId”:”5b0e8421-b552-4623-aaf6-80db2fd77c6d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Congress is in the midst of a protracted fight over government spending, which has returned as the biggest issue on lawmakers’ plates after the House yesterday elected Mike Johnson speaker, allowing the lower chamber to pass legislation again. The federal government will exhaust its ability to spend money after 17 November, at which point it will have to halt or dramatically curtail services. In his statement, Biden warned that could have a disastrous effect on the economy.

“,”elementId”:”2987f3a2-420a-4ec7-9fc3-ff5593937be1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“I hope Republicans in Congress will join me in working to build on this progress, rather than putting our economy at risk with reckless threats of a shutdown or proposals to cut taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, while slashing programs that are essential for hard-working families and seniors,” the president said.

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Good morning, US politics blog readers. With Mike Johnson’s election as speaker of the House of Representatives yesterday, the chamber can finally get back to work – and so can the Democratic strategists who are sure to use his rightwing beliefs as evidence that the GOP is too extreme to rule. The Louisiana lawmaker was an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump’s attempt to disrupt his 2020 election loss, opposes abortions and LGBTQ+ rights, and rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. The GOP has only a four-seat majority in the chamber, and Democrats are keen to topple some of the 18 Republicans representing districts Joe Biden won in 2020 and retake the majority next year – a campaign Johnson seems to be at the center of.

“,”elementId”:”df8c4dda-a196-44e2-8a5f-87da00b94122″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

One of the first orders of business before Johnson will be finding agreement on a measure to fund the government beyond mid-November, when its current authorization expires. He’ll have to choose between insisting on deep cuts in spending that could alienate voters and potentially his own fellow lawmakers, or a more moderate proposal meant to keep the lights on while longer-term spending is negotiated. That’s a story that will play out in the weeks to come, but one thing is assured: Democrats will be watching.

“,”elementId”:”a82d3bda-37c8-42e0-bd1a-09a1d75220a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Here’s what else is happening today:

“,”elementId”:”cfee0592-b180-4bdd-8922-06dc30d719a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

n

• Joe Biden has no public events planned today, after staying up late yesterday for a state dinner with the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese. The usual press briefing takes place at 1pm eastern time.

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• A manhunt is under way in Maine after a gunman killed 16 people. Follow our live blog for the latest on this developing story.

n

• Nancy Pelosi, the former Democratic speaker of the House, will address first-year students at Georgetown Law School this afternoon – and perhaps weigh in on Johnson’s emergence.

n

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Key occasions

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Closing abstract

Washington is adjusting to the brand new actuality introduced by Mike Johnson’s ascension to the speaker’s podium within the Home of Representatives. The Louisiana lawmaker is a staunch however low-profile conservative who desires abortion banned, doubts the scientific consensus concerning local weather change and has promoted Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims over the 2020 election. However as a lot as they’re prone to seize on these positions subsequent yr to argue Republicans are too excessive to manipulate, Democrats should first work with Johnson and his get together on legislative enterprise. In remarks on the Senate flooring, Democratic chief Chuck Schumer urged the brand new speaker to embrace bipartisanship and keep away from “the Maga street”.

Right here’s what else occurred right now:

• Federal prosecutors accused Donald Trump of threatening Mark Meadows, his former White Home chief of workers who spoke to them concerning the ex-president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

• Joe Biden and Johnson met on the White Home to debate the president’s request for extra support to Israel and Ukraine.

• A federal choose ordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to attract new congressional maps with one other majority Black district, doubtlessly providing Democrats a chance to realize a seat within the US Home.

• The president cheered better-than-expected financial progress information that undercut forecasts of a looming US recession, and warned Republicans towards sparking a authorities shutdown.

• Patrick McHenry dished on what it was prefer to be performing speaker of the Home for 3 weeks.

It’s nonetheless too quickly to say what sort of speaker of the Home Mike Johnson can be, however the Guardian’s Carter Sherman studies all indicators level to him performing zealously in making an attempt to roll again abortion entry:

The day after the US supreme court docket overturned Roe v Wade in June final yr, Mike Johnson of Louisiana celebrated his dwelling state’s new penalties for abortion suppliers. “The precise to life has now been RESTORED!” the Republican crowed on X, previously often called Twitter, on 25 June. “Carry out an abortion and get imprisoned at laborious labor for 1-10 yrs & fined $10K-$100K.”

Opposition to abortion is just about a jobrequirement for Republicans nowadays. However Johnson, the newly minted speaker of the Home, is a dedicated abortion opponent even by the requirements of his fellowconservative colleagues.

Johnson ascended to the speakership after the sudden ouster of Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, and weeks of tumult within the Home. A member of the Home since 2016, Johnson is a loyalsupporter of Donald Trump – to the purpose that he served on Trump’s authorized protection staff throughout Trump’s first impeachment – and a social conservative fueled by his evangelical Christian faith.

And, at a time when many Republicans in Congress are attempting to quietly ignore abortion, cautious of the backlash from their constituents over proliferating abortion bans, Johnson has continued to champion an array of anti-abortion payments.

Republican Home speaker Mike Johnson meets Biden at White Home on Ukraine, Israel support

At her briefing right now, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated Joe Biden had invited Mike Johnson to fulfill shortly after he gained election as Home speaker final night time.

She stated the Louisiana Republican was with the president for “a bipartisan briefing with management and related committee chairs and rating members on the president’s supplemental nationwide safety bundle”.

In a primetime tv handle from the Oval Workplace final week, Biden referred to as on Congress to approve billions of {dollars} in support to Israel and Ukraine. Whereas the previous is a well-liked trigger with each events, a rising variety of Republicans is towards additional funding Kyiv’s protection towards the Russian invasion. Right here’s extra on that:

We’re studying extra about Mike Johnson, the brand new speaker of the Home who Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre simply stated is at the moment attending a gathering on the White Home. Because the Guardian’s Robert Tait studies, he has a historical past of channeling taxpayer funding to conservative Christian causes:

Mike Johnson, the newly-elected Republican speaker of the US Home, gained taxpayer funding for a Noah’s Ark amusement park whereas working as a lawyer, in a graphic illustration of his uncompromising rightwing Christian beliefs.

Working for Freedom Guard, a non-profit proclaiming a dedication to defending non secular liberty, Johnson was employed by Solutions in Genesis, a creationist ministry, in 2015, after the state of Kentucky rescinded a proposal of tourism tax incentives for the mission in Williamstown, citing discrimination towards non-Christian believers.

The state retracted a proposal of tax breaks after the then-governor, Steve Beshear, stated the ministry reneged on a dedication to chorus from hiring based mostly on non secular perception.

“It has develop into clear that they do intend to make use of non secular beliefs as a litmus take a look at for hiring choices,” Beshear stated.

Johnson, who would win a seat in Congress from Louisiana in 2016, was amongst a staff of attorneys engaged to press a federal lawsuit described by the Solutions in Genesis president and chief govt, Ken Ham, as involving “freedom of faith, free train of faith, freedom of speech on this nice nation of America”.

Johnson accused the state of “viewpoint discrimination”, including: “They’ve determined to exclude this organisation from a tax rebate programme that’s provided to all functions throughout the state.”

Right here’s extra from the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell on the information that former White Home chief of workers Mark Meadows had spoken to particular counsel Jack Smith as a part of their investigation into Donald Trump’s try and overturn the 2020 election:

Donald Trump’s former White Home chief of workers Mark Meadows testified to a federal grand jury earlier this yr about efforts by the previous president to overturn the 2020 election outcomes pursuant to a court docket order that granted him restricted immunity, in keeping with two individuals accustomed to the matter.

The immunity – which forces witnesses to testify on the promise that they won’t be charged on their statements or data derived from their statements – got here after a authorized battle in March with particular counsel prosecutors, who had subpoenaed Meadows.

Trump’s attorneys tried to dam Meadows’ testimony partially on govt privilege grounds. Nonetheless, the outgoing chief US district choose Beryl Howell dominated that govt privilege was inapplicable and compelled Meadows to seem earlier than the grand jury in Washington, the individuals stated.

The exact particulars of what occurred subsequent are unclear, however prosecutors sought and acquired an order from the incoming chief choose James Boasberg granting limited-use immunity to Meadows to beat his issues about self-incrimination, the individuals accustomed to the matter stated.

That Meadows testified pursuant to a court docket order suggests prosecutors within the workplace of particular counsel Jack Smith have been decided to be taught what data he was afraid to share due to self-incrimination issues – but it surely doesn’t imply he turned a cooperator.

Particular counsel accuses Trump of threatening ex-chief of workers who testified in election case – report

Jack Smith, the particular counsel prosecuting Donald Trump for his try and overturn the 2020 election, accused the previous president of threatening his former chief of workers after he spoke to investigators, ABC News reports.

Smith’s staff cited posts Trump made on Reality Social after studies emerged that Mark Meadows, his chief of workers within the closing months of his presidency, spoke to investigators about his makes an attempt to cease Joe Biden’s election victory.

Trump’s feedback “ship an unmistakable and threatening message to a foreseeable witness on this case,” Smith’s staff wrote in a Wednesday submitting.

Right here’s extra from ABC:

In a submitting Wednesday night time to the choose presiding over Trump’s federal election interference case in Washington, Smith’s staff stated Trump’s “dangerous” put up on Reality Social was making an attempt to “ship an unmistakable and threatening message to a foreseeable witness on this case.”

Smith’s staff argued to U.S. District Courtroom Choose Tanya Chutkan that the alleged menace is only one extra instance of why a restricted gag order within the case is required as quickly as potential.

Chutkan had issued such a gag order early final week however then temporarily suspended it after the previous president’s authorized staff appealed the choose’s order to the next court docket.

…

Of their submitting Wednesday, Smith’s staff argued that Trump is now making an attempt to “use exterior influences to distort the trial in his favor,” and that “These actions, notably when directed towards witnesses and trial contributors, pose a grave menace to the very notion of a good trial based mostly on the details and the legislation.”

Trump has a “lengthy and well-documented historical past of utilizing his public platform to focus on disparaging and inflammatory feedback at perceived adversaries,” and “When the defendant does so, harassment, threats, and intimidation foreseeably and predictably observe,” Smith’s staff wrote.

Martin Pengelly

Sam Levine, our devoted voting rights reporter, has extra on the federal ruling right now which says Georgia Republicans should redraw congressional and state legislative maps to offer Black voters a good shot at electing the candidate of their alternative, a call that might end in an extra Democratic seat in Congress.

When Georgia Republicans drew the state’s 14 congressional districts final yr, they positioned the traces in such a means that they weakened the affect of Black voters within the west metro-Atlanta space, violating Part 2 of the Voting Rights Act, US district choose Steve Jones dominated on Thursday.

Jones gave Georgia lawmakers till 8 December to attract an extra majority-Black district within the west metro-Atlanta space, and stated the court docket would draw a map if the legislature couldn’t provide you with a brand new plan by then.

Georgia is prone to attraction the ruling and to attempt to drag out the redrawing course of so long as potential. A prolonged authorized dispute is to the state’s benefit as a result of federal courts have been hesitant to intervene when elections are shut.

Republicans at the moment have a 9-5 benefit in Georgia’s congressional delegation. Since voting within the south of the US is usually racially polarized, any district that provides Black voters an opportunity to elect the candidate of their selecting is prone to favor Democrats.

Republicans even have a 102-78 advantage within the state Home of Representatives, the place Jones ordered the addition of 5 majority-Black seats. Additionally they have 33-23 benefit within the state senate, the place Jones ordered two further majority-Black seats.

Georgia gained an extra seat in Congress final yr after important inhabitants progress during the last decade. Virtually all of that progress was attributable to a surging minority inhabitants within the state, Jones famous in a 516-page opinion, however the variety of majority-Black congressional and legislative districts remained the identical. Jones wrote:

“The court docket reiterates that Georgia has made nice strides since 1965 in direction of equality in voting. Nonetheless, the proof earlier than this court docket exhibits that Georgia has not reached the purpose the place the political course of has equal openness and equal alternative for everybody.”

The ruling is the most recent in a collection from federal courts in current months discovering that Republicans, who dominate state legislatures within the south and management the redistricting course of, discriminated towards Black voters once they drew district traces.

Judges have additionally ordered Republicans in Alabama and Louisiana to reconfigure their maps so as to add districts that give Black voters satisfactory energy. There may be additionally ongoing litigation in South Carolina and Florida claiming district traces illegally reduce the affect of Black voters.

Martin Pengelly

Our columnist Margaret Sullivan thinks the set up of the Republican Mike Johnson as Home speaker bodes sick not only for Democrats – however maybe for democracy, within the sense of the prospects of a extra peaceable election subsequent yr than in 2020, when the Louisianan was at Donald Trump’s facet as he tried to cling onto energy…

The method was appalling, and the end result much more so, as Republicans within the Home of Representatives lastly discovered somebody they might roughly agree on.

That settlement, although, could also be extra precisely described as easy exhaustion after three weeks of embarrassing misfires.

And who’s it they’ve managed to elect speaker of the US Home, the individual in line to steer the nation simply after the president and vice-president?

It’s Mike Johnson of Louisiana who, as one instance of his profound unsuitability, brags that he doesn’t consider that human beings trigger the local weather disaster, although his dwelling state has been ravaged by it. He’s towards abortion, voted towards support to Ukraine and stridently opposes LGBTQ+ rights.

Maybe most notably, Johnson had a number one function in making an attempt to overturn he 2020 election.

That signifies that the official second in line to the presidency “violated his oath to the structure and tried to disenfranchise 4 states”, as the author Marcy Wheeler neatly put it.

Johnson definitely has his Trumpian bona fides so as. In 2020, he helped lead a authorized effort to reverse the outcomes of the election in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and he hawked Trump’s lies that the election had been rigged.

No matter his shortcomings, we all know that Johnson excels at one factor: pleasing Donald Trump, the autocrat wannabe and Republican get together chief who loves nothing greater than an excellent sure man.

Learn on…

Martin Pengelly

Earlier than the brand new Republican Home speaker, Mike Johnson, gained election to Congress in 2016, he labored as an lawyer for rightwing Christian teams. Right here, Robert Tait studies on occasions in Kentucky in 2015, when Johnson efficiently fought the nook of builders of a Noah’s Ark-themed amusement park, who have been searching for authorities help regardless of the separation of church and state outlined within the US consitution…

Mike Johnson, the newly-elected Republican speaker of the US Home, gained taxpayer funding for a Noah’s Ark amusement park whereas working as a lawyer, in a graphic illustration of his uncompromising rightwing Christian beliefs.

Working for Freedom Guard, a nonprofit proclaiming a dedication to defending non secular liberty, Johnson was employed by Solutions in Genesis, a creationist ministry, in 2015, after the state of Kentucky rescinded a proposal of tourism tax incentives for the mission in Williamstown, citing discrimination towards non-Christian believers.

The state retracted a proposal of tax breaks after the-then governor, Steve Beshear, stated the ministry reneged on a dedication to chorus from hiring based mostly on non secular perception.

“It has develop into clear that they do intend to make use of non secular beliefs as a litmus take a look at for hiring choices,” Beshear stated.

Johnson, who would win a seat in Congress from Louisiana in 2016, was amongst a staff of attorneys engaged to press a federal lawsuit described by the Solutions in Genesis president and chief govt, Ken Ham, as involving “freedom of faith, free train of faith, freedom of speech on this nice nation of America”.

Right here’s extra on Johnson’s personal beliefs and former work…

The day to this point

Washington is adjusting to the brand new actuality introduced by Mike Johnson’s ascension to the speaker’s podium within the Home of Representatives. The Louisiana lawmaker is a staunch however low-profile conservative who desires abortion banned, doubts the scientific consensus concerning local weather change and has promoted Donald Trump’s baseless fraud claims over the 2020 election. However as a lot as they’re prone to seize on these positions subsequent yr to argue Republicans are too excessive to manipulate, Democrats additionally must work with Johnson and his get together on legislative enterprise. In remarks on the Senate flooring, Democratic chief Chuck Schumer urged the brand new speaker to embrace bipartisanship and keep away from “the Maga street”.

Right here’s what else has occurred right now to this point:

• Joe Biden cheered better-than-expected financial progress information that undercut forecasts of a looming US recession, and warned Republicans towards sparking a authorities shutdown.

• A federal choose ordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to attract new congressional maps with one other majority Black district, doubtlessly providing Democrats a chance to realize a seat within the US Home.

• Patrick McHenry dished on what it was prefer to be performing speaker of the Home for 3 weeks.

Again within the Home, Patrick McHenry, who was the performing speaker for 3 weeks throughout the Republican civil warfare over discovering a alternative for Kevin McCarthy, shared some particulars of his temporary time period main the chamber.

The Related Press studies that McHenry was given advance discover that McCarthy had named him as a short lived alternative earlier than the then speaker was faraway from workplace:

👀👀New: Former Speaker Professional Tem Patrick McHenry tells us that he was first alerted that he was first on McCarthy’s checklist as momentary alternative two weeks (!!) earlier than Gaetz filed his decision to oust McCarthy. He confronted immense strain from GOP to tackle extra powers within the 3…

— Farnoush Amiri (@FarnoushAmiri) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/FarnoushAmiri/standing/1717584541362098670″,”id”:”1717584541362098670″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”671b87e5-ce0f-4718-adf9-3bb0514fd877″}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

👀👀New: Former Speaker Professional Tem Patrick McHenry tells us that he was first alerted that he was first on McCarthy’s checklist as momentary alternative two weeks (!!) earlier than Gaetz filed his decision to oust McCarthy. He confronted immense strain from GOP to tackle extra powers within the 3…

— Farnoush Amiri (@FarnoushAmiri) October 26, 2023

McHenry additionally made a degree of noting his continued sick emotions in direction of those that eliminated McCarthy:

Patrick McHenry telling us what he actually thinks: calls the final month “maybe the dumbest set of politics or choice making a majority get together on this establishment could make”

— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/JonathanTamari/standing/1717579097277141183″,”id”:”1717579097277141183″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”c9ce140c-720e-4912-ae0a-619620b74943″}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

Patrick McHenry telling us what he actually thinks: calls the final month “maybe the dumbest set of politics or choice making a majority get together on this establishment could make”

— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) October 26, 2023

Choose orders Georgia to attract one other majority-Black congressional district, in potential enhance for Democrats

A federal choose has ordered Georgia’s Republican-dominated legislature to attract one other majority-Black congressional district, arguing that the state’s present traces violate the Voting Rights Act.

The Atlanta-Journal Structure studies the legislature must convene for a particular session to make a brand new map, which may current Democrats a chance to select up one other Home seat from the state, since African American voters are likely to help the get together:

Simply in: A federal choose has struck down Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps, ruling that they violate Part 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Georgia lawmakers have till Dec. 8 to attract new traces, organising a particular legislative session. #gapolpic.twitter.com/aK5Hkoh8C5

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/bluestein/standing/1717572744059957732″,”id”:”1717572744059957732″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”8f13e1c5-6e5b-4e1b-b2f6-0e36578ddb0d”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

Simply in: A federal choose has struck down Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps, ruling that they violate Part 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Georgia lawmakers have till Dec. 8 to attract new traces, organising a particular legislative session. #gapolpic.twitter.com/aK5Hkoh8C5

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

The ruling is a victory for Democrats and their allies who challenged the maps, contending they illegally diluted the voting energy of Black Georgians. And a few Democrats have been already lining as much as run in GOP-leaning districts that may very well be redrawn. #gapolhttps://t.co/vLZo1FoP8k

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/bluestein/standing/1717573639418085816″,”id”:”1717573639418085816″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”f268df7e-8724-4055-8e6a-d960a2173776″}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

The ruling is a victory for Democrats and their allies who challenged the maps, contending they illegally diluted the voting energy of Black Georgians. And a few Democrats have been already lining as much as run in GOP-leaning districts that may very well be redrawn. #gapolhttps://t.co/vLZo1FoP8k

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

The choice may consequence within the election of further Black representatives subsequent yr, with Democrats hoping to realize a seat within the U.S. Home, the place Republicans at the moment maintain a slim majority, @markniesse studies. #gapolhttps://t.co/Xa6JGxJRTG

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/bluestein/standing/1717575369417539738″,”id”:”1717575369417539738″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”f9eb5ac5-1b26-4b94-821a-02e24c4c8361″}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

The choice may consequence within the election of further Black representatives subsequent yr, with Democrats hoping to realize a seat within the U.S. Home, the place Republicans at the moment maintain a slim majority, @markniesse studies. #gapolhttps://t.co/Xa6JGxJRTG

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2023

In the meantime, Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman insisted he was not making an attempt to disrupt Congress final month when he pulled a Capitol advanced fireplace alarm amid fervent negotiations geared toward passing a authorities spending invoice:

“They weaponize any alternative they’ll … simply so we don’t concentrate on their very own dysfunction.”

— As he pleads responsible to a misdemeanor for pulling a hearth alarm on the Capitol final month, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) reacts to Republicans evaluating him to a Jan. 6 insurrectionist pic.twitter.com/kMe9oDMIpk

— The Recount (@therecount) October 26, 2023

“,”url”:”https://twitter.com/therecount/standing/1717566216938615237″,”id”:”1717566216938615237″,”hasMedia”:false,”function”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”supply”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”03325a57-f026-402a-b6ae-ce807f88f368″}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Internet”}”>

“They weaponize any alternative they’ll … simply so we don’t concentrate on their very own dysfunction.”

— As he pleads responsible to a misdemeanor for pulling a hearth alarm on the Capitol final month, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) reacts to Republicans evaluating him to a Jan. 6 insurrectionist pic.twitter.com/kMe9oDMIpk

— The Recount (@therecount) October 26, 2023

The New York lawmaker is shifting to resolve the difficulty right now by getting into a not responsible plea to a misdemeanor cost and paying a superb. Right here’s extra on that: