By Bethany Irvine

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is now the GOP nominee for House Speaker. | AP

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER — After days of wrangling and debate, House Republicans have picked their nominee to succeed KEVIN McCARTHY as speaker: House Majority Leader STEVE SCALISE. 

In a 113 to 99 vote, the GOP conference rejected Rep. JIM JORDAN (R-Ohio) — who was, we stress, endorsed by former President DONALD TRUMP — in favor of the Louisiana Republican who has served in leadership for a decade. Also worth noting: the rejection of Trump’s candidate came in a secret-ballot vote.

Good signs abounded for Scalise early into the meeting. In a 135-88 vote, Republicans rejected a proposed rule change introduced by Rep. CHIP ROY (R-Texas) that would have required a GOP speaker candidate to have 217 votes in the conference before advancing to the House floor.

More context from Olivia Beavers: “The vote on Roy's proposal was seen as a test of Scalise's support, because his allies came to view the rules change as a covert effort to block him from becoming the conference’s nominee. … Its rejection means that whoever lands the House GOP's internal nomination will likely face a scramble to secure the needed votes before heading to the floor — or even during the floor proceedings, depending on when Republicans attempt to hold a speaker vote by the full chamber.”

But just because there’s a clear Republican nominee doesn’t mean there’s a clear consensus about the path forward — or even about the status quo.

• Rep. MAX MILLER (R-Ohio) said that unless Jordan drops out, he will still vote for his fellow Ohioan on the House floor even if Scalise wins the nomination. Should others join in, it could mean multiple voting rounds of floor votes on the speaker.

• Rep. LAUREN BOEBERT (R-Colo.) still plans to vote for Jordan on the floor.

• Rep. KEN BUCK (R-Colo.) told reporters he voted “present” during the meeting because both Jordan and Scalise voted to overturn the 2020 election results. “If we don't have the moral clarity to decide whether President [JOE] BIDEN won or not, we don't have the moral clarity to rule,” Buck said. It’s not clear how he plans to vote on the floor.

• Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) told reporters he’d support Scalise on the floor, calling him an “upgrade” from McCarthy: “I’m excited for him,” Gaetz said. “Long live Speaker Scalise."

• At least one member is still holding out for a McCarthy speakership: Rep. CARLOS GIMENEZ (R-Fla.) told reporters he is voting for the former speaker until McCarthy tells him otherwise: “I’ve always said I’m a McCarthy guy until he says, ‘Hey don’t vote for anybody else [but Scalise].’”

• And while Rep. TROY NEHLS (R-Texas) said he voted for Jordan for speaker, he still prefers DONALD TRUMP for the role: “I would imagine if we can't find a speaker after a certain amount of time, I'm going have to come in and bring Donald in here,” Nehls said. 

What now? It’s not clear yet when the House will hold a vote on the floor, but should Scalise be voted in as speaker, the House GOP will have to elect a new majority leader. The House is scheduled to reconvene at 3 p.m., though acting Speaker PATRICK McHENRY could quickly put the chamber back into recess while Republicans figure out a way forward.

Related reads: “Internal conflicts and power struggles have become hallmarks of the modern GOP,” by AP’s Julie Carr Smyth and Nicholas Riccardi … “Think the House speaker vote is contentious? This one took two months,” by WaPo’s Ronald Shafer

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WHIPPING THE POST — The Washington Post’s initial plans to eliminate roughly 240 positions across the company rolled out today with a tranche of emails to Posties informing them whether or not they’re eligible for proposed buyouts — with the newsroom and opinion side accounting for “about half the burden,” NYT’s Ben Mullin reports.

Numbers down: WaPo’s Paul Farhi reports that since 2021, the Post’s audience is down 28%, subscriptions are down 15% and digital ads are down 30%.

Eyebrows up: At the town hall announcing the move, CEO PATTY STONESIFER addressed whether Amazon founder and Post owner JEFF BEZOS paid attention as the paper made unrealistic projections about its future, per Mullin: “Where was Jeff? Honestly, again, I don't know. … He trusts his leaders to lead — perhaps trusting longer than you would.”

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AMERICA AND THE WORLD 

THE LATEST ON THE GROUND — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues into its fifth day, Israeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU and opposition leader BENNY GANTZ agreed to form an emergency unity government.

The context: “The unusual arrangement cobbles together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics, as the military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza,” AP’s Joseph Krauss and Wafaa Shurafa Report from Jerusalem.

Netanyahu also spoke with President Biden today, with his office stating the prime minister "thanked the president for the powerful words of support he said after their last conversation yesterday and for his unreserved support for the State of Israel.”

Meanwhile, Axios’ Barak Ravid notes the immense response to President Biden’s address last night on the conflict, reporting “48% of Israeli households watched Biden's address on TV. This doesn't include streaming on the Internet or YouTube.”

Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN told reporters today in Morocco that “nothing is off the table” as the U.S. weighs whether to take up new sanctions against Iran and Hamas, NYT’s Alan Rappeport reports. Notably: “The Treasury secretary also did not rule out the possibility of reversing a decision made last month to unfreeze $6 billion of Iranian funds in exchange for the release of American hostages if it is determined that Iran was involved in the attack by Hamas.”

And on the Hill, House members were “clearly shaken” leaving a classified members-only briefing on Israel this morning, Punchbowl’s Heather Caygle reports, with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair MICHAEL McCAUL (R-Texas) noting the first step forward is for the House to pass a bipartisan resolution supporting Israel, while “McCaul still seems in favor of tying Israel assistance to Ukraine aid.”

Other reactions: 

• McCaul on what intelligence Israel had before the attack: “We know that Egypt had warned the Israelis 3 days prior that an event like this could happen. We know that this has been planned … as long as a [year] ago."

• Rep. DERRICK VAN ORDEN (R-Wisc.) interrupted the briefing with a “curse-laden outburst” directed with the presenters from the White House, Nicholas Wu and Sarah Ferris report: “One person in the room said Van Orden shouted that the briefers’ presentation was ‘pathetic.’ Another attendee described it as ‘offensive and inappropriate.’”

• Rep. Max Miller said he “learned something very, very new within that room that has changed the scope and how I see this developing situation.”

• Rep. DON BACON (R-Neb.) said the Biden administration told lawmakers that they don’t yet have “clarity” on Iran’s role in the Hamas attacks on Israel, but added, “Anybody with any intelligence knows Iran is behind this.”

Related reads: “Senators ask Defense Secretary Austin to give Israel two Iron Dome batteries,” by NBC News’ Sahil Kapur and Courtney Kube … “Hamas uses social media to incite fear,” by Steven Overly

CONGRESS 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER MACE STORYLINE — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on Rep. NANCY MACE’s newly drawn South Carolina district, which has gotten more conservative since she was first in office. The 2022 redistricting meant her new constituents were “not surprised” when Mace voted to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, NYT’s Jonathan Weisman reports from South Carolina.

“Ms. Mace still calls herself an iconoclast, but her transformation from denouncing the likes of Representative MATT GAETZ, Republican of Florida, to joining him in the first overthrow of a sitting speaker underscores a truism: Voters lead their politicians; politicians don’t lead their voters.”

SANTOS’ LITTLE HELPER — Embattled Rep. GEORGE SANTOS (R-N.Y.) is maintaining his innocence after being hit with an additional 10 federal charges yesterday ranging from wire fraud to identify theft — and says he’s not accepting a plea deal, Olivia Beavers reports. “Asked if he is blaming [his former treasurer NANCY] MARKS for the alleged crimes outlined in the latest indictment, Santos said no and invoked the so-called ‘Shaggy defense,’ a homage to the two-decade-old reggae-pop song: ‘I’m just saying it wasn’t me. I didn’t handle the finances. That is why you pay treasurers and fundraisers.’”

Santos all but dared his House colleagues to push him out of office: “They can try to expel me, but I pity the fools that go ahead and do that and think that that's the smartest idea. … They’re in tough elections next year, but they're setting precedent for the future.”

Meanwhile … Rep. ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO (R-N.Y.) posted on X today that he’ll be introducing an expulsion resolution to oust Santos, co-sponsored by fellow New York Reps. NICK LALOTA, MIKE LAWLER, MARC MOLINARO, NICK LANGWORTHY and BRANDON WILLIAMS. 

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2024 WATCH

IS THIS HALEY’S MOMENT?— As Hamas’ attack on Israel brings foreign policy conversations center stage for 2024 presidential candidates, AP’s Meg Kinnard reports on how that shift could benefit former UN Ambassador NIKKI HALEY on the campaign trail.

“Haley remains well behind former President Donald Trump after two energetic debate performances but is trying to position herself as his chief rival by drawing contrasts on how they view U.S. responsibility in foreign affairs. She’s tying the war between Israel and Hamas to her conservative domestic priorities, arguing that both Israel and the U.S. could be made vulnerable by what she calls ‘distractions.’”

SAME MITT, DIFFERENT DAY — “Sen. Mitt Romney urged Democratic senators to challenge Biden — and he named names,” by Deseret News’ Suzanne Bates

POLICY CORNER 

FEE FIGHT  — The FTC announced proposed rule this morning to to ban “junk fees” that cost consumers up to “an extra $80 billion every year,” NBC News’ Tom Costello and Phil Helsel report: “The proposed rule would make it clearer when extra fees are being charged, like at hotels and at live-ticket events, the agency says. It would bar businesses from using hidden fees … It would also prohibit businesses from advertising prices that leave out mandatory fees.”

AI ON THE BRAIN — “The New AI Panic,” by the Atlantic’s Karen Hao: “Commerce is considering a new blockade on a broad category of general-purpose AI programs, not just physical parts … If enacted, the limits could generate more friction with China while weakening the foundations of AI innovation in the U.S.”

THE WHITE HOUSE 

IN THE DOGHOUSE — “At the White House, Commander is coming back to bite,” by Kelly Garitty: “Rep. VIRGINIA FOXX (R-N.C.), chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, sent a letter to Biden and acting Labor Secretary JULIE SU on Wednesday morning to request recent annual reports and ‘any employee workplace safety complaints filed with [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration] or any office or agency within the White House since January 20, 2021.’”

Foxx said she wrote the letter to remind the White House that it is “not immune to the laws of the land,” adding “If 10 people had accidents in a private plant, or if there had been dog bites in a private plant, I’ll guarantee you OSHA would have been down on the heads of the owners and operators of that plant.”

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PLAYBOOKERS

WEDDINGS — Jirair Ratevosian, a candidate for Congress in California’s 30th Congressional District to replace Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and a Barbara Lee and State Department alum, and Micheal Ighodaro, co-executive director for the Prevention Access Campaign, got married on Monday at St. Michael’s Church in New York, followed by a reception at Legacy Castle. The two worked together for the Biden-Harris campaign during the 2020 Iowa Caucus. SPOTTED: Jessica Stern and Loyce Pace. Pic 

— Brad Bosserman, head of corporate partnerships at The Messenger and a POLITICO alum, and Priscilla Magee, a development manager at Enel North America, got married Sept. 30 at the Perry Belmont House, with a 9:30 Club-themed after-party at The Line Hotel. Pic … Another pic

— Colin Finnegan, a VP at Forbes Tate Partners, and Catharine Straley, a teacher at Westbrook Elementary School in Bethesda, Md., got married on Sunday at the Kent Island Resort in Stevensville, Md. The two met at Kenyon College eight years ago and have been living in D.C. ever since. Pic

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