Speaker-designate Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., is struggling to win the support he will need to be elected to the top spot on the House floor. 

At least seven Republicans say they plan to back someone other than Scalise; at least six others say they are undecided; and some have declined to comment on who they will stand behind — enough resistance to deny Scalise the speakership. 

The House is set to reconvene at noon on Thursday, but it is not clear whether it will then move to a floor vote to fill the position. Read Full Story

• The Washington Times: Kevin Hern Running for House Majority Leader
• Washington Examiner: McConnell, Cotton Introduce Bill to Freeze $6B for Iran
• Townhall: Trump Brings Home Americans From Israel While Families Beg Biden to Help
• The Daily Caller: John Kirby Asked Point-Blank Why US Hasn’t Already Evacuated Americans From Israel
• American Thinker: Democrats Paying for Biden Now, Good and Hard

Former President Trump will not travel to Capitol Hill this week as House Republicans scramble to determine the next speaker.

It was reported that Trump and his team were discussing a possible trip to Capitol Hill amid the debate over the next speaker, but no such visit was ever finalized.

Several Republicans last week floated Trump’s name for speaker, and the former president said he’d be willing to help the party however he could, but has publicly endorsed longtime ally Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for the position. 

House Republicans are scheduled to hold a candidate forum Tuesday for those in the running to be speaker with an internal vote by the conference expected Wednesday. Read Full Story

• Washington Examiner: Mace Makes ‘Trust’ Litmus Test for Next House Speaker 
• American Thinker: Impact of Third Parties on 2024 Election
• The Washington Times: Kevin McCarthy Accuses Biden, Dems of Not Standing Up to Hamas, Antisemitism
• PJ Media: Is Anyone in Charge? White House MIA as Chaos Reigns
• The Daily Caller: White House Tweets About Concert Tickets While War Rages in Middle East

Facing a pileup of spending bills and a possible government shutdown, 20 Republican senators led by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida say they will delay any legislation moving on the Senate floor that does not relate directly to funding the government.  

Scott circulated a letter at the Senate Republican lunch Wednesday warning Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that GOP lawmakers will not tolerate further delay to the annual appropriations bills, none of which has yet passed the Senate.  

“Nothing can stand in the way of this work. For this reason, we the undersigned senators pledge to withhold our support for any vote to proceed to items unrelated to appropriations bills,” the senators wrote. 

The GOP senators are warning Schumer not to bring any non-appropriations bills to the Senate floor because they fear that letting the spending legislation pile up until December will inevitably lead to Congress passing another massive omnibus spending package. Read Full Story

• Washington Examiner: McCarthy Ouster Deepens Partisan Divide Ahead of Shutdown Deadline
• The Washington Times: Hurry Up and Wait: Republican Says No Chance New Speaker Will Be Selected Soon
• PJ Media: Gaetz Was Right About McCarthy
• The Daily Caller: Trump Campaign Announces $45 Million Fundraising Haul for Third Quarter