Top 8 today

National

In historic vote, House ousts Speaker Kevin McCarthy

The embattled Republican leader was stripped of his role by members of the same faction that propelled him into power earlier this year.

Courts & the law

Judge issues gag order, blasts Trump team for conduct during Manhattan fraud trial

Judge Arthur Engoron chided the former president for an "inappropriate" social media stunt that involved one of the judge's staffers.

Consumer finance watchdog clings to Supreme Court lifeline 

As Congress hit the brakes this week on one government funding battle, the Supreme Court took up another.

Jury selection underway in Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial over FTX’s collapse

Bankman-Fried is facing a six-week criminal trial on charges that he swindled billions of dollars of customers' deposits from his cryptocurrency exchange platform to pay the debts of his hedge fund..

California officials denied immunity in suit over San Quentin Covid outbreak

The appeals panel concluded that prison officials acted with "deliberate indifference" during the outbreak but not taking precautions or countermeasures once the outbreak occurred.

Michigan Supreme Court denies appeal from high school shooter’s parents

The couple have been in jail for more than two years as they contest the involuntary manslaughter charges against them. They now likely face trial, unless they can cut a deal with prosecutors.

Science & the environment

California prepares for El Niño winter after a year of extreme heat and floodst

The state water department's director said her highest priority is for the federal government to help improve California's ability to make long-term forecasts and prepare for extreme weather conditions.

Some mammalian same-sex sexuality linked to social adaptation, researchers say

New research suggests that same-sex sexuality in mammals may be an evolutionary and adaptive mechanism for socializing and avoiding conflict.

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