First Read's Morning Clips

OFF TO THE RACES: About last night

In his “What We Learned From Last Night’s Debate” piece, our won Perry Bacon Jr. wrote that Ben Carson’s rivals are not that worried about him. The other candidates’ mild attacks against Carson who has overtaken Trump in some polls “suggests the candidates view Carson's rise as temporary and are wary of attacking the doctor, who is popular with evangelical Christians.”

The New York Times notes that Rubio won the micro-competition between him and Bush last night. “Mr. Bush did something uncharacteristic: He interrupted, with the decorousness of a Bush,” the Times writes.

Here’s this fact check from NBC’s Charlie Gile and Dan Cooney.

Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus is not happy with CNBC over the debate, The New York Times reports.

At the undercard debate, Graham defended his support for immigration reform, climate change and an aggressive military.

CLINTON: She watched the debate and tweeted and texted her supporters her thoughts.

SANDERS: He called for ending the federal prohibition on marijuana Wednesday.

The head of Emily’s List, Stephanie Schriock who is a loyal Clinton supporter, is accusing Sanders and his campaign aides of being sexist.

CONGRESS: New day, new speaker

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

The fractured House passed the two-year budget deal Wednesday with the support of 266 members, including 79 Republicans.

Ryan’s Republican colleagues nominated him to be the next speaker of the House Wednesday even as 43 of his colleagues voted for his challenger. A vote before the full House is slated for today and the Washington Post writes that Republicans hope his ascent “will close out an era of GOP divisiveness and recrimination.”

Roll Call writes on the wealth of members of Congress: “If Congress ever raises taxes on the 1 percent, nearly 10 percent of members will face the hike.”

PROGRAMMING NOTES.

*** Thursday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Craig Melvin steps in for Tamron. Craig will speak with Rep. Mark Sanford, a member of the Freedom Caucus, about the House Speaker vote; Republican Strategist Susan Del Percio, Democratic Strategist Robert Zimmerman, and POLITICO’s Marc Caputo about the GOP debate and the latest political headlines; and MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber about Jerry Sandusky’s hearing to appeal his case.

*** Thursday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, Ruth Marcus and Kathleen Parker, Executive Editor of Defense One Kevin Baron, Democratic Strategist Bob Shrum and Former Congressman Vin Weber (R-MN)