Wednesday morning news: October 4, 2023

Speaker battle » Upheaval in the House today after members ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a historic vote.

MCCARTHY: I believe I can continue to fight, maybe in a different manner. I will not run for speaker again. I’ll have the conference pick somebody else.

The tally was 216 to 210. It was the first time members have ever voted out a sitting speaker.

Conservative critics said he was too quick to cave to Democrats' demands.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz led the charge to oust McCarthy from the speakership, saying he was only doing his job.

GAETZ: At times with a very small group of people, but dedicated people, because we have to send a shockwave through Washington DC.

They succeeded in doing that. But what comes next is anyone’s guess.

There is no heir apparent. And choosing a new speaker could be another messy ordeal.

Trump trial » A New York judge has imposed a limited gag order in Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial.

The move came after Trump recirculated a critical social media post about Engoron’s law clerk, Allison Greenfield.

The post included a photo of Greenfield posing for a picture with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Trump said it was “disgraceful” that Greenfield was working with the judge in the courtroom.

The former president again told reporters on Tuesday.

TRUMP: This case is a scam. There can’t be fraud when you’ve told institutions to do their own work.

Trump does plan to testify on his own behalf in the trial.

Hunter Biden » Meantime, Hunter Biden faced a judge in Delaware Tuesday pleading not guilty to three federal firearms charges.

His lawyers claim the Justice Department is caving to pressure from Republicans to prosecute the case.

But Attorney General Merrick Garland says Special Counsel David Weiss is being pressured by no one.

GARLAND: Mr. Weiss, has the authority to pursue this case he's the supervisor of this case. And at the end of the case, because he's now a special counsel, he will have to provide a report, which will explain his prosecutorial and investigative decisions. At that point the American people will see the reasons for the steps that have been taken.

The president’s son is accused of using drugs while purchasing a firearm and illegally possessing the gun as a drug user.

NYC Mayor to Latin America » New York City Mayor Eric Adams is traveling to Latin America to ask migrants to stop migrating to his city. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The mayor of the self-proclaimed sanctuary city is planning a four-day trip to Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia this week.

He said he’ll deliver the message that “coming to New York doesn’t mean you’re going to stay in a five-star hotel.” And it doesn’t mean you will automatically be allowed to work.

The state of New York just approved work permits for nearly a half-million migrants, many of whom entered the country illegally.

Adams says his city has absorbed nearly 120,000 migrants over the past year costing his city almost $10 million dollars a day.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

DC crime / Cuellar » Congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas returned to work on Tuesday after being carjacked the night before near the U.S. Capitol.

CUELLAR: I was just coming into my place. Three guys came out of nowhere and they pointed guns at me.

Cuellar said the masked gunmen demanded his car and that he simply responded, “sure” adding that he had to remain calm.

The Democratic lawmaker was unharmed.

Cuellar thanked police after they recovered his car.

Putin to NoKo » Vladimir Putin plans to travel to North Korea soon in another sign of growing ties between the two authoritarian governments. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Putin will likely fly into Pyongyang in the weeks ahead for his second meeting with Kim Jong Un in as many months.

Kim traveled to Russia last month.

U.S. officials believe North Korea has agreed to supply arms to Russia.

Putin has recently visited occupied parts of Ukraine. But aside from that, this will be his first trip outside of Russia since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in March for war crimes.

For WORLD I’m Josh Schumacher.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: What’s behind McCarthy’s removal as Speaker on Washington Wednesday. Plus, holding fast during a high-risk pregnancy.

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