Rep. Mike Johnson narrowly won re-election as House speaker on Friday afternoon, handing him his first full two-year term with the gavel. The Louisiana Republican, boosted by the support of President-elect Donald Trump, overcame a tiny right-wing rebellion, in which two of three GOP defectors eventually caved, granting Johnson the 218 votes he needed. Kentucky's Thomas Massie was the lone House Republican to vote against him. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Johnson will have "a really, really tough job" navigating the narrow majority in the House.
The six-day state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter began Saturday, nearly a week after his death at age 100. Beginning on Tuesday, the 39th president will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where members of Congress will attend a service before the public is invited to pay their respects. The national funeral service will be held Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral.
In Trump's New York hush money case, Judge Juan Merchan rejected a motion from Trump to dismiss the case and set the president-elect's sentencing for Jan. 10. Merchan said Trump can appear virtually or in person for the sentencing and the judge said he is not inclined to sentence Trump to prison.
On New Year's Day, 14 people were killed and more than 30 were injured when a driver crashed a pickup truck into crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The driver, who the FBI said was "inspired by ISIS," had planned to use a transmitter to detonate two explosive devices he had placed nearby, authorities said. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel to New Orleans tomorrow to meet with families impacted by the attack.
Missed something? Don't worry. Here are our select columns and videos from the week. And don't forget to check out MSNBC.com for more.
