'Groundhog Day' in the House

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·5 min read
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House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker continues. Residents in California are bracing for a powerful storm that could cause widespread flooding and power loss. And TikTok sleuths tried to solve some grisly killings but wound up sparking an online witch hunt.

👋 Hey! Laura Davis here. It's time for Wednesday's news!

But first: Romance author Susan Meachen returned to social media this week. The problem? Her suicide was announced two years ago. 

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Day 2: Still no House speaker

For a fourth, fifth and sixth time, House Republicans on Wednesday tried to elect Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. But as the chamber plunged deeper into disarray, the votes produced almost the same outcome. Republicans flailed through a second day of multiple balloting, unable to muster the votes to elect McCarthy as the speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the chaos. “Well, it’s Groundhog Day,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., in nominating McCarthy on the sixth ballot. McCarthy vowed to keep fighting despite the grueling spectacle, unlike any in modern times, that threw the new GOP majority into tumult. Follow our live coverage.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, talks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, talks with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

California residents brace for severe weather, flooding, rain

As a massive storm pummeled much of California's coastline Wednesday, the state declared a state of emergency, authorizing National Guard units to support disaster response. Fire and rescue equipment and personnel have been prepositioned in areas deemed most likely to experience severe flooding and mudflows. Officials asked residents to avoid all nonessential travel during the peak of the storm. Follow our live coverage.

Here's what we know:

  • Happening now: Flights have been diverted, some parks and trails are closed and waves as high as 27 feet were expected as residents up and down the coast braced for the storm.

  • How long will it last? "All told it's about a 30-hour event from start to finish," said Rick Canepa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "The rain won't be done until Thursday afternoon or early evening."

  • What is a "bomb cyclone"? The storm is called a "bomb cyclone" because it is expected to be marked by a quick drop in atmospheric pressure resulting in a high-intensity storm.

🌤 What's the weather doing at your house? Check your local forecast.

What everyone's talking about

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Hamlin's family: Don't bash Higgins

Damar Hamlin's family wants any criticism against Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins to stop. Jordon Rooney, Hamlin's marketing representative and longtime friend, said Hamlin's family is "frustrated" and "mad" about accusatory social media comments made toward Higgins since their son's cardiac arrest during an NFL game Monday night. Hamlin tackled Higgins in the first quarter, then stood up after the play but collapsed seconds later. The 24-year-old's heartbeat was restored on the field before he was taken to a hospital. "This isn't supporting Damar," Rooney said about the online backlash. "If you think you're supporting Damar by bashing Tee, you're not supporting Damar."

👉 Update on Hamlin: Bills say he is in ICU with "signs of improvement." Here's the latest.

Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Kremlin blames own troops, cellphones for strike that killed 89

The unauthorized use of cellphones exposed the location of Russian troops to the Ukrainian military, prompting the weekend rocket attack that killed scores of Russians, a Kremlin official said Wednesday. But was the explanation just an effort by the Kremlin to deflect blame from leadership? Some Russians believed so. Lt. Gen. Sergey Sevryukov said the death toll had risen to 89 servicemembers in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Makiivka. The Russian military said it is taking measures to ensure a similar incident does not happen again. The attack was among the most deadly Russia has faced in a war that has dragged on for more than 10 months.

Local residents carry their belongings as they leave their homes ruined in the Saturday Russian rocket attack in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, on Sunday.
Local residents carry their belongings as they leave their homes ruined in the Saturday Russian rocket attack in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, on Sunday.

Real quick

Trying to solve Idaho slayings, TikTok sleuths fueled a witch hunt

For months, frustration, fear and mystery surrounded the November stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. No known motive. No known weapon. No known suspect – until now. Last week, police arrested 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger for the killing of Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, and Xana Kernodle. But it wasn't who online sleuths predicted. On TikTok, conspiracy theories from true crime lovers ran rampant, and what had started as curiosity spiraled into online harassment, defamation and doxxing. Keep reading.

Boise State University students, along with people who knew the four University of Idaho students who were found killed in Moscow, Idaho, days earlier, pay their respects at a vigil held in front of a statue on the Boise State campus.
Boise State University students, along with people who knew the four University of Idaho students who were found killed in Moscow, Idaho, days earlier, pay their respects at a vigil held in front of a statue on the Boise State campus.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Short List: House speaker vote, California bomb cyclone, Damar Hamlin, Idaho murders. Wednesday's news.