It’s Thursday. We have a functioning House again! Whoop, whoop! (Yes, I realize how incredibly low the bar is now.)

• Many lawmakers — including most of the Senate — don’t know Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) well. His upcoming challenges are starting to become abundantly clear.
• Former President Trump stormed out of a courtroom yesterday. His Secret Service detail followed him, and his lawyers even seemed surprised.
• I asked a bunch of Senate and House members to tell me their favorite Halloween candy. They took the task *very* seriously.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

Hello, and welcome to the first day with *checks notes* Mike Johnson (R-La.) as House Speaker.

The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell summed it up well: “After bitter and personal battles sank three other Speaker options, House Republicans found Johnson to be the conservative constitutionalist with a dash of Southern charm that they needed to end the turmoil at the right time — giving him unanimous GOP support.” (The Hill)

This seems to be the general sentiment among Senate Rs: “’He seems to be a good pick. I’m all for him. Anybody that can get through,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters with a laugh, adding that he too does not know him well. ‘No, not much. Seems like a very capable fellow.’” More on Senate Republicans’ reactions to Johnson winning, via The Hill’s Al Weaver

1. “Can he unify his conference?” — *exudes confidence* A piece of cake!
2. “Can he keep the government open?” — *nervous laugh* easy peasy
3. “Dealing with Ukraine” — *pauses* yep, we can do that
4. “How does he deal with former President Trump?” — *longer pause* mhm, got that too
5. “Keeping the House majority.” — *panic sets in* 😳

The Hill’s Niall Stanage explains the dynamic and challenges at play for each of these tasks.

Long weekend for the House: Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman posted an announcement from GOP leadership that after today, the chamber will recess until Wednesday. The House’s updated schedule

Bookending Patrick McHenry’s tenure as Speaker Pro Tem: C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman posted video of when Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) first gaveled in and when he finished his stint. Watch — the mood in the House is palpably different

Johnson is in a ‘covenant marriage,’ where it’s legally difficult to divorce: Insider’s Bryan Metzger reports that Speaker Johnson is in a “covenant marriage,” a religious legal contract. “Couples can only get divorced on a limited set of grounds, including for adultery, if one partner committed a felony or faces imprisonment, or physical or sexual abuse.” (Insider)

‘New speaker Mike Johnson’s 2020 election denial could have 2024 implications’: The Washington Post

‘New speaker of the House Mike Johnson once wrote in support of the criminalization of gay sex’: CNN

‘55 Things You Need to Know About Mike Johnson’: Politico

‘Can Speaker Mike Johnson Govern?’: “GOP agitators will have to give him leeway they denied Kevin McCarthy.” The Wall Street Journal

‘Late Night Roasts Mike Johnson’: For example from Seth Myers: “Wow, the Speaker race was so embarrassing, they’re not even giving their real names anymore,” Myers joked. “Mike Johnson is the name you give when you check into a motel with your mistress. That’s what Spirit Halloween calls their Michael Jackson” The New York Times

Throwback: The New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner published a Q&A with Johnson in December 2020. “Why Representative Mike Johnson Thinks That the Election Isn’t Over.” The New Yorker

© X.com/Sen. Tina Smith

Capitol Hill has been wild this month, and I thought we could all use a breather. So, I channeled my ✨passion✨ (candy) and asked a bunch of lawmakers in Washington about their favorite Halloween candy. I even got a few least favorites and unpopular opinions.

I’ll include a few responses in each edition of The Hill’s 12:30 Report until Halloween, along with my personal commentary and snark and sassy judgment as I see fit. 😉

First up:

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.): Snickers and Hershey bars — Respectable 8/10

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.): Hershey’s Miniatures dark chocolate — Delicious, but not the most exciting choice in the Halloween bucket.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): Dark chocolate candies from Ghirardelli or See’s — Now, that’s how you up your game in preferring simple dark chocolate.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.): Hot Tamales — I’ve never heard of Hot Tamales being someone’s favorite, but love those!

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.): Hershey’s chocolate “with the intent of making a s’more.” — That is the ~correct~ response, congresswoman.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) got a little smug, but he’s from the state with the chocolate capital of the U.S., so he’s allowed to be. His favorites are Hershey’s Chocolate, Mike and Ikes and Clark Bars.

“[W]e’ve got the best candy, period. I dare any of my colleagues to try to name a better candy lineup from their state,” Casey challenged his fellow lawmakers. Any takers??

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) was on a similar wavelength: Meuser likes Kit Kats, also pointing out that they are “made in Pennsylvania’s Ninth District!” — I lowkey love Kit Kats. 8/10

Ooh, common ground!: Both Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md. and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) both *dislike* black licorice.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.): Popcorn balls — 5/10, delicious but not when Reese’s and Snickers are also on the table. 😉

👋 Note to Hill staffers — If I haven’t talked to your office yet, shoot me an email me with your boss’s favorite Halloween candy. I’ll include it in the next round of ‘Cate Judges Lawmakers’ Candy Preferences.’ cmartel@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com 👋

And note to readers — Feel free to let me know if you agree with my correct opinions. And I know you will.

“Donald Trump stormed out of a New York City courtroom Wednesday after a heated day in court in which the former president was called to the witness stand in his $250 million state fraud case and fined $10,000 for violating a gag order.” (NBC News)

“Trump’s abrupt departure appeared to surprise even his own lawyers and his Secret Service agents, who went scurrying after him. He returned to the courtroom in Manhattan after the court day ended and after his former lawyer Michael Cohen finished his contentious testimony.”

Read the full back and forth

The Hill has a useful live blog recapping Trump’s day in court.

“At least 18 people were killed and 13 injured in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night in a mass shooting incident at two locations, and the suspect remains at large.”

A person of interest: “Police released a photo of a person of interest, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card — a firearms instructor in the Army Reserve assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine. Police warned Card is ‘considered armed and dangerous.’”

Scary: Because the suspect is at large, residents have been told to shelter in place

 What we know

“Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) pleaded guilty Thursday to one misdemeanor for falsely pulling a fire alarm in the Cannon House Office Building last month ahead of a key House vote.”

He will pay a $1,000 and write an apology to the Capitol Police. The charge will then be withdrawn in three months. (The Hill)

🎃 Celebrate: Today is National Pumpkin Day!!

✍️ What if it’s a glitch in the matrix?: “Mysterious bylines appeared on a USA Today site. Did these writers exist?” writes The Washington Post’s Will Sommer. “Staff writers at Reviewed suspect that management published stories written by AI under the names of non-existent writers. Parent company Gannett denies it.” (The Washington Post)

👻 If you’re behind on your costume planning: Here’s a list of 25 timely Halloween costume ideas. (New York Magazine)

The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)

• 12:40 p.m.: Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken host a luncheon at the State Department in honor of the Australian prime minister. 📺 Livestream
• 1 p.m.: Press briefing from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, National Economic Council director Lael Brainard and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby. 📺 Livestream
• 1:45 p.m.: A Senate roll call vote. 📺 Today’s agenda
• 5 p.m.: Harris ceremonially swears in the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Education, Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. 📺 Livestream

To leave you smiling, here is the picture of absolute bliss.

This video has more than 5.7 million likes so far, and I understand why.