The increasing pressure for Republican presidential candidates to have a breakout moment before next month's leadoff Iowa caucuses could produce fireworks early and often at Wednesday's debate. And the simple truth is that many of the candidates don't like each other very much. In the last debate, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley called entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy “scum” after he picked on her daughter’s social media habits. Ramaswamy slapped at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ choice of footwear. And once upon a time, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie almost single-handedly ended Marco Rubio’s presidential aspirations on the debate stage. The participants will also have an opportunity to go after Donald Trump, who is again skipping the debate.

Another mass killing happened in the United States on Tuesday after authorities say one man killed six people and wounded three in a trail of attacks that stretched 80 miles (129 kilometers) between Austin and the San Antonio area.

Former President Donald Trump is urging  supporters to “guard the vote” during next year's election, a phrase that set off alarm bells among pro-democracy advocates who say it signals permission to his followers to take extreme measures. The phrase is a relatively novel one for Trump. Activists on the right have been setting the groundwork for it to be deployed more widely. Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has spent months repeating the phrase. And Victor Mellor, a close Flynn associate, told The Associated Press he has been setting up a new group called “Guard the Vote” but it would  “absolutely not" encourage violence.

Authorities in Oregon are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in creeks this week as an atmospheric river brings heavy rain, flooding and unseasonably warm temperatures to the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued five people from flooded areas on Tuesday and the conditions also closed rail links, schools and roads in some areas and shattered daily rainfall and temperature records in Washington state.  Amtrak says no passenger trains will be running between Seattle and Portland, Oregon, until Thursday because of a landslide. The wet weather conditions have also brought warm temperatures to parts of the region.

Israel’s widening air and ground offensive in southern Gaza has displaced tens of thousands more Palestinians and is worsening the territory's dire humanitarian conditions. The fighting is preventing distribution of food, water and medicine outside a tiny sliver of southern Gaza. New evacuation orders are squeezing people into ever-smaller areas. The United Nations says all telecom services are down due to cuts in the main fiber routes. The United Nations chief is urging the U.N. Security Council to use its clout to avert “a humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry says the territory's death toll has surpassed 16,200. Around 1,200 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two months after his historic ouster as U.S. House speaker, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday that he is resigning and will leave Congress by the end of the year.

Norman Lear has died. The producer who made TV topical in the 1970s with the sitcom “All in the Family,” died Tuesday night at the age of 101 years old. “All in the Family" starred Carroll O’Connor as diehard conservative Archie Bunker, who clashed with his liberal son-in-law over racism, feminism and the Vietnam War. It was one of a string of TV hits for Lear and then-partner Bud Yorkin that also included “Maude” and “The Jeffersons.” Lear’s series reflected his political beliefs, which he put into action by founding the nonprofit liberal advocacy group People for the American Way.