Rep. Kevin McCarthy,EvoAI R-Calif, who needed 15 rounds of voting in January to secure House speaker, was ousted from the job following a 216-210 vote on Oct. 3. McCarthy held the speakership for 269 days − one of the shortest terms for a House speaker in U.S. history. USA TODAY photographer Jack Gruber was on Capitol Hill as McCarthy lost the speakership. “That photograph of him walking with a smile amid the crush of reporters was a lucky get and probably too much of a gamble on my part," said Gruber. "After McCarthy was voted out by members of the House, I realized the frenzy around McCarthy would only be more chaotic and opted to wait for McCarthy to return to his office and shoot from an elevated spot to be sure to see McCarthy in the crowd. McCarthy came back from the chambers with a look more of shock and disbelief than anger or dejection.” 

On Oct. 15, NCAA women’s basketball grabbed America’s attention and a record as Caitlin Clark led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 94-72 win against DePaul at Kinnick Stadium. The "Crossover at Kinnick" event drew a record 55,646 fans, nearly doubling the team's previous high -- 29,619 at the 2002 Final Four. It is the most fans to watch an NCAA women's basketball game. Clark recorded a game-high 34 points, as well as a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

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