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Tepid Trump 2024 response could buoy challengers

The lukewarm response to former President Trump’s announcement that he will go for a third shot at the White House could provide a key opening for other Republicans who've been hesitant to challenge him in 2024.

Trump's unusually restrained performance Tuesday night earned praise from his top allies, but for skeptics it was more reflective of Trump's seemingly weakened position in the GOP after a lackluster midterm election performance.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), riding high on his midterm win with the wind at his back, and other would-be challengers could see it as opportunity to go ahead with a challenge.

“I think there are a lot of people today looking at that speech and seeing an opening,” one Republican strategist said. “He’s up there trying to explain the midterms, calling himself a victim. I think it came off as kind of a show of his weaknesses rather than a well-articulated argument for running again.”

Of course, Trump has been counted out before. When he launched his first — and so far only — successful bid for the White House in 2015, many Republicans shrugged off his candidacy early on, believing that he was more of an attention-seeking pariah than a serious contender for the presidency.

The Hill's Max Greenwood has more on the situation Trump faces.

Meanwhile...one House Democrat is eyeing legislation that would bar Trump from serving in office under the 14th Amendment “for leading an insurrection against the United States.”

And former Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he thinks Trump is "unfit for office" and should not run for president in 2024.

Welcome to The Hill's Evening Report, catching you up on news from the afternoon and looking at the big stories likely to impact tomorrow.

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🐘  McConnell defeats Scott in last-minute race for Senate GOP leader

Senate Republicans have sided with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as their leader over National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who announced his desire to replace McConnell at an acrimonious conference meeting earlier this week.

📰  Schumer to nominate Murray as Senate president pro tempore

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to nominate Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to serve next year as Senate president pro tempore, a position that is third in line to the presidency.

⚖️  Retired Air Force officer guilty in Jan. 6 case

A judge has found a Texas man guilty on six charges for entering the Capitol and the Senate chamber during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, in tactical gear.

🌈  Senate votes to advance same-sex marriage bill

The Senate has voted to start debate on legislation that would codify same-sex marriage protections, paving the way for it to pass by the end of the week. 

💻  Grieving parents push for kids’ online safety bills during lame duck

Congress has a busy itinerary in the lame duck session, but some grieving parents believe lawmakers should have a clear legislative priority: protecting minors from the social media harms they say led to their children’s deaths. 

📄  Tom Brady, other celebrities named in class-action lawsuit filed against FTX

A class-action lawsuit filed against the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX and its former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried names a host of celebrities who had endorsed the company, including football legend Tom Brady, comedian Larry David and basketball stars Shaquille O’Neal and Steph Curry.

🇵🇱  What we know about the missile that hit Poland

When news broke on Tuesday that a missile had crossed into Poland and killed two people, fingers quickly pointed to Russia. However, initial assessments from Poland and NATO suggest that it was actually a Ukrainian air defense missile that struck four miles from the border in the Polish village of Przewodów.

💊  Bipartisan bill would lower drug costs for seniors with chronic illnesses

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are backing a bill that would allow people enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly to choose their prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D and save more in monthly costs.

🎧  1B young people at risk of hearing loss from devices, loud venues: study

As many as 1.35 billion teens and young adults around the world are potentially at risk of hearing loss due to exposure to headphones, earbuds, and loud music venues like clubs or concerts.

OPINION

"One of the most significant transformations any newly elected-member must navigate is the change from thinking largely in personal terms — “what is my message, what are my opinions, what is best for my constituents” — to serving in a diverse institution where working collaboratively and making accommodations to other viewpoints is essential to achieving one’s personal goals," writes John Lawrence of the University of California's Washington Center.

You're all caught up! Stay with TheHill.com for the latest and recommend this newsletter to others: thehill.com/evening. See you tomorrow.