Happy Tuesday! Here’s what’s coming up:
President Biden is expected to offer support for Israel after the broad attack launched by Hamas. The House still has no Speaker. That could be a problem…
Former President Trump mocked former Rep. Will Hurd, after the Texas Republican dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
I’m Elizabeth Crisp, filling in for Cate, with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary and feedback to ecrisp@digital-stage.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. Follow me on X, formerly Twitter, @elizabethcrisp.
|
|
|
Israel-Hamas conflict continues: |
The massive surprise attack from Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terror organization, has been deadly. And as the conflict continues, Israel and its allies are on edge about who else could join.
An Israeli military spokesman warned Hezbollah from joining in the conflict.
“I would advise Hezbollah, look very carefully at what’s happening in Gaza today against Hamas,” spokesman Peter Lerner said in a CNN interview Tuesday. “There will be very severe consequences if they decide to chime in.” Meanwhile, Iran has denied any role in the attack but has welcomed the news, reportedly with celebration.
The Hill’s Brad Dress reports: “The U.S. has yet to confirm a direct involvement from Tehran in the operation, but officials acknowledge Iranians are indirectly complicit in training, funding and supporting Hamas.” United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk denounced the mass killings and called on other nations to take steps to deescalate the fighting.
“It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings and the desecration of their bodies,” Türk said in a statement Tuesday. “Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips.”
He also called on the Hamas terrorists to immediately release the 150 soldiers and civilians, including children, that were taken as hostages during its attack. He noted that the taking of hostages is prohibited by international law.
“The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” he said. (The Hill) |
-
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israel while authorities in Gaza say more than 800 have died there, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. The Israeli military says the latter figure includes hundreds of Hamas fighters.
|
|
|
President Biden is set to deliver remarks on the ongoing conflict later this afternoon. Livestream here. He has spoken multiple times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Saturday’s initial attack by Hamas. |
|
|
Biden, along with fellow leaders from Western-allied countries, have also expressed their “steadfast and united support” for Israel as the country reels from the wave of terrorist attacks against them by militant group Hamas. (The Hill)
|
|
|
Republicans make moves to pick new Speaker:
|
|
|
The political fallout after the House ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last week could pose a problem for Republicans hoping to keep their hold on the chamber’s majority in next year’s elections. The situation faces new urgency amid the escalating war between Israel and Hamas.
So far two top contenders have emerged as potential replacements for McCarthy: Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). However, neither has emerged as a clear frontrunner. Without someone in the top leadership position, the House cannot pass emergency aid, and it’s unclear whether acting Speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) can receive classified briefings.
The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports: “Some Democrats have hit Republicans over the debacle, saying that the question of whether the House can greenlight funding to Israel is a consequence of the GOP’s intraparty chaos.” |
|
|
House Republicans are expected to hear from Jordan and Scalise during a forum later this afternoon. Follow The Hill’s live coverage here.
Across the Capitol… The Senate also is faced with how to react to the ongoing conflict in Israel. (The Hill) |
|
|
Trump rips Hurd after he ends White House bid: |
Former President Trump took aim at former Texas Rep. Will Hurd (R) after the candidate announced the end of his long-shot presidential campaign on Monday.
“It’s about time! Will Hurd, the failed former Congressman from the great State of Texas, who decided not to run for Congress again because he did an ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE JOB (ZERO Personality!), and couldn’t win, has just now decided to drop out of the 2024 Presidential Campaign where he, likewise, drew ‘flies!’” Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social. Hurd’s campaign failed to generate much traction and the 2024 hopeful was notably absent from the first two primary debates. In dropping out, he encouraged Republicans to rally together and support former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP primary.
Trump mocked Hurd’s support for Haley.
“He is a nasty and jealous guy, who truly doesn’t have what it takes,” Trump wrote. ”Luckily for him, he couldn’t make the Debate Stage, but went out with a bang — He endorsed Birdbrain!” Trump said, using his “birdbrain” nickname for Haley, who served as Trump’s United Nations ambassador from 2017 to 2018. Trump remains the GOP frontrunner in the presidential race, despite skipping debates and facing multiple legal issues. (The Hill) The former president is also counting down the days until Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who has long been considered his closest GOP challenger — drops out of the race.
“Ron DeSanctimonious has the Poll numbers of a wounded bird falling from the sky,” Trump said on Truth Social, referring to DeSantis by a nickname. “I am up on him by 57 points, and going higher.” |
|
|
Top LGBTQ rights groups have endorsed President Biden’s reelection campaign. (The Hill) |
|
|
The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
1 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on Israel-Hamas conflict. Watch here
2 p.m.: White House press briefing. Livestream.
3:30 p.m.: Biden delivers virtual remarks at the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention & Control. Livestream. 5 p.m.: House Republicans hear from Speaker candidates.
|
|
|
🎂 It’s National Cake Decorating Day! A perfect excuse for a cake on a Tuesday!
🔥 Former White House employee Omarosa Manigault Newman doesn’t expect her previous boss, former President Trump, to escape his mounting legal challenges as he seeks a second presidential term. “I think it would be very hard for Donald Trump to run for president from jail,” the reality star told Page Six.
After meeting Trump on “The Apprentice” in 2003, Newman became the former president’s director of African American outreach during his 2016 campaign and then director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison in the White House — until she was fired. Read more here 💸 Employees in the U.S. are largely heading back to the office full time after the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s costing them. A new study has found that people spend on average $51 per day when they work in person. KTLA via The Hill |
|
|
|
