House Republicans are facing difficulty in finding a new speaker of the House of Representatives after their first nominee, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, was ousted 10 days ago. On Friday, a small group of moderate Democrats proposed expanding the power of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry until a new speaker is elected, while House Republicans consider their second nominee, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan. Democrats are refusing to bail out the House Republican majority in their search for a new speaker, leaving the outcome of the power struggle uncertain.
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Oil prices have surged in response to the looming Israeli ground assault on Gaza, with the Biden administration warning Israeli counterparts to show restraint and avoid mass civilian casualties. The US has also tightened sanctions on major crude-producing countries, further stoking market fears over a drop in supply as demand increases. President Biden has called Hamas' actions "pure evil" and urged all sides to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
During Trump's civil fraud trial in New York, evidence was presented that the Trump Organization considered adding a "presidential premium" to certain assets to increase his net worth. This was after Forbes magazine revealed that Trump's Manhattan triplex was about a third of the size he had long claimed, and thus far less valuable. Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen has also testified that Trump had previously inflated his assets to lenders.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has criticized former President Donald Trump for his remarks about Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militia designated as a foreign terrorist organization. DeSantis condemned Trump's comments, noting that terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans. His criticism has sparked a debate about the US relationship with Israel and the role of terrorism in the region, and it remains to be seen how Trump and other potential 2024 candidates will respond.
President Biden held a conference call with the families of 14 Americans believed to be held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, expressing his condolences and assuring them that the US government is doing all it can to locate and bring home their loved ones. The Biden administration has been working to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and this call is seen as a sign of the president's commitment to the families of the hostages and his commitment to ensuring the safe return of their loved ones.
Key takeaways: The House of Representatives has been without a speaker for more than a week, leaving one of America’s branches of government effectively paralyzed.…
On Thursday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise ended his bid for Speaker of the House after he was unable to secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a conservative firebrand and vocal critic of the Democratic majority, has since renewed his bid for the speakership. Scalise withdrew his candidacy in the hopes of finding a candidate who can bring the party together, and Jordan's candidacy is sure to be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Last week, Kaiser Permanente employees staged a three-day walkout in six states due to a disagreement on staffing levels. After the walkout, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions threatened another strike, but on Friday morning, they reached a tentative deal with Kaiser Permanente. Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su was instrumental in the agreement, which is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.