Donald Trump has declined to endorse any candidate for House Speaker, leaving the House GOP without a clear frontrunner. This situation is reminiscent of 1998, when the scandal-ridden House elected Denny Hastert by affirmation in a rush to return to calm. Trump has weighed in on the race, but it is unclear how much of an impact his endorsement would have.
Two peace activists, Nurit Yitzhak and Yocheved Lifshitz, have been released by Hamas for "compelling humanitarian" reasons, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. They were taken with their spouses, 85-year-old Amiram Cooper and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, respectively. This comes three days after the release of two American women who had been held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Portland man Samson Zebturiah Garner, 39, was arrested Thursday for allegedly planning a shooting at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic, a three-day rock climbing event. Evidence of the planned attack, including a rifle and two handguns, was found in his vehicle. Garner was charged with attempted murder, attempted assault of the first and second degree, and unlawful use of a weapon, and is currently being held in the Deschutes County jail. The event was held without incident and there is no further threat to the public.
Nine Republicans are vying for the House Speaker position, with current Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his second in command Steve Scalise voting against certifying Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election. Jim Jordan of Ohio took himself out of the running last week, leaving the House to find a suitable candidate who can lead the chamber and represent the Republican party in a way that is beneficial to the nation.
Former President Donald Trump reacted to lawyer Sidney Powell's plea deal with Georgia prosecutors, defending her involvement in his "Stop the Steal" efforts while attempting to distance himself from her. Powell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit election interference, a major blow to Trump's attempts to overturn the election results and a reminder that he and his associates are still facing legal consequences.
Tasha Butts, Georgetown Women's Basketball Coach, passed away on Monday after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Her diagnosis inspired the Tasha Tough campaign, which has raised thousands of dollars to help women in need. Butts' death is a reminder of the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer, and her legacy will live on through the Tasha Tough campaign.
Key takeaways: On October 23, 2023, an Israeli artillery crew prepared to fire from a field near the southern city of Sderot toward the Gaza…
An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after allegedly attempting to shut off a plane's engines midflight. The plane was diverted to Portland, Oregon due to a “credible security” threat, and the suspect was taken into custody after the plane landed safely. Alaska Airlines is cooperating with the investigation and has expressed its gratitude to the crew and passengers for their professionalism during the incident.
