Key takeaways: Rep. Jim Jordan has been unable to secure enough votes to win the speaker’s gavel. Rep. Buck believes a temporary speakership is the…
News Mash
Burt Young, best known for his role as Paulie Pennino in the “Rocky” franchise, has died at the age of 80. He had a long and successful career in film and television, appearing in acclaimed films such as “Chinatown,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” and “The Sopranos.” He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1980 film “Rocky II.” Young will be remembered for his memorable performances and his unique ability to bring characters to life.
The Las Vegas Aces have become the first team in 21 years to win back-to-back WNBA championships, joining the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets in league history. Despite being without two of their starters, the Aces were able to secure the win with 24 points and 16 rebounds from A’ja Wilson and a defensive stop in the closing seconds. Their victory is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication, cementing their place in WNBA history.
House Republicans are pushing back against an outside pressure campaign by conservative media and supporters of Rep. Jim Jordan's speaker bid, which has included anonymous and vaguely threatening text messages, cussing out of staffers, and robocalls to voters. Rep. Bacon and his wife have received death threats, and Rep. Womack and Rep. Gimenez have spoken out against the campaign. Jordan has failed twice to get the votes needed to become speaker, and the pressure appears to be backfiring.
President Biden has urged Israelis to avoid repeating the mistakes the United States made following the 9/11 attacks in their response to the Hamas attacks, while condemning the incident and calling for an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation and for both sides to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians. The United States has committed to working with both sides to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, the Saint Louis Zoo announced the death of 27-year-old Asian elephant Rani, who had been part of the zoo's herd since 2002. Initial necropsy results revealed some preexisting changes in Rani's heart, and further testing is being done to determine the significance of the changes. Zoo Director Michael Macek asked for the community's thoughts and support during this difficult time.
The U.S. has determined that a deadly blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was most likely caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Egypt has allowed limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, but it is unclear if it will be enough to prevent further casualties. Joe Biden is visiting Israel in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to call for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Jewish-led activist group organized the peaceful demonstration, demanding that the Biden administration and lawmakers take action to end the conflict. The Capitol Police warned the demonstrators to stop demonstrating and when they refused, they were removed from the building.