President Donald Trump has once again promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if he is re-elected in 2021. This has been a consistent theme throughout his political career, however a recent NBC News poll found that voters trust Democrats over Republicans when it comes to health care. The ACA has been a major point of contention between Republicans and Democrats since its passage in 2010, and the outcome of the 2021 presidential election will likely determine its future.
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Abigail Mor Edan, the youngest U.S. citizen held by Hamas, was released as part of a cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and the militant group. Abigail's parents were killed in Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, and her release is part of a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, which has seen Israel release Palestinian prisoners and allow aid into the Gaza Strip. Her release was confirmed by both President Biden and the Israeli military and was facilitated by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The Biden administration has expressed optimism that an American hostage will be released on Sunday, the third day of a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that the U.S. has "reason to believe that Americans will be released today — at least one American will be released today." The cease-fire, which was brokered by Egypt, is set to expire on Tuesday and it is unclear if the hostage release will be part of a larger agreement between the two sides.
An agreement between Israel and Hamas for a four-day cease-fire is set to begin on Friday, with the release of hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The agreement was delayed from Thursday morning, but contacts on the release of hostages are continuing. Human rights activists are calling for a more permanent solution to the crisis.
Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer did not directly answer questions about the Israeli raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which the Qatari Prime Minister called a "crime". Israeli officials released images of what they said were Hamas fighters taking captured Israeli military vehicles to the hospital on the same day, resulting in hundreds of patients, including 31 premature babies, having to be evacuated. Finer noted that several civilians took refuge at the hospital during the conflict, sparking a debate over whether Israel is breaking international law.
Approximately 150 people attended the protest to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, symbolizing the more than 11,000 people who have died in the conflict. President Biden is delivering different messages to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel Americans, emphasizing his support for Israel against terrorism and his work to protect civilians in Gaza.
The White House has pushed back against House Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, demanding that GOP lawmakers withdraw their subpoenas and requests for interviews targeting Biden family members and administration officials. In a letter, White House counsel Richard Sauber called the requests for information and interviews “unjustified” and characterized the overall impeachment inquiry as “illegitimate.” The White House has made it clear that it will not cooperate with the inquiry, and has called on the GOP to withdraw their subpoenas and requests for interviews.
Senators Cory Booker and Dan Goldman have written to President Joe Biden urging him to press Israel to crack down on violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The letter highlights the threat this violence poses to efforts to prevent the expansion of the conflict, Israel's security, Palestinian human rights, and long-term regional peace. It also calls for the Biden administration to work with the Palestinian Authority to ensure it has the resources and support it needs to protect its citizens.