Daily Briefing: Americans are missing in the Gaza Strip

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed Thurdsay in Israel, where he will meet with officials as Israelis head into a sixth day of war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. Also in the news: Our reporter danced in the audience of the "Eras Tour" film with Taylor Swift and social security recipients will soon learn how their benefits will adjust to cost-of-living for next year.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. What do you do if your house is haunted?

This is the news to know Thursday.

Americans still missing while US moves quickly to support Israel

More than a dozen Americans remain unaccounted for following Hamas' attack on Israel, the White House said Wednesday. President Joe Biden pledged his administration is working on "every aspect of the hostage crisis" including deploying experts to advise and assist with efforts.

The U.S. knows some of the 17 unaccounted Americans − a "very small" number − are being held hostage by Hamas but does not know their condition or location, White House officials said.

• Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesman told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground assault but that the political leadership has not yet ordered one. A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

• A second U.S. aircraft carrier will be sent to the Mediterranean Sea and will be ready to help defend Israel if needed. The U.S. is already providing Israel with ammunition and interceptors to replenish its Iron Dome air defense system and fighter jets.

• The American death toll has risen to 22 and Israeli fatalities surpassed 1,200 as of Wednesday while desperation swept across Gaza as Tel Aviv's response to the brutal attack by Hamas left neighborhoods destroyed. Palestinian officials say more than 1,100 militants and citizens in Gaza have been killed.

More from USA TODAY on Israel and Hamas: Americans are struggling to travel home; study abroad programs are pulling students; online hate has surged and apps like WhatsApp have proven to be sife-saving despite rampant online misinformation. If you want more updates on the conflict, you can sign up to receive USA TODAY's Israel and Hamas War newsletter here.

Republicans back Steve Scalise for House Speaker behind closed doors

House Republicans made a major step toward electing a new speaker on Wednesday, formally nominating as a conference House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. In an internal secret ballot vote, Scalise beat out his primary rival, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, by a vote of 113-99, according to Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. The conference vote, however, is just a sign of approval from House Republicans at large. The House still has to formally elect a new speaker on the House floor, and lawmakers are free to nominate other candidates. Read more

• Need a reminder how we got here? Here's the House speaker election explained.

More news to know now

• The Pentagon is sending $200 million more in ammunition to Ukraine.

• A stabbing attack at the Atlanta Airport left three hospitalized.

• Carlee Russell made a court appearance involving fake kidnapping charges.

• Most American men don't seem to know how long their retirement will last.

• For subscribers: Indigenous land acknowledgments are everywhere in Arizona. Do they accomplish anything?

• On today's 5 Things podcast, NASA says its first asteroid samples likely contain carbon and water. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Taylor Swift delivers 'Eras' concert film to fans a day early

This weekend, cinemas will become holy ground for fans of Taylor Swift, whose cross-country Eras Tour enchanted millions. Now, the musical mastermind is staging a big-screen takeover with her concert movie “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” which is all but assured to win the weekend with a mind-blowing $100 million-plus opening. Hours before her "Eras Tour" movie premiere in Los Angeles, Swift announced that she will be gifting the concert film to her fans early. All tickets will be available to purchase by 10 a.m. Thursday, Swift added. Fans are encouraged to don "Eras Tour" attire and make and bring their own friendship bracelets to the cineplex. Read more

• Watching the world premiere with Taylor Swift felt like a dance party.

• Our ''Eras'' film review: The concert film is a thrilling revisit of her live spectacle.

• Check out photos of Swift and friends at the "Eras Tour" movie premiere in Los Angeles.

• Taylor Swift setlist: Here are all the songs on her epic Eras tour.

Your 2024 social security cost-of-living-adjustment is coming

Seniors and other Social Security recipients are eagerly awaiting Oct. 12. That's the day when the government announces the latest inflation numbers for September. The report will include data that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will use to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which is a hike in the amount of money millions of people receive in their Social Security checks throughout 2024. The latest forecast for next year’s Social Security increase rose to 3.2% last month. Read more

Quick hits

• Holly Willoughby quit ''This Morning'' after a man was arrested for an alleged attempt to murder her.

• Here's what people bought in their Prime Day shopping sprees.

• Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith haven't been together since 2016?!

• Selling Birken-stocks?

• These 10 page-turners will scare your socks off.

• You have to see the winner of Fat Bear Week.

Auto workers escalate strike at Ford Kentucky plant

The United Auto Workers union significantly escalated its strikes against Detroit Three automakers Wednesday when 8,700 workers walked off their jobs at Ford's Kentucky truck plant. The surprise move about 6:30 p.m. took down the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world. The sprawling factory makes pricey heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs. UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement that the union has waited long enough “but Ford hasn’t gotten the message” to bargain for a fair contract. Read more

Photo of the day: Wildlife Photographer of the Year awarded

The Natural History Museum's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition revealed striking images that detail the profound environments and behaviors of creatures around the world. French underwater photographer and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta was announced as this year’s winner of the grand title award for her image, called "The golden horseshoe," which captures an “otherworldly image of a tri-spine horseshoe crab accompanied by a trio of golden trevallies." Read more

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Americans missing in Gaza Strip, Israel, Hamas, Palestinians, House Speaker, Taylor Swift, social security, UAW strike: Daily Briefing