Daily Briefing: Gaza to get aid by Friday

President Joe Biden is expected to ask Congress for combined additional support for Israel and Ukraine, one day after he secured an agreement with Israel to allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza. Also in the news: Republican Jim Jordan isn't giving up the fight for House speaker and inside efforts to enshrine marriage equality in Ohio law.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Did you hit snooze this morning?

Now here are the headlines to know Thursday.

Biden: Up to 20 trucks of aid to go into Gaza starting Friday

Humanitarian assistance, along with $100 million in new U.S. funding for Gaza and the West Bank announced by President Joe Biden, could provide a critical lifeline to Palestinians in the besieged territory where water, food, fuel and medicine are in desperate need.

In his visit to wartime Israel on Wednesday, Biden affirmed U.S. support for the nation, negotiated the aid agreement and issued a plea for Israelis not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them.

• ''I came to get something done, I got it done'': Egypt has agreed to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid to travel through its crossing to Gaza. Aid may not reach Gaza until Friday, Biden said. The roads must be patched first, and that work will begin Thursday.

• U.S. voters are worried about the conflict expanding: New polling shows about three-quarters of voters believe supporting Israel is in the U.S.'s national interest, but 85% are at least somewhat concerned the current conflict may escalate.

• Meanwhile, United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution Wednesday that called for a "humanitarian pause" in Gaza. The failed resolution came the same day hundreds of demonstrators gathered in a Congressional office building, demanding a ceasefire and an end to the war.

If you want more updates on the news from the Gaza Strip, sign up for our weekday briefing.

Jim Jordan wants to try for speaker — again

The House remains frozen after lawmakers again failed to elect a new speaker, with no clear resolution in sight. Though Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, continues to face stiff opposition, he intends to go through a third speaker ballot, slated for Thursday at noon. Republicans nominated Jordan for the speakership Tuesday on the House floor, but the Ohio Republican failed to garner the near-unanimous support – 217 votes – he needed to become speaker. And the scene played out again Wednesday, as Jordan failed a second floor vote with holdouts standing their ground. Read more

• GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she got death threats after voting against Jim Jordan.

• Michigan GOP Rep. Jack Bergman is ready to serve as House speaker after Jordan loses twice.

More news to know now

• No U.S. ambassador to Israel? Senate Republicans grilled Biden's top pick Jack Lew.

• Trump's co-defendants lost bids to block an upcoming Georgia election interference trial.

• A Mississippi man was sentenced to nine years in prison for attacking Capitol police on Jan. 6.

• Why some Lahaina businesses won't reopen after the wildfires.

• For subscribers: Whatever happened to the Kodak Instamatic?

• On today's 5 Things podcast, today is LGBTQ Center Awareness Day. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

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

Inside the Ohio push to protect interracial, same-sex marriages

Ohio Democrats and LGBTQ advocates are pushing for legislation to enshrine the right to same-sex and interracial marriage amid concerns about future U.S. Supreme Court decisions. Ohio's same-sex marriage bans aren't in effect. But House Democrats fear that could change any time after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. With that in mind, they unveiled plans Tuesday for legislation that would codify protections in Obergefell and Loving v. Virginia, which established the right to interracial marriage. Read more

• Here's everything you need to know about Ohio's abortion issue on the Nov. 7 ballot.

• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is launching a self-funded nationwide abortion rights advocacy organization.

Joran van der Sloot confesses to 2005 murder of Natalee Holloway

Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway in 2005, has confessed to killing her and disposing of her remains before trying to extort the girl's grieving family, court documents state. The initial revelation came via U.S. Judge Anna Manasco Wednesday during a sentencing hearing in U.S. federal court where van der Sloot, 36, agreed to plead guilty to charges accusing him of extortion and wire fraud. Read more

• Her sister and nephew disappeared 21 years ago. Her tenacity got the case a new look.

• The family behind a $600 million nationwide catalytic converter theft ring pleads guilty.

Quick hits

• These adorable 96-year-old newlyweds.

• Taylor wants you to belt ''He looks up grinning like a devil''!!

• Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints: Predictions, picks and odds for Thursday Night Football.

• Just ordered my copy of Britney Spears' memoir ''The Woman in Me''.

• Spooky season: Netflix is increasing prices.

• USWNT is bringing youngsters in now to help with the future.

Defendant in Tupac Shakur killing case will enter plea

The Southern California street gang leader charged in the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas will make a court appearance Thursday. Duane "Keffe D" Davis' faces accusations he orchestrated the drive-by killing of the rap music icon. Davis won't immediately enter a plea. In recent years Davis has publicly described his role in Shakur's death, including in interviews and a 2019 tell-all memoir that described his life as a leader of a Crips gang sect in Compton. Davis is the only living person among four men who were in the car from which shots were fired at Shakur and rap music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight, and his indictment made him the first person ever arrested in Shakur's death. Read more

Photo of the day: Houston Astros awaken in 8-5 ALCS Game 3 conquest

The Texas Rangers' Max Scherzer first appearance in five weeks due to a shoulder strain was a bust, as he was peppered for five runs in four innings and the Astros went on to an 8-5 victory in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. 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: Aid to Gaza, Jim Jordan Speaker vote, Ohio marriage equality, Natalee Holloway, Tupac, Taylor Swift: Daily Briefing