Daily Briefing: Gaza near breaking point
The number of Palestinians who have evacuated northern Gaza surpassed 600,000 as of Sunday ahead of an impending ground invasion by Israel. Also in the news: Ohio Republican Jim Jordan is trying to bring the party together to win the speaker’s gavel and prosecutors won't file charges against U.S. Border Patrol agents who shot and killed a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift holding hands. "This Love" !
Here are Monday's headlines to know.
Blinken says Arab leaders don't want spillover from Israel-Hamas war
U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel on Monday after completing a six-nation sweep across the region aimed at preventing the war from spreading, and he’s bringing back critical words from a neighbor.
In Cairo, Blinken affirmed President Joe Biden's position that the U.S. would support Israel, but also said Israel must take “every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.”
Blinken also shared there was a common theme to the feedback he heard from Arab leaders during his trip: "A determination of shared view that we have to do everything possible to make sure this doesn’t spread to other places."
But a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Palestinians in besieged Gaza are crowding into hospitals and schools. They are seeking shelter, fuel, food and water. Aid groups are prepared to arrive with resources but are awaiting the U.S. and international mediators to reach a deal for a humanitarian cease-fire to allow aid in and foreigners to exit Gaza.
The war's impact in the U.S: A 71-year-old Illinois man accused of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old and seriously injuring a 32-year-old woman was charged with a hate crime Sunday for what authorities believe was a targeted attack in response to the war.
More from USA TODAY on the Israel and Hamas war:
Israeli authorities notified 155 families their loved ones were being held by Hamas on Sunday.
Americans with loved ones in Israel and Gaza are grappling with constant trauma.
Escaping from Israel, U.S. families are taking tumultuous flights home.
Pete Davidson addressed Israel and Hamas in his ''SNL'' cold open.
Jim Jordan won the nomination in the House speaker election. Now what?
House Republicans have nominated Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for speaker after an internal secret ballot vote behind closed-doors, marking another step towards electing a new leader. The conference’s nomination however, is just a formal endorsement from the majority of GOP lawmakers. For Jordan to become speaker, he will still have to rally an overwhelming majority of House Republicans behind him to win a vote on the floor with 217 votes, the magic number needed to get the top job. Read more
Congress has ''no positive messages'' as Republicans struggle to elect new speaker.
Mike Pence has some tough words for GOP hard-liners.
''Get it together'': Nikki Haley called out House Republicans for failing to elect a new speaker.
More news to know now
Why does COVID-19 usually hit adults so much harder than kids?
Healthcare workers in California will see a minimum wage raise to $25 per hour.
Another earthquake hit Afghanistan a week after a massive quake.
Why are gas prices down?
For subscribers: How social media misleads Mexican migrants about crossing the U.S. border.
On today's 5 Things podcast, the historic opening in New Jersey of the world's largest Hindu temple. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Judge to hear arguments about Donald Trump gag order in election conspiracy case
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear arguments Monday about whether to place a gag order on Donald Trump as requested by prosecutors to avoid influencing his trial on election conspiracy charges. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith asked for the order to stop Trump’s speeches and statements on social media that attack witnesses, prosecutors and the judge in ways that can sometimes provoke his supporters to threaten violence. But Trump opposed the order as political interference and a violation of his First Amendment right to speech in the 2024 presidential campaign. Read more
Arizona tribe protests decision not to prosecute Border Patrol agents who fatally shot Raymond Mattia
Federal prosecutors won’t file charges against U.S. Border Patrol agents who shot and killed a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation just steps outside his home earlier this year, sparking outrage from the tribe who called the decision “a travesty of justice.” Three Border Patrol agents shot Raymond Mattia nine times on May 18 after he lobbed a sheathed machete in front of a Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department officer. Body-camera footage released in June revealed that the agents who fatally shot Mattia were concerned he may have been carrying a firearm but none had been found. Read more
Advocates say excited delirium provides a cover for police violence. They want it banned.
Quick hits
Suzanne Somers, star of ''Three's Company'' and ''Step by Step,'' has passed away at 76.
Here's why timeshares are making a comeback among young Americans.
Amtrak's new Airo trains will serve 14 new routes.
Here are the best movies we saw at the New York Film Festival (including ''The Killer'').
How is Gen Z spending money?
You don't believe these ''Love is Blind'' Season 5 reunion spoilers.
Choosing a college is harder than ever.
Sunday Night Football highlights: Bills survive for late win against Giants
The Buffalo Bills came alive late in the game and the defense held on for a win against the injury-riddled New York Giants, 14-9. The Giants led — and even shut out the Bills — for the first three quarters inside Highmark Stadium, but the offensive power of Buffalo finally woke up in the fourth quarter with back-to-back touchdown scores while the defense kept New York away from the end zone for the entirety of the game. Read our full recap of the game.
How a high-tech football helmet could level the playing field for deaf athletes.
32 things we learned in NFL Week 6: Losses by the Eagles and the 49ers leave uncertainty at the top.
Week 7 college football winners and losers: Washington stunned Oregon with a comeback win.
Photo of the day: What did Saturday's solar eclipse look like?
Some of the U.S. got to see a "ring of fire" eclipse Saturday, caused by the moon blocking the sun. The rest of us, well, we get to see the photos.
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: Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Palestine, war, Jim Jordan, Trump, NFL, eclipse, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce
