Daily Briefing: Nine Republicans, one House speaker

Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
·5 min read
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House Republicans will meet privately to try nominating a new House speaker to unite a bitter GOP. Also in the news: Trump's ex-attorney Michael Cohen is set to testify in a New York fraud case against the former president and why you might be struggling to get the new COVID-19 booster.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. R.I.P., Bobi.

Here's the news to know Tuesday.

Questions among Republicans over speaker support

After House Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as the nominee for House speaker Friday, nine candidates threw their hat in the ring for the top spot. But only two of those lawmakers voted to certify the 2020 election, raising questions among some Republicans about where they'll lend their support in the speaker battle. House Republicans on Tuesday will be voting instead on the lineup of names vying for speaker. The private session could take all day before a nominee emerges. Read more

U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Republican candidates forum. Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election.
U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Republican candidates forum. Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election.

Biden says no ceasefire in Middle East until hostages released

Some liberal Democrats in Congress have urged President Joe Biden – who has stood in complete solidarity with Israel since Hamas attacked the U.S. ally Oct. 7 – to facilitate a cease-fire agreement amid rising casualties among Palestinians in Gaza and warfare that has complicated the delivery of humanitarian resources.

But Biden said Monday he would not consider backing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war until all hostages kidnapped by Hamas are released. About 200 hostages, including Americans, are believed to be in the Gaza Strip.

Related: A new poll shows Americans overwhelmingly back aid to Israel and Ukraine but are split on the U.S. role in the world. For weekday updates on the Israel and Hamas war, sign up here.

Yocheved Lifshitz (C) speaks to the media alongside her daughter Sharone Lifschitz (L) outside Ichilov Hospital after she was released by Hamas last night, on October 23, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Yocheved Lifshitz (C) speaks to the media alongside her daughter Sharone Lifschitz (L) outside Ichilov Hospital after she was released by Hamas last night, on October 23, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

More news to know now

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Michael Cohen and Donald Trump to face off in New York fraud trial

Michael Cohen, a former personal lawyer and fixer for Donald Trump, is ready to confront him face-to-face Tuesday at the former president's New York trial for civil fraud. Cohen, who was imprisoned in part for representing Trump, is expected to testify about behind-the-scenes details on how Trump financed his real-estate empire. Cohen is prepared to bring his insider view of the Trump Organization to a trial where a judge has already ruled the former president committed fraud for years and ordered the cancellation of Trump's business certificates. Read more

Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, speaks to the media before departing his Manhattan apartment for prison on May 6, 2019 in New York City.
Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, speaks to the media before departing his Manhattan apartment for prison on May 6, 2019 in New York City.

High-stakes Virginia election could be a 2024 indicator

While not shutting the door on a 2024 bid, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has avoided the question by saying he is focused on his own state’s 2023 elections, when every seat in Virginia's House of Delegates and state Senate will be on the ballot Nov. 7. Youngkin and Virginia Republicans hope to hold their majority in the House and take control of the Senate. One of the top issues in the lead up to this potential 2024 bellwether election has been abortion rights in the state. Virginia Democrats have campaigned on warnings that a Republican victory in November would mean additional restrictions on the procedure. Read more

Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin on September 26, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin on September 26, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Quick hits

Here's why it's harder to find the new COVID-19 booster

Americans eager to get jabbed with the updated COVID-19 vaccine in September were disappointed when they began looking for doses. Some pharmacies weren't posting enough appointments. Others didn’t have enough vaccines. Most hospitals and clinics hadn’t gotten their shipments, yet. Patients who had been through the motions with previous rollouts swiftly realized they were going to have a harder time finding shots this time around. Now that the emergency phase has ended, new actors have stepped into the rollout and problems have arisen with wholesalers and distributors, pharmacies and insurance companies. Read more

Photo of the day: Rangers reach first World Series since 2011

The Texas Rangers advanced to their first World Series since 2011 by zapping the drama out of baseball’s crucible – Game 7 – with a fusillade of power and managerial savvy against the Houston Astros. Read our recap of the game.

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: House speaker vote, Hamas hostages, Michael Cohen, Virginia election, COVID-19 booster, Texas Rangers: Daily Briefing