The Slatest for Oct. 18: The Gaza Hospital Explosion Made Biden’s Job Way More Complicated

Shortly before President Joe Biden embarked on a politically risky trip to Israel, there was a deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Then came the outrage and confusion. The Gaza Health Ministry initially said it was an Israeli bombing. Israel and the U.S. military say it was a misfired rocket launched from within Gaza by Islamic Jihad.

But the damage was already done. “In the hours between the initial charge and the release of evidence to the contrary, thousands of enraged protesters across the Middle East took to the streets, and even moderate Arab heads of state were compelled to denounce Israel for the heinous act,” Fred Kaplan writes. “A summit in Jordan—which Biden was scheduled to attend with the leaders of Egypt and the Palestinian Authority—was called off.” He explains how the blast changed the trajectory and objectives of Biden’s trip.

Plus: At the White House, hundreds gathered to chant: “How dare you use my grief to justify killing innocent civilians in my name?” Emily Tamkin takes a look at the American Jewish-led protests against Israel’s actions.

Congressman Jim Jordan garnered even less support in a second vote than he did during the first. Ben Mathis-Lilley explains where things stand in the House of Representatives.

Plus: As if things weren’t absurd enough, a Democrat made a truly wild suggestion for who could step in as House speaker.

Election denialists are hitting the road to spread voting conspiracy theories—and they’re getting exclusive audiences with state lawmakers. Molly Olmstead examines how tenacious the movement has become.

Come hang out and chat with some of our writers who’ll be covering the 2024 election!

​​Alexander Sammon, Nitish Pahwa, Aymann Ismail, and Ben Mathis-Lilley will join host Lizzie O’Leary to talk about the campaign, the crisis in the Middle East, and what they’re going to be looking at over the next year. Slate editor-in-chief Hillary Frey will also be on to give a sense of Slate’s overall elections strategy.

We’ll be convening on Zoom at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 30.

The event is open to Slate Plus members (and if you’re not one yet, you can fix that right here!), who will receive a link to the Zoom before the event.

Become a Plus member now so you can join us!

Once again, the Sam Bankman-Fried saga turns its attention to Adderall. The fallen crypto mogul’s lawyers said he’s considering testifying—but first, he needs enough of his meds.

Why are these lawyers spending so much time talking about Adderall doses? Heather Tal Murphy outlines three possible explanations.

… is Chuck Grassley’s office, apparently?? You’d never expect that particular location to be a wellspring of romance, but for an astounding 20 couples, it apparently has been. Luke Winkie ponders how they found love in a hopeless place.

… much like this beloved breakfast staple that makes the perfect addition to your dinners this fall.

Thanks so much for reading, and we’ll see you tomorrow.