House Republicans voted this afternoon to nominate Tom Emmer — a Representative from Minnesota who holds the No. 3 leadership post — to be the chamber’s next speaker. But within hours, he dropped his bid.
Emmer is now the third Republican this month to be chosen by his party to become speaker, only to have his bid collapse in a seemingly endless cycle of G.O.P. grievances, personality conflicts and ideological rifts. His swift exit suggested that Republicans were as far as ever from breaking a deadlock that has left Congress leaderless and paralyzed for three weeks, even as wars rage overseas and a government shutdown approaches.
Emmer’s candidacy was in peril from almost the moment he was nominated. About two dozen right-wing Republicans quickly indicated that they would not vote for him on the House floor, all but certainly denying the majority he would need. A scathing statement from Donald Trump lengthened his odds, and underscored the depths of the party’s divisions.
The former president said that it would be a “tragic mistake” if Emmer, who pitched himself as a unity candidate, became speaker, and called him a “Globalist RINO” — short for “Republican in name only.”
Israel accelerated its airstrikes of Hamas targets in Gaza
The Israeli military said today that it had struck hundreds of targets in Gaza in each of the last two days, in an escalation of its campaign to destroy Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that controls the territory.
Hamas officials said that the intense strikes damaged dozens of houses and apartments in northern and southern Gaza, killing hundreds of people, a toll that could not be independently confirmed. Six hospitals in Gaza have had to shut down because of a lack of fuel, the W.H.O. said; the aid convoys have not supplied fuel because Israel says it could be used for military purposes.
Israel said that it is well prepared for a ground assault in Gaza, pushing back on U.S. officials who said that it lacks achievable military objectives. The Americans have also urged Israel to give more time for hostage negotiations and aid deliveries.
Hostages: Yocheved Lifshitz, the 85-year-old woman who was released from Hamas custody yesterday, said that she “went through hell” and described marching through a “spider web” of tunnels.
One major question: If Israel is able to destroy Hamas, who will govern Gaza?
A third pro-Trump lawyer pleaded guilty in Georgia
Jenna Ellis, a lawyer who amplified Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud as part of what she called a legal “elite strike force team,” pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of aiding and abetting false statements. She agreed to be sentenced to five years of probation and vowed to fully cooperate with Georgia prosecutors in their case against Trump.
Ellis’s plea deal follows closely after two other pro-Trump lawyers struck similar agreements with Georgia officials. Four of the 19 defendants in the Georgia case have pleaded guilty.
Legal abortions didn’t drop after Dobbs decision
In the year after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion, something unexpected happened: The total number of legal abortions in the U.S. did not fall. Instead, it appeared to rise by about 0.2 percent, according to the first full-year count.
States bordering places with bans saw a significant rise in abortions, more than making up for the reduction in states where restrictions were added. The recent expansion of telemedicine for mail-order abortion pills also contributed.
More top news
Court: In their first face-to-face encounter in five years, Michael Cohen testified that Donald Trump, his ex-boss, manipulated his net worth.
Labor: The United Automobile Workers union expanded its strike to General Motors’ largest U.S. plant.
Tech: Forty-one states and the District of Columbia sued Meta for knowingly using features on Instagram and Facebook to lure children.
China: Gen. Li Shangfu, who had been appointed China’s defense minister in March, was dismissed from his post.
Immigration: A Venezuelan woman and her 6-year-old daughter heeded President Biden’s warning that migrants should come to the U.S. legally. They’ve been stuck in a rusty shack for nearly a year waiting to enter the country.
War: The Ukrainian government is evacuating children from villages in the south and east of the country.
Crime: The off-duty pilot who tried to shut off the engines during an Alaska Airlines flight said that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and had not slept in 40 hours.
Climate: Global demand for fossil fuels will peak by 2030, the International Energy Agency predicted.
Health: Several people in Austria were treated in a hospital after using what government officials believed to be counterfeit Ozempic.
Crime: A four-man crew was charged with stealing two million dimes.
TIME TO UNWIND
Media companies are betting on U.S. cricket fans
For decades, crowds of Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi Americans gathered at restaurants or movie theaters early in the morning to watch cricket in celebrations of the South Asian diaspora. These days, the watch parties are more sparsely attended.
But people haven’t lost interest in cricket. U.S. fans can now watch many games from home. Media giants like ESPN have invested heavily in securing rights for major matches, like the Cricket World Cup, which runs through Nov. 19. And next year, India and Pakistan will play their first match on U.S. soil.
For beginners, here’s what to know if you want to check out a game.
How fame destroyed Milli Vanilli
You may recall the bonkers story of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, who rose to stardom in the late 1980s as Milli Vanilli, the image-forward pop duo who secretly lip-synced prerecorded songs like “Girl You Know It’s True.” At first, the men needed money to escape poverty, but their celebrity status kept them hooked.
A jolting new documentary traces their rise and fall, and might earn them your sympathy.
Dinner table topics
An art-filled home: The New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast says she is “terrible at decorating.” Those who see her home might disagree.
See you later, caiman: Researchers in Florida known as the Croc Docs are attempting to eradicate caimans, the invasive cousins of alligators.
Wax trouble: A museum in Paris said that it would redo its wax statue of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson after a week of online ridicule.
Paddling witches: Every October, hundreds of revelers in witch costumes float on lakes, bays and ponds around the U.S.
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Cook: This shrimp Bolognese is a fun twist on a classic.
Watch: “Dredd” is one of our favorite underappreciated movies streaming right now.
Read: These five books could help you manage your stress.
Indulge: Pumpkin, the flavor of fall, has big benefits for your health.
Listen: Our critic put together a playlist of seven great songs from artists who wear uniforms.
Browse: Before you close them, think of your browser tabs as an autobiography to explore.
Scrub: Your pillows — not just your pillowcases — need cleaning. Here’s how.
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
ONE LAST THING
How to get that coveted reservation
On a recent Tuesday night, my colleagues eagerly awaited the moment when the clock would hit midnight and Semma — a popular South Indian restaurant in New York City — would begin taking reservations for a night 29 days later. But by the time they logged into their accounts, all of the prime-time tables for two were gone.
As booking has migrated online, the restaurant reservation game has changed. So my colleagues collected a month’s worth of reservation data in order to strategize — and went to Semma to ask those who did get a table how they beat them to it.
Have a sought-after evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
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