10/16/23
Good morning! It’s Monday, October 16th.
Global Cat Day.
100% guarantee that Ruth has hacked the website. So enjoy your day Ruth, because certainly no other days are all about you.
And now, the news.
Israel-Hamas War
We of course start with the Israel-Hamas war, where a ground invasion looms after, on Friday, Israel told Gazans in the northern area to evacuate to the southern area of Gaza.
As a reminder, Gaza is a 25-mile-long strip of land that houses more than 2 million people.
Manhattan houses 1.6 million people, in a space of 22 miles.
Northern Gaza houses about 1 million people.
The evacuation order came in the form of dropped notes that floated through the air, telling 1 million people that abandoning their homes, their possessions, and the lives they have built, was the only thing that would save them. All while Hamas, the terrorist organization that has ruled the most of Palestine since the 2006 election they won (and then never held another election again) told them to stay.
As a reminder, Israel also has cut off supplies and power to the area. As of this recording, hospitals (along with anyone else with access to a generator) is running low of fuel. It’s unclear if, by the time you hear this, that fuel will have run out.
The Gaza Health Ministry says that, so far, 2,670 Palestinians have died since fighting erupted. More than died in the 2017 6-week Gaza war.
In Israel, more than 1,400 Israelis have died.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected back in Israel today, after a 6-country tour through Arab nations in an effort to prevent a larger conflict in the area. President Biden is also considering a trip to Israel, but no plans have been solidified.
The State Department has now confirmed that 30 Americans have been killed, and they were also aware 13 Americans were missing.
The at least 155 people that Hamas militants kidnapped are still missing.
Search For a House Speaker
-via CNN
And of course the other story that needs to be covered, the one that is more annoying and more infuriating every day, is the search for the new House speaker.
After Steve Scalise dropped out of the running last week, Jim Jordan became the GOP pick. However, the race to 218 remains just as far off as ever, as there are 40 or so no votes on the Republican side, and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark sent a message saying that the House Democrats are urged to vote for Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Which means, while Ukraine, and soon Israel, both need aid packages signed off on, and a budget here in America needs to be passed (not to mention a whole country that needs governing), there is still no Speaker today. A vote is scheduled for tomorrow at noon eastern, and unless Jeffries has managed the impossible (capturing a few moderate Republican votes without anyone knowing ahead of time), it’s hard to imagine we’ll have a Speaker any time this week.
Cool party. No notes.
New Gov for Louisiana
-via Washington Post
Jeff Landry, the Louisiana attorney general who was endorsed by Trump, has won the gubernatorial race for his state. After eight years with Democratic governor John Bel Edwards, the Republican with ties to Trump, will be the new governor.
Just a little about Landry… He’s firmly against gender affirming care and very in favor of the state’s near abortion ban, which does not include exemptions for rape or incest. And he was one of 19 state attorneys general who signed a letter in June demanding that the Biden administration allow them access to information about who received gender-affirming or abortion care… in other states.
So that’s Jeff….
Suzanne Somers
-via AP News
Suzanne Somers, known for playing Chrissy on Three’s Company, as well as Carol on Step by Step, died on Sunday after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, which came back in July.
She was 76 years old.
ACFC Clinches Playoffs
-via ACFC
And finally, because I need some good news – Angel City Football Club, Los Angeles’ women’s two-year-old soccer team, has clinched the playoffs after beating the Portland Thorns 5-1.
It’s exciting because it’s exciting. It’s also exciting because, mid-season, we were in 11th place. But starting in mid-June, we went on a 10-game winning streak. 10 games! And, between the start of that streak and today, they only lost one game.
This is… so exciting. Sports!
And that’s it. That’s the news.
Hey, look at that – one good story. Finally!
I’m proud of cats. Silly little things.
It’s also dictionary day, and I did consider trying to bust out some big works in the beginning, but being gratuitously loquacious just isn’t my style.
But more than that… more than how we used to have to look up works in a book (silly humans)… because you are silly for fun, but not a silly human… I’m proud of you.