November 13, 2023 - News Roundup

The United States is working to release American hostages while a government shutdown looms at home

Today is November 9, 2023 and here are all the critical stories that you missed during the last 24 hours. If you want access to more, exclusive content or to support my work, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber by clicking the link below:

1) Israel Update

We have now entered the second month of the war in Israel, and the ground operation in Gaza continues this morning. The operation is currently focused on the Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, where Israeli tanks are just feet away from the hospital. As it currently stands, according to multiple aid agencies on the ground, most operating rooms in the hospital are completely out of service. While Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that patients are allowed to leave the hospital if they wish, it is unclear whether they have been able to. The Israeli military alleges that the hospital contains a Hamas military post. Meanwhile, the United States is working to release all of the hostages currently in Hamas custody. As it stands right now, over 200 hostages remain in Hamas custody, including multiple American citizens. One American is a three year old child whose parents were killed during the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack. 

2) Four Days Away From a Government Shutdown

We are now four days away from a possible government shutdown. Currently, Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to keep the government open consists of a two-step continuing resolution that would extend the government's funding for some agencies until January 19th and other agencies into mid-February. This type of continuing resolution has already been rejected by House Democrats and is similar to the one that enraged far-right House Republicans when former-Speaker Kevin McCarthy passed a clean continuing resolution last month. Speaker Johnson claimed that this "mess" was one he inherited, not one he created. In any event, it is highly unlikely that the two-step resolution would pass either the House or the Senate as it currently stands. 

Because of the dysfunction within the House GOP, the country is barreling toward another government shutdown. If a spending bill is not passed by November 17th, the government would close just days before lawmakers are supposed to break for the annual Thanksgiving recess. If the government is shutdown, a number of critical services would be interrupted. First, and primarily, thousands of federal employees around the country would be furloughed, with "essential" workers being forced to work without pay. Essential employees include TSA agents and border patrol. Second, most national parks would be forced to close or work with few employees. Additionally, military members may lose certain benefits, social security applications will no longer be processed, and other critical services may be interrupted. Check this out for a full breakdown of what to expect if we have a government shutdown. 

3) Trump Blasted By The Special Counsel

Donald Trump was called out by Special Counsel Jack Smith's team over the weekend for his deception concerning his support for having cameras in the courtroom during his upcoming federal criminal trial in Washington, D.C. Despite initially telling prosecutors that he intended on taking "no position" on whether cameras should be allowed in the courtroom, his team filed a short, unhinged response late last week arguing that cameras should be in the courtroom. After this response was filed, the Special Counsel's team requested to file a reply arguing that Trump misrepresented his position on the issue. Learn more here. 

4) Another One Bites The Dust

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has officially suspended his presidential campaign. In a late night announcement, Scott suspended his campaign after failing to gain any traction with the GOP primary electorate. Scott was consistently polling far behind Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley despite having donors backing him with very deep pockets. It is now only a matter of time before more Republicans end their failed presidential campaigns.