More than five dozen daily newspapers owned by investment firm Alden Global Capital ran an editorial on Wednesday urging the news media to describe Hamas as a terrorist organization and its Oct. 7 attack on Israel as a terrorist attack.
Why it matters: Some newsrooms that are avoiding the term argue it's become too politicized. Others say the term accurately describes the group and the attack or that avoiding it normalizes Hamas' actions.
Former President Trump entered October with nearly triple as much cash on hand as any of his Republican rivals, according to his public filing with the Federal Election Commission.
Why it matters: Trump's robust campaign war chest underscores the tough path forward for GOP rivals vying to puncture his commanding lead.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)appears to be forging on — for now — with a third attempt to be elected speaker, despite winning fewer votes on Wednesday's ballot than any majority party's nominee in over a century.
Why it matters: Even former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who spent years building goodwill with the GOP conference — and weeks negotiating with his hardline critics — did not face this level of entrenched opposition.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s switch to run as an independent in the 2024 presidential election might make him more of a threat to Trump, new polling reveals.
Why it matters: Kennedy's new bid could help President Biden win against former President Trump — countering Democrats' concerns that running on a third-party ticket could siphon votes from Biden's campaign.
There was one consistent message President Biden heard from nearly all the Israeli officials he met in Tel Aviv: The war in Gaza will take time — and will test Israel's support from its allies, Israeli and U.S. officials say.
Why it matters: After 12 days of war against Hamas — and with thousands dead and the Arab world in an uproar — one of Israel's biggest concerns is maintaining international support — particularly from the United States.
The prominent law firm Davis Polk is rescinding job offers for three law students at Harvard and Columbiaover their potential connection to controversial pro-Palestinian letters criticizing Israel.
The big picture: The decision reflects the mounting professional reverberations for students who have expressed support for Palestinians following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
The company behind the beloved Scholastic Book Fair is facing push back after making changes to its offerings in response to increasing book ban attempts across the U.S.
Driving the news: Scholastic, an educational company that publishes and distributes books for children and young adults, created a separate collection for its more diverse titles, allowing schools to opt in or out, or limit, their inclusion in elementary school fairs.
President Biden's campaign has surpassed former President Trump's in followers on Truth Social.
Why it matters: The Biden campaign pithily announced it was joining his likely 2024 presidential race competitor on Trump's Twitter-like platform, as they both vie to appear extremely online.
The public's access to the U.S. Capitol complex was restricted on Wednesday after a sizable demonstration calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas disrupted one of the House office buildings.
Driving the news: The House sergeant-at-arms said out a memo to congressional offices that all visitors would be restricted to a single door in an attempt to control public entry into the campus.
The latest: A court employee was arrested on Wednesday after she stood up during the proceedings and walked toward the front of the courtroom, "yelling out to Mr. Trump indicating she wanted to assist him," according to a spokesperson for the New York State Unified Court System.
House Republicans are grasping for even a short-term solution after speaker nominee Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to secure the gavel again on Wednesday.
Driving the news: Jordan lost support on the second ballot and could slip further in future votes, putting Republicans no closer to filling the House's speaker vacancy than they were two weeks ago.
A Republican-led effort is in the works to try to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to oversee the passage of legislation as soon as Wednesday, Axios has learned.
Why it matters:Republican infighting has left the House without a speaker for two weeks, with a growing Mideast crisis and a U.S. government shutdown just a month away.
The Biden administration announced new sanctions against 10 Hamas leaders and financial facilitators today, including an operative based in Qatar with close ties to Iran.
Why it matters: The U.S. government is working to disrupt the ability of Hamas, an officially designated terrorist organization, to raise money and finance attacks against Israel.
President Biden landed in Tel Aviv today to show solidarity with Israel in its war against Hamas, and to try to prevent the war from spreading. But the Middle East is already bubbling over with rage — and the war's shockwaves are increasingly tough to contain.
Driving the news: A deadly missile blast Tuesday at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds of Palestinians, Gaza officials said — and inspired protests throughout the Arab world. The day felt like a turning point in a war in which signs of escalation and rising tension are all around.
The Republican racefor speaker has grown so wild, so uncertain, so contentious, the House just might settle for a de facto, short-term speaker in Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.).
Why it matters: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) looks like the latest dead man walking through a speaker race that seems un-winnable. He got 200 votes on Tuesday, with 217 needed. Sources tell Axios his chances are dim.
Axiom Strategies, the Kansas City-based Republican consulting firm with 350 employees, is moving onto Pennsylvania Avenue today with the launch of a companion firm, AxAdvocacy — a 26-person P.R. and government affairs shop.
Why it matters:Axiom founder Jeff Roe tells Axios that at a time when many public affairs and lobby shops are emphasizing bipartisan muscle, AxAdvocacy "makes no bones [about] its GOP street cred."
More than 1,400 Israelis and over 2,800 Palestinians have been killed, thousands have been injured and more than 1 million have been displaced since the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas began after the militant group's Oct. 7 attack. Hamas is believed to be holding 199 hostages in Gaza, according to Israeli officials.
The latest: Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) in an online post Wednesday called on Gaza City residents "to evacuate south for their protection" to Al-Mawasi, where it said international humanitarian aid would be provided.
The number of Americans killed in the surprise Hamas attack on Israel has climbed to 31, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. U.S. citizens are also among the hostages being held by the militant group in Gaza.
The latest: Kirby confirmed the rise aboard Air Force One as he traveled with President Biden and other White House officials en route to Israel ahead of their Wednesday arrival in Tel Aviv.
