Axios

Russia's military successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from its new strategic nuclear submarine, the Imperator Alexander III, the country's defense ministry said Sunday.

Why it matters: The announcement comes three days after Russian leader Vladimir Putin officially revoked the country's ratification of a global ban on nuclear weapons testing amid heightened tensions with the West over his war on Ukraine.

Understanding the complexities of the lead-up to the Israel-Hamas war is required in discussing the conflict, former President Barack Obama said.

The big picture: "You have to admit that nobody's hands are clean, that all of us are complicit to some degree," he said during a Pod Save America interview, a show hosted by aides of the former president.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Sunday repeatedly did not answer whether or not the 2020 election was not stolen when questioned by ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

Why it matters: Scalise is one of several GOP lawmakers who have avoided publicly confirming that the 2020 presidential election wasn't stolen through widespread voter fraud.

At least four House Democrats affiliated with the left-wing "Squad" faction are facing serious primary threats next year, fueled by their vocal criticism of Israel's war against Hamas in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

Why it matters: These primaries, pitting the most progressive lawmakers against more traditional liberals, will offer a clear test of the ideological direction of the Democratic Party.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday he thinks the Senate will pass a measure combining Israel and Ukraine funding.

Why it matters: The House's Israel-only aid bill quickly hit a dead end last week, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) saying the Senate would "not take up the House GOP's deeply flawed proposal."

Congress continues to work "in good faith" toward its Nov. 17 appropriations deadline to avert a government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Sunday morning on "FOX News Sunday."

The big picture: Lawmakers could either pass appropriations bills or a second stopgap measure, which would further extend the funding deadline and keep the government open.

Dan Senor and Saul Singer — co-authors of "Start-Up Nation," a New York Times bestseller about Israel — will be out Tuesday with "The Genius of Israel," which aims to tell the story of a "diverse people and society built around the values of service, solidarity, and belonging."

Why it matters: With the Israel-Hamas war ignited after the book went to press, global appreciation for the stakes in the Middle East is soaring. The authors have received a prepublication surge in demand for appearances on TV and podcasts, and at events.

If the election were held today, former President Donald Trump would easily beat President Joe Biden with over 300 electoral votes, according to a new swing state poll from The New York Times and Siena College.

Why it matters: The poll will increase anxiety among Democrats about the 2024 election and undermines the idea that Biden is the most electable Democrat against Trump.

No issue threatens to break President Biden's fragile Democratic coalition like Israel's response to the Hamas terrorist attack.

Why it matters: Infighting is spreading, slowly but meaningfully, at every layer of the Democratic Party over Biden's full-throated support of Israel. It runs much deeper than college campus protests or caustic comments from elected officials.

Part of President Biden's political team is in turmoil over the Israel-Hamas war, as some aides see the White House as abetting an immoral attack on Palestinians — while others believe Biden is showing "moral clarity" in protecting Israel from terrorists.

Why it matters: The strife within the Democratic National Committee (DNC) — which Biden is leaning on for his re-election campaign — reflects larger generational and political divisions among Democrats.

Many Arab American voters feel betrayed by President Biden's unequivocal support for Israel, and community leaders in Metro Detroit say there's nothing he can do to win them back.

Why it matters: Michigan is a central piece of the Midwestern "Blue Wall" that flipped in Biden's favor in 2020. The state's large Arab American population could be crucial to the outcome in what will be a pivotal swing state again in 2024.

The biannual changing of the clocks takes place this Sunday as we "fall back" to standard time after nearly eight months in daylight saving time.

Why it matters: The twice-yearly clock changes likely won't stop anytime soon with efforts in Congress to make daylight saving time permanent stalled since March.

Democratic lawmakers are growing increasingly vocal in criticizing Israel's expanding ground offensive in Gaza, with some calling for more action to address the worsening humanitarian situation.

Why it matters: It's a considerable shift from the largely unified support Israel enjoyed from across the U.S. political spectrum in the immediate aftermath of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that killed at least 1,400 Israelis.

A junior State Department employee who is organizing a dissent cable on the White House's policy on Israel has used social media to publicly accuse President Biden of being "complicit in genocide" toward the people of Gaza.

Why it matters: The dissent cable — and the organizer's passionate rhetoric on social media — are the latest signs of how the Israel-Hamas war is causing anxiety throughout the U.S. government.