The authors of the books featured. The u. S. House plans to meet tomorrow at noon eastern till the first floor vote to elect a speaker since congressman Kevin Mccarthy was ousted from the position nearly two weeks ago. Watch our live gavel to gavel coverage of the house on cspan. In the meantime the senate is returning to the after a weeklong recess. Lawmakers will debate the nomination of Jeniffer Hall to be use District Court judge for delaware. A vote to advance her nomination is scheduled for this afternoon at 5 30 p. M. Eastern. And now live to the senate floor here one cspan2. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal lord god, the author of peace, as wars and rumors of wars bombard us, we turn our eyes to you. In the past you have brought order from chaos, light from darkness, truth from falsehood, peace from conflict, and hope from despair. Please do it again. Today, use our lawmakers as instruments of your peace. May they strive to please you in all that they think, say, and do. Lord, use us all as your ambassadors of reconciliation. Let there be peace on earth and permit it to begin with each of us. We pray in your mighty name. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The clerk will read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington d. C. , october 16, 2023. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable tammy duckworth, a senator from the state of illinois, to perform the duties of the chair. Signed patty murray, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, the judiciary. Jennifer l. Hall of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the district of delaware. . Is a lot happening , one of his cases. They are heading to South Carolina and of candidates heading to iowa and at the end of the month heading to las vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition in the wake of whats going on in israel is increasingly important. They also darted releasing fundraising so we get to see how their numbers are headed for theres a lot going on in the middle of the month your. The fundraising numbers, a lot in those reports, what is the take away from what we know so far . Donald trump raised the most cash on hand. Tim scott has cash on hand as well which is in incredibly surprising given how much hes gotten into the race. Notably he didnt raise as much as some of the other candidates get has cash on hand. In fundraising numbers less than previous quarters and nikki haley we have seen fundraising numbers that speak to her campaign that she has momentum and shes the one coming up ahead in the recent weeks and months as we have seen in the first debate. We talk about the week ahead candidates recently in New Hampshire talking to voters at town halls, what did we find out about that . New hampshire has been interesting because it is an area where a lot of them have not been as focused. All candidates have been baking on iowa where they see its going to every county. On the first side, we see Chris Christie focused on New Hampshire and is opportunity so as we get closer to the primaries we see candidates branch out going to other early voting states that havent been to as much so they talked about freedom which will be important with New Hampshire voters and i will voters but also opportunity to win over dependents in the state so it will be interesting to see the next few weeks how big of an effort they put into a state like New Hampshire versus iowa where they are extremely focused. Talking about independence rfk junior talking about independence and winning over independence in his presidency. A story about his Campaign Trump readying attacks on rfk junior concern over spoiler anxiety for a guy the democrats thought might take away from joe biden and donald trump. The majority outlier rfk junior is are more popular among publicans and he is among democrats so it makes sense trump steam would keep an eye on him. This is person because of the focus on covid vaccines in republican report and at the same time make democrats weary of him so what we are seeing in the weeks after his we are seeing a lot more animosity from the republican side. After starting to launch attacks after kennedy, the press release, 13 reasons its something to keep an eye on and will an independent at this time it looks like trump steam is a little more nervous. November 8, the third Republican Debate miami on november 8, what will you watch for leading into the . Who makes the debate stage. One of the arguments ive been hearing is naturally they are going to win. We have seen them drop out nikki haley and one or two of the other candidates seemed like they might be close to dropping out and who makes the debate stage is really cool but at the same time went to look for if anyone can really bring out. Even as nikki haley argued she broke out. It hasnt really been shown in the poll numbers so looking to see if anyone can use these debates and get serious momentum not just to get into second place for take it to trump. Number four. Com is where you can go for coverage of campaign 2024 and all things politics. I appreciate your time and we will talk to you again on the road. Test skepticism is what you need to win because you and the way hes going about trying to get more people to his side, about has backfired so theres a great deal of uncertainty and its a critical time to the u. S. Theres no thing on capitol hill when you have the votes, you vote jim jordan doesnt have a vote yet, but the reason to vote for . A lot of quarters in place so there is a great deal of pressure federal exactly how chris is making sure he has 217 but in january times you do just move forward and get eventual election. Is at work going to the narrative he doesnt have a vote, was the most likely path for their hold out using to vote. One idea for this agreement whereby either several republicans have five or six wouldnt support jeffries, minority leader or five or six republicans or democrats to come support republican speakers. That was initially who would do that in a divided government but the more it is starting out more people might take a second look and its quite unlikely but its one scenario. Another possibility is patrick mchenry, unfair exactly what powers he has as pro tem speaker so there different ideas how he could be elected as speaker pro tem which might give mark capability or authority speaker pro tem by mccarthy or to could be privileged revolution for 45, 60 days to get through taking us to the members of the governmentfunded but it is appear on the health, somewhat. The uncertainty around the world, schumer was in israel over the weekend and the resolution this week perhaps expressing support for israel, what more do we know about that . Respecting opposition to a resolution like that in the senate . I think the current environment will be strong support for the on both sides of the aisle in the house with those who cosponsored the resolution they have front of to the forget because of the no package that writing as soon as in the house is able to pass legislation again. From amongst additional and special correspondent phineas honest busy week, if you want to drink the conversation, phone lines are open, republicans 2,027,488,001. Democrats 202 7488000. Independence 202 7488002. The middle east editor and your chief for six years starting between 2009 through midteens, close your reaction when these reports started to come in and what context could you add . I would say have a lot of echoes of the 2014 report which i was there for and covered from the israeli side. However, this is much different. The scale and nature of the attacks are like nothing has ever compared to israel but if you look at the scale of casualties, its up to 1400 killed on the israeli side in a country of 9. 4 million and if you care that two of the United States, 50000 people so thats way more than the 3000 something killed here on 9 11 and you just cant underestimate the shockwaves that send out to the public, Everybody Knows somebody affected, friends or relatives murdered or taken hostage or missing or not sure if they are in gaza somewhere havent been to divide the. It is a really different feeling in the country and israelis ive talked to mike the number one thing that stuck out to me is the way they talk about what they want to see in gaza and was there when in 2014 was so much focus on Israeli Military and doing everything we can to protect civilian lives or sending warnings ahead of time or after people to leave him certain levels of apartment buildings and residents on other and i just heard from so many sources it would be great if they could get but if they cant, i dont care, i just want gaza to be turned into a parking lot and that grief and anger is driving a stronger response obviously there are a number of conflicts between israel and hamas before but they would know the grass so every few years militant getting more and the leadership was too strong or they would know the grass they would cut off that layer of leadership and they do it again and this time it didnt work, we said we were taking out hamas but we didnt really and this time we need to fully demolish them and that is much different. Asking about the places that were affected, one thing important to note is along the border, one person i was talking to, fees are people who believe more than anybody else its possible like they knew we were going to be best friends but they felt it was possible to live sidebyside and willing live there on the border so they are the ones on the front line in this incredibly brutal attack. It has made it his ability difficult. How much interaction with their between those people and the people in gaza . During the 70s and 80s people i talked to one guy whose dad was a Police Officer in gaza and remembers going to the Police Station and people would get their cars fixed and people would come and build houses and find work so there was a lot of backandforth and for a time israelis lived in gaza. People have lived there for a while and have personal attractions and were familiar with that territory themselves. Settlements, this discussion about settlements in the west bank and florida is encroaching on territory, could you explain that issue . Israeli settlements in the west bank, the population has grown significantly. More than 600,000, some i dont know exact figures of what has become more influential politically part of the concern about the current government being more likely to prioritizing the criticism Israeli Military was focus on and because of poor that are not justified that is that they have been gaining political influence. One potential area beyond gaza and 30 starting to happen, israelis in the antagonizing neighbors or vice versa they are being cautious. Its hard to overstate the communities and think and it would be difficult, will keep an eye on. Your and in Florida Republican sergio, good morning. Good morning, how are you . Whats your question or comment . Okay. Good morning, how are you . , thank you to mark a couple of things that bothered me. First of all, republicans should not have control of the house because they have the dilemma of the situation. Democrats should have the house that knows how to work with israel, how can we stop this before it goes to israel . What can we do about it . Also, i do have respect for President Biden standing up for israel, how can we solve the problem . Two different questions that, who 20 want to take or in what order . We can start with house, a lot of people are feeling that will. The republican inability to appoint speaker nearly two weeks after Kevin Mccarthy was asked to is embarrassing. Many republicans feel that way so i understand your concerns wanting to see democrats take control. Evenhanded speaker for the current rules are the speaker needs a majority of the house to be elected so we will have to wait to see whether republicans share your view and back jeffries or if they will go around. Twentyfour, 13 months now people will go back in their Congressional District and remember we didnt have a speaker of the house in october of 2023 . Its so hard to say but it feels things can be so different in the year so it depends on impart how the conflict unfold to what extent it becomes a broader regional conflict and marking just providing aid but one thing for sure is a growing desire and urgent desire in the u. S. To express leadership and lack speaker in the house is undermining production of u. S. Leaders and concern around the world to one of the American Government is to say things falling apart, and cant do anything so it is imperative people say it is. The u. S. Government get its act together to prove it does have moral and the ability to help allies so allies know they can count on u. S. Support something they are to demonstrate. The best way to help israel allies in the middle east, what are you telling you about what we can do. The president and congress particularly president and secretary of state to a lot support layer white political the whole mediterranean, it is a stronger signal all over the middle east through this marathon circuit of appearance trying to negotiate americans and gaza. They have come out of the gate a strong unequivocal that is an important step and important to keep tabs on the region and has a lot and lebanon is a bigger missile and obviously they are backed by iran has left opened a second come before the senate with a heart full of grief. I come shaken by anger and fear, but with a resolve to act. I come with my spirit moved down to its core by the terrible things i saw these past few days. This morning i returned to the United States after leading a bipartisan delegation to israel along with senators rosen and kelly and romney and cassidy. As the first jewish majority leader, as the highestranking jewish elected official ever in america, i wanted to be there, and i felt an obligation to be there. It was a trip ill remember for the rest of my life, a visit to the only jewish state on earth facing one of the darkest hours of its 75year history. Probably the darkest hour. We traveled to deliver a simple and unmistakable message we, the american people, stand with the people of israel in this moment of need. We said to the people of israel, we have your back. We feel your pain. You. And in the coming weeks the United States senate will do Everything Possible to help israel eliminate the threat that hamas presents and help israel in every way we can. I thank my colleagues who joined me on this important trip. I thank everyone who will be traveling there this coming weekend. Right now our presence means the world to israel. They were so gratified that american senators came to stand with them in their moments of grief and sorrow. It was clear that just being there made a tremendous difference and boosted their resolve. We had very productive meetings with a whole range of israeli leaders, including Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, National UnitParty Minister gantz, defense minister gallant, Opposition Leader lapede. But the most memorable meeting was with 12 families of the hostages. There they were sitting there, wondering what was happening to their mother, their sister, their brother, their baby in the hands of these brutal terrorists. Nothing prepared us for the overwhelming grief we felt talking to the families of the hostages and sharing their deep pain. There was not a dry eye in the room. Many of these people didnt know if their relatives were dead or alive. Some of them said i wonder which is better. They just knew that they were missing and taken by wretched hamas fighters. It breaks your heart. We saw footage they showed us of their loved ones being led away by the Hamas Terrorists. An elderly woman being dragged away from her family, a 12yearold boy being pushed along by these terrorists. Families in sheer agony, wondering what was happening to their loved ones in the captivity of these brutal terrorists. Today we now know that the number of hostages has exceeded 199. It is of the utmost importance that israel and the United States do everything it can to bring every single one of these hostages to safety. During our visit, we also experienced in flashes what the israelis experience on a daily basis. We were having lunch at our hotel when the sirens went off, meaning rockets were only seven to nine minutes away, rockets fired by hamas. We all rushed into a shelter and waited with bated breath until they told us the coast was clear. It happened again in the evening, moments before a press conference that had to be delayed that we held on sunday. For us, the danger was momentary, thank god, but its harrowing to think that israelis are going through this and much greater horrors every single day. So again, as the first jewish majority leader, the highestranking jewish official in america, someone who has knowledge of the persecutions and ravages that have affected the jewish people through the decades, the centuries, the millenia, i felt an be obligation to travel this weekend to israel and deliver a message of partnership. And i believe our trip went a significant way in pushing back against the dangerous false equivalency between what hamas is doing and the response against the