Another Round

Could we have a House Speaker today? [For the best experience, read in browser.]( October 18, 2023 Authorities in Gaza say at least 500 people have been killed in a strike on a hospital. We’ve got the latest on the tragedy, below. Then, we’re breaking down [what happened during the Speaker of the House vote]( — and when a leader may finally be chosen. We’re also [clearing up the rumors about Oprah’s political ambitions]( and sharing [Britney Spears' shocking revelations](. Let’s get started.   In the News [Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan]( Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan is aiming to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. (Getty Images) Another Round Tensions are running high among House Republicans thanks to ongoing turmoil over the vacant speaker position. Yesterday, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan lost the first ballot for the coveted role — [here’s what we know so far](. What happened? Despite winning the GOP nomination for speaker on Friday, Jordan only earned 200 votes, which is shy of the 217 needed to clinch the gavel. But he doesn’t appear to be dropping out of the running anytime soon. “The House needs a speaker as soon as possible,” said Jordan spokesman Russell Dye. Who are the GOP defectors? During Tuesday’s vote, 20 Republicans cast votes for other members, including for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy — who’s not even seeking the position after being dramatically ousted two weeks ago. When will voting resume? The House went into a recess after the first ballot, as Jordan tried to shore up some support. A second vote is now expected at 11 a.m. today, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we took a closer look at [why the Republican holdouts]( aren’t supporting Jordan and what this means for the House overall. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-and-policy%2Fnew-house-speaker-vote-results%2F   More Stories [Family huddles together in Gaza hospital after air strike]( Injured Palestinians at Al-Shifa Hospital after a blast at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza (Getty Images) Gaza hospital strike: Palestinian and Israeli officials are at odds over who is responsible for a massive blast that struck a Gaza hospital yesterday, killing hundreds of people. Palestinian officials blame the ongoing Israeli airstrikes, but the Israel Defense Forces "categorically" deny this. The IDF says intelligence points to a “failed rocket launch” by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. President Biden arrives in Israel today and will aim to offer support while seeking to de-escalate the crisis, but a planned summit with Arab leaders in Jordan has been canceled. Grim discovery: At least 189 bodies in various states of decomposition have been removed from the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado. Officers were alerted to reports of a foul smell at the facility, which advertises "green burials." State regulators have suspended the home's license, and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office will begin notifying families of the deceased as they're identified within the "next several days." Fresh charges: New Mexico prosecutors are reportedly planning to charge Alec {NAME} with involuntary manslaughter again, five months after special prosecutors [dismissed the same charge in relation to the fatal Rust shooting]( in 2021. Per NBC News, they're citing new evidence connecting {NAME} to poor safety standards on set, and no longer believe the gun was modified. A grand jury will reportedly hear {NAME}'s case in mid-November. Stranger than fiction: More and more startups and content creators are using AI tools to generate videos of the dead — often without consent. The trend is understandably upsetting for loved ones of the deceased, with the late Robin Williams' daughter Zelda calling deepfakes of her father "disturbing." Writing on Instagram, she said that at best, such recreations are "a poor facsimile of greater people," but at worst, they're "a horrendous Frankensteinian monster."   In Focus [Illustration of woman sitting with her head in her hands surrounded by silhouettes of people]( Getty Images Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate, but the way women talk about it varies widely. When Punita Khanna was first diagnosed, her initial reaction was to hide her illness…until she realized that she could be a voice for other women just like her. With support from Exact Sciences, Punita explains [why she chose to reveal her diagnosis]( to the world. [READ MORE]( [Supported by Exact Sciencese](   Making a Difference [Katie Couric and John Molner wearing City Harvest t-shirts]( KCM I'm a proud supporter of City Harvest, which delivers free and nutritious food to New Yorkers in need. Tonight, this essential organization is hosting its fantastic BID 2023 event, where some of the city's best chefs and mixologists will come together to raise funds for this important mission. Tickets are all sold out, but if you couldn't snag one (or you're not in NYC), you can [make a donation right here]( to help the cause.   Must-Reads [Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears]( In Her Own Words Britney Spears spent over a decade being silenced. Now, she’s finally speaking out in her memoir — here are three major revelations. [Read More »]( [Hourglass turned on its side on a pink background]( Hot Takes There's some back-and-forth about whether we should attempt to delay menopause. Two doctors sound off about both sides of the debate. [Read More »]( [Oprah Winfrey]( Romney/Winfrey? A new book alleges Oprah asked Mitt Romney to join her for a "unity" presidential ticket in 2020 — but she says that's not exactly true. [Read More »](   What We're Loving Lately "I recently picked up a copy of [The Leftover Woman]( by Jean Kwok (which came out about a week ago), and was instantly transfixed by the evocative writing. It combines suspense and family drama and tells the story of a woman who comes from China to New York looking for the daughter she was forced to give up — and the American woman who adopted that child. Fans of Little Fires Everywhere, add this to your reading list." — Sara Levine, Newsletter Editor   Extra Credit Menopause memo: You may have expected the hot flashes or dry skin that often accompany menopause, but for many women, thinning hair comes as a surprise. For help navigating this emotionally charged matter, we turned to our partners at Nutrafol to [learn how to maintain hair health during menopause](. Business casual: Gen Z is ruffling feathers in the office once again — this time, for their wardrobe. We're looking at [why young people have a laid-back approach to workwear](. Quick fix: Modern problems require modern solutions, and there's a handy gadget on Amazon for just about every obscure inconvenience you could have. From a foolproof candle lighter to the perfect mouth tape (yes, really!), here are [the life-changing things our editors bought]( recently.   Sale Away Whether you're in the market for [versatile shackets]([,](practical loafers](, or other fall trends, you can score a deal on hot picks right now. Madewell is offering an [additional 40% off its sale]( section right now. [Madewell plaid shacket and brown loafers on blue gradient background]( [SHOP HERE](   [The Shop Edit. Love shopping as much as we do? Subscribe to our latest newsletter and you'll never miss another trend, money-saving sale, or hard-to-find gem!]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.