What we've missed during Biden's crisis

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     July 12, 2024 On June 27, the same day as President Biden's disastrous debate performance, the [House passed an amendment that bans the State Department]( from using statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry, the only organization conducting regular counts of the dead on the ground. The purported reason is that the ministry is tied to Hamas—just like every other part of the Gaza Strip’s government. As my colleague Sophie Hurwitz writes, the United Nations and the World Health Organization, as well as outside groups, have found that the ministry's death toll estimates are reliable. [From Sophie](: Until the end of the conflict, a [precise count of the dead is not possible](. But as the conflict continues, the estimates used have political implications. Debates over the death count hover in discussions about aid from the United States, debates about South Africa’s case claiming Israel is committing [genocide](, and arguments over how humanitarian assistance will reach Palestinians. The health ministry has been continually criticized by American pundits and politicians for overcounting the dead to further Hamas’ political goals. President Joe Biden, only three weeks into the war, said he had no confidence in [“the number that the Palestinians are using”]( to calculate their dead. This is another staggering reminder of the ongoing devastation that continues apace in Gaza, as eyes, including mine, focus on the drama upending the Democratic Party. Let it give us some much-needed perspective as we head into the weekend, and the months ahead. —Inae Oh Advertisement [Democracy in Retrograde]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [In the US, Counting the Dead in Gaza Has Become a Gruesome Political Game]( The House passed a ban on citing the Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty counts, saying the numbers are pro-Hamas "propaganda." But researchers say the ministry is not even counting all deaths. BY SOPHIE HURWITZ FROM MOTHER JONES/REVEAL   Mother Jones/Reveal wants to hear from you! As you may know, Mother Jones and Reveal are now merged! Now that we’ve had a few months to let the dust settle, we would like to hear from you. We're conducting a [brief online survey](. Your answers will help us get to know you as our newly merged organization forges a bright future. [Trending] [Project 2025 is twisting disability rights law to attack abortion]( BY JULIA MÉTRAUX   [Extreme heat is coming for your rail commute]( BY MATT SIMON   [While Biden defended his candidacy, Donald Trump hung out with Viktor Orbán]( BY ARIANNA COGHILL   Advertisement [Democracy in Retrograde]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [At the Heritage Foundation, the anti-DEI crusade is part of a bigger war]( What I learned at an event for “seizing the moment” to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. BY ISABELA DIAS MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   GREAT JOURNALISM, SLOW FUNDRAISING Our team has been on fire lately—publishing sweeping, [one-of-a-kind]( investigations, ambitious, [groundbreaking]( projects, and even [releasing]( “the holy shit documentary of the year.” And that’s on top of [protecting free and fair elections]( and [standing up]( to bullies and BS when others in the media don’t. Yet, we just came up pretty short on our fundraising campaign. So even though we’re done screaming about [the donations we need]( for a while, if you value the journalism we do but haven’t pitched in recently, please [consider doing so now](—we urgently need a lot of help to make up for lost ground. And of course, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has pitched in. It means the world to us. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755