MNI POLITICAL RISK - GOP To Hold Third Internal Speaker Vote

Executive Summary:

• With the House of Representatives speaker-less for 20 days - and failed bids from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) - House Republicans will today embark on ‘Plan C’ to elect a new speaker.
• The nine speaker candidates have been whittled down to eight after Rep Daniel Meuser (R-PA) withdrew himself from the race yesterday. Of those eight, four are considered genuine contenders for the job.
• The Pentagon has dispatched a three-star general to advise Israel on its operation in Gaza.
• Biden administration officials continue to attribute responsibility for attacks on US troops in the Middle East on Iran without explicitly accusing Tehran of direct involvement.
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Washington October 26-28, a trip which may lay the groundwork for President Xi Jinping's attendance of the APEC Summit in San Francisco in November.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will arrive at the White House this evening for a state visit with President Biden.
• Democrat Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing of him acting as a foreign agent of the state of Egypt.
• Poll of the Day: A clear majority of Americans are opposed to committing US ground forces to Israel.

Please find the full article attached below:

MNIPOLRISKUSDaily241023.pdf