The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar opens a window of opportunity for Israel to end the war in Gaza. The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of an inmate in a “shaken baby syndrome” case. And the actor playing Rob Gronkowski in a new show is also his stunt double and longtime friend.
Here’s what to know today.
Hamas leader’s death is a win for Israel and a test for Netanyahu
The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is a major symbolic and military victory for Israel and opens a rare window of opportunity for a turning point in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Sinwar, 61, was considered the mastermind of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel and had been Hamas’ political head since August after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. After a yearlong manhunt, including help from U.S. intelligence agencies, Israeli troops stumbled upon him during a routine patrol in southern Gaza, Israeli officials said.
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Whether a meaningful change in the Israel-Hamas war will happen rests largely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former U.S. officials said. “It is an opportunity for Israel to declare victory and accept a cease-fire. A cease-fire in Gaza could lead to a reduction in regional tensions,” said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and national security official.
The Biden administration is expected to renew efforts with allies and partners to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
However, some experts are skeptical that Sinwar’s death will lead to pivotal change in the war. “I think we ought to take a deep breath here,” said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “This region has a way of grinding up attacks that appear to be transformational,” Miller said, when in reality, Netanyahu is a “transactional player.”
Execution in ‘shaken baby syndrome’ case is halted
The Texas Supreme Court halted the execution of inmate Robert Roberson, who had been set to die by lethal injection yesterday evening in a case involving “shaken baby syndrome.” At around 10 p.m. local time, the state Supreme Court issued a stay, or temporary halt, after a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers issued a subpoena for Roberson to testify at a hearing next week about his case. If he is dead, he cannot do that, the high court noted. The length of the stay was not specified but the state Supreme Court wrote in the opinion that the lower court should act swiftly. Read more about the legal back and forth.
Roberson, who was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002 but has maintained his innocence, “was shocked, to say the least,” said Amanda Hernandez, director of communications with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
NOAA issues winter weather forecast as Phoenix finally snaps heat streak
Parts of Washington state saw the first bouts of snowfall this season, a preview of what’s expected for the region this winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its winter outlook, which shows that the Northwest could be in for a relatively frigid winter and above-average precipitation. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes region could be wetter than normal, and the rest of the country faces an average or warm and dry winter, forecasters predict, because of an expected La Niña weather pattern. Here’s what else to know about NOAA’s winter weather forecast.
While forecasters are looking ahead to winter, Phoenix, until Tuesday, had been trapped in a summer that wouldn’t end. The city finally snapped a streak of 21 straight days of record-breaking daily high temperatures. Even climate experts were shocked at the extreme temperatures.
Trump contradicts himself in televised events
Donald Trump has been conducting a media blitz, answering voters’ questions during televised events on topics such as in vitro fertilization and the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. But when discussing each issue, he has made contradictory statements.
During a Fox News town hall, Trump called himself the “father of IVF” when receiving a question from a woman who said her friends are concerned about abortion bans and access to fertility treatments now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Trump’s reply included a seeming admission, despite proclaiming himself a leader on the issue, that he just recently learned what IVF is.
And at a forum held by Univision, Trump called Jan. 6, 2021, a “day of love” after a former supporter said he doesn’t support the former president anymore because of his actions on that day. However, on Jan. 7, 2021, the day after the events at the U.S. Capitol, Trump called the events a “heinous attack.”
Trump’s “day of love” comment angered Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who was repeatedly assaulted on Jan. 6. “Are you serious? A day of love?” he asked. “A day of love when more than 140 officers were injured, people lost their career, people lost their lives?” Read more about Trump’s shifting rhetoric.
More election coverage:
➡️ The White House and Vice President Kamala Harris’ team have discussed how she plans to distance herself from President Joe Biden while maintaining her loyalty to him.
➡️ As Elon Musk steps up to support Trump, Harris is calling on her own billionaire for his support: Mark Cuban.
➡️ Harris is staking her hopes of winning Arizona on a very specific group of voters: moderate Republicans with an affinity for the late Sen. John McCain.
➡️ Harris’ decision to appear for interviews on less traditional platforms has some scratching their heads, but it’s actually part of a strategy to reach an important group of voters.
➡️ Tim Walz has leveled up his campaigning, swapping his sports coat for a flannel shirt and delivering his sharpest attacks yet against Trump.
➡️ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has privately called Trump a “despicable human” and unfit for office despite endorsing him, a new book reveals.
➡️ Here’s how votes get counted on election night and how NBC News gathers and checks the data.
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Read All About It
- Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates made their first statements since his death, writing that they are “completely devastated.” And diehard fans said Payne’s death felt like a “watershed moment” that reminded them of their youth while making them suddenly feel like adults.
- Hurricane Helene sparked concerns about an IV fluid shortage, but some critical fluids have been in shortage for years. Here’s why manufacturers can’t keep up with demand.
- Texas’ attorney general sued a Dallas doctor, accusing her of providing hormone replacement therapy to minors in violation of state law.
- New research reveals the evolutionary history of humans’ ability to eat and digest starch, long before pasta or bread ever existed.
- A Georgia teen and his father were indicted on dozens of counts in connection with the Apalachee High School shooting, which killed four people.
Staff Pick: He’s Gronk 2.0 — and the former NFL star’s longtime friend
When I learned that the actor playing Rob Gronkowski on FX’s “American Sports Story” was also the former NFL star’s longtime friend and stunt double, I knew I needed to find out more. I’m glad I did. Not only does Laith Wallschleger get to be Gronk 2.0, his 6-foot-4 physique has also helped him get cast as Travis Kelce, Brian Urlacher and JJ Watt. “They get paid millions of dollars,” Wallschleger said. “The last thing they want to do is step wrong, slip on something, and then blow out a knee doing a freaking Visa commercial.” — Greg Rosenstein, sports editor
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Your at-home coffee doesn’t have to be limited to weak drip coffee. One NBC Select reporter tested out three popular espresso machines at different price points. Here’s what she thought. Plus, dentists say the best floss is the one you’ll use. Here are the products they recommend.
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