It’s MONDAY. Ugh. I know. Hope you had a good weekend, at least! Here’s what’s coming up: 

• 8 p.m.: First lady Jill Biden will join a Monday Night Football party in Green Bay, Wis. 
• Round two? Although recently ousted as Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) may not be done yet… 
• Hour-by-hour: After Hamas militants from Gaza launched a surprise, large-scale attack on Israel over the weekend, the death toll has surpassed 1,300. We continue to monitor the events.

I’m Liz Crisp, filling in for Cate, with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

©  AP Photo

Supporters for both Israel and Palestine are banding together across the U.S. in the wake of the deadly attacks that have killed hundreds in Israel this weekend. 

At least nine Americans have been killed in the attack, according to the State Department, but many more remain missing in the conflict.  

People gathered outside the United Nations in support of the victims Sunday, but other groups supporting Palestinians gathered in Times Square. They were denounced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D). 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean and said the U.S. plans to “rapidly” provide Israel’s military with additional equipment and resources, including munitions, following the weekend attack by Hamas.

Israeli forces say they launched “one of the largest air strikes ever” against Hamas in Gaza, claiming they have struck hundreds of targets with fighter jets. (The Hill)

Two U.S. lawmakers were in Israel when the airstrikes took place. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and his staff were in Jerusalem for an economic summit and sheltered in the basement of their hotel. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his wife and kids were in Israel visiting family and took shelter in a nearby hotel. Thankfully, everyone is safe and departed Israel. (The Hill)

CNN reporter Clarissa Ward literally had to take cover in a ditch while on the scene in Israel. (The Hill) 

Former President Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that if he were president, the attack on Israel “never would have happened.” (The Hill)

The White House pushed back on Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel‘s comments on the attack, calling it “hideous behavior.” McDaniel said during a Fox News interview Sunday that the attack was a “great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel time and time again and Joe Biden has been weak.”

The House Speaker race has spread to the upper chamber, but Republican senators still are not on the same page when it comes to who they’ll support. 

The division between traditional Republicans and MAGA-aligned conservatives is playing out in the Senate, like everywhere else. 

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports: “Many mainstream Republican senators are quietly rooting for the House to elect Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) over Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and for the transition to happen as quickly as possible to quell voters’ concerns about the Republican Party’s ability to govern.” 

Talking points: 

• Lawmakers backing Scalise think he would have a better working relationship with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and could help ferry bills from the House majority. 
• Former President Trump has endorsed Jordan for Speaker (though he’s been a Scalise ally), declaring on Truth Social he “will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!” 

More from The Hill here. 

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was voted out of his leadership post recently, but he may not be ready to say goodbye just yet. He has not ruled out running again if the House Republican Conference can’t pick a replacement. 

The Hill’s Emily Brooks has the story here. 

At least one moderate Republican, Rep. John Duarte (Calif.), backs McCarthy being reinstated in the top post, saying the unrest in Israel changes the political dynamic and the stakes in the House. (The Hill) 

Virginia is becoming a test case for how Republicans and Democrats talk about abortion and crime. 

The Hill’s Julia Manchester report: “Democratic state House and Senate candidates have largely zeroed in on abortion as a key messaging tactic, painting their Republican opponents as extreme on the issue. Republicans, on the other hand, have hit Democrats for being too lax on crime.” 

Both parties, even on the national stage, are still figuring out how to operate in a world after the Supreme Court upended the Roe v. Wade landmark abortion case last year.  

“It really is the Democratic message vs. the Republican message and seeing which of those is resonating more,” Abhi Rahman, communications director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, told Manchester. 

RFK Jr. announced he is dropping the Dem label and will run for president as an independent. Kennedy announced the switch at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. While he wasn’t gaining much traction as a Democrat, his support as a third-party candidate sits at 14 percent. 

Former President Trump isn’t happy about being downgraded by Forbes magazine. He ripped into the magazine after he was removed him from its annual list of the wealthiest Americans. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the magazine was no longer relevant and that it was “very badly failing.” 

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) got a huge fundraising boost last month. Haley’s campaign noted that nearly 40,000 new donors gave to her in the third quarter and that she’s ending the quarter with $11.6 million in the bank.

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Washington, D.C., and Vice President Harris is in D.C.

House Republicans are meeting behind closed doors this evening as they weigh who to select as their new Speaker.

🍕🍻 It is International Beer and Pizza Day! Grab a slice and a beer and enjoy!  

🌸 They’re back, baby! “The Real Housewives of Potomac,” who you might spot out and about at the top D.C. restaurants and bars (as I have), are kicking off the new season Nov. 5. Catch up on where we last left the ladies and what we should expect in the new season. And let me know if there are VIP watch parties I should check out or you can connect me with one of the RHOP! 

🐯 The winter wonderland, ZooLights, is back at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo this year! The event will run for: “23 select nights — Nov. 24–26, Nov. 30–Dec. 3, Dec. 7–10, Dec. 14–17, Dec. 21–23 and Dec. 26–30,” per the site announcement. The holiday extravaganza will now require a $6 entrance fee for all visitors 2 years and older.  

👻  It’s SpOoOkY SeAsOn... And the nation’s capital is the scene of one of the most iconic scary movies: “The Exorcist.” Next week, you can take a deep dive into the history of the film and its D.C. ties. Profs & Pints has an event planned next Monday to dive into the famous Georgetown-based film.  

This lion cub testing out its mighty roar.