Thursday morning news: October 26, 2023

Speaker » At the Capitol, the House floor is once again open for business. Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson:

JOHNSON: We want our allies around the world to know that this body of lawmakers is reporting again to our duty stations.

Johnson heard there moments after doing what three prior Republican nominees for speaker were unable to win at least 217 votes on the House floor.

AUDIO: Therefore, the honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana, having received a majority of the votes cast is duly elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

The 51-year-old lawmaker joined the “People’s House” in 2017. He has a reputation as a reliable conservative on social and fiscal issues.

Some GOP members took issue with Johnson’s role in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. But House Republicans roundly believed they simply could not wait another day to elect a speaker after more than three weeks of gridlock.

Israel - House resolution » The chamber’s first order of business after electing a new speaker was a show of support for Israel.

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul introduced a resolution.

MCCAUL: It condemns in the strongest possible terms the atrocities of Hamas and reiterates Israel’s right to defend herself.

He co-authored the resolution with the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, Gregory Meeks.

MEEKS: Eighteen days ago the state of Israel suffered the greatest mass murder [perpetrated] against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

The White House is asking Congress to approve a $105 billion-dollar funding package to primarily pay for aid to Israel and Ukraine. But House Republicans might insist on dealing with those matters separately.

Iran threats hearing, Ayatollah » Hours earlier …

AUDIO: The Committee on Homeland Security will come to order.

Lawmakers in the House convened to discuss potential actions against the state of Iran as allegations swirl that the Iranian regime supported the terrorist group Hamas’s attack on Israel earlier this month.

Republicans have demanded tougher actions against Iran, accusing the Biden administration of weakness on the world state:

Republican Congressman Mark Green:

GREEN: From the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, weak posture towards Russia for the invasion of Ukraine to reckless negotiations with Iran, threatens our homeland security and our national interests.

But Democrats argue the Biden administration has handled the attacks on Israel well:

Congressman Bennie Thompson:

THOMPSON: Since the attacks, President Biden and his administration have shown true leadership, not just words, but action, demonstrating ironclad support for this.

The White House has argued there is no evidence directly linking Iran to Hamas’s attack on Israel.

KHAMENEI: [Speaking Arabic]

But Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintains the United States is definitely supporting what he calls crimes committed by Israel.

Guterres v Israel » UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is pushing back against strong criticism for remarks he made about the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday.

GUTERRES: I am shocked by the misrepresentation by some of my statement yesterday in the Security Council as  if I was justifying acts of terror by Hamas.

Guterres did in fact say there was no justification for appalling attacks by Hamas.

But he prefaced that by saying the terror attacks—his words “didn’t happen in a vacuum.” He added that the Palestinian people have been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation” even though Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

He went on to further criticize Israel saying the Hamas attacks “cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

Israel has called on Guterres to resign over his remarks.

Maine shooting » At least 22 people are dead and roughly 60 more are wounded in Maine after mass shooting incidents in Lewiston last night.

State police said they were investigating incidents at at least two locations and ordered residents to lock their doors and stay inside.

One woman went to a local hospital where emergency personnel were transporting victims:

RESIDENT: I’ve been here, trying to spread, you know, some kind of comfort, some kind of support. But this is an overwhelming situation.

Police released animage of the suspect on social media at around 9pm local time saying the shooter was still at large. The suspect in the image appeared to be armed with an assault-style rifle

U.S. Pentagon report, China’s response » A new Pentagon report warns that China is building its nuclear arsenal more quickly than expected. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The report states that Beijing is beefing up its nuclear arsenal at an alarming rate along with stockpiling more conventional weapons. And China may be developing a new intercontinental missile system that could more effectively target the United States or other long-range targets.

Beijing angrily denied the reports findings and lashed out at Washington. China’s Defense Ministry criticized the United States for its backing of Israel and Ukraine. And it said the United States is the “biggest disruptor of regional peace and stability”

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Australian PM at White House » The United States is relying heavily on Western allies, like Australia, to help counter China’s growing ambitions.

SOUND: [Albanese arrival]

And at the White House on Wednesday …

SOUND: [Anthony Albanese]

… President Biden rolled out the red carpet for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

ALBANESE: The alliance between Australia and the United States and the way that we stand steadfast against aggression is something that can be relied upon.

And at a joint news conference in the Rose Garden, Biden said the U.S. is “doubling down” on its ties with Australia.

BIDEN: An alliance that’s marked by imagination, ingenuity and innovation.

The countries are working together on numerous economic, infrastructure, and defense projects.

Hurricane Otis » Mexican authorities say Hurricane Otis has knocked out all communications in Acapulco after the category five hurricane tore across the country's southern Pacific border early yesterday morning.

The storm has brought massive floods and triggered mudslides. The fatality of which remains unknown.

Local: [Speaking Spanish] We have been stuck here since three in the morning with wind, rain, and landslides that can still be heard. For example, on this side over there, you can hear it, as a loud river.

A local says the rain and landslides have prevented people from leaving describing the landslides as loud as a river.

The storm evolved from a tropical storm into a category-five hurricane over the span of 12 hours on Tuesday, but dissipated by Wednesday night.

The National Hurricane Center continues warning residents of flash flooding and mudslides in mountainous areas.

I'm Kristen Flavin.

Straight ahead: A report from the Capitol. Plus, a trip behind the scenes at WORLD Radio.

This is The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.