The Daily Valet. - 10/23/23, Monday
✔️ Who's in the Running Now?
Monday, October 23rd Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Was that weekend as quick for you as it was for me?
Today’s Big Story
Who’s in the House Speaker Race Now?
And could the GOP’s speaker chaos actually be a blessing in disguise?
Nine Republicans have announced that they will run for Speaker of the House after the party cast aside Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio as its latest nominee. After his defeat on the House floor for a third time last week, Jordan's bid fell apart Friday when he lost a vote of confidence at a closed-door meeting of Republicans.The Associated Press reports that it's just the latest twist in the contentious intra-party feud that has consumed House Republicans since the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Hopelessly divided, Republicans have been arguing for weeks over how to mend their fractured majority. But as the pressure campaign devolved into death threats against lawmakers and their families, something unexpected happened: Positions hardened, and a ragtag coalition of roughly 20 House Republicans rose up to deny Jordan the speakership.However, political columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. said in the Washington Post that the embarrassing exercise could prove to be a blessing “because it's exposing a crisis in our politics that must be confronted.” The battle for the speakership is already encouraging new thinking and might actually lead to some bipartisan arrangements. “Normal progressives and normal conservatives, in alliance with politicians closer to the center, are discovering a shared interest in keeping the nihilist right far from the levers of power.”According to the New York Times, the lawmakers vying for the gavel include veterans of the House, committee chairmen, a top member of Republican leadership and a sophomore. Virtually none have the kind of commanding national profile normally required of the speaker, who is not only second in line to the presidency but a key fund-raiser for their party's efforts to protect and expand its majority.Meanwhile, the Republican conference is expected to meet sometime this evening to hear from this new crop of candidates. The group is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on its next speaker-designate. All Republicans interested in running for House speaker had to announce their candidacy by noon Sunday to the office of Rep. Elise Stefanik (of New York), who chairs the House Republican Conference. Stefanik's office will run the internal meetings in which the GOP lawmakers are expected to choose their next nominee. Democrats, meanwhile, are widely expected to continue nominating and voting for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (also of New York).
Dig Deeper:
Is the Senate the last bastion of old-school Republican influence? Some experts think it's the GOP's last stand.
More Aid Arrives in Gaza
The U.S. is increasing its presence in the Middle East as many now Fear the war could Soon swell into a wider conflict
The U.S. is increasing its military presence in the Middle East and sending more air defense systems to the region as the Biden administration looks to ward off a broader regional conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is already “taking steps to make sure we effectively defend our people” if Iran tries to “escalate” the Israeli war with Hamas.However, a second installment of humanitarian aid arrived in Gaza on Sunday—a day after supplies entered the besieged enclave for the first time since the war erupted. According to NPR, essential supplies provided by the United Nations entered the southern Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing in Egypt. The shipment only included water, food and medical equipment, and it was inspected by Israeli security officials prior to entering Gaza. The White House said President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Sunday and “affirmed that there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance into Gaza.”The potential for escalation remained particularly high along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where the Israeli military continued to evacuate towns on Sunday in the face of “more and more attacks” from Hezbollah, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, said. And Israel's military said it had struck a “terror cell” hiding underground at a mosque in the occupied West Bank, where violence has soared in recent days. Israel also said it was intensifying its attacks on Gaza and urged Palestinians to flee south as it prepares for the "next stage of the war," an expected ground offensive.
Meanwhile:
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that the IDF found Hamas files with instructions for making chemical weapons.
Can Airlines Speed Up the Boarding Process?
United Airlines is debuting a new strategy to save time
I've long been a window seat flyer and here's some good news for fellow window seat devotees: United Airlines is changing its boarding order later this week by letting economy-class passengers who have selected window seats to board before those with middle and aisle seats.Airlines, which have recovered from a drop in travel during the pandemic, regularly tinker with boarding processes to try to save time and boost profits, reports NBC News. A departure delay because of chaotic boarding could cascade to further disruptions throughout the day if aircraft and travelers arrive late, especially at congested airports. But this one, experts say, might have the best chance to help fill the plane quickly and efficiently.The new seating plan, known as WILMA, a loose acronym for window-middle-aisle, will fill the seats from the edges of the plane to the middle. Passengers with a window seat will board in Group 3, along with fliers in exit row seats. Next up will be those with middle seats and the last regular economy passengers on the aircraft will be fliers with seats along the aisle. According to Conde Nast Traveler, the airline has boarded its planes using the WILMA method in the past, but stopped the process in 2017 in favor of a standard front-to-back approach. However, the airline's memo says that since 2019, United's average boarding times have increased by two minutes, as a result of which, it has been researching a way to streamline its protocol again.
FYI:
Those who prefer to sit in the aisle have a greater chance of getting sick, according to scientists.
Canned Cocktails Keep Getting Cooler
The category keeps growing and portability is no longer the primary concern
Have you noticed just how many canned cocktails there are at the moment? Punch says that over the last few years, the ready-to-drink (RTD) space has gone from “being dominated by canned, crushable drinks designed for coolers and picnics to an entire universe of products for which portability is not the primary concern.”The ever-expanding crop of RTDs includes a notably stronger showing of the spirit-forward, stirred variety—many of which are designed for at-home rather than on-the-go drinking. The can is simply a way to have it ready for you—no muss, no fuss. Don't have a cocktail shaker at home? No problem. You can still enjoy that espresso martini, just the way you like it. These cans are as close to having an on-call bartender as you can get.No matter what your poison, there's an RTD for you. And, of course, there's plenty more on the way. Just last week, Coca-Cola and Pernod Ricard announced that they were joining forces. First up? A canned mix of Absolut Vodka and Sprite, two of the most popular ingredients in mixed drinks. But if you'd prefer something more traditional, like say, a bottle-aged Old Fashioned, you've got that ready to go, too.
A Better Way to Drink Beer:
A love letter to the “Campari beer,” an easy, bubbly, bracing way to get more from both the bitter spirit and your favorite beer.
In Other News
Over the past two years, big chains have signaled plans to shutter more than 1,500 stores.
A New Report Says Young Driver Fatality Rates Have Fallen Sharply in the U.S., Helped by Education, Technology
Have you heard about ...
The Long Read
A history of the Luddites, ‘Blood in the Machine,’ argues that 19th-century fears about technology are still relevant
There have also been attempts to rehab the Luddites’ image, as people troubled by technology looked to history for inspiration. In 1972, a glossarist at the U.S. Congress listed two entries for Luddite: The historical term from that 19th century labor struggle, and modern day “Neo-Luddites,” who were taking a stand against technology on “moral grounds.””
- By Gregory Barber
Read It:
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
Nike's new gym gear
It was only a matter of time, right? Nike has worked with some of the world's most elite athletes to build their new strength program, featuring a range of essential gym equipment to “elevate your training.” There are dumbbells, bumper plates and stylish weight racks, along with some very cool kettlebells (from $40). The stylish matte finish ensures a smooth and secure grip—with or without chalk. Its rock-solid, wobble-free base keeps you in control during every workout, while vibrant color stripes make size identification a breeze. Plus, the heavier your order, the less it costs to ship.
Want more?
The five stylish items you should be buying this week.
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