Eight. But at the end of the day they had no plan. They had no plan, and larry, this could stretch out another two or three weeks. This is unfortunate, and, you know, im ashamed were in this position. Hopefully well find someone who can get 217 votes soon. Thats House OversightCommittee Chairman joemz comer with a candid assessment of his party and its dysfunctional search for a new speaker. Well get the latest from capitol hill just ahead. Plus, well go through all of the new developments out of the middle east including the negotiations to free more hostages after hamas released two elderly women yesterday. And also ahead, Donald Trumps latest down right deranged comments from the campaign trail, comparing himself to Nelson Mandela and fantasizing about punching President Biden in the face. Good morning, and welcome to Way Too Early on this tuesday, october 24th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. Hamas has released two more civilians being held hostage in gaza. Two elderly women were freed yesterday. They were handed over to Israeli Defense forces custody, taken to the hospital, and then reunited with their families. The womens husbands who are both in their 80s are still being held captive. They were kip nped from their homes when hamas first attacked on october 7th. The Military Wing of hamas said they made the decision to release these two women due to humanitarian reasons. This is the second hostage release since the war began. An American Mother and daughter were freed late friday. Still israeli officials believe that more than 200 people remain captive in gaza. Hamas, qatar, egypt, and israel have been negotiating a proposal to release a larger group of hostages in exchange for a steady flow of humanitarian aid to the area. Thats according to three officials familiar with talks telling the wall street journal. Hamas, however, is demanding that israel allow Fuel Deliveries into gaza, but israel fears the Terrorist Group may divert that supply for military purposes. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is advising israel to delay a Ground Invasion of gaza to allow for more time for Hostage Negotiations as well as for some humanitarian aid to reach there. Thats according to four u. S. Officials. However, the officials stress the United States is not dictating operations for the Israeli Defense forces. Yet, the pentagon has sent a threestar marine general and other officers to help the israeliwise the challenge of potentially mighting an urban war. This comes as Senior Administration officials tell the times the white house is concerned the white house lacks achievable military objectives in gaza and that thaidf are not yet ready to launch a Ground Invasion with a plan that can work. Now, this comes as more aid reached the gaza strip yesterday as the third envoy of supplies entered the rafah crossing bringing food, water, and medicine. An official for the u. N. s Palestinian Refugee agency told the Associated Press about 20 trucks dropped off supplies. So far, 54 trucks in total have entered the territory to drop off aid since saturday. A drop in the bucket, though, advocates believe to whats needed. President biden spoke again with Prime Minister netanyahu yesterday. And the leaders affirm there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance in gaza, according to the white house readout of the call. However, reuters reports that fuel, indeed, not being allowed in this aid shipment and the u. N. Is warning that reserves are set to run out within the next two days. Joining us now from tel aviv, israel, nbc news Senior Correspondent jay gray. Jay, great to see you. In the last couple of days the idf has really escalated their air strikes in gaza. In fact, a short time ago they posted online they struck over 400 targets in the past 24 hours. Is this a suggestion these air strikes are a prelude to an imminent Ground Operation . Reporter jonathan, it would certainly seem that way. Theyre calling what happened in the last 24 hours a wide scale operation hitting rocket installations, antitank areas as well, tunnels, staging areas, command centers, israels Defense Minister saying they are preparing for a multilateral operation, air, ground, and sea. We know theyve continued today reorganize troops along the border with gaza as well as the Equipment Tanks and digging units there. And it would appear despite the white house asking for them to delay matters, that they are at least preparing to move tanks into gaza at some point. So, jay, yesterday nfc strategic coordinator john kirby says the United States is taking steps to make sure its postured appropriately in the region amid mounting concern of risk of a regional spillover as well as fears expressed by the pentagon that assets in the region could soon be at harms way. Tell us the strategy here how the u. S. Is trying to prepare. Reporter yeah, and theres no question that theres been a buildup especially along the border with lebanon, youve seen Israeli Forces trading in skirmishes with hezbollah fighters there. And we know theres been attacks on a u. S. Base in iraq and other issues within the region, so theres a real fear of escalation. The u. S. Responding to that by building up its Military Presence here. Two u. S. Carrier strike groups are in the region with all the ships that includes. A hundred war planes, jet fighters are in the region as well. They have brought in High Altitude fad and Patriot Missile battalions. 2,000 marines already in the region, 2,000 more forces in the u. S. Have been placed on standby ready to deploy. And we know, jonathan, that Special Forces are in the region as well. At this point what were being told by the bentgon is that they are here for an advisory role. Jay gray, thank you very much. Joining us now middle east for The Economist who appears for us live in jerusalem. Greg, good to see you. Lets talk first of all about this imminent invasion. We were thinking it was coming for a weeks now. Theres been perhaps some delays. The United States urging netanyahus government to allow more aid to come in, to allow more potentially hostages to be released. Whats your reporting telling you to as to when this might happen and when israel thinks theyll finally go in . We still dont know an answer to when. I think everyone would have expected if not 360,000 reservists on the border within days of the Massacre October 7th everyone expected this would move ahead quickly. I think were getting to a point now there are military questions around how long you can keep these reservists at high mobile, how long they can have an impact on the economy. The army says theyll have a few more days of air strikes for time to deploy Ground Forces and theyre saying essentially were ready to go and whats holding this up is opposition from the political establishment or disagreements within the political establishment in israel. In terms of what to expect, thats something the army has been talking through. And as you said they brought in a threestar American General to help consult as well. I think the big concern for the army is this network of Tunnels Hamas has dug inside of gaza as a command and control center for the group. And there are huge concerns having to do prolonged tunnel work there in weeks if not months for locations that havent been mapped and not surveilled. You make a great point about as much as theres preach for patience from washington, theres only so long you can keep those reservists at the ready. Youve got good new reporting about the aftermath of what happened october 7th and how it has changed or not changed israels potential relationships with saudi arabia or the uae. Saudi arabia was in the midst of trying to normalize relations with israel before this attack. Tell us about what happens next. Well, i think those Normalization Talks are derailed for the moment, but theyre not completely over. I do think when the war ends, saudi arabia and israel will go back to normalization. I think it will be quieter than it was before. Weve had this unusually public effort throughout the year to broker this threeyear deal in which the americans might offer a defense pack to saudi arabia, the saudis, but it was never entirely clear what israel was meant to give as this part of the bargain. We heard the Saudi Crown Prince in an interview last month who said he wants the measures to ease the lives of palestinians. Not the full end to an occupation, not the creation of a palestinian state, not just gestures to make the occupation much less miserable. I think saudi arabia and probably the Biden Administration would expect israel to give more in part of a normalization deal. But, again, i dont think those talkserize off the table at this point. I think theyre just on hold until this war is over. Give us a sense right now as to Prime Ministers netanyahus grip on power. Obviously his government has come under intense scrutiny for Terrorist Failures that led to the Terror Attacks on october 7th. We know hes no favorite of President Bidens despite the strong words the president has for israels cause. What do you think here is his political future . I think theres two issues for netanyahu. The shortterm issue is theres huge infighting going on within his government. His Defense Minister is someone he tried to fire back in march, theyre now working together and theyre having disagreements. And then theres a longterm question what happens after this war. I think most israelis are not going to forgive this government for this huge intelligence failure. More likely than not its an election hes going to lose. All right, really good stuff this morning from middle east correspondent for The EconomistGregg Calstrom who appeared live for us in jerusalem. Well talk to you again soon. Still ahead here on Way Too Early, Donald Trumps former fixer gets a chance to face his former boss in court today. Well go through that legal case. Plus, a bizarre and terrifying story of an Alaska Aerolines pilot who is accused of trying to take down a plane while he was a passenger on that flight. Those stories and a check on weather and sports when we come right back. D sports when we com right back remember the things you loved. Before asthma got in the way . Fasenra is an addon treatment for asthma driven by eosinophils. Its designed to target and remove them and helps prevent asthma attacks. Fasenra is not for sudden Breathing Problems or other eosinophilic conditions. Allergic reactions may occur. Dont stop your Asthma Treatments without talking with your doctor. Tell your doctor if your asthma worsens. Headache and sore throat may occur. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Get back to better breathing. Ask your doctor about fasenra. A mystery jessie loves playing detective. But the real mystery was her irritated skin. So, we switched to tide pods free gentle. It cleans better, and doesnt leave behind irritating residues. And its gentle on her skin. Tide free gentle is epa safer choice certified. Its got to be tide. Nice footwork. Tide free gentle is epa safer choice certified. Man, youre lucky, watching live sports never used to be this easy. Now you can stream all your games like its nothing. Yes [ cheers ] yeah woho running up and down that field looks tough. Its a pitch. Get way more into what youre into when you stream on the xfinity 10g network. Welcome back. Well have more on the war in the middle east as well as the search for a new speaker later in the show. We turn now to the mornings other top headlines. Former trump fixer Michael Cohen is set to take the stand today as a key witness in the New York Civil Fraud Trial against the trump organization. And former President Trump is also expected to be in court for the highly anticipated testimony, which was originally scheduled for last week, but was delayed after cohen cited an unspecified health issue. Cohen has said this will be the first time seeing trump in five years. New York Attorney general Letitia James lawsuit argues the Trump Administration inflated trumps net worth by billions of dollars for years. The judge has already ruled trump org committed fraud. It includes claims of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and falsifying business records. Now, trump has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to eventually testify in the trial. Meanwhile, senator bob menendez pleaded not guilty to a new charge, conspiring to act as a Foreign Agent while serving in congress. According to the new federal indictment, menendez is accused of providing sensitive u. S. Government information and other actions that secretly aided the government of egypt. Menendez was arraigned in Manhattan Federal Court yesterday. His codefendants including his wife, were also included in the new charges and they pleaded not guilty last week. Menendez released a statement after his Arraignment Reading in rt this. Anyone whonows my record knows this latest charge is as outrageous as it is absurd. He added, i have done nothing wrong and once all the facts are presented, will be found innocent. Last Month Menendez and his wife also pleaded not guilty to corruption charges that accused the couple of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars as bribes from three new jersey businessmen. More than 30 democrats in congress have are called for menendez to resign. The new jersey senator has resisted those calls to this point and continues to insist he is innocent of all the charges. A Commercial Pilot is in jail this morning accused of trying to take down an Alaska Airlines plane he was flying on as a passenger. That pilot now faces 83 counts of attempted murder. Nbc news correspondent tom costello has more. Reporter held in an oregon jail 44yearold Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson booked on 167 charges including 83 potential counts of attempted murder. The fbi and local Police Allege emerson was offduty riding in the Cockpit Seat Flying on horizon air to San Francisco sunday night when he tried to pull the engine Fire Suppression controls to shutdown the engines at cruising altitude. The pilot and copilot stopped and subdued emcern, removed him from the cockpit, then diverted. With 83 people onboard its definitely frightening that someone is struggling like that up in the cockpit. Reporter Law Enforcement sources do not believe theres any connection to terrorism or the events in the middle east. The faa issued an alert to all airlines for crews to maintain vigilance and situational awareness. Other recent cases of pilots attempting or succeeding in crashing planes include china east last year, german wings, egypt air, and possibly Malaysia Airlines 370 still missing. In 2017 a maintenance air worker took a jet on an joyride before crashing and killing himself. Now prosecutors must determine the motivations of his actions. That was nbcs tom costello reporting. Still ahead here on Way Too Early, well turn to sports and another great day of playoff baseball. Weve got a game seven tonight. Well have the highlights from both of yesterdays games includesing the elimination of the reining champs. Plus one of the top teams stumbles on monday night football. Thats all ahead. Stumbles on mot football thats all ahead emergenc crystals. Theres challenges, and i love overcoming challenges. When better money habits® content first started coming out, it expanded what i could do for Special Olympics athletes with developmental needs. 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