News Wrap: House Republicans issue subpoenas to Biden’s son, brother

Amna Nawaz:

Minnesota's Supreme Court refused to toss former President Trump off the state's primary ballot next year. A lawsuit had argued he violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by inciting the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

The amendment bars anyone involved in insurrection from federal office. Similar lawsuits are pending around the country.

Republicans are holding their third presidential debate tonight, this time in Miami. Five candidates are taking part, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie. Notably absent again is former President Trump. He is holding his own campaign event just blocks from the debate venue.

Ivanka Trump testified in New York today that she played no role in her father's financial statements. She arrived at a courthouse this morning to appear in the civil fraud trial against the family's real estate business. She is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas today to President Biden's son Hunter and his brother James. It's part of an impeachment inquiry involving family business dealings. The committee posted video showing Chair James Comer signing the subpoenas for the Bidens. So far, there's no evidence directly implicating the president in any wrongdoing.

The only Palestinian American in Congress has now been censured by the House over her criticism of Israel. Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib was formally rebuked last night 234-188. More than 20 Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting for censure after an intense debate.

Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA):

We have seen the effects of the reprehensible rhetoric of Representative across Tlaib the nation. At the schools and colleges around the country, Jewish students have been forced to be on alert as their antisemitic peers have engaged in disgusting demonstrations.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI):

My criticism has always been of the Israeli government and Netanyahu's actions. It is important to separate people and governments, Mr. Chair. No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent.

Amna Nawaz:

Censure of a member of Congress has no practical effect, but it is one step short of actual expulsion.

In East Africa, heavy rain has touched off the worst flooding in decades, with at least 40 people killed. The deluge in Kenya and Somalia has also forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Video today from Somalia showed whole towns and broad swathes of farmland submerged. Many people were trapped by the floods that followed four years of intense drought.

Across the globe, this October was the warmest on record. It's the fifth straight month to average a new high temperature. European Union scientists say warming oceans and an El Nino climate cycle mean 2023 is likely to be the hottest year ever with more to come.

Samantha Burgess, Copernicus Climate Change Service:

I'm sure everyone remembers the extreme wildfires that we have had this year, the heat waves that have been impacting many parts of the world, the extreme marine heat waves. We're more likely to have events like that, more severe hurricanes and cyclones, more intense storms.

Amna Nawaz:

The scientists say natural data from caves, coral and ice cores show this year could be the hottest in 125,000 years.

Amna Nawaz:

Back in this country, the FDA approved the latest in a series of weight loss drugs today. It's a new version of an existing diabetes drug, and it will be marketed under the name Zepbound. In a study, it helped dieters lose roughly a quarter of their body weight. The treatment could be available by year's end.

And on Wall Street, stocks mostly drifted today. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 40 points to close at 34112. The Nasdaq rose 10 points. The S&P 500 added four.

And the Washington National Zoo's three giant pandas are on their way back to China tonight. Two adult pandas and their cub left this morning bound for Beijing. They're traveling in special crates with bamboo, apples and pears for mid-flight snacks. The crates were loaded onto a cargo plane as zoo officials voiced hope for the future.

Brandie Smith (Director, Smithsonian National Zoo):

Because I am an optimist — when you work with giant pandas, you have to be an optimist — I will also say, with hope, is, I look forward to welcoming you all here sometime soon again as we celebrate the return of giant pandas to Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Amna Nawaz:

China had declined to let the pandas stay amid diplomatic tensions. The last of the bears left in the U.S. are at the Atlanta Zoo, but they will leave next year.