Capitol Police arrest 3 people wearing pro-cease-fire shirts
Capitol Police arrested two men and a woman for showing yellow shirts saying, “SEAL THE DEAL NOW.” They were put in zip-tie cuffs and walked away from the chamber.
Many Democrats remain seated, not clapping during Netanyahu's speech
Through the several standing ovations for Netanyahu, two Democratic senators — Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Chris Murphy of Connecticut —have stayed in their seats and not clapped. When Netanyahu spoke about bringing hostages home, Murphy, Warnock, Reps. Pete Aguilar of California and Katherine Clark of Connecticut seemed to be the only Democrats who did not stand.
Schumer smiled for the first time in his remarks when Netanyahu spoke about IDF soldiers returning to battle.
Senate Democrats were seated in the front two rows. Besides Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and West Virginia Joe Manchin (both have left the Democratic Party and become independents) all stayed seated and did not clap when Netanyahu said protestors should be ashamed of themselves. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, with Manchin and Sinema, also stood up when Netanyahu discussed University of North Carolina fraternity brothers who clashed with anti-Israel protesters while the other Democrats remained stoic and seated.
The crowd later chanted USA!
Rep. Rashida Tlaib holds 'war criminal' sign during speech
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., held a "war criminal" sign during Netanyahu's speech as he criticized pro-Palestinian protestors outside. The other side of the sign said "Guilty of Genocide." Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, has been vocally critical of Israel and its handling of the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu thanks Biden for his 'tireless efforts' on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza
Netanyahu thanked Biden for his efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since Oct. 7.
"I want to thank President Biden for his tireless efforts on behalf of the hostages and for his efforts to the hostage families," Netanyahu said, and "for his heartfelt support for Israel."
"After the savage attack on Oct. 7, he rightly called Hamas sheer evil," he said.
Netanyahu's comments about Biden were met with resounding bipartisan applause. There has been tension between the two leaders over Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and they are expected to meet tomorrow in the White House.
Biden "came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour — a visit that will never be forgotten," said Netanyahu. "Biden and I have known each other for over 40 years. I want to thank him for half a century of friendship to Israel, and for being, as he says, a proud Zionist."
Netanyahu spotlights the Israeli hostage Noa Argamani who's sitting in House gallery
Netanyahu spoke about Noa Argamani, the Israeli woman sitting in the House gallery as the prime minister's guest, and her experience as a hostage taken to Gaza on Oct. 7 and rescued by Israeli security forces in early June.
Netanyahu said on "the morning of Oct. 7, the entire world saw Noa's look of desperation as she was violently abducted to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle."
He referenced the operation that rescued Argamani and three other hostages who were held captive in Gaza.
The prime minister also spoke about other hostages or families of hostages attending his speech.
"I met with them again yesterday and I promised them this — I will not rest until all their loved ones are home," he said.
Schumer and Netanyahu didn't shake hands when the Israeli leader entered the chamber
Schumer and Netanyahu didn't shake hands when the Israeli prime minister entered the chamber. Schumer, who was sitting on the aisle, only nodded at Netanyahu.
The Senate Democratic leader called earlier this year for new Israeli elections to replace Netanyahu.
Police pepper spray anti-Netanyahu protesters in front of the Capitol
Police near the Capitol have used pepper spray to attempt to disperse protestors with the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition.
About 500 protestors gathered in the street earlier this morning ahead of Netanyahu's address to Congress.
The protesters were standing behind a large canvas banner that reads “Arrest Netanyahu for Genocide" and planned to create a “people’s red line against genocide” and conduct a “citizen’s arrest” of Netanyahu.
The group has provided attendees with signs on wood posts with phrases like “free all Palestinian political prisoners” and “lift the siege on Gaza now” as well as a “wanted” posted for Netanyahu.
Harris rips Trump and Project 2025: 'We are not going back'
In remarks at the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Grand Boule in Indianapolis, Harris sought to draw a stark contrast between the policies she champions and those proposed by Trump and his conservative allies.
“As we work to build a brighter future and to move our nation forward, we must also recognize there are those who are trying to take us backward. You may have seen their agenda, part of it is called Project 2025,” she said, referring to an expansive conservative blueprint for a second Trump term proposed by the Heritage Foundation, which Trump has sought to distance himself from.
Harris argued that Project 2025 is an effort to “return America to a dark past.”
“This represents an outright attack on our children, our families and our future,” she said. “These extremists want to take us back, but we are not going back.”
Harris told the gathering of one of the nation's largest historically Black sororities that Americans’ “hard won freedoms and rights,” such as voting rights and reproductive health rights, are under threat. She specifically took aim at Trump’s appointment of three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, which ultimately led to the overturning in 2022 of the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade that guaranteed a constitutional right to an abortion.
“Well, let me tell you something: When I am president of the United States, and when Congress passes a law to restore those freedoms, I will sign it into law,” she said.
Harris concluded that “there’s so much at stake in this moment.”
“Our nation, as it always has, is counting on you to energize, to organize and to mobilize, to register folks to vote, to get them to the polls and to continue to fight for the future our nation and her people deserve,” she said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, a VP contender, says on Harris getting the party behind her: 'She kicked butt'
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro dodged questions today about whether he's being vetted as a potential running mate for Harris, and told reporters when asked about calls for the Democratic National Convention to hold an open nomination vote that "anyone could have jumped into this process."
"It was an open process," Shapiro said at a press conference in New Castle, Pennsylvania. "The vice president jumped in. I endorsed her immediately, as of course did President Biden. She has earned this nomination. She has earned the support of the needed number of delegates to make her the nominee. She has done an extraordinary job over the last, what has it been, 72-96 hours, something like that, of consolidating the party behind her."
"For anyone calling for any open process, I will tell you we had one," he continued. "And you know what? She kicked butt, and she earned the support, and she earned the nomination, and I’m proud to support her."
Shapiro also called Harris' decision about a running mate a "deeply personal" one "that she is obviously quite familiar with because she went through it with then-candidate Biden when she was selected to serve as the vice president of the United States."
The decision should be made "free from any political pressure," Shapiro added.
Father of American hostage in Gaza rips Netanyahu visit as 'staged piece of political theater'
The father of one of the American hostages held in Gaza questioned Netanyahu's speech to Congress during an interview on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports."
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui Dekel-Chen has been held hostage in Gaza since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, called Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. this week a “staged piece of political theater." He said that “the vast majority of Israelis already understand” that Netanyahu is in “survival” mode,” and if the war in Gaza were to end, “it is doubtful” his coalition government “would survive.”
He also criticized the meeting Netanyahu held last night with hostage families as "neither intimate, nor just hostage families." He said Netanyahu brought his own guests to the meeting and the "most vocal were people not exposed to anything other than Bibi’s political line."