Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Saturday, October 21, 2023.

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1. Biden pledges aid to Israel and Ukraine

In his second-ever Oval Office address, U.S. President Joe Biden put forth a funding request of $100 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel. Biden said that the United States is an "indispensable nation" and that the current moment in time is one "where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come.”

Several Democratic legislators have called for Biden to encourage a cease-fire to protect Palestinian civilians, and have criticized the United States' supply of weapons to Israel. The IDF has also admitted to dropping 6,000 bombs on the Gaza Strip during the first six days of war — more than the U.S. dropped in any given month while combating ISIS.

The United Nations has warned Palestinians are "at risk of genocide" from Israeli retaliation. Israel has cut off Palestinian civilians' access to water, food, fuel, and electricity, while ordering those in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes, both of which are prohibited under international law.

The White House has pledged just $100 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

2. House of Representatives approaches three weeks with no Speaker

The House of Representatives has gone nearly 18 days without a leader, but no end appeared in sight when GOP nominee Rep. Jim Jordan failed to secure the position in his third round of voting. Jordan is former President Trump's pick for speaker, but faced opposition from twenty-five Republicans, up from the 22 who voted against him on Wednesday.

Republicans attempted to grant temporary authority to speaker pro tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry, which failed in a floor vote. House Democrats have voted unanimously all three times for their nominee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who received 210 votes.

As long as the House of Representatives lacks a Speaker, Congress cannot pass Biden's proposed aid for Israel and Ukraine.

3. Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty to election subversion

One day before her trial was set to start, Sidney Powell, Donald Trump’s former attorney, pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case. Powell has admitted to her role in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia as part of her guilty plea.

Currently, Fulton County prosecutors are recommending six years of probation as a sentence. Powell will be required to testify at future trials, write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, pay nearly $9,000 in restitution and fines, as well as turn over documents.