MORNING REPORT

Friday, October 30 | By Jared Gans

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In today's issue:

▪ Trump’s next possible targets for retribution

▪ U.S.-Iran deal in limbo

▪ “60 Minutes” correspondent not renewed

▪ Another Hamas leader killed

Who’s on top of Trump’s 2028 revenge list

President Trump’s 2026 revenge tour within the GOP is largely complete after helping oust Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) on Tuesday, but there’s a growing list of detractors who may face his wrath in two years.

Trump has scored one primary victory after another over the past month, ousting several Indiana state legislators who bucked him on redistricting, two senators and one congressman, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), underscoring his strength within his party despite his falling approval ratings.

While Trump doesn’t have other major targets left this year, here’s who may be on his radar in 2028.

Lisa Murkowski

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) may be the most obvious target for Trump in two years, but ousting her won't be easy.

Murkowski is set to be one of the only members of Congress left in the next session who voted to convict the president for his conduct leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The only other senators still in the upper chamber are Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his primary against a Trump-backed opponent this month, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is running for reelection this year.

National Republicans have avoided criticizing the moderate Collins as she represents a blue-leaning state, but Murkowski’s Alaska is much more reliably red. Still, she has overcome past challenges.

Trump endorsed a Republican challenger to Murkowski in 2022, Kelly Tshibaka, but Murkowski managed to win comfortably in Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. She’s also demonstrated an ability to appeal to some Democrats, giving her the necessary coalition to keep winning — so far.

Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has often been a punching bag for the president as a constant contrarian in the Senate GOP, but Trump endorsed him for reelection in 2022.

That may change this time after several instances in which Paul has broken with his party on key votes. That’s included Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act and spending votes. He’s also consistently voted to curb the president’s war powers in Iran.

“Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him,” Trump posted online last June after Paul said he would vote against his tax cut and spending bill.

Still, Paul has been a strong defender of Trump at other times.

“I was a big defender of the president on impeachment, so I think there’s quite a bit of difference,” Paul told reporters about a possible comparison to Cassidy, Politico reported.

Todd Young

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) has flown under the radar compared to some other Trump detractors, but like Cornyn, he was notably skeptical about his return to the White House in 2024.

Young declined to endorse the president in his comeback bid, taking issue with several topics, including Trump’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. He also has been among the more collaborative senators, voting for former President Biden’s bipartisan gun safety bill, potentially making him vulnerable to a challenge from the right.

Young and Trump haven’t had any major confrontations, but the president did slam him and other senators in January for their vote to rein in his military authority in Venezuela. He said they should “never be elected to office again.”

Lauren Boebert

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has branded herself throughout her congressional career as one of Trump’s most ardent supporters, but their relationship is on the rocks over her support for Massie.

The president threatened to pull his endorsement of Boebert earlier this month after she campaigned with her Kentucky colleague. The president called her “weak-minded” and invited a primary challenger to oppose her.

That call came too late for 2026, as the filing deadline in Colorado already closed and Boebert is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. But Trump could circle back in 2028.

Boebert has defended her willingness to break with the president, saying she doesn’t need to be a “rubber stamp” for him in order to support him. Following Massie’s loss, Boebert posted online, “Trump is my President.”

Warren Davidson

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) also campaigned with Massie and has been among the most willing to buck his party as a deficit hawk.

Davidson joined Massie as the only two House Republicans to at least initially oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, though he later supported it.

After the initial vote, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wanted a primary challenge to Massie and Davidson. Davidson ultimately received the president’s endorsement for reelection this year, setting him up for another term in Congress.

But Davidson has voted for successive war powers votes to rein in Trump on Iran. With Massie on his way out, Davidson’s defiance could take on more of a spotlight.

▪ The Hill: Trump’s Texas win gives him leverage with Senate GOP.

▪ NBC News: Trump racks up wins in retribution campaign.

3 Things to Know Today

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexual assault, CNN first reported. The probe reportedly focused on whether Carroll committed perjury while being deposed during her two civil lawsuits against Trump.
The U.S. intercepted and shot down four Iranian attack drones overnight, also striking a ground control station in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone. “These actions were measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire,” a U.S. official said.
A bipartisan group of former federal judges has asked a court to reopen Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, arguing that the administration “deceived” the court in not revealing the settlement, which includes the creation of a controversial “anti-weaponization” fund.

LEADING THE DAY

‘I DON’T CARE’: Trump said he’s not worried about the midterms as negotiations continue with Iran on an agreement to end the war, expressing confidence about his support among voters.

“I don’t care about the midterms; look what happened last night, that was the prelude to the midterms,” he said during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, referring to Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeating Cornyn in a primary runoff.

The White House had earlier in the day rejected a draft memorandum of understanding published by Iranian state media, calling it a “complete fabrication.” The memorandum states the U.S. would lift its naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and withdraw troops from around Iran, while Tehran would get commercial shipping through the strait back to prewar levels within a month.

Various aspects of a possible deal have leaked out in the few days since Trump said a finalized deal would be reached “shortly.” But as The Hill’s Niall Stanage reports, Trump seemed to harden his position on Iran negotiations during the Cabinet meeting, pouring cold water on the idea send its enriched uranium to a third country.

Trump said the U.S. is not considering providing sanctions relief during the initial stage of talks but could unfreeze Iranian assets if “they behave properly.”

Thursday marks the three-month anniversary of the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that started the war at the end of February.

▪ The Hill: Key takeaways from Trump’s Cabinet meeting.

▪ The Hill: Trump says Oman must behave or ‘we’ll have to blow ‘em up.’

CANCER DIAGNOSIS: Former Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and is undergoing treatment.

Bondi told CNN that she was diagnosed after leaving her role at the DOJ. She said she had surgery a few weeks ago and is “doing well.”

The news, first reported by Axios, comes as Bondi is set to step back into the public spotlight Friday when she testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the panel’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Bondi’s revelation about her health also came as Trump, who fired Bondi in April, appointed her to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

▪ Semafor: Bondi gets unusual representation.

HEADING OUT: Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi is leaving “60 Minutes” months after a segment on her reporting was pulled from the air at the last minute, creating a firestorm at CBS News.

Alfonsi told The New York Times that her contract with the program ended over the weekend.

“It sends a chilling message to the entire newsroom,” Alfonsi told the Times of her own departure. “I think it was a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize accurate reporting.”

Alfonsi had slammed what she called a “political” decision in December to pull a segment on a notorious Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration had been deporting Venezuelan migrants. The segment eventually ran weeks later, but Alfonsi has been vocal in criticizing CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss for the move.

▪ Business Insider: Alfonsi’s exit memo.

STATE FAIR LINEUP: A slate of entertainers has been unveiled for the birthday bash celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The 16-day Great American State Fair will kick off on June 25, recognizing the culture of all states and territories of the U.S. with a World Fair-esque event. Some of the performers include country music star Martina McBride, rappers Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice, and rock-and-roller Bret Michaels.

Other performers include the funk group the Commodores and pop duo Milli Vanilli, famed for not singing on their debut album and early performances.

“The Great American State Fair will bring together people from all 56 states and territories to celebrate the traditions, innovation, music, military heritage, freedom and entrepreneurial spirit that define our nation,” Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach said in a statement, adding that it will be a moment for the country to “come together.”

Additional artists will be announced.

▪ WMUR: Quarter featuring Declaration of Independence to be released.

WHEN & WHERE

The president will participate in a pre-taped interview at 10 a.m. He will participate in signing time at 2 p.m. and a policy meeting at 3:30 p.m.
The Senate will meet at 3:30 p.m. for a pro forma session.
The House is out today.

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ZOOM IN

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: The Hill’s Laura Kelly was traveling through Uganda when new measures from the Trump administration were announced to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and South Sudan.

Kelly reports her initial concern was the process awaiting her in the U.S., as foreign nationals who traveled to the countries in the past three months were blocked from entering the country.

“An ‘enhanced health screening’ was said to be awaiting Americans returning from any of the designated countries,” Kelly recounts. “In the end, nothing happened. I didn’t have my temperature taken. I was not questioned or taken aside.”

She likened her experience to one had by Craig Spencer, an emergency medicine physician and professor at Brown University, during a previous Ebola outbreak in 2014. He said the responsibility to alert customs officials fell on travelers coming from those countries.

“I long recalled how fascinating it was that I had to be the one that flagged this,” Spencer said.

Kelly reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not respond to her questions about the procedure for a person traveling from the region back to the U.S. but did say, “Ebola is not spread by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms.”

The U.S. government has expanded its screening program for travelers who visited Congo, South Sudan or Uganda to a third airport — George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. That adds to the two previously announced checkpoints for enhanced screenings at Washington Dulles International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

So far, there have been 900 suspected cases and at least 223 deaths tied to the current outbreak, mostly in the Congo.

▪ The Hill: Ebola spreads as concerns grow over US response.

ELSEWHERE

TWO WEEKS LATER: Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed the new leader of Hamas’s military wing less than two weeks after the death of his predecessor.

The killing of Mohammed Odeh, who was appointed to lead Hamas in Gaza earlier this month, comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel is “relentlessly pursuing” all those responsible for perpetrating the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on the country that launched the war with Hamas.

Hamas confirmed the strikes killed Odeh, along with his wife and two children. At least seven people in total were killed in the attack, according to the militant group.

Former leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in strikes on May 15, after about a year overseeing the group.

The attack targeting Odeh, which came on the eve of Eid al-Adha, a major holiday in Islam, was carried out despite an ongoing and fragile ceasefire in the region, which was signed by Hamas and Israel in October.

“We will get to all of them,” Netanyahu said on the social platform X, referring to the “architects of the October 7 massacre.”

Israel has killed more than 800 Palestinians since the ceasefire took hold, which Israeli officials have said is because those individuals were in violation of the agreement or otherwise posed harm to Israeli soldiers, according to The Associated Press.

Palestinian health authorities have said many of those killed were civilians. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began.

Following the Gaza strike, Israel announced it would intensify strikes on suspected Hezbollah sites and operators in Lebanon. At least 14 people were killed early Thursday in the southern part of the country in the latest escalation of hostilities.

Lebanon and Israel also have a ceasefire agreement in place, having extended a 45-day peace agreement that began in mid-April. But strikes between the two groups have continued.

▪ The Jerusalem Post: Board of Peace blames ceasefire breakdown on Hamas.

OPINION

America laughs to keep from crying. That’s getting canceled, Scott Rivkees writes in The Hill.
Democrats must stop talking about autopsies and start showing signs of life, former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) writes in The Hill.

THE CLOSER

And finally … It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for the weekly news quiz!

Ferrari released its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) earlier this week, leading to some high-octane backlash in its home country of Italy and online. This week’s quiz will test your knowledge about the company and EVs.

Be sure to email your responses to jgans@thehill.com — please add “Quiz” to your subject line. Winners who submit correct answers will receive deserved newsletter fame on Friday.

How much is the car, called the Luce, selling for in U.S. dollars?

1. $100,000

2. $320,000

3. $640,000

4. $1.2 million

Which of the following automakers don’t sell an EV?

1. Lamborghini

2. Nissan

3. Porsche

4. BMW

Which color automobile will Ferrari not produce?

1. Yellow