By Hannah Jewell and Jamie Ross

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Monday, Aug. 10, and 120 teenagers are competing in the first ever “Patriot Games,” a Trump-backed event raising a lot of questions. Let’s catch up.

	Israel rejected President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza.

• Trump had touted the plan as a breakthrough: Hamas agreed to lay down its weapons in exchange for Israeli withdrawal. But yesterday, Israel said it did not accept the terms.

• It’s another setback for Trump in the Middle East: His efforts to end the Iran war have also stalled, as defense officials scramble to replenish depleted weapons stockpiles.

Todd Blanche is set to face immediate challenges as the new attorney general.

• This weekend: The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Blanche. As head of the Justice Department, he will have to deal with low staff morale, skeptical courts and pressure from Trump.

• In D.C.: Jeanine Pirro, the capital’s top prosecutor and a staunch Trump ally, finds herself at odds with the president over scraps of liner that peeled off the Reflecting Pool. Her job is at risk.

Surprise nominees and candidate scandals are scrambling the battle for Congress.

• In a small but key set of races: Primary upsets, candidate controversies and voters’ rejection of establishment candidates are complicating both parties’ paths to control of Congress.

• This weekend: A deadline passed in the process to replace Rep. Max Miller, an Ohio Republican who denies claims of domestic abuse. His child’s stuffed bunny has become a talking point.

• In other news: Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she’s freezing her eggs.

U.S. water systems are ripe for cyberattacks, according to experts.

• Late last month: A spate of intrusions targeted water systems across at least a dozen states. U.S. spy agencies believe it was the work of Iranian regime hackers, but Trump disagreed.

• Another threat to be aware of: A series of recent disclosures by OpenAI and other AI companies has sparked warnings that an era of disruptive, AI-powered cyberattacks could lie ahead.

The effects of a historically intense El Niño are being felt around the planet.

• There has already been an uptick of heat domes: Experts expect cascading effects on the global climate to peak late this year and into next. We’re tracking forecasts here.

• Exceptionally warm waters: As El Niño heats the ocean, scientists are racing to save Florida’s coral reef. It’s facing more heat stress three years after a mass bleaching event.

You might be overlooking some common causes of brain fog.

• “Brain fog” is not an official diagnosis: It describes moments of forgetfulness, or going through the day in a haze. It’s linked to several conditions, including these five surprising ones.

• Chronic pain is one of them: If you suffer from lower back pain, experts suggest these three science-backed remedies — acupuncture, hydrotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Cool guys are embracing the magic of carrying a purse.