Over 100 Republicans, Including Former Officials, Threaten to Split from GOP  —  More than 100 Republicans, including some former elected officials, are preparing to release a letter this week threatening to form a third party if the Republican Party does not make certain changes, according to an organizer of the effort.

Israel-Gaza violence: death toll rises as UN envoy warns over escalation  —  Further airstrikes and rocket fire reported in worst violence since 2014 war between Israel and Hamas  —  Israeli jets and Palestinian militants have traded fresh airstrikes and rocket fire as the UN's Middle East envoy warned …

Jenner says she didn't vote in 2020.  But records show she did.  —  OAKLAND — Republican gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner told CNN this week that she never voted for president in the November 2020 election and opted to golf instead because she “couldn't get excited” about the dozen measures on the California ballot.

Anti-Maskers Ready to Start Masking—to Protect Themselves From the Vaccinated  —  An anti-vaccine conspiracy about the vaccinated are leading some anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers to contemplate wearing a mask and social distance.  —  Mack Lamoureux  —  TORONTO, CA

Michigan GOP lawmaker floats bill to register, fine ‘fact checkers’  —  Lansing — A Michigan lawmaker who's been at the center of efforts to question the 2020 election introduced a bill Tuesday that would require “fact checkers” to register with the state.  —  Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford …

Scoop: Stephanie Murphy announcing challenge to Marco Rubio  —  Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy is planning to announce a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Florida against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio in early June, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.  —  Why it matters: Murphy is a proven fundraiser.

It's a Home in Brooklyn.  What Could It Cost?  $100,000?  —  Shaun Donovan and Raymond J. McGuire, candidates for mayor of New York, were way, way off when asked to estimate the median home price in the borough.  —  Do you know the median sales price for a home in Brooklyn?

They Haven't Gotten a Covid Vaccine Yet.  But They Aren't ‘Hesitant’ Either.  —  Much has been said about people opposed to or skeptical of coronavirus vaccines.  But there's another group that has yet to get shots, and their reasons are more complex.  —  It had been weeks since Acy Grayson III …

Federal judge denies NRA attempt to declare bankruptcy in win for New York state attorney general  —  A federal judge Tuesday denied an effort by the National Rifle Association to file for bankruptcy protection, ruling that the gun rights group filed the case in an attempt to fend off a civil lawsuit by the New York attorney general.

Reality Winner was the FBI's ‘head on a pike’ for Trump.  It's time to set her free.  —  At 25, Reality Leigh Winner was a remarkable young woman.  Fluent in Farsi and other languages spoken in Iraq and Afghanistan, she was, in 2017, a decorated Air Force veteran working as a contractor for the National Security Agency.

The Official and Unofficial Timeline of Defense Department Actions on January 6  —  In advance of Wednesday's congressional hearing on “unexplained delays and unanswered questions” pertaining to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, we are revisiting the day's events, focusing closely on the Defense Department's actions.

Nominees for defense budget and intel chiefs face senators  —  Editor's Note: Morning Defense is a free version of POLITICO Pro Defense's morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use …

4 Women Say Matt Gaetz's Wingman Pressured Them to Have Sex  —  “I wasn't really in a position to say I didn't want to do this.  I wasn't in my right mind.  I was in over my head and it was kind of scary.”  —  Multiple women paid by Rep. Matt Gaetz's wingman and close associate Joel Greenberg claim …

People Aren't ‘Addicted’ to Wearing Masks, They're Traumatized  —  There's a glaring omission from the discussion about why some “can't quit” pandemic behaviors: the mental and emotional toll of the last year.  —  Shayla Love  —  Around a month ago, Lauren Albanese went to the mall with her uncle and dad.

Consumer Prices Jumped as Economic Recovery Picked Up  —  Consumer price index rose 4.2% from year earlier, highest 12-month level since the summer of 2008  —  U.S. consumer prices surged in April as the economic recovery picked up, reflecting surging demand as the pandemic eased and higher prices due to supply bottlenecks.

President Biden Announces Third Slate of Judicial Nominees … President Biden has announced his intent to nominate three new Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees, who will bring deep credentials and qualifications to the federal bench, as well as career-long devotion to our Constitution and the rule of law.