Biden staffers urge president to ‘hold Israel accountable’ and protect Palestinians – as it happened

• 500 staffers sign letter urging Biden to lay groundwork for peace'
• Secretary of state Tony Blinken to travel to Middle East this week
• Republicans scramble to derail Capitol riot commission creation

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Thanks for keeping me company this Monday afternoon. Here's a rundown of some of the things we covered:

Related: Can Black Lives Matter LA dismantle the powerful police unions?

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A program providing federal funeral assistance for families dealing with Covid deaths has left thousands without funds - all because of issues with death certificates, Politico reports.

More than 200,000 people have requested reimbursement of up to $9,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which was charged with the largest funeral assistance program ever handled by the agency, as part of the $2.3tn relief package passed under former president Trump.

NEW: Americans are running into roadblocks getting FEMA funeral assistance because their family members' death certificates don't list Covid-19. And doctors/ medical examiners won't amend them. https://t.co/6Y43ySI3BJ

The hesitancy by doctors and medical examiners to change death certificates will likely delay or significantly limit Americans' ability to receive FEMA assistance, raising questions about how the agency will ensure people get the money they are entitled to while also preventing widespread fraud. Senior officials in FEMA have long worried about the prospect of scammers submitting falsified death certificates.

A FEMA spokesperson told POLITICO that the agency's current requirements for financial assistance amount to an interim policy'".