“Israel, early Friday morning local time, launched missiles in a retaliatory strike against Iran,” ABC News reports. “The missile launches follow Iran’s attack last Saturday, where the country sent a volley of more than 300 uncrewed drones and missiles toward targets throughout the country, Israeli military officials previously said. All but a few were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States ..read more

“In its first week, Donald Trump’s criminal trial is forcing the former president, a man who famously surrounds himself with sycophants, to sit quietly and listen to the unfiltered opinions of those typically kept at arm’s-length: People he might call his ‘haters,'” Politico reports. “During jury selection, Trump has heard himself described by those under consideration as racist and sexist and a narcissist. He’s been presented with social media posts calling for officials to ‘lock him up.’ He’s been told, to his face, that he’s ‘very selfish and self-serving.'” “And through it all, Trump has b ..read more

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) said he could beat both President Biden and former President Trump in a hypothetical match-up Thursday, The Hill reports. Said Ventura: “If I had ballot access in all 50 states and I were allowed to debate, I could beat these two major party candidates ..read more

“Twelve New Yorkers have been selected to decide Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan, the first for a former American president and a crucial challenge to his bid to regain the Oval Office,” the New York Times reports. “Seven new jurors were added in short order Thursday afternoon, hours after two others who had already been picked were abruptly excused. As many as six alternates were still being selected.” “The judge overseeing the case, Juan M. Merchan, asked the selected jurors to return to court on Monday, saying he was hopeful opening statements would begin then ..read more

Speaker Mike Johnson won’t seek to change a House rule that allows any one member to seek a vote to oust him, Punchbowl News reports ..read more

“Lawsuits by members of Congress and police officers against Donald Trump for his actions on Jan. 6 may advance despite the related criminal case against him in Washington, a federal judge ruled Thursday,” Politico reports. “U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected Trump’s effort to pause the lawsuits until the criminal charges over his attempt to subvert the 2020 election — brought by special counsel Jack Smith — are resolved ..read more

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said on C-SPAN that some of his Republican colleagues want Russia to “win” in their war with Ukraine. Said Bacon: “If we don’t do this, the Russians will be in Kiev. Unfortunately, a few of my colleagues would like to see the Russians win. I don’t know why that is the case. I think it’s a terrible thing ..read more

“Lawmakers on a Louisiana House committee voted Thursday to repeal a law requiring employers to give child workers lunch breaks and to slash unemployment benefits — part of a Republican-backed push to roll back regulations on companies and reduce aid for injured and unemployed workers,” the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports ..read more

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) filed an amendment to name Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) office the “Neville Chamberlain Room ..read more

Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS), a second-term congressman, announced he won’t run for reelection ..read more