Trump's latest about-face: He now says 2020 election was ‘long over’  —  It's a new piece of rhetoric that Trump hopes will help him win immunity from his criminal charges.  —  In the months after the 2020 election, Donald Trump leaned on his campaign to launch ad blitzes and legal challenges …

US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen  —  The U.S. and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles …

Why Platformer is leaving Substack  —  After much consideration, we have decided to move Platformer off of Substack.  Over the next few days, the publication will migrate to a new website powered by the nonprofit, open-source publishing platform Ghost.  If you already subscribe to Platformer …

Biden cancels student loans for more borrowers … - The SAVE plan provisions come nearly six months ahead of schedule, per the White House, and are intended to help community college and low-income borrowers.  — The Department of Education did not immediately respond to Axios …

Don't Turn Away From the Charges of Genocide Against Israel  —  With the question of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza now before the International Court of Justice, the Biden administration has struck a tone of glib dismissal.  —  “Meritless” seems to be the agreed-upon term among U.S. officials.

Congress approves resolution against Biden EV charger plans  —  The measure targets a limited waiver from Buy America rules.  Democrats and the White House say it would backfire.  —  The House approved legislation Thursday to undo a Biden administration rule meant to facilitate the proliferation of electric vehicle charging stations.

Johnson confronts biggest test yet: Whether to walk away from his own funding deal  —  Conservatives are pushing him to renege.  Most of the rest of his party wants him to stand firm.  Whichever path he chooses carries real risks.  —  Speaker Mike Johnson's grip on his fractious conference slipped …

Election 2024: Trump, DeSantis Lead Biden.  Haley?  Nope.  —  Former President Donald Trump continues to lead President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also has a narrow edge over the incumbent, but Biden would beat former U.N. Secretary Nikki Haley.

$6 Trillion in Taxes Are at Stake in This Year's Elections  —  Biden, Republicans offer vastly different plans for handling tax cuts that lapse after 2025  —  WASHINGTON—There isn't a dime's worth of a difference between the political parties.  The chasm is more like $6 trillion.

Did Ron DeSantis Shake His Wife's Hand?  —  Their businesslike grasp of hands set off chatter at Wednesday's debate — and showed the risks of interacting with your family when you're a presidential candidate.  —  In a campaign full of strained social interactions and clumsy pantomimes of warmth …

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan steps down from No Labels' board in a possible sign of a 2024 bid  —  Larry Hogan, the former governor of Maryland and a moderate Republican who has been critical of Donald Trump, stepped down last month from the leadership of the third-party movement No Labels …

How MAGA pastors boost Trump's campaign … But in Iowa and across the country, MAGA pastors are among Trump's most loyal backers. … - Some of Trump's most enthusiastic believers are pastors who share his dark view of U.S. politics — or who've touted him as they've risen to prominence on social media.

Jill Biden slams ‘horrible’ Republicans for showing nude Hunter photos during hearing and says what they're doing to him is ‘cruel’  — ‘What they are doing to Hunter is cruel,’ she said in interview on Morning Joe  — She also defended Joe's Biden age: ‘I say his age is an asset’