US, British militaries launch massive retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries were bombing more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship …

Live updates Closing statements conclude in Trump's N.Y. civil fraud trial  —  Closing statements concluded Thursday in New York state's $370 million civil fraud trial against Donald Trump, his company and others.  Show more  —  Key updates  —  Trump rails against trial, judge from courtroom seat

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 …

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.

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.

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’

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 …

Ohio woman who miscarried at home will not be criminally charged, grand jury says  —  Brittany Watts, 34, had been charged with a felony for abuse of a corpse after she miscarried in her bathroom and was later admitted to a hospital for a life-threatening hemorrhage.

Florida Bill Could Lead to a $35,000 Fine for Accusing Someone of Racism  —  “More attempts to chill free speech in the ‘free’ State of Florida,” said one Democratic lawmaker.  —  Florida State Sen. Jason Brodeur (R) recently introduced a bill that would revoke certain privileges from journalists …

Abbott: 'We're not shooting people' who cross the border because feds ‘would charge us with murder’  —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said shooting people who cross the border is the only tool the state is not using to deter migrants because the Biden administration would sue the state for “murder.”

Feds charge eBay over employees who sent live spiders and cockroaches to couple; company to pay $3M  —  Online retailer eBay Inc. will pay a $3 million fine to resolve criminal charges over a harassment campaign waged by employees who sent live spiders, cockroaches and other disturbing items …

Johnson flails as Republicans demand consequences for conservative hijacking  —  The speaker denied making any commitments to conservatives who want him to scrap this week's bipartisan government spending agreement.

More than $1B in US military aid to Ukraine not properly tracked by Pentagon, DOD audit finds  —  WASHINGTON — More than $1 billion in military weapons and equipment that the United States has provided Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces cannot be accounted for and is not being fully tracked …