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

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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’

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 …

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.”

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 …