Today’s edition of quick hits.
* A pending extension: “Negotiators for the United States and Iran appear to have reached a deal to extend the ceasefire by 60 days, but are awaiting President Donald Trump’s approval, U.S. sources told MS NOW on Thursday. If Trump agrees to the deal, it would extend the ceasefire and open negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program during the extended ceasefire, pushing the thorniest details over Iran’s nuclear ambitions down the road.”
* In the meantime, this looks like one of those ceasefires in which the firing hasn’t ceased: “U.S. Central Command accused Iran of committing an ‘egregious ceasefire violation’ by launching a ballistic missile toward Kuwait on Wednesday. The missile was successfully intercepted by Kuwait forces, according to the U.S. military.”
* Meanwhile, in Lebanon: “Israel widened its offensive in Lebanon on Thursday, striking Beirut for the first time in almost a month and pushing deeper into the country’s south, as its escalating conflict with Hezbollah threatens negotiations to end the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.”
* Keep a close eye on this one: “U.S. forces deployed to war zones have been targeted using commercially available location data, according to reports fielded by military officials, an illustration of how the global surveillance economy is shaping the battlefield.”
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* This Politico report hasn’t been independently verified, but it’s certainly raising eyebrows: “The Pentagon has spent months positioning the troops and weapons needed for the U.S. to launch a military attack on Cuba — all it needs is a final go-ahead from Donald Trump.”
* Those who filed the ethics complaint made a compelling case: “Since President Donald Trump fired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, a coalition of law professors, former judges and attorneys has urged the Florida Bar once again to open an investigation into allegations of professional misconduct against Bondi while the state-licensed lawyer headed the Department of Justice.”
* This legal fight is just getting started, preliminary setback notwithstanding: “A federal judge has allowed President Donald Trump’s executive order to restrict mail-in voting to stand for now, delivering a temporary setback to Democrats and voting rights groups who say it could disenfranchise millions of voters.”
See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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