“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal,” wrote President Donald Trump on Truth Social. “I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW! I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE.” (Remember: The Qataris have been working hard to curry favor with Trump.)

“I’m not thrilled about it,” Trump told reporters last night. “I was very unhappy about it. Very unhappy about every aspect.”

This comes on the heels of Israel ordering a total evacuation of Gaza City, signaling that it will be launching a ground invasion with an additional 60,000 reservists added to the Israel Defense Forces.

Cook’s removal blocked: U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb has temporarily blocked President Trump’s removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, allowing Cook to return to work and possibly participate in the Fed’s widely anticipated meeting next week that’s likely to result in a rate cut. “The judge concluded that the alleged mortgage misconduct likely didn’t amount to ’cause’ to fire her under the Federal Reserve Act, and that the way in which she was dismissed likely violated her due process rights under the Constitution,” per Bloomberg.

“The best reading of the ‘for cause’ provision is that the bases for removal of a member of the Board of Governors are limited to grounds concerning a Governor’s behavior in office and whether they have been faithfully and effectively executing their statutory duties,” wrote Cobb.

Scenes from New York: “The latest New York Times/Siena College poll shows that while Mamdani holds a clear edge in a crowded New York City mayoral field, leading Cuomo 46 percent to 24 percent in a four-way race, the numbers tighten dramatically in a two-way matchup, where Mamdani’s lead over Cuomo shrinks to 48 percent to 44 percent among likely voters—raising doubts about his staying power in a head-to-head contest,” reports Newsweek. “Among registered voters, Cuomo leads Mamdani in a two-way race, with 46 percent to his opponent’s 45 percent.”

In other words, Cuomo needs both Curtis Sliwa and Eric Adams to drop out in order to have any chance of beating Mamdani. I’m of course still praying for a wild Sliwa upset, and for Cuomo to be banished to some sort of far-away island.