Today’s edition of quick hits.

* Russia’s latest offensive in Ukraine: “Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine’s capital overnight into Thursday that killed at least 13 people and injured scores as loud explosions shook Kyiv for hours. The attack with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones damaged buildings and civilian infrastructure across the city.”

* In the Strait of Hormuz: “Iran’s joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a ‘forceful response,’ again ratcheting up tensions over a waterway crucial for international energy supplies.”

* Jason Watson is an active-duty service member with a 20-year military career: “A U.S. Air Force major was arrested Wednesday for protesting alone on House steps as he called for the immediate impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump. Maj. Jason Watson was arrested by Capitol Police officers at approximately 1:15 p.m. local time for demonstrating on the House steps without a sitting member of Congress, Capitol Police told Military Times.”

* The right call: “A federal judge in Washington on Wednesday blocked the United States Postal Service from carrying out changes to its delivery of mail-in ballots, writing that recent policies directed by President Trump ran afoul of legal terms the agency accepted more than four years ago to ensure timely delivery of mail ballots.”

* Patel’s latest significant misstep: “FBI Director Kash Patel failed to properly disclose a six-figure purchase of stock in a bitcoin-fueled business intelligence and mobile software company that has contracted with the Department of Justice, according to federal financial records reviewed by NOTUS.”

* Making weather forecasts worse: “With massive job cuts, the National Weather Service is eliminating or reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations, which meteorologists and former agency leaders said will degrade the accuracy of forecasts just as severe weather season kicks in.”

* Oh my: “Fireworks for this year’s July Fourth celebration are expected to cause hazardous levels of pollution around the National Mall and ‘very unhealthy’ conditions in central D.C., according to internal National Park Service documents reviewed by The Washington Post. … The Park Service, in a separate document, similarly said that people should ‘wear an n95 mask when outdoors’ and ‘remain indoors as much as possible during and after the show.’”

I’ll be off tomorrow for the July 4th weekend, but MaddowBlog will return to its usual publishing schedule on Monday, July 6.

The post Thursday’s Mini-Report, 7.2.26 appeared first on MS NOW.

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