The Right Hand Doesn’t Know What the Left Hand Is Doing

“We don’t see an indication that a major player is willing to escalate in a major way.” —National Security Council spokesman John Kirby

“We expect that there’s a likelihood of escalation.” —Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Braying Jennies

“With this hospital bombing … many, many people, myself included, initially assumed … that this was the result of an Israeli airstrike. And I think it’s important to note that in the past, when Israel has accidentally killed civilians, it has blamed it on an errant Islamic Jihad missile and it’s turned out to be … an Israeli airstrike. So it’s understandable why people believe that.” —New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg

“I think one of the things that’s important to recognize about this situation is the asymmetry of what is going on as well as the collective punishment of what is happening to the Palestinian people at this moment. … War crimes do not constitute and are not an appropriate response for other war crimes.” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

“What we are seeing unfold in Gaza is an indiscriminate bombing campaign.” —Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

“How is it that we are serving in a body … where there are members who condemn us for asking for peace, for ceasefire — the most simplest thing.” —Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

“Muslim[s] and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks.” —White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

“Joe Biden is uniquely qualified and skilled to do the work that must be done by American leadership to stand with our friend Israel.” —Kamala Harris

Belly Laugh of the Day

“A broad coalition of Americans realizes that if Donald Trump were president right now, the world would be a much, much more dangerous place.” —MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace

For the Record

“A good bit of the Islamic world wants a caliphate — a religious theocracy under Sharia law. Period. That means no religious freedom and certainly no Jews. And we have brought that anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, anti-American mindset and hatred into our country year after year after year.” —Gary Bauer

Non Compos Mentis

“The jump [in anti-LGBTQ hate crime] also comes as Twitter has become significantly more toxic since Elon Musk’s takeover, having loosened some limits on hate speech, such as ending a rule prohibiting deliberate misgendering.” —Axios

“The inequity between male and female athletes is a result not of inherent biological differences between the sexes but of biases in how they are treated in sports.” —human biologist Cara Ocobock and biological anthropologist Sarah Lacy in Scientific American

“Just a few months ago we hosted … the largest Pride Month celebration ever held at the White House.” —Jill Biden

Upright

“Elite schools should no longer be called ‘elite.’ Just say ‘expensive.’ To the older folks I say, college today is not the college you remember. And to the younger people I say, don’t. Don’t do it. You don’t need four years and a lifetime of crippling debt to learn to hate America.” —Bill Maher

Insight

“Believing that presidents have taxing and spending powers leaves Congress less politically accountable for our deepening economic quagmire. Of course, if you’re a congressman, not being held accountable is what you want.” —Walter Williams (1936-2020)