Extra, Extra

Dire Hostage News: “Israel says it has informed the families of 31 people held in the territory since 7 October that their relatives are dead. The news comes as the Qatari prime minister says Hamas has given a ‘generally positive’ response to proposals for a deal trading a break in the fighting and release of Palestinian prisoners for the return of more hostages.” More than a million Palestinians are trapped in Rafah.

+ Call Me Esmail: “Soleimani had built a relationship with them over the years and was respected by them tremendously … Qaani lacks the charisma and history of relationship with these Iraqi and other Arab groups…As a result, Qaani struggles much more in keeping the Iraqi groups in check and in line with the broader axis. Same problem exists in relation to Houthis who are more independent-minded.” Assuming he wanted to, could Esmail Qaani reel in Iran’s proxy forces? The Shadowy Backroom Dealer Steering Iran’s Axis of Resistance.

+ Deal or No Deal: “It’s been an exceedingly weird 24 hours.” That’s a bold statement these days. Here’s Heather Cox Richardson on the Senate GOP’s attempt to kill an immigration/Ukraine deal they negotiated. Meanwhile, the U.S. Border Patrol union has endorsed the Senate immigration deal that is now being scuttled. Biden: “Show some spine.” GOP Senate: No.

+ Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number: “These days, you can order up a test to find out your biological age, an estimate of how quickly or slowly you’re aging compared to your peers. It’s based on an analysis of modifications in your DNA.” Do you want to know? (I tried this and my DNA told the test to get of its lawn.)

+ Just Plane Wrong: What do Taylor Swift and Elon Musk have in common? They’d both like to to silence the student who tracks and shares the whereabouts of celebrity jets.

+ Bet the Over: “Nearly 68 million American adults — about 1 in 4 — plan to bet on this year’s Super Bowl, setting a record by a wide margin, according to the gambling industry’s national trade association.”