Calculated Risk: “We are in a situation where basically everybody can claim victory … Iran can say that it took revenge, Israel can say it defeated the Iranian attack and the United States can say it successfully deterred Iran and defended Israel … [but] if we get into another round of tit for tat, it can easily spiral out of control, not just for Iran and Israel, but for the rest of the region and the entire world.” Reminder that the biggest geopolitical challenge for Biden (and other leaders) is to keep this thing from spreading out of control. NYT (Gift Article): Miscalculation Led to Escalation as Israel and Iran Clash.

+ Slap on the Wrist: “The sanctions target executives of an engine manufacturer that supplies Iran’s Shahad-131 drones, which were used in the onslaught, as well as companies that service the engines and individuals associated with providing the drones to Iranian proxy forces throughout the Middle East.” (Wait, there were no sanctions against this drone program before?) US slaps new sanctions on Iran’s drone program. (More like a tap than a slap.)

+ Cutting Your Teeth in a War Zone: “The dentistry program at Al-Azhar University was very selective, and very demanding, and they had big plan … But instead of starting new jobs, they found themselves plunged into endless days of burying the dead and fearing for the living.” NYT (Gift Article): They Graduated Into Gaza’s War. What Happened to Them?

+ You Need More Fiber: “Workers installing a light pole in Missouri cut into a fiber line, knocking out 911 service for emergency agencies in Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota, an official with the company that operates the fiber line said Thursday.” At the risk of sounding redundant, don’t these systems need a little redundancy?

+ Recruitistan: “”We need to understand — who is recruiting young Tajiks, why do they want to highlight us as a nation of terrorists?” said the mother, Muyassar Zargarova. Many governments and terrorism experts are asking the same question.” NYT: An ISIS Terror Group Draws Half Its Recruits From Tiny Tajikistan. Three root causes: Poverty, hopelessness, brutal authoritarianism.

+ Squeezing Out the Sanity: “Gallagher announced in February he would not seek re-election after he was just one of a small handful of House Republicans to oppose the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.” Rep. Mike Gallagher hints death threats may be behind his early resignation.

+ 1864ever: ” For the second time in two weeks, Arizona House Republicans rejected an attempt to repeal a near-total ban on abortion from 1864 that was upheld by the battleground state’s Supreme Court.” (Take the hint: They want this law.)

+ Ken Burns: “President Joe Biden scooped up endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” Kennedy family makes ‘crystal clear’ its Biden endorsement in attempt to deflate RFK Jr.’s candidacy. (There’s no way to Immunize yourself from this kind of humiliation.)