First Thing: Maine joins Colorado to disqualify Trump over insurrection
But former president will not be disqualified from the ballot in California. Plus, war in Gaza intensifies
Good morning.
Maine has blocked Donald Trump from its presidential primary ballot, becoming the second state to bar the former president from running, under a constitutional provision that prevents insurrectionists from holding office.
What does the decision rest on? Section 3 of the 14th amendment, also referred to as the insurrection clause, bars anyone from Congress, the military, and federal and state offices who once took an oath to uphold the constitution but then engaged" in insurrection or rebellion" against it.
What's the impact? The decision, if it takes effect, would apply only to the state's March primary, but its conclusion would probably also affect Trump's status for the November 2024 general election.
How will the supreme court influence the outcome? The US supreme court may ultimately resolve the issue nationwide. The highest court has a 6-3 conservative majority, which includes three justices nominated by Trump.
What is the humanitarian toll in Gaza now? Israel's retaliatory war has become one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century, with estimates suggesting more than 21,000 people have been killed, 55,000 injured, and 85% of the territory's 2.3 million people forced to flee their homes.
What's happened amid the border clashes with Lebanon? About 150 people in Lebanon have been killed, including 17 civilians, and 11 in Israel, including four civilians, with tens of thousands in both countries displaced from their homes.
What will Israel do next? Despite growing divisions over the war's conduct with the US, Israel's most important ally, Israeli officials have said Israel will push on until complete victory" over Hamas. That goal, however, seems to be slipping further away amid fierce guerilla resistance.
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