News Information and Media Site: On Politics A.M.: Iran Retaliates Against U.S. With Missile Strikes

January 8, 2020

Good Wednesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.

Iran said on Wednesday it had “concluded” its attacks on American forces in Iraq and did “not seek escalation or war” after firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two military bases in Iraq where American troops are stationed. The bases were targeted in retaliation for the killing of a top Iranian general.
Under increasing pressure to defend the killing of the Iranian commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Trump administration officials offered new justifications but little detail on Tuesday. The administration has argued that the general was plotting imminent attacks, but Democrats said the intelligence presented to most lawmakers had been vague.

Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was the loudest voice in the administration pushing President Trump to kill Iran’s most important general. This week, he is back in his role as the nation’s top diplomat, trying to manage the international crisis the general’s death created.
Days after General Suleimani was killed, Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign began running ads on Facebook touting the general’s death. The ads asked voters to take the “Official Trump Military Survey,” directing users to the Trump campaign website.

Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign seemed to be on a clear course, but his decision to authorize the killing of General Suleimani has opened up a more uncertain political reality as he enters an election year.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, said Tuesday that he planned to move forward with Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial without committing to calling witnesses or hearing new evidence, foreshadowing a partisan vote to kick off a divisive proceeding.
Joseph R. Biden Jr. delivered a forceful and detailed critique of the Trump administration’s escalation toward Iran, seeking at every turn to highlight his own commander-in-chief credentials and to evoke the stature of a president.
Senator Elizabeth Warren announced a plan to roll back provisions in a 2005 bankruptcy law, reviving a debate she had 15 years ago with Mr. Biden over consumer protections and the credit card industry when the former vice president was a senator.

Michael R. Bloomberg’s presidential campaign said it had secured 60 seconds’ worth of advertising during the Super Bowl. Shortly after, Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign announced it had done the same. (For reference: A 60-second ad is worth roughly $10 million.)

Nearly two months after Deval Patrick’s unusually late entry into the presidential race, the former Massachusetts governor has failed to draw big headlines or crucial endorsements. But he still has a long-shot plan.

Today’s On Politics briefing was compiled by Isabella Grullón Paz in New York.

Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.