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

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• President Trump told the acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, that he does not want a war with Iran, officials said, in a message to his hawkish aides that an intensifying pressure campaign against Iran must not escalate into open conflict.

• “It’s about impeachment as a congressional constitutional purpose.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, facing Mr. Trump’s stonewalling of documents and witnesses, suggested that opening an impeachment inquiry would aid House investigations.

• President Xi Jinping of China miscalculated Mr. Trump’s willingness to accept a changed deal. Now, angry rhetoric and an unwillingness to compromise could complicate efforts to return to negotiations.