1. War with Iran? “I hope not.”

That was President Trump at the White House today, making clear for the second time this week that he does not want to go to war with Iran.

The first came Wednesday, in a meeting in the White House Situation Room. According to several officials, Mr. Trump told his acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, that he did not want a clash.

That’s a pushback against two of Mr. Trump’s most hawkish aides — the national security adviser, John Bolton, pictured above with the president earlier this week, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.