It’s Thursday. Who else is enjoying this recess week?! Here’s what’s happening today:

It’s Day 2 of Trump jury deliberations. *twiddles thumbs* The jury asked the judge to reread their instructions this morning.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has refused to recuse himself from 2020 election-related cases despite the flag controversies.Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) published an op-ed with a backup plan for the Alito saga.
My social media feeds have been buzzing over an engagement ring resale ad spotted in a Senate office building. If you have any insight, PLEASE email me.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

Jury deliberations in former President Trump’s hush money trial are in their second day today.

What does a jury deliberation day look like?: Jurors will deliberate from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with a break for lunch, until they reach a verdict. But the judge said the jury are allowed to meet as late as 6 p.m. (AP)

What’s happening today?: The jury asked Judge Juan Merchan to repeat the instructions. The Hill’s Ella Lee reports that “several [jurors] are taking what appear to be detailed notes, particularly on definitions like ‘inference,’ ‘common sense’ and ‘reasonable doubt.’ Each juror appears intently focused on Merchan’s words.”

What *exactly* do the jurors have to determine?: There are several layers to the case, but The Hill’s legal reporting team wrote a helpful explainer. I suggest you read it.

A caveat to the verdict: The Washington Post points out that while jurors must reach a unanimous verdict, they can disagree on underlying crimes.

What happens if the jury can’t agree on a verdict?: That would result in a hung jury and likely be declared a mistrial. The Hill’s Niall Stanage explored the possibility of a hung jury and what a mistrial could mean politically.

Here are some perspectives on the trial and possible verdicts from various publications and ideologies:

‘Why Trump’s team thinks he can survive any verdict’: Politico
‘Biden not banking on a Trump conviction to win’: Axios
‘A spectacle of skirmishes and insults wore on outside the courthouse as deliberations started in the Trump trial.’: The New York Times
‘Merchan and Trump Conceal the Holes in Bragg’s Case’: National Review
‘Jury’s note under microscope as judge poised to announce decision after sleeping on it’: Fox News
‘After 5 hours and 2 cryptic notes, Trump jury fails to reach quick verdict’: Politico

The Washington Post’s Amber Ferguson reports on the couples who are “braving the chaos to get married at the Manhattan courthouse next door to Trump’s hush money trial.”

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told Congress Wednesday that he will *not* recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Why would he?: The New York Times reported that two “Stop the Steal”-related flags were flown outside his homes. The first incident was an inverted American flag seen less than two weeks after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. The second flag was a Revolutionary War symbol calling for a Biblical-centered government. It was spotted outside Alito’s vacation home in 2023.

Read more on ‘escalating conflict,’ via The New York Times: ‘The Alitos, the Neighborhood Clash and the Upside-Down Flag’

How Alito addressed the controversy: Nearly two weeks after the initial New York Times report, Alito wrote a pair of letters to lawmakers, arguing that he had nothing to do with either flag.

Excerpt: “I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused. My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly. She therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly.”

Another excerpt — big flag fan. HUGE flag fan: “My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years.”

🔎 Read Alito’s full letters to Congress

If you’re having déjà vu: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas also recently refused to recuse himself despite his wife’s outspoken support for Trump’s false claims of a stolen election.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) published an op-ed in The New York Times, arguing that the Department of Justice (DOJ) could force the recusals of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Excerpt: “Everyone assumes that nothing can be done about the recusal situation because the highest court in the land has the lowest ethical standards — no binding ethics code or process outside of personal reflection. Each justice decides for him- or herself whether he or she can be impartial.”

Raskin’s idea: “The U.S. Department of Justice … can petition the other seven justices to require Justices Alito and Thomas to recuse themselves not as a matter of grace but as a matter of law,” Raskin wrote.  

House Judiciary Committee Democrats asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to explain how the court will enforce its code of conduct.

Keep in mind: This code of conduct was put in place last year because of the scandal surrounding gifts Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from a conservative mega-donor. (The Hill)

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) thinks Democrats have a significant advantage in November’s battle for the Senate because of the quality of their veteran incumbents.

How so?: Former President Trump is leading in battleground states, including Nevada and Pennsylvania. But Democratic incumbent Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.) and Bob Casey (Pa.) are still beating their Republican challengers in polls. McConnell sees a divergence between Trump and those Senate candidates.

McConnell told reporters during a recent press conference: “I think incumbency, as we learned in ’22, is an advantage. Not a single incumbent lost in ’22. Sen. Daines and I have never said we thought this was going to be easy,” McConnell said alongside National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Steve Daines (Mont.).

The full report is worth reading: ‘McConnell sees incumbency as obstacle to GOP takeover of Senate’

“Democrats are warning against a full-blown meltdown over polls showing President Biden behind former President Trump and the party in danger of losing its Senate majority,” report The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Al Weaver. (The Hill)

🍹 Celebrate: Today is National Mint Julep Day!

🚚 Amazon is creeping into another part of our lives: Axios reports that customers can order Grubhub directly through Amazon’s app.

☕ Have you heard influencers tell you to delay your morning coffee?: Well, The New York Times explains the theory and looks at the evidence to see if there actually is any benefit to doing so.

💍 I have SO MANY QUESTIONS: “Overheard District” posted a photo of an engagement ring resale ad seen on a bulletin board in the Rayburn House Office Building. “Engagement Ring For SALE $4000 or best offer. Appraised for over 6k,” it reads. 📸 Photo of the sparkler

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Vice President Harris is in Colorado. (all times Eastern)

This morning: Harris spoke at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. 💻 Watch

1:30 p.m.: FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker holds a news conference on Boeing’s quality control issues. You have my full attention, Michael. 💻 C-SPAN livestream

3:30 p.m.: Harris receives a briefing at U.S. Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) Joint Operations Center, then meets with leadership and Space Force personnel.

5:40 p.m.: Harris leaves for Los Angeles.

Because you made it this far, watch this bunny enjoy a dandelion for a snack.

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