Speaker Johnson says he plans to invite Netanyahu to address the US Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, a show of support from Republicans amid growing Democratic criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership. “I would love to have him come in and address a joint session of Congress,” Johnson said Thursday morning on CNBC. Republicans have rallied around Netanyahu since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for new elections in Israel on the Senate floor last week.

Monson’s boss says timing of ouster at Long Beach State was designed to inspire March Madness run

Long Beach State’s athletic director said the timing of his decision to part ways with coach Dan Monson was done with the hope it might trigger the exact run that led the team on its unexpected trip to March Madness. “My belief and hope is that by doing what I did and the timing of it, they would play inspired, and that’s what they did,” Bobby Smitheran told The Associated Press on Thursday, a few hours before the Beach tipped off against Arizona. Monson’s job status has been one of the most intriguing stories leading into the first round of the NCAA Tournament.