WASHINGTON — Friday is Russia intensifying its attacks against Ukraine, moving closer to capital Kyiv. … President Biden declares that Russia is now the “most preferred-nation” in trading and holds an event in Philadelphia to mark the one-year anniversary his Covid relief law. … The Senate approves a $1.5 trillion funding bill that includes nearly $14 billion in assistance for Ukraine. … Inflation reaches another record. Let’s get on the ball, let’s finally.

First, let’s take a look at the most provocative advertisements of 2022.

One of them features Arizona GOP Senate candidate Jim Lemon facing off in an OK Corral-style shootout with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Mark Kelly, D Arizona — and the ad was met with backlash because Kelly’s former wife, Gabby Giffords, was also a victim to gun violence.

An outside group invokes murder, cannibalism and slams the Oklahoma GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt in one advertisement. “Gov. Stitt’s catch-and-release policies resulted in the largest ever mass release of felons in U.S. History. Governor released one felon. Lawrence Anderson was the one who was released by Gov. Anderson murdered his neighbor and tried to give her organs to his relatives. Anderson also killed his family members when they refused to accept him as his victim.

This one features Captain Hook, the Joker and Maleficent — to attack Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), who voted for Donald Trump’s second impeachment.

Here’s a Democratic advertisement by progressive Jessica Cisneros that addresses the FBI raid on primary opponent Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). Cuellar will now be facing off against Cisneros in a May 24-runoff.

Another Democratic ad is here from Gary Chambers, a candidate for the Louisiana Senate. He uses marijuana.

This ad by Dave White , Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial Candidate, puts the spotlight upon two young white children in the classroom. “This girl’s a racist. He is also. They were all born racist. This is what the left calls Critical Race Theory.

Here is Kari Lake, Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee. Kari Lake is the Trump-endorsed candidate to be governor. This ad is a fake news program. How do you know if it is fake? They won’t cover the most important story: The rigged 2020 election.”

This ad features Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey doesn’t have anything to say about President Biden.

shouts “Let’s go Brandon” over and over about Biden while watching this ad — by David McCormick, Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate.

It’s only March, folks. There are eight months left.

Data Download: The number for the day is… 5 percent

This undercount rate for Hispanics/Latinos in 2020 census is three times higher than the 2010 undercount. According to Census officials, they underestimated the Black population and indigenous people living on reservations by 3.3 percent. They also underestimated 5.6 percent.

Comparatively, the overcount rates of Asians and non-Hispanic whites was 1.6 percent and 2.6 respectively.

The pandemic caused the census bureau to stop in-person door knocking for several months. There was also a fight within Trump’s administration about stopping the count earlier.

The Census data help to guide federal aid and reapportionment decisions.

You need to be familiar with the following numbers:

549 According to Liz Throssell (U.N. High Commissioner For Human Rights), there were 957 civilian deaths and a total of 112 injuries in the attack on Ukraine. Throssell noted that “the actual number could be higher.”

27,000 This is how many Texas mail ballots were rejected in the primary this month. It’s a significantly higher rate than previous elections.

42 Percent: This is the percentage of Americans who approve of Biden’s performance in a new Wall Street Journal survey.

25 This is at least the number of senators Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson met with while she prepares for her Supreme Court confirmation. Per NBC’s Capitol Hill team.

150 Jussie Smollett was sentenced after being found guiltyof felony disorderly behavior after falsely claiming that he was the victim a hate crime.

79.638,168: This is the number of confirmed cases in the United States of coronavirus, according to the most recent data available from NBC News, health officials, and other sources.

969 684: The total number of Americans who have died from the virus.

Roundup of the midterm

This week, Democrats spent some time reflecting and strategizing, as lawmakers from both chambers headed to their retreats and the DNC held its first meeting in person in over two years.

Biden told at the DNC meeting that GOP control over Congress would result in “a sad two-year period,” per NBC’s Mike Memoli.

However, Democrats are unable to agree on the best strategy for ensuring that this doesn’t happen. Scott Wong and Sahil Kapur of NBC report from the retreat of House Democrats in Philadelphia. Others believe Democrats should win more legislative victories. DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) disagreed and advised fellow Democrats to “talk as real people.”

The battle for the Senate is heating up . But the party isn’t picking sides. It is not our intention at this time to participate in the primaries. “It’s just not necessary right now,” Gary Peters, Chairman of the DSCC, told reporters yesterday. He noted that there are multiple candidates in the contests who could win in November.

Gov. Gov.

Nikki Haley, former South Carolina GOP Governor and possible 2024 candidate, has endorsed Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a top Democratic target.

T.W., former Oklahoma Republican state House speaker Shannon is entering the increasingly crowded race for the position of Republican Senator Jim Inhofe.

Politico reports that the Biden administration’s decision in Venezuela to begin talks amid rising gas prices could trigger political shockwaves here in Florida.

Ad watch

Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) is out with his initial ad during his campaign for Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He follows Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman released his first advertisement in the same race earlier in this month.

While Republican Senate hopefuls are involved in an extensive ad war to the public, Fetterman & Lamb have so far focused on highlighting their careers, strengths, and not tearing each other down.

At the beginning of his ad, a narrator states that Conor Lamb believes democracy is worth fighting to defend. The narrator continues to emphasize Lamb’s rhetoric in Congress, “standing against” the Republicans after January 6, and “calling out all their lies.”

The ad portrays Lamb as the “best chance to defeat Republicans this fall”, looking beyond the primary to this November’s general election and highlighting his 2018 special election win, which was followed by his re-election.

ICYMI: What other happenings around the world

Politico reports that Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley wants to delay Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s confirmation as ambassador to India to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Garcetti.

After three American military personnel were killed in Kenya, according the AP, a new military report has been released. It criticizes military training and a culture of complacency.