Good evening, everyone. There is a lot of news to cover tonight. The Iran negotiations appear to be on the verge of falling apart following President Trump’s comments, and JD Vance faced an embarrassing diplomatic setback in Switzerland. Trump also posted a strange Father’s Day image featuring a random woman, leaving even many MAGA supporters confused about what he was trying to say and some even questioning his health. I also broke the story that a dead duckling was found in the Reflecting Pool, prompting Trump to personally inspect the site and announce that work would begin immediately. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is reportedly preparing to resign. And that’s just the beginning.
Thank you so much for all of the Father’s Day messages. I am a workaholic, and there was a tremendous amount of news today, so I wanted to make sure I updated you. I promise I am heading right back to spend time with my daughter as soon as this is over.
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Here’s the news:
Iran negotiations erupt:
President Donald Trump’s preliminary agreement with Iran is facing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who argue it gives Iran major economic benefits before securing firm limits on its nuclear program. Critics including John Cornyn, Susan Rice, and Cory Booker say the deal releases funds and eases sanctions without enough guarantees. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said direct U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland had already made significant progress and expressed optimism about further negotiations. Trump has also warned that the U.S. could resume military action if Iran does not cooperate or restrain its ally Hezbollah.
Trump threatened Iran with military occupation, telling Fox News he warned Iranian officials: “You close the strait and you won’t have a country,” and adding, “You won’t even make it back to your fking country ... we’ll take over the rest of the country.”**
The Switzerland talks were portrayed as a diplomatic embarrassment for the United States, with Iran appearing to control the timing, optics, and protocol of the meeting.
The U.S. delegation arrived first and waited — In diplomatic settings, the side perceived as having greater leverage typically does not appear to be waiting for the other side.
JD Vance entered while the press was present — Publicly entering before the Iranian delegation allowed cameras to capture the U.S. side appearing ready and waiting for talks to begin.
Iranian officials controlled their entrance — Key Iranian representatives reportedly avoided entering while the press was inside, limiting images that could suggest they were accommodating the meeting on American terms.
The Iranian foreign minister entered last — Arriving after the U.S. delegation reinforced the perception that Iran was dictating the pace and protocol of the encounter.
No handshake took place — The absence of a handshake denied the U.S. a traditional image of mutual engagement and conveyed distance or defiance.
The optics suggested unequal eagerness — The sequence of arrivals and public appearances created the impression that Washington was seeking negotiations more urgently than Tehran.
The walkout amplified the symbolism — Iran’s delegation leaving the venue shortly after the talks reinforced the perception that it was willing to suspend discussions on its own terms.
The overall visual narrative favored Iran — Regardless of what was said in negotiations, the public images projected confidence and control on the Iranian side while making the U.S. appear reactive and constrained.
Here is the video:
Other news:
Trump posted a photo on social media praising a “great daughter,” but the woman in the image was reportedly not one of his daughters. The post sparked confusion and widespread speculation online about whom Trump intended to reference. Critics pointed to the incident as another example of his increasingly unusual social media activity. The White House did not immediately provide an explanation for the post.
Trump supporters were confused as to who the image was, and many on the internet were questioning his mental health:
Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that vandalism damaged the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and said the pool may need to be drained for repairs. The $14 million renovation has faced criticism after algae rapidly spread through the water and blue coating material on the pool’s bottom began peeling. Authorities reported several vandalism-related arrests and citations, though at least one person arrested says he was only inspecting a loose section of material and denies causing damage. The troubled project has become a political flashpoint, with supporters praising the cleanup effort and critics calling it an embarrassing waste of taxpayer money.
A baby duck has now died at the reflecting pool. This image was shared with me in the past hour by someone who visited the reflecting pool. It is unclear what the cause of death is.
After the baby duck was found, Trump said he personally inspected the reflecting pool and fixes will soon begin:
A group has now displayed videos of Trump and Epstein on the side of the tarp at the Kennedy Center:
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a timetable for stepping down, potentially leaving office by the autumn after mounting pressure from senior Labour figures. The move would likely clear the way for Andy Burnham to become prime minister, possibly without a formal leadership contest. Starmer reportedly lost support from several cabinet ministers following Labour's recent political setbacks, despite previously pledging to fight any challenge. Some Labour members still favor a leadership election, but Burnham is increasingly viewed as the frontrunner to succeed him. Trump made the announcement undercutting Starmer:
Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles as firefighters continue battling a massive warehouse fire in the Boyle Heights neighborhood that has been burning since Wednesday. The blaze has been difficult to extinguish because of hazardous conditions, including a ruptured ammonia line and burning materials inside a 500,000-square-foot cold-storage facility. Smoke has spread across the region, prompting shelter-in-place orders, the opening of relief centers, and the distribution of masks, air purifiers, and bottled water. Once the fire is under control, officials will face the challenge of safely removing about 85 million pounds of spoiled frozen food from the warehouse.
Colombians are voting in a presidential runoff between progressive candidate Iván Cepeda and conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella. Both candidates are focused on addressing rising violence, but Cepeda favors negotiations with armed groups while de la Espriella supports a tougher law-and-order approach. The election also centers on issues such as healthcare, public debt, and corruption amid growing political polarization. Many voters hope the result will be accepted peacefully as Colombia continues to struggle with renewed violence despite a 2016 peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
A 51-year-old man died after falling from a balcony during a concert by the rock band Goose at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Police responded to the venue Saturday night and found the man unconscious after what they described as a fall from an elevated position. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are investigating the incident, while Goose expressed sadness and condolences to everyone affected.
Parts of Europe are experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures reaching around 40°C (104°F) in France, Spain, and Italy, prompting widespread emergency measures. France has closed hundreds of schools, canceled some events and train services, set up cooling stations, and restricted public alcohol consumption in high-risk areas to reduce strain on emergency services. Authorities across Europe are reporting heat-related dangers, including drownings as people seek relief in water, while health officials warn that extreme heat has already caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in recent years. Scientists and international agencies link the increasing frequency and severity of these heat waves to human-caused climate change, with forecasts suggesting even more record-breaking temperatures in the coming years.
Elmo publicly endorsed Team USA in the 2026 World Cup, saying, “Elmo wants Team USA to win,” while jokingly asking people not to create controversy over it. His statement came after he was criticized during the NBA Finals for taking a neutral stance and saying he hoped both teams would have fun. Many New York fans mocked Elmo because Sesame Street is canonically set in New York, and even city agencies and fellow character Cookie Monster joined in the jokes. After the New York Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, star Jalen Brunson playfully extended forgiveness by displaying an Elmo plush holding a “Forgive Me PLEASE” sign during the victory parade.
Serena Williams will return to singles competition at Wimbledon after receiving a wild-card entry for the 2026 tournament. Earlier this month, she made her professional tennis comeback in doubles at the HSBC Championships in London, her first competitive action in nearly four years. Williams, who stepped away from tennis in 2022, is also set to play Wimbledon doubles with her sister Venus Williams. The 44-year-old, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, says she is returning for the love of the sport rather than to prove anything or add to her achievements.
Toy Story 5 debuted with $160 million at the domestic box office, setting a franchise record and delivering the biggest opening weekend of 2026. The film earned another $152 million internationally for a $312 million global debut, continuing one of The Walt Disney Company’s most successful franchises. Strong reviews and audience scores suggest the movie is likely to surpass $1 billion worldwide, as its predecessor did. The film’s success helped drive a strong summer box office, which is now approaching pre-pandemic levels.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
