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Trump Announces Ceasefire, but Israel Says Iranian Strikes Continue

What's Happening

Smoke rises from a location allegedly IRGC's Sarallah Headquarters in north of Tehran, Iran after being targeted by Israel on June 23, 2025.

International

Trump Announces Ceasefire, but Israel Says Iranian Strikes Continue

What's going on: President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran Monday night, after nearly two weeks of escalating warfare. Iranian state TV reported a deal, but hours later, the status of the ceasefire appeared fragile. Early Tuesday, Israel said Iran had “completely violated” the terms after Tehran launched more missiles, and ordered its military to “respond forcefully.” AP reported that Iran denies launching any attack. Trump’s ceasefire news came hours after Iran launched missiles at a US military base in Qatar — home to about 10,000 troops — in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. No deaths or injuries were reported. Qatari officials helped broker the ceasefire, according to sources familiar with the talks.

What it means: In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!” But the world is still waiting to see if the ceasefire will hold. Vice President JD Vance said the deal would allow both countries an opportunity to “restart a real peace process,” though it's unclear if and when those talks would take place. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that Trump caught his own officials by surprise with the post. Ahead of the ceasefire announcement, some experts and analysts said Iran could respond to the US strikes with cyber attacks on infrastructure or shipping interference. For now, the Trump administration hasn’t indicated it’ll retaliate for the Iranian attacks in Qatar.

Related: NATO To Boost Defense Spending – But Allies’ Contributions Vary (Politico)

US News

Everything's Bigger in Texas, Even the Snack Warnings

What's going on: Grabbing certain snacks in Texas will soon mean facing a bold new warning label — the kind that makes you wonder if your favorite treats failed a global health test. In a way, they did. On Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a first-of-its-kind bipartisan law requiring high-contrast warning labels on foods that contain any of the 44 dyes or additives banned or restricted in the EU, UK, Canada, or Australia. Starting in 2027, any updated packaging must include this line: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption…” Subtle. Which snacks are on notice? According to Fortune, products like Toaster Strudel (bleached flour), Doritos, and Mountain Dew (both with artificial dyes) could all be affected.

What it means: Texas isn’t going rogue — it’s aligning with the MAHA food agenda (including proposed front-of-package warnings). And with 31 million residents, Texas has enough market power to influence shelves nationwide. One food policy expert says the law could “have an impact on the entire marketplace” purely due to the state’s size. Food companies say the labels are misleading — but unless they reformulate, sue, or pull the product, they’ll have to slap on a warning to stay on Texas shelves. Other countries have gone this route before: Mexico and Chile already require warning labels on foods high in sugar, sodium, or saturated fat. The result? Sales of unhealthy products dropped and brands cleaned up their ingredient lists.

Related: Senator (and Doctor) Calls RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Unfit to Convene (NBC News)

Real Estate

Compass v. Zillow: The Fight to List Every Last House

What's going on: You might use Zillow to daydream about a beachfront escape or judge your neighbor’s backsplash. But behind the scenes, the real estate giant is facing a legal fight that could reshape how homes hit the market. Compass, the largest real estate brokerage in the country, is suing Zillow for allegedly violating antitrust laws and stifling competition in the online listing space. At the center of the dispute: Zillow’s policy, announced in April, which bans any home from its platform if it isn’t posted there within 24 hours of hitting the market. Compass’s CEO likened it to if Amazon kicked off sellers who listed items on their own websites before the e-commerce giant’s. Zillow pushed back. It called the claims “unfounded” and said delays or hidden listings “create barriers to homeownership.”

What it means: Nearly every homebuyer now searches online, and Zillow dominates that digital landscape. It’s not just for buyers — it’s also a go-to for curious (or nosy?) neighbors keeping tabs on local listings, renovations, and tax bills (and with some of the wild design choices these days, can you blame them?). This may look like an industry spat, but the stakes are real. Zillow charges brokers and agents to advertise listings. Without real competition, those fees could rise — and that cost may trickle down to buyers and sellers. The lawsuit also lands during a national housing crunch, with prices high and inventory low. In a market this tight, even platform policies can shape what homes people see — and how much they pay.

Related: Can a YouTube Series Help Solve the Housing Crisis? (The Guardian)

Your Political Briefing

The week in political chaos.

Popularity contest: A new Quinnipiac poll found only 27% of voters support President Trump’s “big beautiful bill” — as the Senate scrambles to meet his July 4 deadline. Tick tock.

Sibling rivalry: A brother and sister are facing off against each other for a Florida state senate seat. New Thanksgiving dinner drama unlocked. 

Job offer: Mark Cuban said former Vice President Kamala Harris offered him a top role if she won the election. There’s one big reason he said no.

Settle This

Meryl Streep

Which actress did one director call "a young Meryl Streep"?

Extra Credit

Flashlight by Susan Choi

Read

At the heart of Susan Choi’s Flashlight is one fateful evening: Ten-year-old Louisa takes a walk on a beach with her dad, a gruff, Korean-born academic named Serk. Not long after, Serk has vanished — presumed drowned — and Louisa is found half alive, with almost no memory of what happened. From there, the story unfolds in unpredictable ways, skipping through time, place, and perspective to trace the fallout, which includes Louisa’s unraveling, her mother’s mysterious illness, and the sudden appearance of a secret half brother. But as the years pass, one thing becomes increasingly clear: Serk’s disappearance wasn’t what it seemed. Spanning decades and continents, expect a gripping mystery about identity, memory, and the wreckage we carry — even when we think we’ve moved on.

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