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Today’s top stories
In a White House press conference, President Trump reiterated threats against Iran’s civilian infrastructure and set a deadline: Iran must agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8:00 p.m. ET tonight or face U.S. attacks on power plants and bridges. Trump said Iran’s next move will determine whether the war de-escalates or intensifies. Talks are continuing; Trump said an unnamed, more moderate participant on the other side is willing to make a deal. Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are leading discussions on a 45-day ceasefire proposal that Trump called insufficient and said Iran rejected.
As Trump threatened infrastructure, Israel warned Iranians to avoid trains; heavy bombing along Iran’s rail network was expected. Targeting infrastructure that isn’t directly used for military operations raises the prospect of war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, legal experts say. Many civilians use Iran’s railways to travel; with internet largely shut in Iran, it’s unclear how widely such warnings are seen. The conflict is also producing broader economic effects: beyond oil and gas price changes, shortages and price spikes are affecting items from helium and beer cans to construction materials and mortgages. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, humanitarian organizations warn clinics and aid centers across the Middle East, Asia and Africa face risks of running out of basic medicines and food because supplies are stuck.
NASA’s Artemis II crew is returning to Earth after a trip around the moon that set a record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth. The mission yielded new observations of the lunar surface and crucial test-flight data for the Orion spacecraft. One critical test will be reentry and splashdown expected Friday off the coast of San Diego: the capsule will reenter at about 25,000 mph, face temperatures up to roughly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and rely on its heat shield and parachute system to slow and protect the crew. During the mission, astronauts observed a solar eclipse from a lunar vantage point, capturing sights satellites can’t.
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol could be safely administered over the counter. Researchers surveyed 168 patients seeking clinician-provided medication abortion, showed them prototype OTC packaging, and asked if they were good candidates. Participants’ self-assessments matched clinicians’ judgments 88% of the time. Experts note this mirrors some telehealth access today, but regulatory, clinical and political hurdles remain: more research is needed and more than a dozen states have bans on abortion by any method.
Watch this
NPR’s Newsmakers interviewed JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon about the economic effects of the Iran war, AI’s impact on work and society, and life lessons. The conversation is available on YouTube and the Newsmakers podcast.
Deep dive
After a high-profile federal immigration operation in Minnesota that drew widespread criticism, the Biden administration appears to be shifting toward quieter enforcement that leans more on local police. New DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he wants ICE to act more as a transport agency than the front line. That shift would expand use of the 287(g) program, which lets local law enforcement perform some ICE duties; participation has grown during Trump’s second term. Such partnerships change local policing, can be hard for communities to track, and raise concerns that cooperation with federal immigration enforcement will erode trust and deter undocumented residents from reporting crimes. Some local agencies have accepted federal incentives to join 287(g), and some sheriffs are ideologically aligned with tougher immigration enforcement.
3 things to know before you go
1) High U.S. housing costs are pushing older adults to consider shared rentals: the share of adults 65+ seeking a roommate has tripled in the past decade.
2) Shellear fish — tiny species observed climbing a 50-foot rock face behind a Congo waterfall — have anatomical traits that enable them to climb as well as swim; new research (co-authored posthumously by the original observer) explains how.
3) The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to dismiss the criminal contempt case against Steve Bannon for refusing to testify to Congress about Jan. 6, 2021.
This newsletter was edited by Treye Green.