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👋 Good morning! How jam-packed was this weekend in sports? Fox is airing the World Cup and wasn't even the busiest network as three champions (Knicks in the NBA, Hurricanes in the NHL, Louisville Kings in the UFL) were crowned on ABC. In today's edition: Knicks win it all, Canes hoist the Cup, World Cup opening weekend, two near-perfectos, UFC at the White House, Hamilton back on top, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...     🎶 NEW YORK, NEW YORK BING BONG! CHAMPIONS AT LAST (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) For the first time in 53 years, the Knicks are NBA champions, clinching their long-awaited title on Saturday night with yet another comeback win over the Spurs. The long wait is over: New York's triumph broke one of the longest championship droughts in North American sports and united generations of Knicks fans — those who remembered the championships of yesteryear (1970, 1973) and those who spent decades only hearing about them. The longest waits between titles among "Big Four" teams: Cubs: 108 years (1908-2016) White Sox: 88 years (1917-2005) Red Sox: 86 years (1918-2004) Twins/Senators: 63 years (1924-87) Eagles: 57 years (1960-2017) NY/SF Giants: 56 years (1954-2010) NY Rangers: 54 years (1940-94) Knicks: 53 years (1973-2026) Man of the hour: Two years ago, Jalen Brunson took $113 million less than he was eligible to receive — a financial concession that gave the Knicks the flexibility to build the roster that ultimately won them a championship. Brunson, fittingly, earned Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the title-clinching game. Per usual, he gave all the credit to the guys around him. "Everyone bonding, coming together, having the mindset of just believing in each other, never giving up, no matter what the situation was, made this all possible. Yes, it may look like [the contract] had something to do with it, but it's a credit to my teammates." The series in a nutshell: New York led for only 23.6% of game minutes but turned it on when it mattered most, pulling off three of the five biggest comebacks in Finals history. San Antonio led by 8+ points at the end of every first quarter and held the lead in the final four minutes of all five games… and only won one of them. A truly unprecedented choke job. (Adam Gray/Getty Images) The celebration: New Yorkers celebrated late into the night on Saturday, taking to the streets to revel in glory. NYT's Matt Flegenheimer captured the scene beautifully: So this is how it feels. It is giggling, weeping, spinning, convulsing, mosh-pitting, truck-honking, law-skirting, trumpet-playing, cowbell-ringing, off-key-singing, cigar-lighting, all-night-ing — remembering to remember it all, as if Knicks fans would ever forget. It is hugging strangers so hard they go airborne, fist-bumping cabbies as they crawl through concrete delirium, high-fiving kids on shoulders (and adults on shoulders), climbing stoplights and trees and scaffolding to wave the team flag higher, swiping utility cones and wearing them as hats because they are orange. It is tears blotting the pavement outside Madison Square Garden, where New Yorkers had for generations walked off disappointment after debacle after heartbreak after OK-that's-just-cruel. It is kick-lining together to Sinatra in a Broadway bike lane ("Start spreading the newwwwws …") as a man nearby stands on a bus-stop bench to make an announcement to no one and everyone in particular ("Ladies and gentlemen! We have just witnessed historyyyyyyy!") — and it is the whole block calling back with the primal, guttural screams that stir dogs and babies and civilizations and memories of relatives who would have loved this team. What's next: The ticker-tape parade is scheduled for Thursday at 10am ET, with celebrations beginning near Manhattan's Battery Park before traveling north along Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes and ending at City Hall.   🏆 LORD STANLEY'S CUP CANES WIN TITLE, FINISH OFF EPIC RUN (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) The Hurricanes blanked the Golden Knights, 3-0, on Sunday night in Las Vegas to win the Stanley Cup Final in six games and secure the franchise's second title (2006). And they did so with an all-time great playoff run, going 16-3 for the fewest losses by a champion since the 1988 Oilers (16-2). (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Unlikely hero: Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi didn't play a minute in the postseason until Game 3 of the Cup Final, when he was forced into action to replace an injured Frederik Andersen. Four games later, the undrafted 27-year-old etched his name into Hurricanes lore, stopping 81 of 87 shots and becoming the first rookie since 1937 to record a Cup-clinching shutout. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Playoff MVP: 20-year veteran Jordan Staal, 37, scored six goals in the Cup Final en route to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, making him the oldest player ever to be named MVP of the playoffs. And 17 years after winning the Cup in 2009 with the Penguins, he also now holds the NHL record for longest gap between titles. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Franchise legend: Rod Brind'Amour is the most important person in Hurricanes history, and there is no close second. Since moving from Hartford in 1997, the Canes have won 104 playoff games, and Brind'Amour was either a player or coach in 102 of those wins (98.1%). The former captain, who played center for Carolina from 2000-10, is just the fourth man to captain and coach the same NHL team to a title.   ⚽️ WORLD CUP AMERICAN MUSCLE: USA DOMINATES OPENER Folarin Balogun celebrates with Chris Richards after scoring the USMNT's third goal against Paraguay. (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images) The USMNT entered the World Cup with numerous question marks and, it's probably fair to say, higher hopes than expectations. They left Friday's opener in Los Angeles with nothing less than the most emphatic win in team history. USA 4, Paraguay 1: The Americans raced out to a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the seventh minute and never looked back, going up 3-0 before the half en route to a 4-1 victory. The last time they won by that many goals in a World Cup match? 1930. The last time they scored that many goals in a World Cup match? Never. The star of the match was striker Folarin Balogun, whose brace made him the first American with multiple goals in a World Cup game since 1930 and put him fifth on the USMNT's all-time World Cup scoring leaderboard. The final goal of the evening, a highlight-worthy trivela off the foot of midfielder Gio Reyna, came after 26 consecutive passes. Joga bonito, indeed. Wild stat: The U.S. have already scored more goals than they did in the entirety of the 2022 World Cup (3), which is impressive regardless of their opponent. But to do it against Paraguay, who had allowed just one goal total across their last four qualifiers, should give fans reason to believe that they could be in store for a magical summer. Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports: Taking into account the World Cup's magnitude, the pressure of being a host, SoFi Stadium's sweeping backdrop, the weight of an opening match, the number of eyeballs watching on screens both wide and handheld, this victory stands alone in U.S. men's soccer lore. Keep in mind the U.S. has not won much in the sport's preeminent competition: nine victories in 37 prior matches over 11 appearances and, since 1990, just two victories in 22 attempts against South American and European opponents. The Americans have been more apt to pull off a seismic upset (England in 1950, Colombia in 1994, Portugal in 2002) than to dominate an opponent with pedigree. So to not only win but to do so in such a punishing, attractive style shook a nervous fan base at home and sent tremors rippling across planet fútbol. The movement and fluidity, the hunger and confidence, the interplay in tight space and service from distance, the finishing touches … it was a ballet under a translucent roof that drew standing ovations. Was that really the same U.S. program that for years has disappointed and infuriated, never conjured a badly needed breakthrough moment, played hard and gutted out some good results but rarely charmed us? It was. Cyle Larin celebrates with his teammates after scoring a late equalizer for Canada. ( Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Weekend recap: The USMNT's victory was one of 10 games this weekend across five groups. Group B: With a pair of 1-1 draws, Canada (against Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Qatar (against Switzerland) both earned their first-ever World Cup point. Group 😄 Scotland held off Haiti, 1-0, for their first World Cup victory since 1990, while Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw in one of the best on-paper matchups of the group stage. Group 😧 Australia stunned Turkey, 2-0, in a result that delivered a surprising jolt to the Americans' group. The U.S. plays Australia on Friday. Group E: Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador, 1-0, with a 90th-minute goal to hand them their first loss in 20 matches, and Germany demolished Curaçao, 7-1, in the tiny island nation's World Cup debut. Group F: Japan and the Netherlands drew, 2-2, in a thrilling clash that saw all four goals scored in the second half, and Sweden rolled to a 5-1 win over Tunisia for their most goals in a World Cup match since 1938.   💯 STAT SHEET BIG NUMBERS (John Fisher/Getty Images) ⚾️ 104.5 mph Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski yet again broke his own record for the fastest pitch of the pitch-tracking era (since 2008), throwing a 104.5 mph fastball in Friday's 6-0 win over the Phillies as part of one of the greatest pitching performances in MLB history. The Miz struck out 15, walked none and allowed just one hit in the 95-pitch shutout — a near-perfect game that continued his historic hot streak. Since May 1, he's 7-0 with 80 strikeouts, 9 walks and a 0.17 ERA, the lowest in any eight-start span since earned runs became official in 1913. Speaking of near-perfectos: Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto lost his in the eighth inning on Saturday after retiring the first 23 batters he faced. Combine that with his previous start, when he set down the final 22 batters he faced, and his streak of 45 consecutive batters retired is tied for the second-longest in MLB history. 🏀 40+ points Kelsey Plum (43 points) and Kahleah Copper (41) made history on Saturday, becoming the first pair of players in WNBA history to both score at least 40 points in the same game. Plum's Sparks outlasted Copper's Mercury, 111-102, in overtime. Elsewhere: The Aces (10-3) beat the Lynx, 100-97, to snap their eight-game winning streak and leapfrog them into first place; the Liberty (10-4) won their seventh straight game in Sabrina Ionescu's return, joining Vegas and Minnesota (10-3) as the WNBA's only 10-win teams. (Clive Mason/Getty Images) 🏎️ 106 wins Lewis Hamilton won Sunday's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix for his first Formula 1 victory since joining Ferrari last year, and his record-extending 106th overall. Hamilton's triumph snapped a five-race winning streak for Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who suffered mechanical failure with four laps to go. Meanwhile, in France: Toyota beat BMW and Cadillac in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, earning their first win since 2022 and ending Ferrari's streak of three straight victories in the crown jewel of global endurance racing. ⛳️ 239th start Bud Cauley is a winner at last, holding off the field on Sunday at the Canadian Open for his first PGA Tour victory in his 239th start, which had been fifth-most among active golfers without a win. Comeback kid: The 36-year-old Alabama native — who was roommates with Justin Thomas when they played for the Crimson Tide — had a promising career until a car crash in 2018 left him with five broken ribs, a broken leg and a collapsed lung. Cauley returned from a nearly four-year hiatus in 2024, carded four top-10 finishes in 2025 and finally broke through in 2026.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: MONDAY, JUNE 15 Georgia's Joey Volchko shut down Texas on Saturday with 15 strikeouts in a complete game victory. (Georgia Athletics) ⚾️ College World Series The action in Omaha continues this afternoon with an elimination game between No. 6 Texas and No. 7 Alabama (2pm ET, ESPN). Then it's No. 3 Georgia vs. Oklahoma (7pm, ESPN) for a spot in the semifinals. Tomorrow, the winner of the first game takes on the loser of the second game for another spot in the semis. Weekend update: No. 5 North Carolina booked the first semifinal spot with a 5-2 win over No. 16 West Virginia; Troy beat Ole Miss, 12-8, to eliminate the Rebels and earn its first CWS win in program history. ⚽️ World Cup, Day 5 Today's slate begins with Spain vs. Cape Verde in Atlanta (12pm, Fox), followed by Belgium vs. Egypt in Seattle (3pm, Fox), Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in Miami (6pm, FS1) and Iran vs. New Zealand in Los Angeles (9pm, FS1). Player to watch: Lamine Yamal, 18, has already helped lead Barcelona to back-to-back LaLiga titles and Spain to the Euro 2024 championship. Now he'll make his World Cup debut, where he'll make his case as the world's best player. More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Rays at Dodgers (10pm, ESPN) … Tampa's Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43 ERA) has the third-best ERA in the AL. How will he fare against the NL's best offense? 🏀 WNBA: Aces at Wings (8pm, USA); Sparks at Valkyries (10pm, NBCSN) … A'ja Wilson (Aces), Paige Bueckers (Wings) and Kelsey Plum (Sparks) are among the top MVP candidates at the season's quarter-mark. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   🏆 TROPHY CASE NBA TRIVIA (Yahoo Sports) The Knicks are the ninth NBA franchise to win at least 3 championships. Question: Can you name the other eight?   📸 THROUGH THE LENS PHOTO FINISH (Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC) The UFC took over the White House South Lawn on Sunday night for an MMA event unlike anything we've ever seen. Stunning finale: Despite being cast as a more than 6-to-1 underdog, and despite being roundly dismissed as a lamb led to slaughter, Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria in the final bout of the evening to become the UFC lightweight champion.   Trivia answer: Celtics (18), Lakers (17), Warriors (7), Bulls (6), Spurs (5), 76ers (3), Heat (3) and Pistons (3)

Fox to buy streaming pioneer Roku in a $22 billion deal Fox Corp. has agreed to buy the streaming pioneer Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $22 billion, including debt. https://apnews.com/article/fox-roku-tubi-streaming-824089dbe16631fade634becdb164c94?

False electors figure draws reprimand from Florida Supreme Court The Florida Supreme Court has declined to suspend the Florida law license of Kenneth Chesebro, convicted in Georgia of filing a false list of electors there to undermine Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/12/false-electors-figure-draw-reprimand-from-florida-supreme-court/? FL GOP gubernatorial candidates blast party’s decision to not hold debate The Republican Party of Florida confirmed Friday that there will be no “full” gubernatorial debate later this month when the party holds its annual summer confab in South Florida. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/12/fl-gop-gubernatorial-candidates-blast-partys-decision-to-not-hold-debate/? It’s been 10 years since ‘unimaginable tragedy,’ the Pulse nightclub shooting It’s been 10 years since one of the most violent attacks on U.S. soil occurred. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/12/its-been-10-years-since-unimaginable-tragedy-the-pulse-nightclub-shooting/? DeSantis directs Capitol and Brevard County flags lowered for Bill Posey Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed flags at the Capitol, Brevard County Courthouse, and Palm Bay City Hall to fly at half staff on Saturday in honor of former U.S. Rep. Bill Posey. https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/desantis-directs-capitol-and-brevard-county-flags-lowered-for-bill-posey/?

Trump’s Shock Reaction to Vile Michelle Obama Slur Revealed The jaw-dropping moment unfolded at the president’s tacky UFC birthday bash. Donald Trump had a shock reaction after a UFC fighter spat out an offensive slur against Michelle Obama after winning his bout at the president’s tacky cage-fighting gala at the White House. Trump staged a UFC Freedom 250 card on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday to mark his 80th birthday, with the divisive event delayed by weather and then running until after 1:15 a.m. But a comment made by a UFC fighter personally selected by Trump to take part in his birthday bash threatened to upstage the actual event, where each of the seven fights staged ended in a stoppage. Former NFL player and heavyweight UFC prospect Josh Hokit, 28, made a controversial statement after winning his match Sunday night. Hokit was victorious via a TKO over Derrick Lewis, who is Trump’s favorite fighter, in the second round. “Shout-out to Trump for having the balls to put some s--- like this on,” Hokit told Joe Rogan in an interview after his win. After shouting out his “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Hokit looked directly into the camera and said, “And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right America?”CNN reported that Trump, who was seated in the front row during the match, “appeared to show a half-smile” seconds after Hokit’s outrageous remark. Trump was seated next to wife Melania and UFC CEO Dana White in seats that had “The White” House printed on them. UFC shared an eight-second clip of Hokit’s speech, which only included an insult about fellow fighter Alex Pereira’s mother, but was cut before the Obama comment. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and reps for Obama for comment. Paramount +, which is airing the event exclusively, declined to comment. Right-wing conspiracy theorists have baselessly claimed for years that the former first lady is a man. The parent company of Paramount+ has been under fire for recent firings at 60 Minutes as the network moves their news department in a more Trump-friendly direction, as well as yanking Stephen Colbert’s late-night show off air. After his win, Hokit put a medallion around Trump’s neck, with White House communications adviser Margo Martin capturing the incident on Instagram. The New York Times reported that Trump put a white baseball hat on his head after Hokit appeared to “disturb” his hair while placing his medallion over the president’s head. However, Trump took Hokit’s chain off shortly after his remark about Obama, New York Post journalist Steven Nelson reported. Reaction to Hokit’s infantile comment included former CNN host Don Lemon playing the exchange while he rolled his eyes and grabbed a bag, as if to leave. The fighter, who goes by the nickname The Incredible Hok, also went viral on Saturday during the weigh-in for the Freedom 250 card. After appearing to stagger and then vomit on himself, he stated, “So what, maybe I was drinking last night.” Hokit has form for the lazy insult, delivered as a mic-drop moment at the end of his post-victory interview. At a UFC event in January, he referenced legendary women’s basketball player and 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner at the end of his victory speech. “And P.S., Brittney Griner is a man,’’ Hokit said. At the time, Rogan said, “Brittney Griner catching strays.’’ UFC CEO White said he did not approve of the remark about Griner. “I heard about it,” he said. “I didn’t see it. I don’t love it.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-shock-reaction-to-vile-michelle-obama-josh-hokit-ufc-slur-revealed/?

Synagogues Jesus and Mary Magdalene Knew In 2009, archaeologists uncovered a first-century synagogue at the town of Migdal on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Its stone benches still lined the walls and its floor still bore a carved stone table decorated with imagery perhaps linked to the Jerusalem Temple. Some believe the town was ancient Magdala, whose most famous resident needs no introduction: Mary Magdalene. She is one of the most prominent women in the Gospels, present at the crucifixion and, according to multiple gospel accounts, the first to encounter the risen Jesus. If the site is Magdala, its archaeology reveals a building she may have known, and a place where her community would have gathered to read Torah and discuss the law. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/synagogues-jesus-and-mary-magdalene-knew/? Solomon’s Temple Destruction Gives Clues to Modern Science Dates and places are not known definitively for much of what is described in the Hebrew Bible. However, the sacking of Jerusalem and destruction of Solomon’s Temple by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25, 8-9), is broadly accepted by scholars as having happened in 586 B.C.E. Because the date and the historicity of the event is well-established, it provides a valuable anchor for scientific inquiry. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/solomons-temple-destruction-gives-clues-to-modern-science/?

Hurricanes use stifling defense to blank Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 and win the Stanley Cup LAS VEGAS (AP) — Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn’t fit the Hurricanes’ typical style. https://apnews.com/article/hurricanes-golden-knights-score-stanley-cup-3877d81383e8dfa19c7f118bd7751962?

Swiss voters reject right-wing’s bid to cap population at 10 million, early results show GENEVA (AP) — Nearly 55% of voters in Switzerland on Sunday rejected an initiative championed by the top right-wing party to cap the rich Alpine country’s population at 10 million, early results showed. https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-referendum-population-10-million-03b42363567cfa9ff29c0995bb4ff711?

Trump heads to G7 in France with Iran and Ukraine wars in focus President Donald Trump is due to arrive in the French Alps on Monday to meet with fellow world leaders. Read more. Why this matters: After announcing an agreement that he says will bring an end to the U.S. war with Iran, Trump arrives with some wind at his back for talks with G7 leaders. This includes some who have been sharply critical of his managing of the Iran war that has led to a surge in global energy prices. The summit is expected to have a large focus on Iran, with discussions on demining the Strait of Hormuz, according to the White House. The Russia-Ukraine war will also be a key topic, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited for a session with G7 leaders. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: Trump’s trip to meet top leaders What to know about the G7 summit Trump’s track record of insults and awkward moments with the G7 leaders he’s meeting in France Why Trump and other G7 leaders meeting without China might be a mistake WATCH: Protesters clash with police in Geneva ahead of summit

What to know about a possible deal to end the Iran war The United States and Iran reached an interim deal early Monday and there are plans for a signing of the deal on Friday in Switzerland. However, previous announcements fell through, and what the deal contains remains in dispute. Read more. What to know: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday the terms of dealing with Iran’s nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed and that the parties could decide to extend that period. Three regional officials said the emerging deal was expected to include the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. A senior U.S. administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said earlier that the emerging agreement includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Reaction to the tentative deal as Israel rules out withdrawing from seized land A history of Iran’s nuclear program and tensions with the US as an interim deal is reached Oil and gas supplies could take months to return to normal after Iran deal, energy experts say Palestinian death toll in Gaza tops 73,000 as Israel launches strikes despite ceasefire

June 15, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning. The United States and Iran have a deal that could lead to the end of their monthslong war. Let’s start there. In Tehran. Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times A hope for peace The war in Iran has killed thousands of people, disrupted shipping, inflated prices and shaken the global economy. And it may be over soon. The United States and Iran reached a framework for peace yesterday. The agreement is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a passage for the world’s energy supplies, and end the American naval blockade of Iranian ports. Oil prices fell after the announcement. In Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East, many expressed relief. “So what was the point of this war?” Roshanak, a resident of Tehran, told my colleague by telephone. “Honestly, we are very happy it’s over,” she added. Still, critical issues remain. The U.S. and Israel went to war in part over Iran’s nuclear program, but the agreement did not address Iran’s nuclear program. American and Iranian officials previously said that the deal would include a 60-day cease-fire to give the two sides more time to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions. The text of the agreement, scheduled to be signed by leaders from the two countries on Friday in Geneva, was not released. In Lebanon Displaced people returning home in southern Lebanon. Aziz Taher/Reuters Iran’s government said that the agreement called for an immediate end to military operations on all fronts. That includes in Lebanon, where Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah are fighting. But peace in Lebanon will depend both on the United States’ ability to compel Israel to wind down its military campaign there, and Iran’s to restrain Hezbollah. Israel was not involved in the negotiations. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said this morning that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were opposed to stopping. “If Iran attacks Israel due to events in Lebanon, we will strike it with full force,” he said. For more The president’s view: President Trump called The Times yesterday afternoon. In a 28-minute phone conversation that he initiated from the White House residence, and a brief follow-up call, he asserted that his decision to attack Iran, and his subsequent naval blockade of its ports, had remade the Middle East in America’s favor and saved Israel from nuclear obliteration. Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz would be “permanently toll-free.” Read more. The economy: The war has crippled supply chains and sent inflation soaring. The disruption is likely to linger. Global reaction: World leaders welcomed the announcement of a deal. It will be a major topic of discussion this week at the Group of 7 meeting in France, which Trump will attend. THE LISTENER Hany Farid delivers a lecture at University of California, Berkeley. Erin Schaff/The New York Times Eli Saslow writes about living in America. His business is evocative narratives, stories about people caught up in issues larger than they are, about people navigating impossible circumstances or struggling to find solace in places where comfort is rare. His work is built on close listening and deep observation, empathy squared. Sometimes, it’s left me in tears. His latest is an accounting of how a man named Hany Farid, the world’s leading expert in spotting deepfake images and video on the internet, stopped trusting his own eyes. Imagine it. Farid’s 60, a professor. He’s built a career out of his ability to differentiate visual reality from fakery. Every day he gets requests from governments, from journalists, from law enforcement and others hoping for his help in understanding what’s a real image and what’s a fake, whether a voice is a person’s or an A.I. clone’s. Farid’s done the research to show that most people cannot tell the difference between the real and the fake. And now he’s becoming one of them. Farid spends hours and hours on this work: watching videos, geolocating, seeking inconsistencies, doing math. It used to be that he was proud to discover the rare fake in a world of reality. Now it’s the opposite. And the deepfakes are slowly breaking him, Eli observed: “I miss the days when it was a grainy video of a shark swimming up the street,” Farid said one night, as he sat on the back deck of his house with his wife, Emily Cooper. He put down his phone and poured a whiskey. “The technology is getting so good. It takes me to a dark place.” “Because you can’t tell just by looking anymore?” Cooper asked. “Because nobody can,” Farid said. “I don’t trust anything. Every image I see, I’m drawing lines for shadows and doing geometry in my head, trying to figure out what I’m looking at. It’s over. Within a year or two, our whole visual system will be utterly useless.” “And then what? You give up? You retire?” “I don’t know,” he said. It’s generally my job in this space to tell you what’s happening, to keep you informed. Today I’m telling you to go read Eli’s story, start to finish. We’ve made it free for you. THE LATEST NEWS Politics On the White House lawn. Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times On his 80th birthday, Trump hosted a U.F.C. fight. The White House served as a backdrop for a massive temporary outdoor venue known as The Claw. Trump is intent on projecting an image of relentless energy. But he cannot outrun scrutiny over his age, especially after seeming several times to doze off in public. Secret memos show that the White House debated, to a greater degree than previously known, whether to limit a constitutional right — habeas corpus — for undocumented immigrants. Around the World Ukraine: A cathedral in Kyiv at one of the holiest sites of Orthodox Christianity burned after a Russian missile attack. Britain plans to ban social media for children under 16 starting next year. Marius Borg Hoiby, the eldest son of the crown princess in Norway, was convicted of rape received a four-year prison sentence. Other Big Stories Eleven passengers and a pilot died when a skydiving plane crashed in rural Missouri, shortly after takeoff. Catholic church abuse survivors in New York face a choice: Should they accept a proposed settlement, giving them each about $250,000, or try to seek more? OPINIONS Alana Paterson for The New York Times A striking development in the middle of Vancouver shows how housing can flourish without excessive regulation, Binyamin Appelbaum writes. Todd Blanche is unfit to serve as attorney general, the editorial board writes. It’s on: The Wordle challenge. Celebrate 5 years of the game. Solve each day’s puzzle through Friday and earn a special badge. Play now TODAY’S NUMBER $4.4 billion — That is how much money researchers expect will be wagered with online sports books in the United States during the World Cup, an increase from $1.8 billion during the last one, in 2022. SPORTS Stanley Cup The Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup since 2026 with a suffocating 3-0 Game 6 victory over the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. Jordan Staal, 37, earned the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff M.V.P. World Cup Iran players training in Mexico yesterday. Harry How/Getty Images The Iranian team arrived in the United States. It is set to play New Zealand in a Los Angeles area stadium today. Lamine Yamal, of Spain, is a teen sensation. Read more about him. A referee is accused of making a gesture popular with white supremacists during a game broadcast. N.B.A. Championship After the joy of Game 5, the chaos: Crowds gathered in Midtown Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ victory turned violent as the night wore on, smashing vehicles and fighting. Spike Lee called the Knicks’ win divine. Timothée Chalamet described the players as gods. The Believing newsletter asks: Was this a religious experience? RECIPE OF THE DAY Kelly Marshall for The New York Times One of the roughly 10,000 things I love about Melissa Clark is how she can take a relatively simple recipe — say, cold peanut ginger noodles — and elevate it without making it the least bit complicated. How in this case? She adds a big squeeze of lime to the dressing and a handful of chopped crystallized ginger. Those do a lot. You’ll be eating this dish all summer. COLOR AND LIGHT The New York Times One of the greatest works of art about art is Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1984 musical, “Sunday in the Park With George,” about the painter Georges Seurat. And one of the greatest songs in it is “Sunday,” the Act I finale, which brings order, balance and harmony to Seurat’s world. To ours, too. Take a few minutes and listen to it with our theater critic, Helen Shaw. She’ll show you how Sondheim, to quote a lyric from the show, made a hat where there never was a hat. More on culture Our Kyle Buchanan checked in with Emily Blunt, who stars in Steven Spielberg’s latest, “Disclosure Day.” Blunt’s very smart. This is cool. Our Book Review has been tracking the books that thousands of you have saved to your personal reading lists on The Times’s website. Here’s what you’ve saved the most. 📚 THE MORNING RECOMMENDS David Plunkert Read Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of “The Odyssey” in advance of this summer’s movie adaptation from Christopher Nolan. As you can see, The Times loved it. Alleviate your lower back pain. These gentle yoga poses can help. (I promise!) Install a better AC. The sweaty apartment dwellers at Wirecutter found powerful machines that use a lot less energy than that wheezing box in your bedroom window. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were headpin, pinhead and pinheaded. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 15 1215 King John puts his seal on Magna Carta Following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John puts his royal seal on Magna Carta, or “the Great Charter.” The document is seen as a cornerstone in the development of democratic England and influenced the U.S. Constitution. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1846 U.S.-Canadian border established west of the Rocky Mountains American Revolution 1776 Delaware declares independence 1775 Congress votes to have George Washington lead the Continental Army Arts & Entertainment 1300 Dante is named prior of Florence Civil War 1863 President Lincoln calls for new militia from Mid-Atlantic states 1864 Battle of Petersburg begins Crime 2005 Police search Van der Sloot home in Holloway disappearance Early 20th Century U.S. 1904 Riverboat fire leaves more than 1,000 dead Exploration 1910 Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition begins Landmarks 2012 Nik Wallenda walks across Niagara Falls on tightrope U.S. Presidents 1974 “All the President’s Men” published, detailing the Watergate scandal Vietnam War 1964 President Johnson decides against asking Congress for authority to wage war World War I 1917 U.S. Congress passes Espionage Act World War II 1944 American bombers deluge Budapest—with leaflets 1943 SS Colonel Paul Blobel launches effort to cover up Nazi atrocities

💡 Quote du jour: Bob Dylan Bob Dylan plays a surprise set at Farm Aid in Noblesville, Ind., in 2023. Photo: Gary Miller/Getty Images Bob Dylan, 85 — iconic singer-songwriter and Nobel Prize honoree — was among several celebrities age 80+ who were asked by New York Times Opinion for advice to President Trump on turning 8-0. This passage from Dylan, on the best thing about being 80, leapt out at me: "You're not rushing to become anything, and you're not haunted by things that you did. You're haunted by how little of it really mattered in the way you thought it would." Read the interviews (gift link).

💊 Obesity drug overload Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Next month's launch of a Medicare program providing weight-loss drugs for $50 a month could become one of the biggest drug rollouts ever, Axios' Tina Reed writes. Why it matters: It's expected to unleash pent-up demand for Wegovy, Zepbound and other blockbuster treatments — and create new bottlenecks at doctors' offices. The new program is part of a deal President Trump struck with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to cut prices for their diabetes and anti-obesity drugs in exchange for access to more patients. Providers are bracing for an onslaught beginning July 1, with roughly 14 million Medicare beneficiaries overweight or obese, according to KFF. Keep reading.

Trump's "psychiatrist" and counsel Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Boris Epshteyn is such a fixture in Donald Trump's White House that he's in Oval Office meetings when some attendees don't even know it, Axios' Marc Caputo and Alex Isenstadt write. Epshteyn, the president's senior personal counsel, speaks with "the boss" so often that Trump sometimes puts him on speakerphone without telling others in the room, two people familiar with the routine tell Axios. Why it matters: In a White House where proximity to power is power itself, Epshteyn is one of the most influential people in D.C. — not just because he's listening in, but because Trump listens to him as well. "He's like my psychiatrist," Trump has joked about how often he talks to Epshteyn — who typically offers such enthusiastic support that it's like therapy for the president. In Trump's fractious political world, though, such presidential praise draws criticism, including from within. "He's 100% hype man and cheering section for POTUS," one adviser said. "It's sometimes a bit much." 🔎 Zoom in: As Trump's top personal attorney, Epshteyn has overseen a wave of unprecedented civil litigation from a president against the news media and social media companies. Trump has won or forced settlements with ABC ($16 million), CBS ($16 million, plus public service announcements), Meta ($25 million), Google ($22 million) and X ($10 million). Other Trump media targets still in litigation: BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and even the Pulitzer Committee. Boris Epshteyn walks to the White House from Marine One in 2025. Photo: Francis Chung/Politico via Getty Images ⚖️ The big picture: Epshteyn became a force in Trumpworld by assembling the legal team and charting the risky strategy that paid off during the 2024 election cycle, when Trump faced four criminal cases and two civil ones. Channeling his client, Epshteyn made brinksmanship the default tactic, fighting on every front, appealing everything possible (winning a landmark Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling) and raising the political pressure on judges and prosecutors as cases unfolded in the heat of an election. "Boris delivered in the crucible of battle where either Trump was going to be in prison or be president," said Steve Bannon, influential MAGA podcaster and first-term Trump official. "Boris was the guy who got it done." "He's the president's fixer," said a frequent White House visitor. Between the lines: Epshteyn's role extends beyond the courtroom. In April, he was named chair of Trump Media. Donald Trump Jr. serves as a director. Epshteyn has significant influence in the Justice Department, Trump advisers say, because of his close relationship with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Epshteyn is in the Oval Office about once a week, a White House official said, and is "constantly" on the phone with Trump in between. ps:So pathetic!!!!!

Iran and US reach an initial deal to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz but challenges remain DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement Monday that would extend their shaky ceasefire and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but significant challenges remain to ending the war, including whether Israel will continue its offensive in Lebanon. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-oil-june-15-2026-77406473da38c6c126818610a219dc20? Iran Deal Reached The US and Iran have agreed to extend their ceasefire by 60 days, President Donald Trump and mediators revealed yesterday. The countries are scheduled to sign a deal Friday in Switzerland. Oil prices fell on the news. Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels "toll-free," Trump says, and the US will end its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The ceasefire is also predicated on an end to the conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Details surrounding Iran’s nuclear program—including the fate of its stockpile of enriched uranium—are slated to be discussed after the deal is signed. The full text was not publicly available as of this writing. The agreement was announced hours before Trump traveled to France for this year's G7 summit. In addition to the US war with Iran, the countries will discuss multilateral trade, among other issues. Learn more about the G7 here. ⚡ 60-day Iran deal Via Truth Social The U.S. and Iran agreed to a framework extending their ceasefire for 60 days, with a signing ceremony expected Friday in Switzerland and nuclear talks to follow, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: The agreement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease pressure on global energy markets, and create a window for negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. The memorandum of understanding would mark the war's biggest diplomatic breakthrough. Special envoy Steve Witkoff embraces Vice President JD Vance at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn last night. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 🖼️ The big picture: The agreement is designed to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handled about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war. Fully reopening the strait may not happen immediately. Mine-clearing, infrastructure repairs and guaranteeing security could take time before a full return to prewar shipping volumes. 📝 Breaking it down: The agreement calls for the U.S. and Iran to negotiate over Iran's nuclear enrichment and the disposal of its highly enriched uranium during the 60-day window. The U.S. will discuss sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds, with relief expected to be tied to Tehran's compliance.

Northern Korean people are legally only allowed to have one of 28 haircuts. Men and women can choose from 14 different styles. James

Civil Records for Hundreds of Thousands of Lebanese Could Be Wiped Out By Israel’s Total War Israel’s campaign to raze huge swaths of southern Lebanon may destroy not only people’s homes, but also their ability to even show they owned the properties, according to locals and officials from the Lebanese government — potentially leaving as many as a quarter million Lebanese unable to prove that they have property or homes at all. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/14/lebanon-civil-records-israe/? D.C. Mayor Candidates Are Fixating on Teen Hangouts — and Turning the Cops on Them Kenyan McDuffie stood in a dark suit and gingham tie in front of an infamous Chipotle in southeast Washington, D.C. The day before, a video of teenagers fighting inside the fast-casual restaurant had gone viral — and presented the former city councilmember a political opportunity in his mayoral campaign. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/12/dc-mayor-teen-curfew-kenyan-mcduffie-janeese-lewis-george/? They Weren’t Convicted of Terrorism, But These Palestine Activists Got Sentenced as Terrorists Anyway Four UK-based Palestine solidarity activists were sentenced as terrorists on Friday for damaging military drones and other equipment at an Elbit Systems U.K. factory in 2024. Elbit, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, has provided the vast majority of drones used in the Israeli military’s genocidal bombardment of Gaza, among other horrors. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/13/elbit-protest-palestine-action-uk-filton-25-terrorism-enhancement/? Hakeem Jeffries Finally Finds a Spine: Dem Leaders Rallied Against Extending Domestic Spy Law When the House of Representatives voted on a long-term extension of a controversial surveillance law in April, House Democratic leaders were content to let their members vote as they wished, dealing a blow to privacy advocates seeking reforms to a provision that allows domestic spying without a warrant. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/11/democrats-pulte-fisa-surveillance/? Scott Pelley Shows How Legacy Media Got It Wrong — Before Bari Weiss Made It Worse The battle over “60 Minutes” can teach us a lot about how someone like CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss can wreak havoc on our media ecosystem. What has gotten a lot less attention, however, is the way the fight shows us how ill-equipped our media institutions already were when it comes to covering the Trump administration and MAGA-era politics. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/11/bari-weiss-scott-pelley-60-minutes-cbs-news/? A Point-by-Point Breakdown of Trump’s Failed Iran War Objectives At the very start of his war with Iran, President Donald Trump declared victory. “We won,” ‌Trump announced on March 11, 11 days after launching the joint attack with Israel. “In the first hour it ⁠was over.” But more than 2,200 hours later, the conflict is obviously still raging. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/11/trump-iran-war-claims-failures/? ps:Pathetic ICE Should Show It Hasn’t Been “Infiltrated by Violent Extremists,” Senator Urges A Democratic senator has asked newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to explain the department’s racist social media presence and assure the agency has not been “infiltrated by violent extremists.” https://theintercept.com/2026/06/12/ice-infiltrated-violent-extremists-senator-whitehouse/? Indiana Banned Press From Executions for “Dignity.” It Actually Serves Repression. A few days before my best friend’s execution date in 2006, prison administrators granted me one last chance to see him in a legal visit. We discussed his concerns about the humaneness of the lethal injection that would kill him. I will never forget his terrified look. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/13/indiana-media-ban-death-penalty-law/? The Right’s “Election Fraud” Cry for Midterms Previewed in Primaries On Tuesday night, oyster farmer and combat veteran Graham Platner overwhelmingly sailed to victory in the Democratic Senate primary in Maine. His opponent, Gov. Janet Mills unofficially dropped out in late April, leaving Platner effectively unopposed. But a series of scandals rocked his candidacy, leaving his viability against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November in question. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/12/california-maine-primaries/?

💥 Unions prep for 2028 AI war Illustration: Allie Carl / Axios 💪 MINNEAPOLIS — The nation's most powerful labor unions have a message for potential 2028 contenders for president: It's us or the machines. 😬 Why it matters: AI anxiety dominated much of the conversation at the AFL-CIO's national convention here last week, as leaders from the group's 65 affiliated unions called on politicians to impose significant AI regulations. Those planning a run for the White House are likely to have trouble satisfying both business-friendly Democrats and the party's progressive base, which is increasingly wary of or hostile to AI. State of play: Unions see opportunities for union labor to build data centers and other AI projects, but believe that both parties are falling short in plans to protect workers from the consequences of AI. 💰 "You're either with workers or you're with millionaires," AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler told us. "There's just been a dearth of leadership in terms of elected officials really prioritizing this and putting workers at the center." The AFL-CIO didn't invite potential 2028 candidates to the convention to avoid overly politicizing the event, but union leaders had plenty of criticism of their AI policies. Chrissy Lynch, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said California Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent executive order on AI was "not helpful." "It says the right things, but it's just more research, and what we need is action," she argued. 🧐 But Lynch and others don't support a moratorium on building data centers that's supported by Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders. Building trade unions in particular see constructing data centers as a way to provide good-paying jobs, and believe that a moratorium would hurt their members. Zoom in: On Tuesday, union leaders spoke under a large banner declaring "AI should work for us" as they railed against AI-powered technology such as surveillance pricing, "bossware" programs, digital replicas, synthetics, data harvesting, discriminatory algorithms, and more. The unions passed a resolution declaring "Our message to elected leaders is clear and unequivocal: You can either stand with Big Tech's drive to maximize profits at all cost, or you can stand with working people in supporting responsible and careful technological change. But you can't do both." Between the lines: Many Democrats eyeing 2028 runs have been calling for more AI regulation, as polls indicate that voters are increasingly anxious about AI. That's been a reversal for some governors who previously had embraced many AI-related projects, and the jobs and business they could bring to their states. 🤺 AI is dividing Republicans as well. Although the Trump administration has been largely hands-off toward AI companies, potential GOP White House contenders such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley have been increasingly critical of the technology. Read more. — Alex Thompson, Holly Otterbein

12 dead as a plane on a skydiving outing crashes in Missouri, authorities say BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — A plane carrying a pilot and 11 passengers on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed in a field and was engulfed in flames Sunday, killing all aboard, authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/butler-missouri-plane-crash-dead-0f074de40ce690e76c19ffbe183d1875?

The big picture: The intersection of faith and public policy is tightening. Courts and legislatures remain the primary battlegrounds, with a distinct shift toward administrative action and conscience protections as… The post RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: A WEEKLY BRIEFING appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

A dozen men gathered to pray in a private home in University Heights, Ohio. The city responded with a cease-and-desist letter. That sequence, simple on its face, now sits before… The post An Orthodox Jew Prayed at Home. The Supreme Court Will Decide if He Can Sue the City That Stopped Him. appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

The view from Pepperdine’s law school in Malibu runs straight out to the Pacific. For three days in early June the people gathered there kept their attention on something harder… The post Pepperdine and Founders’ First Freedom Bring the Religious Freedom Conversation Home to Malibu appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Oldest Iron Blooms Found in Shipwreck off Israel Coast But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day. – Deuteronomy 4:20 (ESV) https://www.patternsofevidence.com/2026/06/11/oldest-iron-blooms-found-in-shipwreck-off-israel-coast/?

Gene Shalit, longtime ‘Today’ show movie critic with bushy hair and massive mustache, dies at 100 https://apnews.com/article/gene-shalit-dies-b8ed6f4b7054e530e5fba9a808902cca?

49ers mourn the sudden death of former All-Pro linebacker Aldon Smith at 36 https://apnews.com/article/aldon-smith-death-b26fe7eaddfd6494e23dbb36b9e15771?