WTF Just Happened This Week

Curated by Matt Kiser, WTF Just Happened Today

6.15.26/ Today inOne Sentence The U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary framework to end Trump’s monthslong war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz; ¶ Trump plans to nominate one of his personal lawyers to run the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan; ¶ federal agents have reportedly questioned Gavin Newsom’s family friends, former employees, and people tied to his wife’s nonprofits as part of several federal investigations; ¶ Trump said the July 4th celebration on the National Mall for America’s 250th anniversary will double as “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all”; ¶ Trump hosted a $60 million UFC cage fight on the White House South Lawn for his 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary; ¶ 78% of Americans say the “American Dream” is harder to attain now than it was a generation ago; ¶ 49% of voters say they prefer to see Democrats control Congress; ¶ and 69% of Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing to address the cost of living.

Today's TopTop Story The U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary framework to end Trump’s monthslong war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The full text of deal, however, remain secret and the issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program, stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sanctions relief, frozen assets, and whether the ceasefire applies to Lebanon were deferred for 60 days of negotiations. Nevertheless, Trump declared “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” saying the strait would be “completely open” by Friday and “permanently toll-free.” Iran said it was “not seeking to levy transit tolls,” but would charge fees for unspecified services. JD Vance, meanwhile, called memorandum “a very general document” of “about a page and a half,” but said there are “a lot” of details left to figure out. Iran said nuclear issues and sanctions relief remain subject to negotiation and that talks would proceed “on the basis of mistrust.” Israel, meanwhile, distanced itself from the deal, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it Trump’s “decision,” saying Israel and the U.S. don’t always “see eye to eye” while warning that Israel’s “struggle has not ended” as it continued striking Hezbollah targets despite Iran and Pakistan saying the agreement covers Lebanon. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Reuters / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNBC / CNN / NBC News / ABC News)

• The U.S. emergency oil reserve fell to its lowest level since 1983. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve now holds about 340 million barrels after the Trump administration released another 8.9 million barrels last week to help with fuel prices – a little less than half full. It’s down 75 million barrels, or 18%, since the war began in late February. (CNN / Bloomberg)
• Oil and gas supplies could take months to recover despite the U.S.-Iran deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Energy experts said companies first need insurance, crews, and confidence that ships can safely enter, load, and leave the strait, while some producers might not restart wells until they believe the ceasefire will last. (Associated Press / New York Times)
• 💡 Trump sought to break Iran’s regime. He settled for reopening Hormuz. “A return to a version of the status quo was a far cry from the original aims of a war effort that kicked off with a vow to come to the aid of the Iranian protesters who had taken to their nation’s streets to denounce their regime.” (Washington Post)
• 💡 Trump winds down the war he started with goals unmet. “Despite Mr. Trump’s grandiose claims, the agreement has not yet achieved the core goals he laid out three months ago for launching U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.” (New York Times)
• 💡 Trump celebrates while America capitulates. “It is clear that Trump has failed to achieve every one of the goals he put forward for this war of choice, and now he is determined to sign, seal, and deliver America’s capitulation as quickly as possible.” (The Atlantic)

6.11.26/Today inOne Sentence Trump called off planned U.S. strikes on Iran and claimed a peace deal was close hours after threatening to hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” and saying the U.S. would take Kharg Island and “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets; ¶ the House rejected a short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, all but ensuring the government’s foreign surveillance authority expires at midnight on Friday; ¶ Trump said he would nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan and former SEC chair, as permanent director of national intelligence; ¶ and the Interior Department is investigating brown grass patches on the National Mall that appeared from above to form “8647.”.

Today'sTop Story Trump called off planned U.S. strikes on Iran and claimed a peace deal was close hours after threatening to hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” and saying the U.S. would take Kharg Island and “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets. The reversal followed two days of U.S. strikes on Iranian air defenses, radar, and military sites after Trump accused Iran of downing a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. “Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved,” Trump said he had “cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” adding: “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran.” The deal is still “subject to finalization of documents.” Trump suggested that a signing could happen “over the next few days” and said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen once the deal is signed. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain “in full force and effect” until the “Transaction is finalized.” Iran, however, hasn’t publicly confirmed an agreement. (New York Times / CNBC / Wall Street Journal / Reuters / Associated Press / Bloomberg / Axios / Washington Post / Politico / CNN)

6.10.26/Today inOne Sentence Inflation topped 4% for the first time in three years; ¶ Trump responded to the inflation report by saying “I love the inflation,” calling the numbers “great,” and arguing that prices would fall “like a rock” when the Iran war he started ends; ¶ the U.S. bombed Iran for a second straight night after Trump said Tehran had taken “too long to negotiate” and would “pay the price”; ¶ Maine Democrats nominated Graham Platner to challenge Susan Collins in a race that will likely to decide control of the Senate; ¶ Trump signed the nearly $70 billion bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the rest of his term; ¶ a top Justice Department official planned to seek compensation from Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and asked to recuse himself from work on it; ¶ and Trump directed his acting director of national intelligence to “execute the immediate and needed downsizing” of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence while asking Congress to temporarily extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Today'sTop Story Inflation topped 4% for the first time in three years. The Labor Department reported that prices rose 0.5% from April and 4.2% from a year earlier – up from 3.8% in April. Energy accounted for more than 60% of the monthly increase, with gas rising 7% in May, and up more than 40% from a year ago. Real average hourly earnings, meanwhile, fell 0.7% from a year ago, meaning inflation has outpaced wage growth for a second straight month. (NPR / CNN / NBC News / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Reuters / Associated Press / Washington Post)

6.9.26/Today inOne Sentence The U.S. launched “self-defense strikes” against Iran after Trump accused Tehran of shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz; ¶ House Republicans passed the $70 billion immigration enforcement bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the rest of Trump’s term; ¶ Social Security’s retirement trust fund is now expected to run of money in 2032, forcing an automatic 22% cut in retiree and survivor benefits to more than 68 million beneficiaries unless Congress acts; ¶ Trump and his family collected at least $2.3 billion from four crypto ventures while investors in those products lost roughly $2.3 billion; ¶ and Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, as well as the first president to be booed at an NBA Finals game.

Today'sTop Story The U.S. launched “self-defense strikes” against Iran after Trump accused Tehran of shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command called the strikes a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” but provided no targets, damage assessment, or evidence that Iran deliberately shot down the helicopter. Trump had earlier claimed Iran “shot down” the aircraft and said “the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.” U.S. officials, however, said an Iranian drone brought down or collided with the aircraft while the military’s formal investigation was still ongoing. Iran, meanwhile, didn’t claim responsibility, but Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that forces near Iranian territory were at risk from “human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” adding that the “best solution is for them to leave.” The two crew members were rescued by a Navy surface drone, the first known U.S. military rescue of its kind. (New York Times / Washington Post / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Axios / Bloomberg / NBC News)