June 29, 2026 - U.S. and Iran Agree to Halt Strikes

Last night I was in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall when Bill Maher received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Jay Leno and Stephen A. Smith all took turns roasting and praising the host of "Real Time," with Jerry Seinfeld beaming in from Las Vegas. Leno warned that if Trump is mad now, wait until next year's recipient is Bad Bunny. The night closed with John Mellencamp playing his "Authority Song" - "I fight authority, authority always wins" - which he said was Maher's request. Maher was grateful, funny and clearly moved. You can watch it on Netflix July 21. My favorite Maher line of the night was him saying if politicians no longer want to be mocked, they should stop being so funny.

But the highlight of the evening for me was a bit Maher did with 28-year-old phenom Matt Friend, who "interrupted" the ceremony in character as President Trump. "Why are we giving this low-ratings, lightweight jerk the award?" Friend demanded. "Just take it," Maher shot back. "I'm used to losing awards." Priceless. The only thing better would have been the real Trump in the room.

I wondered if he might come. Recall the White House first called Maher's selection "fake news." Then a judge ordered Trump's name off the building - it now sits hidden under a tarp - and Maher was formally invited. Remember, too, that these two once sat down to dinner and, for one night, put their differences aside and simply enjoyed each other's company. I wish they'd have done it again. Would Maher have ribbed him? Of course. Crossed a line of decency? I seriously doubt it. And Trump could have shown he can take a punch. Win-win. Instead the presidential box sat empty. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick sat in front of me, tuning out the world for two hours to just laugh. Which is healthy for all of us.

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The U.S. and Iran have agreed to halt strikes and will meet Tuesday in Qatar's capital to resolve their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a senior U.S. official told Axios, as an 11-day-old ceasefire teeters amid renewed attacks and a threat from President Trump to restart the war.

Axios

A sprawling heat dome will push heat-index values to between 100 and 115 degrees across much of the eastern US this week, while a jet stream shift cools the West and fans dangerous fire weather in Utah, Colorado and Arizona.

CNN

Bill Maher accepted the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, defying earlier White House pushback against his selection, with tributes from Jay Leno, Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson and others.

The Hollywood Reporter

The Supreme Court is more than doubling its police force and pouring millions into protecting the justices after the 2022 assassination attempt on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, even as the buildout strains budgets, constrains the justices' lives and draws calls from Congress for more transparency.

Politico

Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed the U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail ballots in states that refuse to share voter data with the federal government, alarming Democrats and voting rights groups as a federal judge blocked the underlying Trump executive order.

The Hill

Former President Joe Biden tore into President Donald Trump at a Maryland gala, calling him a "loser" fixated on "vanity projects" like the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a planned arch and Kennedy Center changes, and saying the pool "reflects something even worse: the narcissism and incompetence at the core of this administration."

USA Today

Clifford Asness and Aaron Brown argue that backlash against Donald Trump has pushed parts of the Democratic Party toward once-fringe positions, like democratic socialism, warning that both parties must rebuild a political culture where ideas are judged on their merits rather than opposition to the other side.

The Wall Street Journal

Sens. Mark Kelly and Todd Young told ABC's "This Week" that political courage means putting the country ahead of party, making the case for bipartisan cooperation amid deep divisions as America approaches its 250th anniversary.

ABC News

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CBS News

Centrist Democrats are pushing back against the party’s growing socialist wing, arguing that recent left-wing primary victories have intensified a debate over the party’s identity, economic message, and electoral strategy.

The New York Times