⚡ Today in History

On June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law, banning sex discrimination in any federally funded education program in the United States. In 2016, British voters chose to leave the European Union in the Brexit referendum — 10 years ago today. Today, the UK is looking for its seventh prime minister in a decade after Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday morning outside 10 Downing Street.

Top News

Alan Greenspan Dead at 100 19 YEARS AS FED CHAIR

Alan Greenspan, who steered the Federal Reserve for nearly 19 years under four presidents — from Ronald Reagan in 1987 through George W. Bush in 2006 — died Monday at his Washington home from complications of Parkinson's disease. His wife, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell, announced his death. Greenspan guided the U.S. through the 1987 stock market crash and the dot-com bubble, but critics later held his deregulatory stance partly responsible for the 2008 global financial crisis.

Starmer Quits — UK Gets Its 7th PM in 10 Years

Facing an internal Labour Party revolt after losing more than 1,000 council seats in May local elections, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced outside 10 Downing Street on Monday that he would resign as Labour leader and prime minister, less than two years after his party's landslide July 2024 election victory. Starmer said he would remain as caretaker until a new leader is chosen, with nominations opening July 9. Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who won a parliamentary seat in a by-election last week to mount a leadership challenge, immediately confirmed he would run and is the clear frontrunner.

US-Iran Nuclear Talks in Switzerland Reach 60-Day Roadmap

US and Iranian negotiators concluded the first formal session of their nuclear talks Sunday at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, agreeing to a roadmap for reaching a final deal within 60 days, according to a joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan. Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation, calling the session a "good foundation." The talks were nearly derailed when President Donald Trump threatened fresh strikes on Iran Saturday, prompting Tehran's delegation to briefly pause, though mediators confirmed both sides remained engaged.

Colombia Swings Right as Trump-Backed Candidate Wins Narrow Vote 49.7% VS 48.7%

Far-right attorney Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by President Trump and known as “El Tigre,” won Colombia's presidential runoff on Sunday by less than one percentage point over left-wing senator Iván Cepeda, according to preliminary results. The 47-year-old newcomer to elected politics has pledged to end peace talks with rebel groups, launch US-backed military offensives against drug cartels, and reverse Colombia's moratorium on new oil and gas drilling. Outgoing leftist President Gustavo Petro, who is constitutionally barred from a second term, alleged election fraud and called for a recount.

Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Holds — But Just Barely

A ceasefire brokered Saturday between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon was holding Monday, though both sides accused the other of violations. At least 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, hours after the ceasefire was reportedly agreed, before fighting tapered off. The fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah has become the central flashpoint in the broader US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland — Tehran has said that ending the Lebanon war is its top priority at the talks.

World

Strait of Hormuz Remains Open — For Now 20% OF WORLD OIL

Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's traded oil passes — closed again last Saturday, citing Israeli ceasefire violations in Lebanon. The US military rejected the claim, saying vessels were continuing to transit freely. With the Switzerland talks under way, the strait remained open Monday, though Iranian state media warned the closure threat could return if fighting in Lebanon resumed.

World Cup 2026: USA Advances, Cape Verde Stuns Uruguay

The FIFA World Cup, being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, continued to deliver surprises Sunday as Cape Verde — appearing in its first-ever World Cup — drew 2-2 with Uruguay in Miami Gardens, Florida, a result that scrambled the group standings. American winger Gio Reyna scored his first World Cup goal in the USA's opening-match win over Paraguay and announced his wife Chloe's pregnancy in the post-match celebrations. The tournament features 48 teams for the first time in its 96-year history.

Ukraine Crimea Fuel Squeeze — Russia Suspends Civilian Gas Sales

Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday following a series of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes targeting fuel storage and supply lines across the peninsula. Ukraine had escalated attacks on Crimean fuel infrastructure over the weekend, aiming to degrade Russia's ability to supply frontline forces in the southern theater of the war. Fighting continued in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine, where both sides reported exchanges along a frontline that has remained largely static for months.

Lebanon-Israel Peace Talks Set for Washington This Week

Separate from the US-Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, bilateral negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are scheduled in Washington on June 23–25, according to the US State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called the Washington talks “the only feasible path” for Lebanon to secure reconstruction funding and end recurring cycles of conflict with Israel. Neither Hezbollah — which has fought Israel repeatedly since the 1980s — nor the militant group's Iranian backers are party to the Washington process.

AbbVie Buys Apogee Therapeutics in $10.9 Billion Deal

AbbVie, the pharmaceutical company best known for its arthritis drug Humira, agreed Monday to acquire Apogee Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech focused on inflammation treatments, in an all-cash deal valued at $10.9 billion. The acquisition is AbbVie's largest since it bought Allergan in 2020 for $63 billion and extends the company's push to replace Humira revenue lost to biosimilar competition since 2023. Apogee shares jumped roughly 55% on the news in premarket trading.

Politics

Trump Weighs In on Starmer Before Resignation Was Official 6TH PM IN A DECADE

President Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday that Keir Starmer “will resign” as UK prime minister before the announcement was made public, citing immigration and energy policy as his failures. Trump's relationship with Starmer had soured in recent months, in part over Britain's decision not to join US military operations against Iran. With Starmer gone, the UK is now preparing its sixth prime ministerial transition in a decade — a period that included Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and two others before Starmer.

Mangione Drops Psychiatric Defense One Day After Announcing It

In a one-line court filing on June 18, attorneys for Luigi Mangione, the 28-year-old accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December 2024, withdrew their plan to argue that Mangione had been experiencing extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the killing — one day after signaling in court that they would pursue that defense. Former Manhattan prosecutor Gary Galperin called the reversal “stunning.” Mangione's state murder trial is scheduled to begin September 8 in New York.

Warsh Fed Signals Rate Hike Is on the Table for 2026

At the Federal Reserve's June 16–17 meeting — Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's first since taking over from Jerome Powell — the central bank held its benchmark rate steady at 3.50%–3.75% but shifted to a more aggressive posture. Nine of 18 policymakers now project at least one rate increase before year-end, a sharp turn from earlier 2026 expectations of multiple rate cuts. US inflation reached 4.2% year-over-year in May, driven largely by a 23.5% spike in energy costs tied to the Iran conflict. Markets price roughly a 67% probability of a rate hike by December, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

PCE Inflation Data Due Thursday — Markets Watching Closely

Thursday, June 25, brings a cluster of economic data that will shape Fed expectations for the rest of the year: May core PCE — the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, the Fed's preferred inflation measure — alongside the final Q1 GDP reading and weekly jobless claims. Core PCE came in at 3.3% year-over-year in April. Forecasters expect May to show continued elevation, with headline PCE potentially touching 4.1%. A reading at or above the Fed's own revised year-end forecast of 3.6% would reinforce the case for a 2026 rate hike.

Reflecting Pool Arrests Include Former Olympian

Several people were arrested last week in Washington, D.C. in connection with vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, one of the National Mall's most visited landmarks. Among those charged was a former Olympian, according to Fox News. President Trump called for the pool to be drained for immediate repairs and vowed serious consequences. National Park Service workers were seen using industrial vacuums to clean the pool on Saturday, June 20.

Markets

Equities Drift Higher as Iran Talks Ease Nerves S&P 500 +0.12%

US stocks opened the week in muted positive territory Monday after US-Iran negotiators in Switzerland reported “encouraging progress,” reducing some of the geopolitical risk premium. The S&P 500 added 0.12%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.44%, and the Russell 2000 — an index tracking smaller US companies — surged 2.12%. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.27% as large-cap technology stocks pulled back after last week's gains. All three major indexes remain near all-time highs set in June.

Oil Slides as Hormuz Stays Open — Down 17% in a Month

West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled near $77 per barrel Monday, continuing a slide that has pulled oil down roughly 17% over the past month as the Strait of Hormuz reopened and the US-Iran ceasefire took hold. At the height of the conflict in early 2026, crude had surged past $120 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded near $81. Oil prices remain more than 13% above where they stood a year ago, meaning energy costs continue to feed through to consumer inflation data.

Gold Near $4,150 — Down 26% From January Peak

Gold traded near $4,150 per troy ounce, down roughly 26% from its all-time high of $5,589 set in January 2026. The precious metal has fallen as a rising dollar and growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike — higher rates make non-yielding assets like gold less attractive — weigh on demand. Goldman Sachs cut its year-end gold price forecast to $4,900 from $5,400 last week, though J.P. Morgan still projects $6,000 per ounce by the final quarter of 2026.

Bitcoin Edges Up as Iran Risk Eases ~$64,900

Bitcoin rose roughly 1.2% to about $64,900 on Monday as easing geopolitical tension lifted risk appetite. The world's largest cryptocurrency has traded in a relatively tight range over the past several weeks as investors weigh progress on the US-Iran deal against the prospect of the Federal Reserve raising rates later in 2026. Higher rates tend to pressure risk assets including crypto by making safer alternatives more competitive.

Flash PMI Data Out Today — First Signal of June Economic Health

Tuesday brings S&P Global's Flash Purchasing Managers' Index for June — a monthly survey of business conditions across manufacturing and services that serves as an early signal of economic growth or contraction. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The data arrives in a critical week for markets, alongside Thursday's core PCE inflation report and the final Q1 GDP reading. A combination of weak PMIs and elevated inflation would put the Federal Reserve in a difficult position heading into its next decision.

Entertainment

Tom Holland and Zendaya Confirm They Are Married SPIDER-MAN STARS

Tom Holland and Zendaya, co-stars of the billion-dollar Spider-Man franchise who began dating publicly in 2021, have confirmed they are now married, according to multiple entertainment outlets this week. The couple had kept their relationship largely private for years. Both continue to be among Hollywood's highest-paid stars, with Zendaya's Euphemia and Holland's ongoing Marvel projects keeping them in heavy demand.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo Divorce After Years in the Spotlight

Country music star Jelly Roll and his wife Bunnie Xo announced this week that their marriage is ending after Bunnie publicly named infidelity as a factor. The couple had become one of country music's most visible pairs, regularly sharing their relationship on social media. Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, rose from a decade of independent releases to mainstream fame with his 2023 debut album on a major label and multiple Grammy nominations.

Knicks Win 2026 NBA Championship — Parade Packs New York

The New York Knicks held their NBA championship parade on June 18 in Manhattan, drawing massive crowds after defeating the San Antonio Spurs to claim the franchise's first title since 1973. Guard Jalen Brunson, who was widely traded away in contract speculation before signing a long-term extension with New York, was celebrated as the series MVP. The victory ended a 53-year drought for one of basketball's most storied but long-struggling franchises.

SpaceX Goes Public on Nasdaq — Biggest IPO in History JUNE 12 LISTING

SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company, made its Nasdaq debut on June 12 in what TheStreet called the largest initial public offering in the exchange's history. Shares jumped nearly 20% on the first day of trading. Since going public, SpaceX has also announced a $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, an artificial intelligence coding startup, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Anthropic and OpenAI in addition to its core aerospace and Starlink satellite internet businesses.

World Cup Brings 48-Team Tournament to American Soil

The 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first to feature 48 national teams instead of 32, and the first co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — is drawing record crowds across 16 host cities. American player Gio Reyna's goal and personal announcement in the opening match against Paraguay set off celebrations at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, while the US men's national team is drawing comparisons to the squad that captivated American fans when the country last hosted the tournament in 1994.