Primary elections are being held in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and Utah. JD Vance says the U.S. and Iran “laid a good foundation” in Switzerland talks. And a classic country-folk song is taking over World Cup stadiums.
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Here’s what to know today.
Zohran Mamdani’s clout, a double Trump endorsement: What to watch in today’s primaries
Voters in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and Utah will head to the polls today to decide candidates in several races for Congress and state offices. The races also serve as an ongoing test of President Donald Trump’s influence and as a new test of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s sway among Democrats. If that isn’t enough, some of the most powerful and well-financed interest groups in politics have spent big in certain primaries.
In New York, Mamdani’s political capital is on the line in the state’s 10th and 13th districts, where the mayor has backed progressive challengers — former City Comptroller Brad Lander and democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier — rather than Democratic incumbents, Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat. Both Lander and Chevalier have been critical of Israel’s conduct in its war with Gaza.
In South Carolina, Trump weighed in on the governor’s race, backing Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Then last week, Trump followed up with a dual endorsement of both Evette and her competitor, state Attorney General Alan Wilson.
In Utah, a court-ordered redraw of the state’s congressional lines will be at play, while in Maryland, state Senate President Bill Ferguson faces his first serious primary challenger in 12 years after he refused to support a redistricting push in the state.
NBC News will be following the action, with chief data analyst Steve Kornacki at the big board to make sense of the results as they pour in. After he wraps up, Kornacki will answer your questions on a livestream. Submit your question here.
More politics news:
- For subscribers: The Trump administration has been struggling to demonstrate evidence of widespread voter fraud despite the president insisting the nation’s elections are “rigged.”
- The Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a sweeping housing affordability bill that would make it easier to build homes and limit Wall Street investors from buying up houses.
- Bill Pulte, Trump’s controversial new acting director of national intelligence, began mass firings at the office, a source said.
- Photos show Trump’s name has been removed from the Kennedy Center.
- A federal judge quashed subpoenas targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, saying there was “no doubt” the subpoenas were issued to harass Trump opponents.
Staff Pick: A cryptocurrency site adds new, controversial feature: ‘bounties’
It’s the gig economy meets crypto culture meets “Black Mirror.”
The launch this month of a new “bounty” program on the Pump.Fun platform has seen people pay strangers to perform life-altering tasks, like tattooing meme coins on their foreheads or quitting their jobs. People who complete these “bounties” are expected to submit video evidence of themselves completing the task, and depending on the task, they can be paid out thousands of dollars.
Critics have described the new feature as a “Black Mirror”-esque simulation targeting users in the Global South, where the financial reward for one stunt could amount to more than an average month’s salary. Others, however, have a more positive impression. One user who got a face tattoo wrote on the site, “Thank you to pump.fun for creating opportunities that can truly change people’s lives for now you are the real God for us.”
Is Pump.Fun a nefarious site preying on people’s financial insecurities through humiliating tasks? Or is it just one more online forum in a sea of so many where some people could stand to win big? — Tavleen Tarrant, associate reporter
What the U.S. and Iran discussed in Switzerland talks
The U.S. and Iran “laid a very good foundation” for a final deal, Vice President JD Vance said after marathon talks in Switzerland, with the two sides agreeing on a road map toward reaching a final deal to end the war within 60 days. A joint statement released by mediators Qatar and Pakistan struck a similarly positive tone, describing a “constructive atmosphere.”
The mediators said Washington and Tehran would set up new communication lines to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is open and to end fighting in Lebanon, while Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the management of the strait would not return to the situation before the war.
Vance said that Iran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency back into the country but added, “we’re going to see what they actually let the inspectors do once they’re in the country.” Vance also said that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner came up with “a very interesting solution” to unfreeze Iran’s assets.
Here’s what else happened during the talks.
World Cup: Is ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ this year’s anthem?
World Cup fans are finding a new anthem in John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” — an official postmatch celebration tune for the U.S. men’s national team. Yet the 1971 tune has become recognizable beyond U.S. borders, and its chorus emanates from fan-filled stadiums at other team’s games.
The song’s nostalgia and themes of belonging have resonated with fans seeking an “escape” from politics. Some people online have debated its political undertones, though Denver’s estate previously spoke out against politicizing the song.
More on the song’s breakout moment.
🐐 Messi’s big feat: Lionel Messi set a new record for career goals scored at the World Cup, scoring his 17th and 18th in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria. The record was previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 goals.
🥈 Within striking distance: A few hours after Messi’s big goals, Kylian Mbappé moved into a tie for second most career World Cup goals, scoring his 15th and 16th goals in France’s 3-0 win against Iraq.
💥 What else you missed: Erling Haaland also scored twice to raise his World Cup goals to four, as Norway advanced to the knockout rounds after a 3-2 win over Senegal. And Algeria scored off two corner kicks in the second half to defeat Jordan 2-1.
🗓 What to watch today: Portugal and Uzbekistan face off at 1 p.m. ET. England and Ghana play at 4 p.m., Panama and Croatia at 7 p.m., and Colombia and Democratic Republic of the Congo at 10 p.m. See the full schedule.
📩 Join the excitement: Sign up for The Sports Desk newsletter for more in-depth World Cup coverage.
NBC Select: Prime Day is finally here
With thousands of products on sale, we did the hard work for you by hunting down all the deals actually worth adding to your cart during Amazon Prime Day, including steep discounts on brands like Le Creuset, Crocs, Apple and more.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
Read All About It
- A police officer, a civilian and a gunman are dead after a shooting in Montreal.
- The FCC blasted Disney’s push for public support amid the agency’s probes of “The View” and ABC’s broadcast licenses.
- Clive Davis, an entertainment icon who fostered the careers of Whitney Houston and other global superstars, has died at 94.
- The Miami Heat have acquired two-time NBA MVP Giannis Atentokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade, reports say.
- A second note sent to media outlets after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie indicated she had died, sources said.
