2026-06-22
Starmer steps down. De la Espriella wins Colombia. US-Iran talks conclude.
Good morning. Britain's prime minister resigns. Colombia lurches right. US and Iran declare progress on the same week Trump threatens Tehran.
Morning Reality Check
Keir Starmer stepped down Monday as Labour leader and UK prime minister after months of internal calls for his removal. The controversy didn't announce itself.
Abelardo de la Espriella, a lawyer and businessman backed by Trump, won Colombia's presidential runoff with 49.7 percent to Ivan Cepeda's 48.7 percent. One point separates a sharp turn right from a sharper turn left.
First round ended in Switzerland. Iran tied success to the end of fighting in Lebanon. Trump tied it to his willingness to resume strikes. Both declared victory.
As US-Iran talks began, Trump warned he would close the strait if Iran doesn't deal and collect tolls if it stays open. Negotiators prefer when presidents don't weaponize shipping lanes mid-paragraph.
At least seven people dead and dozens wounded since Friday. Trump called for National Guard deployment. The governor declined. The mayor said violence has no place in the city. It was there anyway.
Two students opened fire in a central Philippines high school, killing three classmates and wounding seven others. Rare in that region. Familiar elsewhere.
States suing to stop mailing of abortion pills across state lines. Telehealth providers say they'll adapt no matter the outcome. Supply follows demand. Law follows behind.
Commerce ministry blocked 10 American companies from exporting dual-use items to the US weeks after Pentagon blacklisted Chinese firms. Tit-for-tat now has a filing schedule.
"Standard noise. Calibrate accordingly."
"Worth paying attention to. Don't doomscroll."
Three continents moved. Markets shrugged at most of it.
Back at 12:00 PM ET with the lunch reset brief.