An 11th-Hour Deal With an Uncertain Path

International

An 11th-Hour Deal With an Uncertain Path

What’s going on: President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran after warning “a whole civilization” would die. The deal, brokered by Pakistan and China, came shortly before his 8 pm Tuesday deadline for Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face total obliteration. The 14 days buys both sides time to negotiate a longer-term deal and for the US to consider Iran’s 10-point proposal. US-Iran talks are expected to resume Friday, and the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen. But the damage may already be done, especially to global supply chains. Cargo ships stacked with goods have been stuck in the Strait for weeks. 

What this means back home: While the ceasefire deal pushed US crude oil prices under $100 for the first time in over a week, experts warn it likely won’t make a difference. Air travel and grocery bills have also shot up. There’s also another caveat in the ceasefire deal: Iran and Oman are expected to charge cargo ships that pass through the Strait — a move that isn’t likely to ease prices. With negotiations ongoing and fighting continuing elsewhere in the Middle East, what happens next is far from certain. In the meantime, many hope the pause in fighting brings temporary relief in a conflict that, according to one agency, has claimed 1,600 civilian lives in Iran and at least 13 US service members.

Related: Meanwhile, Israel Says Its Operations In Lebanon Will Continue (The Guardian)

The News in 5

🗞️ A Trump-backed prosecutor just won the Georgia runoff to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene. Up north, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court expanded its liberal majority — in a warning sign for the GOP.

🗞️ Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, smiled for the cameras before they helped another world leader campaign to keep power. 

🗞️ A new study revealed exactly how safe it would be if abortion pills were sold over the counter.

🗞️ Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Sofia Richie Grainge’s father-in-law could be swept up in a mega-business deal. Talk about reading the fine print. 

🗞️ The UK barred this controversial American rapper after a British music festival asked him to headline. Guess that’s the life of Pablo.

Wearables

Hot Flash, Cold Cash

What’s going on: Menopause has never been more fashionable — or at least, more marketable. If you’ve ever wished for something like an Oura Ring or Apple Watch that tracks menopause and perimenopause symptoms instead, you now have Peri. The wearable tracks everything from hot flashes to sleep patterns — and allows users to log information about supplements and lifestyle habits. Gadgets like these can sound promising, given how long women’s perimenopause and menopause symptoms have gone overlooked (and outright ignored). Still, they come with a big asterisk. Doctors tell The Associated Press that while the PR is good, some products don’t always live up to the hype.

What actually makes a difference: Providers say it pays to be very (very) skeptical. Take supplements, for example. There isn’t enough scientific evidence to show that they reliably relieve hot flashes. Instead, talk to your doctor about evidence-based options, like hormone therapy or nonhormonal meds. Focus on the basics you already know: diet, exercise (like this), and less alcohol can help more than you think. And before you try something new, track symptoms (even in your Notes app). It can help you spot patterns and figure out what actually makes a difference.

Related: The Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Menopause (Everyday Health)

Artificial Intelligence

The Fight Over Data Centers Has Gone Local

What’s going on: It may seem like harmless fun to ask a chatbot what your pet would look like as a human, but there’s a huge hidden cost. The buildings that power Big Tech’s AI ambitions have wreaked havoc on local water and electricity infrastructure around the globe. (Sorry, Gizmo.) That tension spilled over in Indianapolis earlier this week after more than a dozen bullets were fired at a Democratic city council member’s home alongside the note, “No Data Centers.” No one was hurt, but the lawmaker was targeted for backing a rezoning plan to build a new center in his district. The FBI and local officials opened an investigation in response. It’s not just Indianapolis, though. 

Across the country: Regardless of whether they’re red or blue, many states don’t want data centers in their backyard. Maine could become the first state to ban the construction of new centers until 2027, and lawmakers in at least 10 other states have proposed similar measures. Dozens of cities and counties have already passed them. But with Big Tech expected to spend $710 billion on data centers across North America this year, residents are playing a game of Whac-a-Mole. Centers continue to pop up faster than communities can stop them. Despite the challenges, coordinated opposition at the local level has scored some victories. By one count, it affected 48 projects worth $156 billion in 2025. That’s real power.

Related: How Accurate Is Google’s AI Overview Feature Really? (The New York Times Gift Link)

Quick Hits

👀 The internet has been obsessed with sea moss for months. We’re still confused about the benefits, but someone finally explained them. 

😯 Aubrey Plaza announced she’s pregnant and dating Marnie’s ex-boyfriend. (Yes, that one.)

🧽 This might be the ultimate method to keep your baseboards clean. Hopefully, someone else can do it for us. 

🚀 A teeny, tiny technological failure on Artemis II shows that some problems follow you — even to space. Does this mean we can’t use this excuse at work anymore? 

📱 It looks like the iPhone is going to get the Y2K treatment. Consider our Razr era unlocked. 

🍞 Scientists gene-edited the wheat used in bread (yes, the stuff we need to make PB&Js) for a really good reason. But does it taste the same?

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ The Handmaid's Tale sequel The Testaments is on Hulu. Chase Infiniti and a new generation of rebels take it from here.

🗓️ It’s National Empanada Day — the perfect excuse to try this five-star recipe.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

We Needed This

Know It All

Philadelphia set the record for the world's longest line at an airport, but it wasn't at TSA. The line was for… 

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.