An Ignoble Experiment

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By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

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Good morning. It’s Friday, June 12, and we tried but ultimately failed to think of a good Knicks pun to use here after seeing Taylor Swift’s viral “Stevie Knicks” shirt. Let’s catch up.

President Donald Trump again claimed that a peace deal with Iran is near.

The latest: Trump said he canceled planned strikes on Iran after progress in talks. It marked his latest reversal in a pattern of threatening attacks then walking them back.
A Post exclusive: Qatar pursued secret talks with Iran to shield a gas complex from strikes, officials said, in a move that could be seen as undermining U.S.-Israeli objectives.

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Trump picked a new director of national intelligence after Republican pushback.

Less than two weeks ago: The president said he would appoint Bill Pulte, who has no intelligence experience, to replace Tulsi Gabbard on an acting basis.
But that sparked backlash: Some Republicans voiced concerns over the pick. Yesterday, Trump said he would nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan.

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Etchings of numbers signaling opposition to Trump appeared on the National Mall.

U.S. Park Police, the D.C. fire department and members of the National Guard were seen responding to the scene yesterday. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

The numbers were marked into the grass: They appear to read “86 47,” though the 4 isn’t clearly visible. The White House said they are an endorsement of political violence.
Nearby: Clumps of green algae have been spotted in the Reflecting Pool days after Trump’s $14 million renovation was completed. Trump officials have an explanation.

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Elon Musk is the world’s first trillionaire (on paper) thanks to the SpaceX IPO.

As SpaceX goes public: It will dramatically increase Musk’s personal wealth and expand his reach over key parts of the economy. Some critics fear his growing influence.
His wealth is astonishing: His stock in SpaceX and Tesla is valued at more than $1.1 trillion. See how his net worth dwarfs that of the world’s other richest people here.
Musk’s Starlink hooked rural customers: Then came the price increases.

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This year is already hot, and 2027 could be even hotter.

Just 1% of the planet was much cooler than average from January to May. (Ben Noll/The Post/ECMWF/ERA5)

It’s been a toasty start to the year: Over 70% of the globe has experienced well above average temperatures. And the notably hot year so far may foreshadow what’s ahead.
El Niño is partly to blame: The weather pattern has officially arrived, scientists said yesterday. This one is particularly intense and will set off a domino effect globally.

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The USMNT kicks off its World Cup adventure tonight.

The U.S. will take on Paraguay in Los Angeles: The game is at 9 p.m. Eastern. U.S. captain Tim Ream will be a key player, even though his teammates call him grandpa.
Yesterday in Mexico City: The tournament got off to a spectacular start in a stadium of soccer legend. See the best photos from the opening ceremony and first match here.
There are 104 World Cup matches: Explore the full schedule.

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Kids’ insatiable appetite for berries has become a meme among parents.

(The Post)

It’s a parenting expense nobody warns you about: Children demolish carton after carton of berries. One mom of young twins said she’s “going broke” on the tiny fruit.
It wasn’t always this way: Berry-eating has boomed in the U.S., and the fruit has become pricier. See how berries have wrought havoc on budgets with these charts.

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Before you go … back pain is the worst: Here’s one simple thing to do while sleeping. Plus: The surprising ways menopause can affect your mouth.

One more good read: Why weird, ugly shoes are suddenly everywhere.

And finally … take a game break: