An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Twain Prize ceremony; record heat forecast; American history quiz; and more

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By Hannah Jewell and Jamie Ross

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Good morning. It’s Monday, June 29, and we feel vindicated after reading about World Cup visitors from Europe whose minds are being blown by American air conditioning. Let’s catch up.


	Iran is insisting it has sole control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Over the weekend: The U.S. and Iran traded strikes after an Iranian attack on a commercial ship. The strikes marked the latest threat to a ceasefire and talks toward a wider peace.
A key point of contention: Iran and the U.S. disagree on whether the ceasefire deal reached this month gives Iran the ability to control which vessels can cross the strait and when.

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President Donald Trump is racing to change the rules of the midterm elections.

This month: Trump’s efforts to alter how elections are run have faced several obstacles. The pushback has infuriated Trump, who has responded by ramping up his demands and threats.
In other election news: High primary turnout among Black voters in the South has raised hopes among Democrats of long-shot wins in states including Georgia and the Carolinas.

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Comedian Bill Maher was awarded the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center.

Bill Maher at the 27th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. (Kevin Wolf/AP)

It’s been a rocky few months for the venue: It is locked in a legal battle over Trump’s attempts to overhaul it. This month, crews removed Trump’s name from the building.
That provided a lot of material for comedians: Trump was the target of nearly every celebrity who took the stage at last night’s ceremony in D.C. — see the best jokes here.

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A dangerous heat dome will envelop the East this week.

The risk for heat-related impacts is major or extreme for more than 220 million Americans this week. (Ben Noll/The Post; NOAA)

What to expect: Temperatures in the triple digits, tropical levels of humidity and little relief at night. Heat records could be broken across 37 states. Find the full forecast here.
In D.C.: The heat is set to coincide with a huge fireworks display taking place in the nation’s capital on July 4. Warm air could trap the smoke and reduce air quality.

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Medicare is about to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.

Starting Wednesday: Some Medicare recipients will be able to get the drugs for a $50-a-month co-payment. The move is expected to lead to a surge in prescriptions.
But there are some caveats: The coverage is only for a temporary trial period, set to expire at the end of 2027. And not everyone will qualify — check the criteria.

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A rare tick-borne disease is on the rise in the U.S.

It’s called Powassan virus: Symptoms include neurological problems such as memory loss, difficulty speaking and seizures. There is no treatment for the condition nor a vaccine.
What should you do if find a tick attached to your skin? Follow this expert advice on how to remove it. You should use tweezers, and try your best to avoid squeezing the tick’s belly.

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How much do you know about American history and government? Take our quiz.

(Illustration by Natalie Vineberg/The Post; Jabin Botsford/The Post; Mariam Zuhaib/AP; iStock)

As we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday: The Post put together a 20-question quiz to test your civics knowledge. Try it here and see how your score compares with other readers’.
In related news: Trump-backed “Freedom Trucks” are crisscrossing America to teach people about the nation’s founding. We visited one, and found it tells a notably sanitized story.