Trump Weighs His Options As Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates

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International

Trump Weighs His Options As Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates

What's going on: Around the world, eyes are on the US — Israel’s strongest ally — to see if it’ll join the fight against Iran. As President Donald Trump evaluates his options, concerns are mounting that the US could be inching closer to war. Among the possibilities on the table? News outlets report Trump’s considering a potential strike against Iran. The Trump administration initially suggested the US would only get involved if Tehran attacked American military bases or personnel, according to Axios. But just yesterday, Trump threatened Iran’s supreme leader and demanded Tehran agree to “unconditional surrender.” (Even VP JD Vance weighed in with a very lengthy post on X.) As the Pentagon ramps up its military presence in the Middle East, Tel Aviv has urged the US to strike Iran, arguing that it’s the only one capable of destroying a heavily fortified underground nuclear facility.

What it means: The Israel-Iran conflict could become one of the most consequential foreign policy tests of Trump’s second term. As the BBC put it, he has three options at this point: Join Israel in attacking Iran, stay away from the fray, or give in to a MAGA faction urging him to “drop Israel.” Many, including Trump’s advisers and allies, are adamantly against US involvement and don’t want to relive the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. However, others like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argue now is the time to take out Iran’s nuclear program and topple its regime. Israel’s decision to act alone might be forcing Trump’s hand, and his patience seems to be wearing thin.

Related: Was Iran Close To Developing Nuclear Weapons? (CNN)

US News

In Virginia, the Future Is Female (and on the Ballot)

What's going on: Virginia’s governor’s race was always going to be historic. With Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears both running unopposed, the state’s next leader will be a woman. Spanberger, a centrist congresswoman and former CIA officer, has the full backing of a united Democratic party. She’s campaigning on cheaper living costs, stronger reproductive rights, and protection for the state’s 340,000 federal workers. On the GOP side, Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears is running to extend Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s legacy, emphasizing private sector growth and parental rights. But some in her party say she’s struggling to gain traction, and Youngkin (who has embraced Trump) has yet to invest major resources in her campaign.

What it means: Virginia has long been a political weather vane — and this fall, it points straight at the Oval Office. Traditionally, the party out of the White House wins Virginia’s governor’s race, but this year’s dynamics may break the mold. In the purple-ish state, the contest is shaping up to be a referendum on Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce. Meanwhile, both candidates are downplaying gender, but the moment feels historic in a country with only 51 women governors to date and where figures like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris stopped just shy of the top job. Whoever wins in November won’t just make history. They’ll take office in a state that still has rules for how and when to call its top official “His Excellency.” Might be time for a rewrite.

Related: NYC Mayoral Candidate Arrested After Court Clash With ICE (AP)

Work

9-to-5? Never Heard of Her

What's going on: In 2025, workers aren’t just burning the candle at both ends — they’re torching the whole damn candelabra (Lumière, avert your eyes). More people are logging back on at night (yes, after the original “second shift” many women are already saddled with). Early morning hours aren’t safe either. Microsoft dubbed it the “infinite workday” in a new report, noting a 16% spike in meetings after 8 pm and over 50 messages sent outside business hours per average employee. This trend defies gender but has taken an interesting turn from the millennial girlboss of yore to the manosphere — just look at influencers like Ashton Hall (infamous for his morning routine) and Elon Musk, a billionaire known for sleeping on the floor of multiple workplaces. In other words, “hustle culture” didn’t die — it just learned how to schedule emails.

What it means: Analysts trace this trend back to the pandemic, when remote work blurred the boundaries and normalized “quick calls” between diaper changes and dinner prep. The downside of such “flexibility” was that the workday never ended. And even though many people have returned to the office, their jobs are still following them home like needy, lost puppies with Slack accounts. Naturally, burnout is booming: Glassdoor says it’s being reported at the highest rate in nearly a decade. While some employees are fine with sending emails at midnight if it buys them a 2 pm UPS run or time with their kids, experts say it doesn’t have to be this way. In the end, some analysts say the “infinite workday” is both a feature and a bug.

Related: The Entry Level Career Cliff’s a Steep Drop (Business Insider)

Highlight Reel

BY SKIMM SPORTS

The week's sports news and culture stories, ranked.

Hang it in the Louvre: The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup championship for the second year in a row, defeating the Edmonton Oilers. Oh Canada…

Chaotic: Everything about this Eagles fan’s Jason Kelce tattoo is unhinged. Kelce didn’t know if he should be “offended or flattered.” 

Winning: Emma Watson swapped her broomstick for a rowing paddle in her sporty second act. 

Trolling the trolls: Fans have mocked Angel Reese for what they call “mebounds.” She got the last laugh and trademarked the name.

Can’t-miss NWSL matchups: Friday, June 20: Kansas City vs Angel City — 8 pm ET on Prime Video; Saturday, June 21: Gotham FC vs Bay FC — 7:30 pm ET on ION; Saturday, June 21: Portland Thorns FC vs Chicago Stars — 10 pm ET on ION.

Settle This

Most people don't wash this fruit, but experts say you really should in order to avoid food poisoning. Which one is it?

Extra Credit

Watch

An idyllic private island. A picture-perfect family. A summer gone horribly wrong. Prime Video's new series We Were Liars — based on E. Lockhart’s wildly popular 2014 novel — follows 17-year-old Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind) as she returns to her family’s luxe summer estate, a year after a mysterious accident left her with amnesia. Back on Beechwood (a fictional island off Martha’s Vineyard), Sinclair attempts to piece together what really happened, with the help of her tight-knit crew, dubbed the Liars — including her cousins Johnny (Joseph Zada) and Mirren (Esther McGregor) and their childhood friend Gat (Shubham Maheshwari). But surprise, surprise: the truth is darker than anyone’s letting on.

Game Time

Looking for a crossword that’s not impossible to solve? You’re in luck. This one even offers hints when you get stuck. The faster you finish, the better your score — and the more impressed the group chat will be. Go on.