Good Wednesday evening. In this edition: Trump says U.S. making progress with Iran after suspending "Project Freedom."
Plus, Lutnick, primary elections, Turner and Thomas.
Iran War
President Trump said the U.S. and Iran are making progress in talks to end the war following his decision to suspend "Project Freedom," the U.S. military operation aimed at freeing up commercial ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials said they are reviewing a new U.S. proposal that reportedly would end the war in the Gulf while leaving more difficult issues like the country's nuclear program for later talks.
"We're doing well. Now we have to get what we have to get. If we don't do that, we'll have to go a big step further," the president told reporters. "But with that being said, they want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal."
The comments came a day after President Trump abruptly suspended "Project Freedom," which went into effect Monday and led to the U.S. and Iran exchanging fire for the first time since a ceasefire was reached in early April.
"Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," President Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday night.
In a separate post, the president threatened to renew hostilities if Iran refused to accept his administration's terms.
"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," he wrote. "If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."
Stocks rose and oil prices fell on reports that the war was nearing an end.
The S&P 500 gained 1.5% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 2%.
International Brent, the global benchmark for oil prices, fell 7.8% to settle at $101 per barrel.
Asked whether there was a deadline for Iran to cut a deal, President Trump told reporters: "Never a deadline."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sat for a closed-door transcribed interview before the House Oversight Committee on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Secretary Lutnick claimed in an October 2025 podcast interview that he ended any relationship with Mr. Epstein, his neighbor in New York City, in 2005, but the January release of the Epstein files showed their relationship continued into the 2010s, including a 2012 visit with his family to the late sex offender's private island. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) said he was satisfied with the secretary's testimony explaining the limited extent of his relationship with Mr. Epstein after 2005. Democrats roundly disagreed, saying the Commerce secretary had damaged his credibility with the American people. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) called him a "pathological liar."
Vivek Ramaswamy, the 2024 presidential candidate, cruised to victory in the GOP primary for Ohio governor on Tuesday, setting him up to face Democratic nominee and former state health director Amy Acton in November. Former state Rep. Derek Merrin won the GOP primary in Ohio's 9th District to face 22-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur in a rematch of their 2024 race, as a redraw makes the map more favorable for Republicans. In Indiana, President Trump led a successful campaign to oust state legislators who opposed his redistricting efforts; six of the seven Republican incumbents on the ballot who opposed redistricting lost to Trump-backed challengers, demonstrating his continued grip over the Republican Party.
Ted Turner, the media mogul, philanthropist and CNN founder who helped pioneer the 24/7 cable news industry, died at the age of 87. Mr. Turner announced in 2018 that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. "Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment," CNN CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement. "He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world." President Trump called him "one of the Greats of All Time" in a statement on social media. "Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!" he wrote.
Justice Clarence Thomas is now the second-longest-serving Supreme Court justice in history at 34 years and 195 days, surpassing former Justice Stephen Johnson Field. Justice Thomas now trails only former Justice William Douglas, who served on the court for 36 years and 209 days from 1939 to 1975. Justice Thomas, now 77 years old, was nominated to the bench by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 to fill the seat of Justice Thurgood Marshall.
For your radar…
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner participate in a National Day of Prayer event in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 at 10am ET.
