Federal Reserve Chairman for the last two years of the Reagan administration through the beginning of the Bush 43 administration, Alan Greenspan, has died from complications of Parkinson’s disease at age 100, his wife of 29 years, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell announced [screenshot from NBC's Today show].
Green Algae Reflecting Pool and Swiss Talks – What color was Washington’s algae-green reflecting pool before President Trump signed a no-bid $14.2-million contract for an “American-flag blue” liner underneath? What of sanctions off Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives and related frozen bank assets, prior to the start of the war some 16 weeks ago?
Apologies for the all-too-obvious metaphor.
Vice President Vance and Iran’s diplomats failed to show last Friday for talks at the beginning of the US-Iran 60-day ceasefire negotiated via memorandum of understanding last week. But Vance and his Tehran counterparts did show up in Lucerne, Switzerland, along with mediators Qatar and Pakistan later over the weekend.
Iran’s diplomats reportedly walked out when a bellicose President Trump again warned he would revive missile attacks on the country Sunday. On Monday, both sides reported some progress.
To wit: The US issued waivers to allow Iran to sell crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and “associated banking,” The Times of Israel reports. Mediators said the two sides set up a “de-confliction cell” to stop military operations in Lebanon, mediators say (TToI further notes that neither Israel, Lebanon, nor Hezbollah were present for the negotiations).
The United Nations reports there was no fighting between Israel and Hezbollah on Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the talks in Switzerland “major progress.”
Speaking of pre-war status … The Trump administration declared the Strait of Hormuz “open” to commercial traffic, while Iran said it had remained closed.
Which is it?
Most up-to-date source we can find is straits.live, which reports …
“No. ... The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to commercial shipping. As of 22JUN2026 • 1422Z, it is day 113 since the 28 February 2026 closure declaration.”
Meanwhile, at the pool … President Trump on Saturday blamed “vandalism” for “real problems” at the reflecting pool, where experts say the dark blue paint just applied to the liner attracted more heat from the sun, adding to the green algae bloom, The Guardianreports. Paint has been seen peeling off the water.
Trump claims that vandals have been arrested, though on Friday, David Hearn of Bethesda, Maryland, told The Washington Posthe was arrested mere seconds after reaching in and touching the American flag-blue liner at the end of a 52-mile bike ride around Hains Point. He is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court July 9.
Happy semi-sesquincentennial.
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Starmer Out – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down and hand over Labour Party leadership to former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, The Guardian reports. Starmer said Monday he will remain a caretaker PM until the elections.
Starmer became Labour’s first PM just under two years ago, following 14 years of Conservative Party leadership.
Burnham won a by-election in Makerfield last week and will be sworn in as a Minister of Parliament Monday, setting him up for a party leadership election. A second candidate to replace Starmer as Labour Party leader, former health Secretary Wes Streeting has decided not to run and will support Burnham, according to The Guardian.
Starmer’s resignation “marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way,” Burnham said, adding “I will put myself forth in the process.”
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More Gas Relief – Fuel prices continue to drop, with the national average for a gallon of unleaded regular at $3.929 Monday, 4.4 cents less than last Friday and up 95.4 cents from February 28. Diesel is down 8.2 cents from Friday to $5.013 per gallon, up $1.198 from late February. – Compiled and edited by Todd Lassa