The New York Times-The Evening Newsletter

"Iranian nuclear talks to begin Friday, Primary elections test Trump's sway, Plus a symphony of bowls."

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The Evening
June 16, 2026

Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

  • Iranian nuclear talks to begin Friday
  • Primary elections test Trump’s sway
  • Plus, a symphony of bowls
Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

U.S. and Iran tamp down heated rhetoric

President Trump said today that he hoped the war with Iran would soon be in the “rearview mirror.” He described the new Iranian leadership as “very rational,” and promised to release the still-secret terms of the U.S.-Iran agreement within days. A top Iranian official also called on Iranians to respect the outcome of the talks, an apparent effort to contain hard-line opposition.

The two sides are set to gather at the lakeside resort of Bürgenstock in Switzerland on Friday to sign their initial deal, which starts a 60-day cease-fire. Iran said it would then immediately begin negotiating a comprehensive agreement, which would include plans for Iran’s nuclear program.

It is unclear whether Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon, will complicate the talks. Iran says that Israel’s forces are supposed to withdraw from Lebanon under the deal, but Israel has said it would not do so. Trump said today that Israel was being overly aggressive and that “too many people are being killed.”

For more:

Nicole Craine for The New York Times

Today’s primaries will test Trump’s sway in the South

Republican voters in Georgia went to the polls today to select between an immigration hard-liner backed by Trump and a former football coach supported by the state’s popular governor. The primary runoff, to run for a U.S. Senate seat, is the marquee contest of the day; the winner will challenge Senator Jon Ossoff, who was once considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent but has proved to be a formidable candidate.

Voters in Alabama and Oklahoma are also voting today in contested primaries where the president endorsed a candidate. We’re tracking the results from all of the key races here.

In other politics news: Vice President JD Vance, who is presumed to be an early front-runner in the 2028 presidential race, is out today with a new memoir. In it, he discusses his criticisms, regrets and guiding principles. Here are our takeaways.

Judge Amanda K. Brailsford, in navy blue, shakes the hand of a man in a suit.
Judge Amanda Brailsford in 2023. Nathan Howard/Bloomberg

Judge blocks a law criminalizing transgender bathroom use

Idaho cannot immediately enforce a new state law that makes it a crime for people to use restrooms that do not match their sex at birth in public buildings or private businesses. A federal judge blocked the law, which was set to go into effect in July, ruling today that the law was likely to be unconstitutional because it would require individual officers to make subjective decisions.

The Idaho statute had been seen as the most restrictive measure on this issue in the country. People faced up to five years in prison for violating it.

The New York Times

Did Jeffrey Epstein kill himself?

Today, The Times published the fullest investigation to date into the death of Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a subject that has fueled intrigue and suspicions for years; many people do not believe the official account that Epstein had killed himself in federal custody.

A team of Times reporters sought out every bit of evidence they could. They obtained documents; interviewed inmates, jail employees and federal officials; and digitally reconstructed Epstein’s cell. Their new reporting points to suicide. Read it all here.

More top news

Trump Administration

Other Big Stories

Chart showing that SpaceX’s market value rose to the level of Amazon’s in the last four days.
Note: Valuation data is market capitalization through Tuesday. Source: S&P Capital IQ. Jason Karaian/The New York Times

TIME TO UNWIND

Fiston Mayele, in a black suit with a leopard print panel and a silver animal brooch, wears sunglasses and holds two bags.
Fiston Mayele, a Congolese player. Troy Taormina/Imagn Images, via Reuters

The most interesting fashion choices at the World Cup, so far

The Congolese national team caught the fashion world's attention when members showed up in Houston wearing leopard-embellished suits and carrying leopard bags. My stylish colleague Jacob Gallagher also pointed out the impressive three-piece suit Japan’s manager wore despite the sweltering Texas heat. And, of course, there’s Merlin the Duck, who wears a Mexico jersey.

On the field, I was intrigued by how many players are wearing pink cleats. It turns out, nearly every major brand chose the color for the tournament, in part because they hope the bright color will boost player confidence.

For more:

Gabe Castro-Root/The New York Times

Young travelers are flocking to Uzbekistan

Central Asia has emerged in recent years as a popular destination for travelers looking to go on a relatively affordable vacation with fewer crowds and tourist traps. Nowhere in the region has gained more attention than Uzbekistan, which has been making it easier for Americans to visit.

To see whether it’s worth the hype, my colleague Gabe Castro-Root took the 12-hour flight from New York to Uzbekistan and spent nine days exploring the country. He was welcomed into a stranger’s home in the ancient city of Khiva, and he learned how to weave a rug in Bukhara. Read more about how it went.

Click to watch the video. The New York Times

Dinner table topics

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers of “Las Culturistas.” The New York Times

Cook: The comedian Bowen Yang shared his mom’s recipe for mapo tofu.

Enjoy Ellen Reid’s “Earth Between Oceans” and other great new classical music.

Read Alex Wright’s “Empire of Ink,” a story of the people and technology that disrupted the newspaper industry.

Get inspired by our fashion photographer’s embroidered look of the week.

Take our quiz to see how well you know these popular books on American history.

Play: Here are today’s ConnectionsSpelling Bee and Mini CrosswordFind all our games here.

ONE LAST THING

Guarionex Rodriguez for The New York Times

Listen to a symphony of bowls

You can hear the dings, clinks and bongs as soon as you walk into the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan. There, the French sound artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot has floated 250 glazed ceramic bowls in each of three large circular pools equipped with jets, allowing the forces of physics to decide when the dishes collide.

The resulting tunes fill the space with a warm, collective gong — original music created without a human in control. The show impressed our reviewer, who described it as “a powerful simulation of inevitability.” The work rewards you, he wrote, “in proportion to the time you spend listening and looking.” Listen here.

Have a harmonious evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow — Matthew

Eli Cohen was our photo editor.

We welcome your feedback. Reach us at evening@nytimes.com.

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Writer: Matthew Cullen

Editor: Whet Moser

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