Good Morning! The Summer Solstice passed this weekend, and man, did the weather get the memo. We’re on day one of a three-day heat wave this morning, so we’ll have highs in the mid-80s through Wednesday. After that, though, we get a dramatic break: three days of clouds, rain, and temps in the 6 0s. Whichever weather is your vibe, you’ll get to enjoy it for as many hours as you please. This week, the sun rises at 5 a.m., and sets after 9 p.m.  Let’s do the news. Making a Plan to Make a Plan: The US and Iran wrapped up round one of the peace talks this weekend, and officials from Qatar and Pakistan, who are mediating the deal at a lakeside resort in Switzerland, said the two countries reached a “roadmap” for getting to a peace agreement by the end of the 60-day ceasefire. So far, the biggest win appears to be a plan to keep Israel from continually bombing Lebanon in the middle of “ceasefires,” and an agreement to stop sanctioning oil from Iran. Wondering what’s changed in the last 100 days of war? “Not much,” says the New York Times.  Meanwhile: While JD Vance is negotiating a plan to have a plan, Trump stayed stateside and spent 12 solid hours obsessively posting on social media about the war in Iran (Iranian state media said talks stalled at one point after the “publication of an insulting message by the U.S. President”) and renaming ICE agents NICE agents (National Immigration and Customs Enforcement).  The rushed, failed $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in DC, which is currently full of green algae and the paint is peeling off of the pool in large sheets, also got some airtime during his Truth Social rant. He blamed the peeling paint on vandals, including David Carter Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time Olympian who said he simply reached into the pool to touch the gross, algae-covered sheets of paint. The pool will have to be drained again for “necessary repairs,” Trump says.  Musical Chairs at 10 Downing Street: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he’s resigning today. He plans to stay in the role until the Labour party chooses a new leader, which is expected to be Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham will be Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, since the country voted to leave the European Union in 2016. Jonathan Choe Is Still the Worst: The former KOMO News reporter turned professional right-wing asshole (and Turning Point USA activist) tried to force his way into the “No Hate in WA State” campaign kickoff at Neumos last week, which rallied against the two anti-trans initiatives that will be on the November ballot. Video from Seattle Gay News shows Choe yelling, “I identify as Black” repeatedly, and calling the security guard a white supremacist. Security at the venue called police after Choe allegedly hit a security guard in the back of the head while trying to force his way in. Now seems like an excellent time to remind readers that Neumos workers have organized to ask their management for better security staffing to manage assholes like Choe.  Speaking of Organizing: On Thursday, workers at two unrelated, big-name hospitality businesses went on strike. Stranger contributor Harry Cheadle reported that workers at the Pioneer Square’s Hilton Embassy Suites picketed outside the hotel, just up the street from the USA-Australia game at Lumen Field. And over in Ballard, the unionized staff at the Walrus and the Carpenter, the oyster bar and restaurant co-owned by chef Renee Erickson, also went on strike. USMNT Wins! On Friday, at Lumen “Seattle” Stadium, the USA team won their second straight World Cup match, guaranteeing them a spot in the first knockout round. Next up at Seattle Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar on Wednesday (a high-stakes game for both teams) and then on Friday, the Egypt-Iran Pride match (which, after much debate, appears to be moving forward). After that, we’re in the knockout rounds, and if the US team makes it through the Round of 32, they have a chance to come back to Seattle Stadium for the Round of 16. If you’re worried about missing out, hurry up: Ticket sales have already spiked on the secondary market.  Peeping Toms: The FBI seized 11 drones at the USA-Australia game on Friday, and another five during the Belgium-Egypt match on Monday. I’m sure if you own a drone, it’s insanely tempting to try to get eyes on the game. But is it worth it? On match days, the FAA says drones are not allowed within a radius of 3 nautical miles and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around the stadium. If you fly anything into those restricted areas, the FBI snatches your drone, and hits you with a fine of up to $100,000 and federal criminal charges. Clive Davis Dies at 94: The Columbia Records executive was one of the rare nonperformers in the music industry to become a household name, and for good reason. He championed Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Barry Manilow. He pushed Columbia to sign Janis Joplin when they didn’t know it was time to dive into the rock ‘n roll era. Rest in peace, Clive.  Good News! We have a bus to Golden Gardens, temporarily at least. The City and King County Metro are piloting a new summertime-only bus route from Market Street to the beach. It runs every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., from this Saturday until August 30. Use it! Just remember that the park closes early now—at 10:30 p.m. rather than 11:30.  The post Slog AM: Round One of Peace Talks Is Done, the USMNT Could Play in Seattle Again, and Jonathan Choe Is Still the Worst appeared first on The Stranger. ...read more read less