Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) The US and Iran exchanged strikes overnight after President Trump retaliated against Tehran for shooting down an American Apache helicopter. The US military said it had completed an operation that saw fighter jets strike Iranian air defenses, ground control stations, and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched missiles on four American targets and fired drones at the US's main naval base in the Middle East, with no immediate reports of casualties in any of the attacks.
2) Progressive Democrat Graham Platner won the party's Senate primary in Maine with about 72% support. Platner's campaign was marked by accusations of past misbehavior, including a Nazi symbol tattoo and disturbing behavior towards ex-girlfriends, which he has denied or acknowledged as mistakes. Platner will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the November Senate race, which Democrats consider crucial to reclaiming the chamber. Incumbent Lindsey Graham, who was endorsed by President Trump, is projected to win the Republican Senate primary in South Carolina, according to DDHQ. Representative Nancy Mace, once a close Trump ally, finished in last place in the state's gubernatorial race, saying her support for releasing the Epstein files is why she lost. Trump-backed Pamela Evette, South Carolina's lieutenant governor, and state attorney general Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff.
3) Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to appear*behind closed doors before the House panelinvestigating Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has reportedly been getting some help from Jake Greenberg, who, according to the New York Times, was spearheading the oversight panel's Epstein inquiry until December. The Gates Foundation, which has launched an external review of Gates' ties with Epstein, told the Financial Times that it regretted "having any employees interact with Epstein in any way." Gates has not been charged with anything and has called his relationship with Epstein a "huge mistake" and denied any wrongdoing.

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