The New Deal That Could Lock in Iran’s Control of the Strait, and the $7 Billion Trump’s Not Spending

About this episode

<p>Plus, where are you supposed to practice the bagpipes?</p> <p>Here’s what we’re covering:</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/strait-of-hormuz-possible-reopening-deal.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">An Emerging Deal Could Cement Iran’s Control of Strait of Hormuz</a>, by David E. Sanger, Farnaz Fassihi and Eric Schmitt</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/business/iran-strait-hormuz-shipping-sailors.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Iran War’s Forgotten Captives: Sailors Trapped in the Persian Gulf,</a> by Jenny Gross and Peter Eavis</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/trump-pirro-reflecting-pool-vandalism.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pirro Meets With Trump at the White House After He Said She ‘Choked’ in Reflecting Pool Case</a>, by Erica L. Green, Katie Rogers, Tyler Pager and Maggie Haberman</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/upshot/transit-projects-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Congress Budgeted Billions for Big Transit Projects. Trump Isn’t Spending It.</a>, by Emily Badger and Alicia Parlapiano</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/world/australia/new-zealand-greyhound-racing-ban.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New Zealand Has Ended Greyhound Racing. Now It Has to Manage the Aftermath.</a>, by Emanuel Stoakes</p> <p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/nyregion/bagpipes-new-york.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Bagpiper’s Endless Quest for a Place to Practice</a>, by Andrew Keh</p> <p>Tune in, and tell us what you think at <a href="mailto:theheadlines@nytimes.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">theheadlines@nytimes.com</a>. For corrections, email <a href="mailto:nytnews@nytimes.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytnews@nytimes.com</a>.</p> <p><p>Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: <a href="mailto:theheadlines@nytimes.com">theheadlines@nytimes.com</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>