This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

Happy Monday. If yesterday was the solstice, does that make today the longest Monday of the year? 📅⌛

Voters in Maryland, New York, and Utah have primary elections tomorrow, South Carolina has a runoff, and early voting in Arizona starts on Wednesday. Find your polling place and check your registration status at ASP’s Election Hub. 

I HOUSING AFFORDABILITY BILL SET TO PASS

A landmark, bipartisan housing bill is expected to reach President Donald Trump’s desk by the end of this week. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is set to pass the Senate today, and the House is planning to take it up on Wednesday. The legislation restricts institutional investors from buying single-family homes, encourages localities to loosen zoning restrictions, and boosts housing supply to address affordability concerns.

>> Hear about solutions to housing affordability and more here. 

I VANCE: “ENCOURAGING PROGRESS” IN IRAN TALKS

The U.S. and Iran held overnight talks in Switzerland in an effort to reach a final peace agreement within 60 days, the goal established by a recent agreement between the two nations. Vice President JD Vance said that Iran had promised to readmit UN nuclear inspectors and Iranian officials said progress has been made on releasing some of Iran’s estimated $24 billion in frozen assets. Oil prices dropped to $79 per barrel this morning in response to reports of progress in the peace talks. The world lost about 1.15 billion barrels of oil supply over the past four months due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Commercial inventories are at operational stress levels and American emergency reserves are at a 43-year low, raising the possibility of price spikes even with resumed supply from the Persian Gulf. 

>> We read the agreement so you don’t have to. Find out what’s in it here.

 I TICKBORNE DISEASE IS ON THE RISE

Tick bites accounted for 120 out of every 100,000 emergency room visits in May, and the rate for June has already exceeded that. There’s also been an increase in reported cases of alpha-gal syndrome, which causes people to become allergic to most animal products, including red meat and dairy. There is no known cure for alpha-gal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says treating clothing and camping gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin can effectively deter ticks in the grassy, brushy, or wooded areas where they live.  

>> Find out more about the rise of Alpha-Gal Syndrome here.

I A NEW ERA IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

Russia is threatening escalation after Ukraine struck Moscow with its largest-ever drone attack last week. The attack, consisting of nearly 200 drones, targeted a major oil refinery, causing 16 injuries and grounding flights at four Moscow airports. Ukraine said the strikes on Moscow were a response to a Russian attack that struck a historic monastery complex in Kyiv earlier in the week. President Trump pledged further assistance to Ukraine and urged Russia to “make a deal” at last week’s G7 summit in France, saying both countries had “lost tremendous amounts of people.”

>> Learn about a push for more aid for Ukraine in Congress here.

I WORLD CUP CAUSING PRICE INCREASES

All 16 cities hosting this year’s World Cup have seen a surge in hotel and other hospitality prices. Hotel rates in at least 13 of those cities have seen a year-over-year price increase of at least 80% each day so far. Across all host cities, the average nightly hotel rate is about $499, with $524 on match nights and $398 on non-game nights. 

>> Find out how much it would cost you to attend a World Cup game here.

The FDA approved a new active ingredient for sunscreen for the first time in 27 years. It’s been used in Europe and Asia for more than 20 years. Why’d it take so long? Find out here. 

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