Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran would be allowed to start oil exports immediately under an interim deal with the US and gain access to a $300 billion economic development program. The US Treasury Department will issue waivers for exports of Iranian crude oil and petrochemical products immediately after the memorandum is signed, and the US will end its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The US and its regional partners would create a plan to rehabilitate Iran and allow for its economic development, with financing of at least $300 billion, according to the draft document.
2) Voters headed to the polls in four states and the District of Columbia. The biggest races to watch were two runoff elections in Georgia, where President Trump's endorsement led to mixed results. In the Republican Senate race, Trump-backed Congressman Mike Collins defeated former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley by an 11 point margin - 55.5% to 44.5%. Meanwhile, in the governor's race, President Trump's favored candidate, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, lost to billionaire Rick Jackson, 52.7% to 47.4%. It was also a historic primary night in Washington DC. For the first time in 36 years, Democrats have picked a nominee for delegate to Congress who is not Eleanor Holmes Norton. Councilmember Robert White ran away with the nomination with 63.2% of the vote.
3) Federal Reserve policymakers are expected to hold interest rates steady, posing a test for new chairman Kevin Warsh as inflation erodes households' purchasing power. Several officials have outlined scenarios that could warrant rate hikes and want to eliminate language suggesting their next move is likely to be a cut. Investors will be listening for how strongly Warsh expresses support for the central bank's commitment to returning inflation to the Fed's 2% goal.
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