Good morning. It’s Memorial Day. The United States and Iran appear to be close to a deal to end the war. We have more on that below. I’m going to start, though, with a poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar and published in 1896. It’s about the Civil War, but the words elegize all those who gave their lives in service to the United States. It opens in the aftermath of war, then casts back to record its bloody, immeasurable cost. The peace that follows brings flowers of “glory eternal,” and Dunbar pays tribute to those who died for freedom, “with the flag flashing high in the sun.” Spend some time with the stanzas, and then we’ll get to the news.
‘Ode for Memorial Day’Done are the toils and the wearisome marches, Ah, but this joy which our minds cannot measure, Out of the blood of a conflict fraternal,
The United States and Iran have agreed in principle to a deal that could end the war in the Middle East, officials said. But any agreement needs final approval by leaders of both sides, and that could take days. The deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and commit Iran to discuss disposing of its highly enriched uranium. But Iran’s nuclear stockpile, enrichment program and missiles have not been discussed. And many U.S. lawmakers were skeptical of any agreement that would reopen the strait while continuing negotiations. Read about five issues that need to be resolved.
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Richard Thaler, a Nobel Prize-winning behavioral economist, has some thoughts on how Democrats can win in 2028. The American medical system treats postpartum care as an afterthought. New mothers deserve better, Sejal Hathi writes. Here’s a column by Carlos Lozada on democratic guardrails. Morning readers: Save on the complete Times experience. Experience all of The Times, all in one subscription — all with this introductory offer. You’ll gain unlimited access to news and analysis, plus games, recipes, product reviews and more.
Short naps, long hours: Autism therapy has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Employees say clinics are increasing profits at children’s expense. Drinks with benefits: After a vineyard slowed down a 2017 wildfire, Spanish experts created a “Fire Wine” designation for winemakers who adopt practices to avert future disasters. Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was about the national ambassador for young people’s literature. Metropolitan Diary: A butcher with a clever idea.
45 million— That is how many people were expected to travel this weekend — a record, according to AAA. Despite high gas prices, some 87 percent were likely to drive.
Racing: The Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist won the closest Indianapolis 500 ever on a stunning last-second pass. N.H.L.: The Vegas Golden Knights rallied to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3. The Golden Knights are one win from sweeping the Western Conference finals. N.B.A.: Victor Wembanyama had 33 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ 103-82 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, helping them even the Western Conference finals series at 2-2. Here’s an up-close look at Wembanyama.
Here’s a showstopper of a day-off dessert, easily made: Melissa Clark’s strawberry cream cheese tart. Melissa’s so smart. Giving the berries a brief simmer in a light sugar syrup keeps them plump and juicy in the oven while preventing the crust from going soggy.
Thomas Dambo has built a cult following for the enormous trolls he builds out of scavenged wood. He installs them in off-the-beaten-track spots from Scandinavia to California. Now the artist has his first museum exhibition, in Denmark. It’s all made of trash. “I am not the weirdo in the forest anymore,” Dambo told The Times. “What I have created is interesting and cool to the people who run the cultural world.”
Read a lot of books this summer. Our Book Review has a neat bucket-list challenge to help. Swap judgment for curiosity today and you’ll find yourself on the road to compassion. Reject the extended-warranty plan. It is almost never worth the money. Take our news quiz.
Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was unknotting. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com.
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