The U.S. and Iran may meet again for peace talks. Los Angeles authorities investigate new allegations against former Rep. Eric Swalwell. Plus, experts suggest how to spend your tax refund.
Subscribe to read this story ad-free
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
Here’s what to know today.
U.S. and Iran could hold new peace talks
A new round of in-person talks between the U.S. and Iran could be held as early as this week, two people familiar with the ongoing negotiations said. Both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also signaled progress, even as U.S. forces launched a blockade barring ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports.
This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
The new round of talks would come after Vance met with Iranian leaders in Pakistan last weekend but failed to reach a peace agreement to end the war.
A major sticking point in negotiations is opening the Strait of Hormuz for a free flow of shipping, the first person familiar with negotiations said.
The U.S. military said overnight that its blockade of Iranian ports “has been fully implemented” and that “U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.” In the first 24 hours, six vessels turned around after being issued warnings. China, which has faced growing pressure to use its influence over Tehran to help end the war, assailed the blockade as “dangerous and irresponsible” — its most public significant public intervention to date.
Another sticking point is Iran’s nuclear capability. The U.S. asked Iran for a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran agreed to three to five years, the second person familiar with the negotiations said. The U.S. also asked Iran to remove highly enriched uranium from the country, but Iran agreed to mix it and make it a less potent material.
Learn more about the stakes of the diplomatic talks.
More Iran war news:
- Oil prices are starting to come down, but not for reasons that suggest a return to normalcy.
How well can AI do the news?
NBC News’ chief technology analyst Joanna Stern let AI help create a “TODAY” segment — and had to do a lot of editing before it aired. Become an NBC News subscriber to access this exclusive video briefing →
L.A. sheriff’s department launches investigation allegations against Swalwell
Authorities in Los Angeles County said they’re investigating an alleged incident involving Eric Swalwell as a woman came forward and accused the the former U.S. representative of sexual assault in 2018. The woman, Lonna Drewes, said at a news conference yesterday that Swalwell drugged, raped and choked her in in a California hotel room. “And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,” Drewes said. “I thought I died.”
Drewes’ accusation is the latest in a growing number of sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell, who dropped his bid for governor of California last weekend and officially resigned from Congress yesterday. (Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who also faced misconduct claims, officially resigned from Congress, too.)
Hours after Drewes’ statement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that it is investigating the 2018 allegations against Swalwell. An attorney for Swalwell said his client “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.”
Here’s what else to know about the latest accusations.
More politics news:
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said it was “inexcusable” that identifying details of some Jeffrey Epstein victims were made public.
- The Trump administration asked an appeals court to “vacate” the convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers related to the Jan. 6 riot.
- JD Vance warned the pope should “be careful” when talking about theology.
- Justice Departments officials attempted to “tour” the Federal Reserve’s headquarters construction site but were turned away.
- Rep. Thomas Massie has broken with Trump on key votes. Now, he’s fighting for political survival as the president seeks revenge.
FBI warns of violent ‘764’ group targeting children online
An online group called “764” — named for the creator’s Texas ZIP code — whose members target minors and appear to be motivated by violence has prompted warnings from the FBI looking to bring attention to the issue. The bureau is investigating more than 450 subjects nationwide.
Last month, 20-year-old Erik Lee Madison, a 764 member, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and cyberstalking. Prosecutors said Madison gained the trust of his victims by manipulating them, showering them with praise and compliments in chats online, before he threatened to expose them to friends and family members if they didn’t comply with his increasingly violent demands.
Unlike more traditional far-left or far-right political groups, 764 members don’t appear to be united by politics, religion or ideology — and it’s part of the reason why experts say it’s difficult to obtain proof in some cases.
Read more about how 764 members operate.
How experts suggest you spend your tax refund
Have you filed your taxes yet? If the answer is no, stop reading this newsletter and do it already! If your answer is yes, then give yourself a pat on the back.
This year, federal income tax refunds are averaging $3,462, up around 11% from a year ago, due in part to changes in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” law.
So, what should you do with the extra money? Personal finance experts and advisers first suggest putting some of it toward your emergency fund. Then, pay down your debt. Here’s what else.
Read All About It
- A Texas teen’s death after she consumed Alani Nu energy drinks is a reminder of the rare yet serious danger the beverages pose to youth.
- Record heat is expected to scorch much of the Midwest and Northeast.
- Prosecutors in Utah declined to file charges in connection with domestic violence allegations against “Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul.
- NFL reporter Dianni Russini resigned from The Athletic after photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona hotel drew scrutiny.
- Elon Musk’s AI software, Grok, continues to generate sexualized images of people without their consent despite the company’s pledge to stop. Earlier this year, Apple privately threatened to remove Grok from its App Store.
Staff Pick: Shortstop Konnor Griffin signed for $140 million. He’d been in the majors less than a week.
Baseball prospects have been signing eye-popping contracts — $50.75 million, $95 million, $140 million — in recent weeks, a few of them without having ever played in the majors.
I called up baseball super-agent Scott Boras, who argued that these deals, in fact, can save teams money. These prospects often command more when they reach free agency. I also went to Citi Field and interviewed Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who said he took an early deal, instead of waiting, to protect himself against injury.
The reporting in this story surprised us. We didn’t expect young players to think twice before taking a $140 million deal as soon as it’s offered. — Tim Rohan, sports editor and reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Spring is officially here, which means it’s time to burp your house (yes, this is really a thing) and finally learn how to spring clean the right way, according to experts. To help you out, we rounded up the best cordless vacuums and the best floor cleaners (that are also safe for pets). Happy cleaning!
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.