Top 5 US news stories
May 6 2026
U.S. and Iran Near Pact to End War, Remove Enriched Uranium
Trump-Backed Challengers Oust Indiana Republicans Who Defied Redistricting Push
Rubio Adds Press Secretary Role to State and National Security Posts
Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Draws Government Backing at $50 Billion Valuation
Married Adults Have Lower Cancer Rates, Large Study Finds
U.S. and Iran Near Pact to End War, Remove Enriched Uranium
The White House is close to a one-page agreement with Iran that would end the war between the two countries and require Tehran to ship its highly enriched uranium — the form of nuclear fuel that can be used in weapons — out of the country, according to U.S. officials and others briefed on the talks. Under the 14-point memorandum being negotiated by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Iran would freeze nuclear enrichment for at least 12 years, allow surprise inspections by United Nations monitors, and commit to never developing a nuclear weapon. In exchange, the United States would gradually lift sanctions, release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, and end its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides plan to use a 30-day window after signing to negotiate a more detailed final agreement, with talks likely held in Islamabad or Geneva. President Trump's decision earlier this week to call off a military operation in the Strait reflected progress in the negotiations, U.S. officials said. Oil markets responded to the prospect of a deal, with Brent crude — the international oil price benchmark — falling roughly 11% to below $98 a barrel.
Axios
Trump-Backed Challengers Oust Indiana Republicans Who Defied Redistricting Push
At least five of the seven Indiana state senators who voted against President Trump's plan to redraw the state's congressional map last year lost their Republican primaries Tuesday to challengers Trump endorsed, according to The Associated Press. One of the incumbents who opposed the redistricting effort survived his primary, and another race remained too close to call. Trump issued social media endorsements for all seven challengers and hosted some at the White House, while outside political groups aligned with the president funded the campaigns. State legislative primaries typically draw little national attention, but Trump's involvement transformed these races into a test of his standing within the Republican Party. The results suggest the president retains the ability to enforce political consequences for GOP officeholders who break with him on key priorities.
NYT
Rubio Adds Press Secretary Role to State and National Security Posts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as President Trump's national security adviser, stepped into a third role Tuesday by leading the White House press briefing. Rubio filled in for press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave, and spent nearly an hour answering questions on the Strait of Hormuz, rising gas prices, and the administration's pressure campaign on Cuba. He responded to a question in Spanish, quoted rap lyrics, and offered what several commentators called a clearer explanation of the administration's goals in Iran than the president's team has provided in recent weeks. His tone contrasted with that of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently compared reporters to the biblical Pharisees. Cable news pundits, including former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. and Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt, praised the performance, with some speculating about Rubio's prospects in 2028.
WSJ
Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Draws Government Backing at $50 Billion Valuation
DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup, is raising new funds from government-backed investors at a valuation of roughly $50 billion, according to people familiar with the talks. The figure marks a sharp increase from earlier discussions that valued the company between $10 billion and $30 billion. China's National Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, a state-backed vehicle launched about a year ago with roughly $8.8 billion in capital, is in advanced talks to participate in the round using Chinese yuan. The fundraising aligns DeepSeek more closely with Beijing's broader push for technological self-sufficiency, a priority the Chinese government has emphasized as U.S. export controls have tightened access to advanced chips and software.
WSJ
Married Adults Have Lower Cancer Rates, Large Study Finds
Married men and women face substantially lower cancer rates than their never-married counterparts, according to a study of more than 4 million cancer cases published in the journal Cancer Research Communications. Researchers found cancer rates were about 68% higher among never-married men compared with married men, and roughly 83% higher among never-married women. The study examined data collected between 2015 and 2022 covering more than 100 million people aged 30 and older across 12 states, about 20% of whom were unmarried. Co-author Paulo Pinheiro, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, said married people generally have greater economic stability, stronger support systems, and a higher likelihood of staying with treatment. Earlier research has also found that married cancer patients tend to be diagnosed earlier and have better survival rates.
WSJ
MAY 6, 1935: FDR CREATES THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION (WPA)
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing the Works Progress Administration to put millions of unemployed Americans back to work during the Great Depression. In exchange for wages, WPA workers built public infrastructure like highways, schools and hospitals, and funded arts projects employing actors, writers and artists.
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