The King Speaks

There is an art to public speaking, especially in these politically charged times, and King Charles displayed a masterful command of that art in his address to Congress Tuesday, which was charming and remarkably persuasive.

The King managed to articulate multiple points of disagreement with the Trump administration, but deftly avoided direct criticism and somehow united Democrats and Republicans on issues upon which they rarely agree, like the war in Ukraine, the exercise of checks and balances on executive power, and support for the environment.

He gently chided those, including Trump, who have questioned the U.S. role in NATO, the UN and reminded his audience of the significance of such alliances generally.

Perhaps he was most eloquent when speaking subtlety but effectively about climate change, never mentioned it by name but referencing “melting Arctic glaciers” and tying economic success directly to proper stewardship of nature.

It was, as I said, a masterful performance. We can only hope that some of our political leaders were actually listening, because if they were they might learn a thing or two about governing in a democracy from the king of the nation that spawned ours..

HEADLINES:

• Who holds the cards in Iran-US talks? (Al Jazeera)

• Trump warns Iran ‘better get smart soon’ as he weighs military options over Strait of Hormuz (NBC)

• Iran’s economy has been battered. Its leaders still think Trump will blink first (AP)

• Trump Skeptical of Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Proposal (WSJ)

• U.S. is ‘being humiliated by Iran,’ says Germany’s Merz, as Europe’s patience wanes (CNBC)

• What are OPEC and OPEC +, and why has the UAE quit? (Al Jazeera)

• The diplomacy at play behind the King’s speeches (BBC)

• Could the Florida Gerrymander Blow Up on the GOP? (Bulwark)

• ‘It’s bizarre’: Californians grapple with revelation that suspected Trump gunman was neighbour (BBC)

• King Charles’s rare state visit offers U.K. a chance to mend ties with Trump (WP)

• Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington (CNN)

• F.C.C. Orders a Review of ABC’s Broadcast Licenses (NYT)

• FCC to direct Disney-owned TV stations to file early license renewals, source says (NBC)

• Kash Patel’s Implausible Lawsuit Against The Atlantic (New Yorker)

• Trump Administration Secures New Indictment Against Comey (NYT)

• Judges rule Pentagon can require reporter escorts during policy appeal (The Hill)

• Supreme Court Appears Divided Over Roundup Weedkiller Case (NYT)

• An amateur just solved a 60-year-old math problem—by asking AI (SA)

• Altman, Musk and the A.I. Spectacle Come to ‘The Town’ (NYT)

• Farmer Buys Guardian Dog To Protect Livestock From RFK Jr. (Onion)