U.S. and Iran miss peace talks deadline. And, Alaska, Florida and Wyoming primaries

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The U.S. and Iran have missed a deadline this week to begin peace talks. The conflict has lasted nearly six months and depleted military resources, including warships and interceptor missiles. This shortage has strained U.S. military capabilities in other regions, notably including Asia. This week, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing its lack of support in the war against Iran. The annual drills with South Korean forces date back to at least 1976 and are largely to counter North Korea's nuclear program.

President Trump speaks as he meets with lifeguard Ryder Williams in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 17, 2026. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday to discuss new agreements on how to move forward in Gaza. During their nearly four-hour meeting, they focused on the details of a new U.S.-backed roadmap. Before his arrival in Israel, Kushner held rare talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt. Netanyahu initially rejected the roadmap for Israeli withdrawal alongside Hamas disarmament, but Kushner said he talked him through misunderstandings and misinformation about the plan.

Alaska , Florida and Wyoming host their primary elections today. The U.S. Senate seat race in Alaska is drawing significant money from across the country, as it's one of the seats that could influence which party controls the Senate after the November midterms. The key candidates are the incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and his main challenger, Democrat Mary Peltola. The primary is nonpartisan; the top four candidates from any party move forward to the midterms.

A Manhattan judge has indefinitely postponed Luigi Mangione's September state court trial while his defense attorneys argue to have his state charges dismissed. Last week, Mangione pleaded guilty to two stalking charges in federal court and admitted to following and shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Mangione still faces second-degree murder and other charges in state court . His attorneys argue that the state charges should be dismissed because proceeding with them would violate his due process rights and the double jeopardy protections against being tried twice for the same crime. (via Gothamist )

Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.

One of the most popular prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction is increasingly being promoted in wellness circles as an all-purpose longevity drug. Online clinics and influential figures say tadalafil, more commonly known by its brand name Cialis, can benefit the cardiovascular system, brain and athletic performance. The drug isn't approved for preventing heart attacks, strokes or extending life, but there's growing interest among experts in the field of cardiology and men's health in the potential preventive health role of tadalafil and similar medications. Here's what we know :