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Trump says Iran ceasefire "over" and talks a "waste of time"

Any sense of calm in the Middle East is evaporating quickly.

World

President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="0c78615c-59a4-4f79-a4af-72124c3f1ba6" data-vars-headline="Trump says Iran ceasefire &quot;over&quot; and talks a &quot;waste of time&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> on Wednesday declared the ceasefire with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iran" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" data-vars-content-id="0c78615c-59a4-4f79-a4af-72124c3f1ba6" data-vars-headline="Trump says Iran ceasefire &quot;over&quot; and talks a &quot;waste of time&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_self">Iran</a> over and that while negotiations can continue, they are a &quot;waste of time.&quot; Why it matters: Three weeks after the U.S. and Iran signed a peace deal that Trump described as &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unconditional surrender" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/trump-iran-war-power-no-limits" data-vars-content-id="0c78615c-59a4-4f79-a4af-72124c3f1ba6" data-vars-headline="Trump says Iran ceasefire &quot;over&quot; and talks a &quot;waste of time&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/18/trump-iran-war-power-no-limits" target="_self">unconditional surrender</a>,&quot; both sides are launching fresh attacks and any sense of calm in the region has evaporated almost entirely.

The Trump effect: Why Dems embraced a Platner time bomb

Democrats rationalized their delusions and denialism about the Maine Democrat until it was too late.

Politics & Policy

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Graham Platner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-democrats-maine-senate-susan-collins" data-vars-content-id="7cf8bb33-d7f3-4033-901c-d174e884d750" data-vars-headline="The Trump effect: Why Dems embraced a Platner time bomb" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-democrats-maine-senate-susan-collins" target="_self">Graham Platner</a> was a walking time bomb long before the on-the-record <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rape allegation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737" data-vars-content-id="7cf8bb33-d7f3-4033-901c-d174e884d750" data-vars-headline="The Trump effect: Why Dems embraced a Platner time bomb" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737" target="_blank">rape allegation</a> he denied this week.<ul><li>A Nazi tattoo, social media rants, rampant rumors about women: Many Democratic leaders privately feared the Maine Democrat, now their U.S. Senate nominee, could be trouble. But they rationalized their delusions and denialism until it was too late. Now the party has few, if any, good options in one of the nation&#x27;s most important Senate races.</li></ul>Why it matters: Platner&#x27;s rise and fall shows a key way President Trump has changed Democratic politics. If it means diminishing his power, Democrats are willing to surrender or temporarily ignore their own stated values.

How a top State Dept. official "went rogue" over Machado's Venezuela plans

Chris Landau's alleged freelancing roiled the State Department for two days and led to internal arguments.

The Trump administration&#x27;s official position about Venezuela&#x27;s exiled opposition leader is simple: Don&#x27;t help <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Maria Corina Machado" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/01/trump-venezuela-machado-return-efforts" data-vars-content-id="8f51ec5b-4fec-459e-809f-e4be7ccf69b0" data-vars-headline="How a top State Dept. official &quot;went rogue&quot; over Machado&#x27;s Venezuela plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/01/trump-venezuela-machado-return-efforts" target="_self">Maria Corina Machado</a> gain entry to her home country. But Deputy Secretary of State <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chris Landau" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0QlVjS5Kw" data-vars-content-id="8f51ec5b-4fec-459e-809f-e4be7ccf69b0" data-vars-headline="How a top State Dept. official &quot;went rogue&quot; over Machado&#x27;s Venezuela plans" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0QlVjS5Kw" target="_blank">Chris Landau</a> didn&#x27;t appear to get the memo.<ul><li>Landau is suspected of twice miscommunicating U.S. policy to two countries about Machado, according to seven senior administration officials.</li></ul>Why it matters: Landau&#x27;s alleged freelancing roiled the State Department for two days and led to internal arguments, international confusion and increased tensions with Machado supporters.

Exclusive: Republicans juice spending to protect Senate "red wall"

They're sending more ad money to Ohio and Iowa, two states once deemed safely Republican.

Republicans are dramatically boosting campaign spending on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate races" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/gop-senate-midterms-2026" data-vars-content-id="7185268d-85b5-45ca-a4b4-04ccd0e385c5" data-vars-headline="Exclusive: Republicans juice spending to protect Senate &quot;red wall&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/gop-senate-midterms-2026" target="_self">Senate races</a> in red states that, until recently, looked safely out of Democrats&#x27; reach in the November midterms.Why it matters: The GOP — alarmed by recent polls and voting trends — is juicing its efforts in Ohio and Iowa to reinforce a Senate &quot;red wall&quot; they believe can block Democrats&#x27; path to a majority in the chamber.

Scoop: Republicans prepare $8 million ad blitz against Platner replacement

Republicans are doing something Democrats wish they could: move on from Platner.

Republicans are preparing to welcome a potential <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Graham Platner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-maine-senate-democrats" data-vars-content-id="07676c20-41d8-47e6-85e2-7615e2242bb2" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Republicans prepare $8 million ad blitz against Platner replacement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-maine-senate-democrats" target="_self">Graham Platner</a> replacement in Maine&#x27;s Senate race with $8 million in negative ads, aiming to introduce a new Democratic nominee to voters on their own terms before Democrats can.Why it matters: Republicans are doing something Democrats wish they could: Move on from Platner.

Old Scratch Pizza and baseball a perfect combo

A Dragons game finally got me through the door. The pizza, beer and atmosphere made me want to come back.

Food and Drink

I&#x27;m a big pizza guy. If you&#x27;ve seen my waistline expansion over the past few years, you probably already assumed that. But somehow — despite now living just north of Cincinnati — I had never tried <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Old Scratch Pizza &amp; Beer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oldscratchpizza.com/locations" data-vars-content-id="371194c6-8168-4bbc-9341-e734e85d8417" data-vars-headline="Old Scratch Pizza and baseball a perfect combo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oldscratchpizza.com/locations" target="_blank">Old Scratch Pizza &amp; Beer</a>.

See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open

Every July, a team turns the sprawling grounds in Mason into a world-class venue for tennis.

News

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cincinnati Open Sporting Club" data-vars-click-url="https://cincyopensportingclub.com/" data-vars-content-id="1413e68b-b1bc-4109-9899-32b8b6625a7f" data-vars-headline="See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cincyopensportingclub.com/" target="_blank">Cincinnati Open Sporting Club</a> and the rest of the Lindner Family Tennis Center campus is about to change almost everything except its address.Why it matters: Starting July 19, the Mason facility closes to the public for about a month while crews entirely remake the campus for the annual <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cincinnati Open" data-vars-click-url="https://gotickets.com/cincinnati-open?region=26&amp;fv=1&amp;venue=2575&amp;fv=1&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google&amp;tid=aud-2281692811619:kwd-11694742840&amp;agid=197153228346&amp;cid=23081319770&amp;int=1023626&amp;pres=9015635&amp;network=g&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23081319770&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqsaoURkLhvWUVbRGcFxWwYnM3Pb7&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxi68Pu5VHwDCNokSvWEBNZP_5-iRhQlmkUfI5rwdaQHKhoaA5jk4MMxoCsokQAvD_BwE" data-vars-content-id="1413e68b-b1bc-4109-9899-32b8b6625a7f" data-vars-headline="See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gotickets.com/cincinnati-open?region=26&amp;fv=1&amp;venue=2575&amp;fv=1&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google&amp;tid=aud-2281692811619:kwd-11694742840&amp;agid=197153228346&amp;cid=23081319770&amp;int=1023626&amp;pres=9015635&amp;network=g&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23081319770&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAqsaoURkLhvWUVbRGcFxWwYnM3Pb7&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxi68Pu5VHwDCNokSvWEBNZP_5-iRhQlmkUfI5rwdaQHKhoaA5jk4MMxoCsokQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Cincinnati Open</a> (Aug. 11-23).

VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits

The historic site once fought propaganda and will soon teach students through interactive learning.

The former Voice of America Bethany Relay Station in West Chester is investing in interactive technology connecting its World War II and Cold War history to STEM education.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting" data-vars-click-url="https://voamuseum.org/" data-vars-content-id="22a54c7d-cdcf-4e5f-a53c-8e043bee96c5" data-vars-headline="VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://voamuseum.org/" target="_blank">National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting</a> and neighboring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion" data-vars-click-url="https://subcincy.org/" data-vars-content-id="22a54c7d-cdcf-4e5f-a53c-8e043bee96c5" data-vars-headline="VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://subcincy.org/" target="_blank">USS Cincinnati Peace Pavilion</a> hope the hands-on exhibits will inspire future scientists, engineers and skilled trades workers.

Warren County's best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet

Every great swap meet purchase starts the same way: "I wasn't looking for this."

Every great swap meet purchase starts the same way: &quot;I wasn&#x27;t looking for this.&quot;Why it matters: Luckily, Warren County has two of the region&#x27;s best places to make those discoveries happen: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Traders World" data-vars-click-url="https://tradersworldmarket.com/" data-vars-content-id="1922ee8b-7929-4f8a-9189-b6fbda3af4e3" data-vars-headline="Warren County&#x27;s best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tradersworldmarket.com/" target="_blank">Traders World</a> in Lebanon and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Treasure Aisles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.treasureaislesflea.com/" data-vars-content-id="1922ee8b-7929-4f8a-9189-b6fbda3af4e3" data-vars-headline="Warren County&#x27;s best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.treasureaislesflea.com/" target="_blank">Treasure Aisles</a> in Monroe.

Kings Island trip tips from a park expert

Theme park journalist Don Helbig suggests avoiding Saturdays and buying tickets online.

Things to Do

Summer may be half over, but there&#x27;s still plenty of time to experience Kings Island at its peak.Why it matters: The next few weeks offer the park&#x27;s fullest summer experience before it shifts into its late-season schedule.

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VOA Museum of Broadcasting to offer new hands-on STEM exhibits

See how the Tennis Center comes to life for the Cincinnati Open

Warren County's best treasure hunts happen at the swap meet

Old Scratch Pizza and baseball a perfect combo

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