Democratic socialists surge, tough job market

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By Nadja Lovadinov

June 19, 2026

By Nadja Lovadinov

June 19, 2026

 
 

Welcome back. In the news today: A new AP-NORC poll finds most Americans continue to disapprove of how Trump is handling Iran; democratic socialists are winning major mayor’s races; and many teens are coming up empty-handed in their summer job search in a difficult job market. Also, what famous chefs want for their ideal Father’s Day meals. And check out our photos of the Knicks victory parade. Curious about what a ticker-tape parade is? Our video breaks down the history going back to 1886.

 
President Donald Trump leaves the stage after a media conference at the end of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Wednesday.

President Donald Trump leaves the stage after a media conference at the end of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

POLITICS

Trump approval on Iran low even as tentative deal to end fighting emerged

Most Americans continue to disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll that was conducted as Trump suggested a deal with Iran had been reached. Read more.

What to know:

  • Trump’s overall job approval stands at 37%, unchanged from an AP-NORC poll conducted in May. Americans’ views on how the president is handling Iran are roughly in line with that. About one-third of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s approach to the economy. That’s in line with last month, and continues a challenging stretch for Trump on the issue.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

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  • Vance’s push to get Iran talks started hits an early bump as weekend negotiations are put on hold

  • Israeli military strikes in southern Lebanon in intense fighting as US-Iran talks postponed

  • JD Vance slams Israeli officials who criticized Iran deal, deepening rift between allies

  • Some GOP senators and Trump allies have harsh reviews of his agreement to end Iran war

  • Freed Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal recounts sexual abuse in Gaza, urges victims to speak out

  • Senators seek to block Hegseth travel funds until Pentagon releases report on Iran school strike 

  • Trump presents the Medal of Honor to 3 veterans for heroism in Vietnam and Afghanistan 

  • Senator urges FAA to reject any pressure from Trump to approve triumphal arch over aviation safety

  • Democrats say money from Trump’s tax cuts bill is paying for White House ballroom project

  • Trump from ‘hunted’ to ‘hunter’: New book details Trump’s push to test the limits of executive power

  • Trump administration can replace Washington slavery exhibit in Philadelphia, appeals court says

  • Obama Center opens in Chicago with a call to defend democracy and a celebrity crowd

  • Photos of the Obama Presidential Center opening
 

POLITICS

Democratic socialists surge in mayoral races across the US as anti-Trump fervor rises

After winning the D.C. mayor primary election Tuesday on an unapologetically expansive, left-wing agenda, Janeese Lewis George’s victory puts her in the vanguard of democratic socialists who have ascended in urban politics over the last year. This includes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Nithya Raman, who clinched a spot in the LA mayoral runoff. Read more.

Why this matters:

  • “They are all channeling a displeasure with a status quo and a serious desire for economic populism that the establishment Democratic Party hasn’t been preaching,” said Eric Stern, a Democratic strategist with Fight Agency, a political consulting firm that strategized Mamdani’s mayoral campaign.

  • The trend of progressives surging in urban areas may have limits for its broader impact on Democratic politics. Some cities still favor relatively moderate candidates and there's little sign of national coordination among the candidates. It’s also unclear whether voters are gravitating toward promises of improved government services, vows to fight the Trump administration or critiques of capitalism.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Pingree and Charles will compete for Maine governor and Dunlap gets Democratic nod for US House 

  • NJ Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. sets June 30 return date after monthslong absence
 

US NEWS

Tough job market has many teens struggling to find summer work

About one-third of 16- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. were employed last summer, federal data show, down from a peak of about 60% in the late 1970s. Read more.

What to know:

  • Teens most commonly work in food preparation and serving jobs and sales, according to BLS data. But Jaune Little, director of recruiting services at the human resources company Insperity, says some entry-level jobs have been eliminated and teens now compete with more experienced candidates for the remaining ones.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

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  • U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fall to 226,000 last week as layoffs remain historically low
 

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