Iran has accused the US of denying visas to "integral" members of its national football team's backroom staff, hours after Washington confirmed Iranian players had been given permission to travel to the upcoming World Cup.US officials said visas had been issued to all players and "necessary support staff" on Friday, 10 days before Iran's opening fixture in Los Angeles on 15 June.They also said Iran would not be allowed to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences".Iran's embassy in Turkey accused the US of "politically biased interference in sport" by denying visas to a "large portion of the managerial and executive staff" and "technical advisers".

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

A new round of direct talks between the US and Iran have been postponed after Vice-President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland.The White House announced late on Thursday that Vance would not be travelling to the talks and said the logistics had not been "simple or predictable".It comes a day after the US dropped its naval blockade of Iran after the two countries signed a deal aimed at ending the conflict.While the deal also said fighting should end in Lebanon, the country's health ministry reported Israeli strikes had killed at least 47 people overnight and into Friday.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is facing tough tests as Israel and Hezbollah exchange strikes in Lebanon. This as officials from the U.S., Iran, and Pakistan are set to meet in the coming days for peace talks. Former Pentagon, State Department, and White House Spokesperson and National Security Analyst retired Rear Admiral John Kirby joins Alex Witt with his analysis.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

The divides between the Democratic old guard and a new class of progressive challenger were on sharp display on Tuesday night as a congressional candidate in New York’s 13th District apologized for past disparaging remarks about Kamala Harris.“To Vice President Kamala Harris, I sincerely apologize,” Darializa Avila Chevalier, the 32-year-old democratic socialist endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, said during a heated debate when pushed by her opponent, incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “You did not deserve that language from me. And I would’ve loved to have seen a Black woman president. As a Black woman, I know how much that would’ve meant to so many, including myself.”

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

On Thursday, the New York Knicks celebrated their first NBA Championship in 53 years with a massive parade through the city, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivered one of the best sports speeches in history.The Mayor praised dozens of current and former Knicks players, including rather deep pulls like Mardy Collins and Toney Douglas, as he celebrated the championship with what felt like the entire city.“So often, when this city comes together, it is because we are forced to by a moment of tragedy or adversity. What a gift it is to be brought together by pure, unfiltered joy!” Mamdani said.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday that the United States is prepared to carry out additional military operations across Latin America similar to the recent strike in Venezuela that killed Tren de Aragua leader Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” signaling a potentially broader campaign against cartels and transnational criminal groups in the hemisphere.Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Hegseth said the Venezuelan interim government had invited U.S. military forces onto its territory to help eliminate the founder of the Venezuelan-born criminal organization, marking one of the clearest acknowledgments yet of direct U.S. military involvement inside Venezuela.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.

A huge omission in the draft interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran announced in June 2026 was revealed by military observers and international relations experts, one of whom was Sagiv Steinberg, CEO of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA).
Experts warn that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement does not address the root causes of the war . It is considered not a definitive peace agreement, but rather a temporary 60-day ceasefire to ease tensions ahead of the US domestic elections.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/today-s-take--6662936/support.