Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

1) Iran said the latest US proposal partly bridged the gap between the warring sides, but comments from the Islamic Republic's supreme leader clouded the outlook for a breakthrough. The US has demanded Tehran hand over its enriched uranium and commit to ending enrichment, while Iranian leaders have balked at those terms in public. The conflicting statements on key issues left it unclear if the two sides were any closer to a deal after renewed threats of escalation in recent days.

2) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed President Donald Trump's announcement to send additional troops to Poland. The announcement increased a sense of confusion within the alliance, with officials saying they would prefer US moves to be coordinated. The US is expected to announce adjustments to national forces set to be made available in case of crisis or war, which may include cuts to troops in NATO's force model.

3) Stephen Colbert hosted the last episode of his namesake show on CBS, mostly steering clear of political jokes and criticism of President Trump. The show featured a parade of actors and comedians, including Bryan Cranston and Paul McCartney, who closed the program with a performance of the Beatles hit Hello, Goodbye. Colbert's show is being replaced by Comics Unleashed, a program hosted by Byron Allen, who said the show steers clear of politics and intends to make money selling ads.

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