Trump’s overflowing influence in the Texas primary runoff and the United States resumes strikes in Iran (Morning Rundown)

In today’s newsletter: The question of Trump’s Republican influence returns as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn face off in one of the state’s runoffs. The US military is carrying out strikes against Iran near the Strait of Hormuz and California authorities are reducing evacuation orders after the threat of a major chemical explosion eased.

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John Cornyn’s Last Stand and the Democratic Fights: What to Watch in Today’s Texas ElectionsKen Paxton and John CornynThe Dallas Morning News via Getty Images; CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Today’s primary runoff in Texas will once again test President Donald Trump’s support — the latest step in a mission to punish some incumbent Republicans whom Trump has deemed insufficiently loyal.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton received the president’s endorsement in the Republican Senate primary runoff against longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn. The move has sparked concerns from party members who believe Paxton, who was indicted on bribery and corruption charges in 2023 and later acquitted, could endanger the Senate seat.

Neither candidate received a majority of votes in the March 3 primaries. Cornyn finished narrowly ahead of Paxton, 42%-41%, in that contest.

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Although Cornyn noted that the president “has always called me a friend,” his support for eliminating the Senate filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act and his hesitation to support Trump in 2016 have been sticking points. Cornyn ultimately endorsed Trump in 2024.

The Paxton-Cornyn fight is one of several hotly contested primaries taking place in Texas.

Learn more in our live coverage of today’s election.

For subscribers: A million people on Mars, a billion shares SpaceX: Inside the special bonuses based on Elon Musk’s performance NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its dual-camera Mastcam-Z imager to capture this image of “Santa Cruz,” a hill about 2.5 kilometers from the rover in 2021NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

How long will it be before a permanent human colony is established on Mars? Scientists say we have a long way to go, but the benchmark is one of many quirks in an investor prospectus that SpaceX filed last week with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The reality is that Mars is an incredibly inhospitable place for humans,” said Briony Horgan, a professor of planetary sciences at Purdue University in Indiana.

According to the prospectus, SpaceX’s board in January approved granting CEO Elon Musk 1 billion shares if the company establishes a permanent human colony on Mars with at least 1 million residents, along with other milestones. He also made it clear that he intends to have 85% voting control of the company and wear three hats: president, CEO and chief technology officer.

The IPO could make Musk the world’s first billionaire based on his existing equity in the company, before he invests in performance-based stocks, and it could be the largest IPO ever.

The compensation agreement does not include a specific deadline for the Mars project, but with Musk’s current large stake in the company, he would benefit from any stock price appreciation.

Learn more about Elon Musk’s enterprising goals for Mars here.

The US military carries out strikes in Iran near the Strait of Hormuz An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships remain anchored in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran, May 16, 2026. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

After a weekend in which Trump raised then lowered expectations for a deal to end the war in Iran, the U.S. military struck targets near the Strait of Hormuz.

No changes have been announced regarding the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which took effect on April 8. The United States targeted “missile launch sites” and “Iranian boats attempting to place mines,” according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command.

Trump and his team have suggested a deal could be imminent, although Tehran has been more reserved in its assessment of the talks.

The framework for a possible deal, according to a senior administration official, would give both sides 60 days to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

One of Trump’s priorities remains that Iran abandon “nuclear dust” – his term for enriched uranium.

In exchange, the United States would gradually lift its naval blockade and offer Iran long-sought financial aid for its ailing economy. However, the official said this would only happen once Tehran complies with the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. If the agreement takes effect soon, the 60-day window would push the next ceasefire deadline to late July or early August.

Learn about the latest negotiations to end the war in Iran.

Thousands of people can return home after avoiding the risk of a “catastrophic” explosion in a California reservoir. Water is sprayed onto a tank that overheated at an aerospace factory in Garden Grove, Calif., Friday, May 22, 2026. Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP

Evacuation orders were reduced from about 60,000 to 16,000 people in an urban Los Angeles area after overheating in a chemical tank prompted first responders and experts to rush to the scene.

“The most catastrophic and worst-case scenario has been mitigated and resolved,” said Acting Orange County Fire Chief TJ McGovern.

The incident began Thursday at a GKN Aerospace facility, where Orange County firefighters noticed the temperature in a tank of methyl methacrylate, a toxic chemical used to make resins and plastics, rising. At one point, the temperature gauge read 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the maximum the gauge reached. On Monday, the temperature had dropped to 93 degrees, an official said.

Millions of gallons of water were poured into the tank to lower the temperature inside. Although fire and a very low risk of explosion remain a concern, no injuries or contamination resulting from the incident have been reported.

Evacuation orders will be reevaluated today, officials said, for the remaining 16,000 people.

Learn more about the latest emergency response here.

It’s Not Too Late to Shop During Home Depot’s Memorial Day Sale

With deals starting at just $2, now’s the perfect time to save big on household tools, gardening supplies, appliances and more. For the DIYers among us, there are tons of discounts on hand tools and painting supplies, but there are deep discounts sitewide. Hurry, the sale ends tomorrow.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter to get handy product reviews, expert buying advice, and insight into the best deals and sales every week.

The New York Knicks ended their victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers by winning Game 4 130-93, to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 30 years. In just 20 days, horror film “Obsession” is expected to gross $79.7 million at the worldwide box office after YouTuber-turned-filmmaker spent just $750,000 on the film. Trump is expected to visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today for his third in-person medical visit in just over a year. The United States men’s national team will reveal its roster for the FIFA World Cup today.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Kaylah Jackson. If you are a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can register here.

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