June 22, 2026
18: The hours U.S. and Iranian negotiators spent talking in Switzerland over the weekend. Speaking Monday morning, Vice President JD Vance said Iran agreed to allow international nuclear inspectors to return to the country, officials established a mechanism to help prevent renewed fighting in Lebanon, and negotiators set up a line of communication to support the safe transit of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. What these agreements look like in action remains TBD. Talks remain ongoing.
6: The number of UK prime ministers in the past decade who have announced premature departures, including Keir Starmer, who announced Monday that he will step down as Labour Party leader and will leave office within weeks, remaining caretaker prime minister until the party chooses a successor, a process set to begin July 9.
22,000+: The acres burned by Utah’s Iron Fire as of Sunday, with the blaze still 0% contained after rapidly expanding and prompting hundreds of evacuations. Officials reported no homes lost overnight as fire crews continue working in dry, high wind-driven conditions. Officials described the fire as “human-caused” and “under investigation” but offered no other details.
10: The number of American military-related companies, including drone makers and rare-earth firms China sanctioned Monday by blocking exports of “dual-use” goods in response to new U.S. restrictions on some Chinese tech companies tied to defense contracts.
2: The number of physical presidential libraries opening in 2026, including the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which opened Friday, and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, opening July 4, marking two high-profile campus additions to the U.S. system of presidential archives and museums that blend historical exhibits with public civic spaces.
$400 million: The estimated value of a Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar that arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Friday. President Trump described it as the “world’s most luxurious plane,” set to serve as a temporary Air Force One replacement until the next presidential aircraft fleet arrives in 2028.
$160 million: What “Toy Story 5” grossed domestically in its opening weekend, marking the largest three-day domestic debut of 2026 so far and the franchise’s biggest opening to date, surpassing “Toy Story 4” ($120 million) and “Toy Story 3” ($110 million).
100+: The number of employees who tried to create a natural version of the historic M&M’s color blue. The new naturally colored version of the candy will debut without its blue and brown hues exclusively on Amazon in August. The original artificially colored M&M’s will remain available and unchanged for now.
by Katie Larsen,
