Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau">

By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 21, and our columnist Michael J. Coren reckons you’ll never buy these three foods at the store again once you learn how to make them. Now let’s catch up.

Iranian officials threatened not to attend peace talks with the U.S. this week.

• Why? They were angered by the U.S. seizure of an Iranian ship over the weekend. If the talks go ahead, they will take place in Pakistan — it has become an unlikely peacemaker.
• President Donald Trump keeps contradicting himself on Iran: His conflicting comments on issues big and small have led to confusion and required cleanup by his staff.

Read this story

Lori Chavez-DeRemer during her confirmation hearing on Feb. 19, 2025. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

• Key details: Chavez-DeRemer was accused of using taxpayer-funded trips for personal travel. That complaint surfaced sexual misconduct allegations against her husband.
• In other administration news: FBI Director Kash Patel sued the Atlantic yesterday over an article that alleged he engaged in “excessive drinking” while leading the FBI.

Read this story

The Louisiana gunman who killed eight children hid his rage before the shooting.

• How? On social media, Shamar Elkins seemed like a doting father. He made no mention in his public posts of his pending divorce, which he had told relatives had been troubling him.
• Last night: Neighbors and local officials gathered for a vigil in Shreveport close to where the children, most of them Elkins’s sons and daughters, were fatally shot by him Sunday.

Read this story

Democrats are targeting House seats in districts safely won by Trump in 2024.

• Like where? Democrats are aiming for upsets in states such as Iowa, Kentucky and Texas. In Tennessee, a Democrat is raising four times as much as an incumbent Republican rival.
• Today in Virginia: Voters will decide on whether to redraw a congressional map to favor Democrats.
• In California: Thirty ex-staffers of governor hopeful Katie Porter, a Democrat, have come to her defense after two video clips showed her speaking sharply to a staffer and a reporter.

Read this story

Tim Cook holds up an iPhone 17 Pro during an event at Apple headquarters in September. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

• End of an era: Cook took over from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs after he died in 2011. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple became one of the world’s most valuable companies.
• Who will replace him? John Ternus, who has worked at Apple for 25 years and overseen some of its crucial products. Cook will transition to a new executive role in September.

Read this story

New studies show how often chatbots get health answers wrong.

• Have you used a chatbot as a doctor? Then you should read this. In one study, five different AI bots were asked 250 health questions and answered just over 50% correctly.
• Millions of Americans regularly use AI for medical advice: But companies are struggling to align the designs of bots with the complex reasoning required of doctors.

Read this story

Advertisement

Jane Goodall delivered a message of hope in a previously unaired interview.

• Three months before she died: The legendary conservationist offered advice on how to stay motivated in the face of dire global problems. “Just do something,” she said.
• An incredible life: Goodall, who died at the age of 91 in October, had no degree when she became the world’s foremost primatologist. Her work inspired millions of people.

Read this story

Before you go … does your workout clothing contain harmful “forever chemicals”? Here’s how to check. Plus: The new rules of wearing leggings.

One more important read: An American hostage’s mother told us about her new memoir of “love and pain.”

We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you’ve seen in The 7? Send them here. We’ll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition.

And finally … take a game break: