Morning Joe - JD Vance postpones Switzerland trip for Iran talks, Israel strikes Lebanon overnight and GOP lawmakers raise concerns of Iran agreement

Episode Date: June 19, 2026

June 19, 2026 - 6am: JD Vance postpones Switzerland trip for Iran talks Israel strikes Lebanon overnight  GOP lawmakers raise concerns of Iran agreement President Trump sits down with Marc Caputo from AXIOS for his first interview since signing the 'Memorandum of Understanding' with Iran Juneteenth Holiday Obama Presidential Center Opens  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The president saying it would be unfair for Iran not to have a ballistic missile arsenal while their neighbors in the Gulf do. If other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some. Slow down there, Ms. Rachel. I don't know if sharing is caring applies to ICBMs. Okay, all right, I'm a bit confused here. I'm trying to remember Trump's position on all of this before the treaty. We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.

Okay, okay. That sounds bad. Maybe that was taken out of context. Can we play the rest of the sentence? It will be totally again obliterated. Unless it's a little bit unfair. Okay, okay. Yes, thank you. See, see, see, see. And you people doubted his dedication to equity and inclusion.

That's The Daily Show highlighting President Trump's reversal on ballistic missiles. Just one of many points in the president's Iran deal being criticized this morning by both Democrats and Republicans. Well, the very latest developments there. Good morning. Welcome to the morning, Joe. It is Friday, June 19th. With us, we have the co-host of our 8 a.m. hour staff writer at the Atlantic, Jonathan Lemire, co-host of the rest of the rest of the morning. politics podcast, the BBC's Caddy K, and President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haas. He's the author of the Substact, Home and Away. Good morning to you all. Richard, I want to start with you. We didn't get a chance to talk to you yesterday when all of this was unfolding when the details of this memorandum of understanding were made public. As I said, it's not just Democrats. It is Republicans on Capitol Hill. It is conservative media

figures ripping this deal. Given your experience, your expertise, what's your take? and what we know about it so far. Well, the substack I wrote yesterday was called defeat. And you can dress it up any way you want. You can spin it any way you want. But what it represents is a massive falling away from our articulated goals, things like regime change, unconditional surrender, and so forth. The sequencing of all this will, it gives Iran a lot of rewards up front.

particularly financial rewards, which among other things, strengthen this regime. Among the big losers in this, and we can talk about the others are the Iranian people, because this regime now is entrenched far more than it was. A lot of the big issues, as you just have been kicked down the road, particularly the nuclear issue, which according to the president, was more than anything else, the reason for the war, you know, there was nothing new about the Iranian nuclear program. doesn't even refer, as you just heard in that bit about ballistic missiles or Iranian support for groups like Hamas or Hezbollah or the Houthis, which is another way of saying Israel's

concerns were totally ignored. And the irony there is hard to miss since it was Israel that pressed so hard for this war in the first place. So essentially, we've paid an enormous amount, Willie, to get the Strait of Hormuz open for 60 days, toll-free. And the agreement actually talks about Iran having the right to consider putting tolls on and other arrangements after 60 days. So again, I'm beyond hard-pressed to make the case that this is either a good agreement or one that in any way justifies this war of choice. And of course, the Strait of Hormuz was open on February 28th when this war started. So hard to

measure that as a victory either. Richard, what about the money? We've talked about this, proposed $300 billion investment fund paid for by Gulf states, the president said, but also perhaps by some private companies in the United States if they want to invest as well. The sanctions, waivers, the ability to sell oil openly and freely again, which will be a windfall for Iran. What does that mean to the Iranian regime to have all that money flowing back into the country? Well, it's a windfall even without this $300 billion fund. That's essentially to be established. But you've got the return of frozen assets. You've got the easing of sanctions, which, among other things, when Iran sells its oil now,

it will not have to sell at a discounted price. So it has really two big effects, Willie. One is that, as I mentioned, it strengthens this Iranian regime. The Achilles heel of this Iranian regime is its economic mismanagement. And what this does is buy it a lot of time economically. And then secondly, a lot of that money can be used, among other things, for rebuilding Hezbollah, rebuilding Hamas, rebuilding missiles, rebuilding drone factories, and so forth. So it's funny sort of a way, we're going to be providing the means for Iran to reestablish its ability

to threaten not just its own people, but Israel and its Arab neighbors. Republican lawmakers, most of them privately are appalled by this deal. They're saying so, many who've supported Donald Trump through almost everything appalled. Some of them saying it out loud as well, voicing their reservations on the Trump administration's agreement to end the fighting, or at least to pause the fighting in Iran. In an interview yesterday, Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, criticized the provision lifting American sanctions on Iran's oil exports. I do have concerns that certain aspects of this deal are a step in the wrong direction. For instance, we're going to lift sanctions on Iran's oil exports right away. And based on their pre-war rates of production and recent prices for a barrel of oil,

you're looking at somewhere between $150 and $200 million a day. So that's $400 or $4.5 billion to $6 billion every single month. That's a lot of money. And we know that this terrorist revolutionary regime is not going to spend that money on daycares are in hospital. They're going to use it to rebuild their drone stockpiles, their missiles to fund Hamas and to fund Hezbollah. Meanwhile, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, of Mississippi blasted that proposed $300 billion fund to rebuild Iran, writing in a statement, it would, quote, make Iran's payoff under President Obama's 2015

deal look like a pittance by comparison. So Jonathan Lemire, there you have. high-ranking prominent Republican senators speaking out in very specific ways against the deal made by the president. Has the White House absorbed in the last 24 hours all of this criticism, again, not from us, but from Republicans, from the Wall Street Journal, from the New York Post, and all over the conservative media? And are they prepared to do anything about it? Is anything changing? I mean, they hear it. They're not happy about it, but they're trying to just blow past it. It's another sign of just how desperate they are and just put this whole matter behind them. We saw an attempt to spin this yesterday from the president on Truth Social.

And when he spoke briefly to reporters, I know he spoke to Mark Caputo from Axios. I believe we're talking to a little later about that. We had J.D. Vance, you know, who's become sort of the face of these negotiations of late. You know, go to the White House briefing room yesterday and talk about it. And I think there are a couple things here. Now, behind closed doors, there are some administration who are concerned that Iran won't hold up their end of the deal. And that's a reasonable concern

because Iran has never held up their end of the deal. So that's part of this. But I think there is a recognition, they're not going to say it publicly, that this was nowhere near what they thought was going to happen when this war started.

And they are hearing these Republicans, you know, slam every piece of this. None of the president's war aims, you know, that he outlined, you know, in the conflict's first days, were accomplished. I also wrote this week about this was a defeat for President Trump, makes him and the nation look weaker on the global stage.

So we are going to see that they're trying to spin this. They're going to keep trying to do that. But then I think they're going to try to just move on. That's how this, Willie, as we all know, that's how the Trump administration has always worked, in particular in the political shop in the West Wing and the president himself. He believes he has tremendous faith in his ability to change the topic of conversation. If there are bad headlines, he throws something else out there.

He tries to distract. He tries to move on to the next thing. and they think that in the coming days, they'll be able to do that as well. They're more concerned about the politics right now than they are about the long-term geopolitical ramifications. Now, that's, to their mistake, those ramifications are real, and the world's going to feel it for a long time. But they are trying to just move on to the next story. To your point, the Epstein files were dominating the headlines on the day that this war started. The president does like to change the subject.

You mentioned Vice President J.D. Vance. He's no longer traveling to Switzerland for negotiations today with Iran. raising questions about the next phase of talks between our two countries. The White House cited difficult logistics for negotiations in announcing the postponement of that trip. The Swiss Foreign Ministry also said today's planned talks between the U.S., Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan would be pushed to a later date. Earlier yesterday, the Vice President brief reporters at the White House on the tentative deal with Iran staunchly defending the agreement through a series of often misleading claims. Vance asserted lifting oil sanctions on Iran was, quote, not a new benefit for the country.

But as the New York Times points out, under the preliminary deal, Iran will be able to sell its oil for more into a wider array of buyers. The vice president also claimed the financial benefits to Iran will only be available if the country fully complies. But the agreement states the U.S. will unfreeze Tehran's assets and release restricted funds, quote, under the implementation of this MOU. Here's more of what Vance had to say at the White House yesterday. The simple fact is that the only way the Iranians get any of those resources, not a single penny, by the way from the United States of America under any circumstances, but the only way that they would ever get any benefit of the bargain is if they comply fully and change their behavior. And so you really have a win-win situation for the United States of America.

If the Iranians don't change their behavior, their military and their nuclear program is still destroyed. The Obama nuclear deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not. The Obama deal allowed the accumulation of stockpiled weapons grade material. Ours is actually leading to the destruction of that stockpile of enriched material. So there are many differences. The Obama deal gave them over a billion dollars of American money. This deal gives them zero dollars of American money. So a lot of substantive differences, but I think the most important differences are where we're coming at it from a position of strength and the fact that our Gulf Coast partners love this deal. A lot to talk through there. First, though, Iran's Supreme Leader issued his first reaction

to this agreement in a statement read by state media, the leader who's still not been seen in public since he was wounded in a strike at the beginning of the war, seemed to authorize his officials to hold direct talks with the U.S., but added, face-to-face discussions do not mean, quote, acceptance of the enemy's position. Supreme Leader also added, he believes President Trump sign the deal, quote, out of desperation. So, Caddy Kay, basically this memorandum of understanding opens the straight of Hormuz, which was open before the war began, and opens the door to nuclear talks, which President Trump has sort of refocused as the central question over the last couple of months, moved on from regime

change and some of the other goals and said they can't have a nuclear weapon. It's unclear if Iran's actually ready to have serious nuclear talks. Yeah, and remember that those nuclear talks were also going on on February the 27th before we started bombing. So we're really our back to the status quo ante with a kind of new element where J.D. Vance and this crack team of negotiators seem to feel that they've got a regime that has been calling death to America for the last 47 years to decide to abandon all of that and become part of the normal operating world and part of the kind of Western. economies. I mean, I think that is the most, Richard, one of the most fanciful bits of what we've been hearing, particularly from the vice president for the last few days, was that somehow over the last four months, Iran has changed its mind, whereas everything that I hear from people on Capitol Hill and in the diplomatic community is that the intelligence is pointing

in the other direction that you have an IRGC, which is now more hardened and entrenched in its position as the leaders of the regime in Iran, not less. So where do you buy this Iran as the new Switzerland line? By our Switzerland, I'd be offended. There's zero evidence whatsoever that Iran is more moderate. If anything, Iran has been rewarded for this aggressive behavior, whether it's towards its own people or towards its neighbors. It's being rewarded for standing up to the United States. And what the Vice President just said, can I just say, the agreement, as everybody knows, simply says we're going to negotiate nuclear issues other than Iran has given the pledge of intentions, not that it means anything, that they're not going to have nuclear weapons.

But nothing that he just said is in the agreement. Iran has not agreed to either get rid of or dilute the enriched uranium they have. Iran has not agreed not to do new enrichment in the future. Iran has not agreed to allow international inspectors the kind of unfettered access they would need in order to determine what it is and is not doing. So it seems to me not only does this agreement fall short of the administration's own initial war aims, but what the vice president just said set up standard, Patty, that I think are unlikely to be met. I think Iran is going to have future enrichment activities. I don't know what they're going to do with the existing enrichment. but that's not nearly as important as what they do in the future and what what they're prepared to do with inspectors. But Iran is going to remain active. Plus, a lot of these hardline leaders,

my guess is when they think about the last few months, they're saying to themselves, we only got attacked because we didn't have a nuclear weapon. Look at North Korea and so forth. So the idea that they've given up on that ambition, I think, is a pipe dream. Israel, not a party to this deal, was attacked yesterday by Vice President J.D. Vance. The Israeli military, though, first says its forces struck targets across southern Lebanon overnight. Lebanese state media reports at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel reports four of its soldiers were killed in the fighting there, including a lieutenant colonel. An explosive drone attack hurt another five.

This comes as Israel is reacting with alarm to President Trump's preliminary agreement with Iran and critics across the political spectrum calling it a major setback for Israeli security. The New York Times notes Israeli officials and analysts say the deal leaves key war goals unmet and does nothing to curb Iran's ballistic missile program, its support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis, or its long-term nuclear ambitions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu striking a cautious tone, pledging Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon and insisting Israel will maintain its security interest, but adding additional challenges lie ahead. As I mentioned, J.D. Vance pushed back against that Israeli criticism, warning leaders in Jerusalem not to turn

on their strongest ally. You have seen people within B.B.'s cabinet who have come out and attack the deal and in some ways very personally attacked the president of the United States. And I guess my message to them would be twofold. Number one, Donald J. Trump is, the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world's superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world. So Richard, if you're Benjamin Netanyahu, a few months ago you were in the situation room making the sale to President Trump about why he could be a historic

president, how he could reshape the Middle East by wiping out the leadership and forcing regime change in Iran. And now here you are at the end of these four months in this war, completely cut out of the deal with the United States agreeing with Iran that there be no more fighting in Lebanon. How are you feeling in Tel Aviv this morning? I don't know how to say be careful what you wish for in Hebrew, Willie, but maybe 19, Tanya, who must be feeling that this morning. This is the war he had wanted for so many years. And Israel didn't accomplish its war. Actually, let me give you a little anecdote. Early on in the war, I did a debate with one of Israel's leading strategists. And he argued that the war was justified.

I was arguing against it on the basis, not of the nuclear, because he said the nuclear hadn't changed, the threat posed, potential threat posed by Iran, but on ballistic missiles, on Iranian's missile force, which was large and growing. And obviously nothing has been done to administer it. Now you have administration people saying that's acceptable for Iran to happen. So Israel's war aims were not met. But Bebe Netanyahu's trapped for two reasons. One is an election coming up between now and the fall.

And his entire argument to the Israeli people has been that Donald Trump is our best friend, and I have this special relationship with Donald Trump. So the entire raison debt of BB's candidacy has been jeopardized. Plus what the vice president was saying, if I were an Israeli, if I were an American supporter of Israel, which I am, I heard those words with real menace. That was a frightening statement by the vice president because it was tinged with threat, basically saying if you criticize us, if you say this deal is not good for Israel, we potentially will turn on you. And that to me will cause a lot of Israelis extreme, extreme discomfort because Israel wants to maintain. freedom of action. If Hezbollah does something, if Hamas does something, what have you, if Iran does something, the idea that Israel can't respond. Israel has been, if you will,

largely independent in its entire existence. So this sets up, this agreement structurally sets up enormous friction and tension between the United States and Israel. So I actually think Israel could be the big strategic loser of this as the U.S.-Israeli relationship enters a really difficult saves. Yeah, I agree with what Richard just said there. There was a vague menace, a vague threat there from the vice president. Now, Vance is not wrong in terms of Israel standing in the world right now. We know that the events of the last couple of years have really diminished the country, or at least B.B. Netanyahu's government in the eyes of so many global capitals, and we see the polls how they're thought of here in the United States as well. But Trump has been a support.

Now, he and Netanyahu have had their spats. Let's remember that Trump was furious at Netanyahu back in 2020 when he recognized Joe Biden's victory. But that was a relationship that got repaired, Richard's right, that Trump was going to feature prominently in Netanyahu's re-election campaign. That's a tough ask now. And this does call into question, what happens next? Would the United States abandon Israel or cut military aid? And again, it shows, really, just how for Trump, these international relations, it's all just so personal that Netanyahu, the members of Netanyahu's cabinet were critical of him. So therefore, he's angry and therefore that could change the relationship. Now, there are real reasons here, as Richard just said, where there might be a divide and Trump

has said to Israel, don't hit back, something that is very difficult ask for Israel. But for Trump, it's more about the personal insult. That's the real problem Vance gave voice to yesterday. And Israel showed they will hit back just a couple of hours ago attacking Hezbollah. So we'll see how this goes as we move along. Everyone's stay put. We got a lot more to get to this morning, including President Trump, telling Axios yesterday there are, quote, no limits to his presidential powers amid the extended ceasefire with Iran. Mark Caputo joins us with more from his sit down with the president at the White House. And as we had to break a quick look at the travelers' forecast this morning from Acqueweather's Anna Azalean. Anna, how's it looking out there?

Good morning, Willie. It's a brighter day across the northeast. Still some rain at times, but it's spotier compared to yesterday. And we don't have the severe weather. to talk about. For the southeast, it's more of the same from yesterday. Still, life-threatening flooding because of Arthur, but heavy rainfall more this morning compared to the afternoon. Still some spotty thunderstorms, but we're looking towards improvement and recovery. As far as airports delays, Atlanta still in the afternoon, lightning's going to be a problem. Boston and Miami are the other issues. It's help you make the best decisions and be more in the know. Make sure to download the Ackyweather app today. Live picture of the White House 625 on this Friday morning. President

and Trump sat down with Mark Caputo of Axios at the White House yesterday for his first interview since signing the agreement that extends the ceasefire with Iran. Here's part of that conversation. What have you learned about not just the exercise of power, but the limits on your power as a result of the conflict? There are no limits. No limit. No, not, I haven't learned that lesson yet.

I know there are, but, you know, there are no limits. We defeated them totally militarily. Who else could have done a blockade like that? I did a naval blockade when not one ship was able to get through. Some tried. They didn't, you know, did the last very long. And it certainly brought Iran to the table more than before. However, beginning of conflict, you had talked about you only wanted unconditional surrender.

And well, the MOU doesn't look like unconditional surrender. Well, it really probably is unconditional surrender. And White House reporter for Axios, Mark Caputo himself, joins us now. Mark, good morning. So take us inside that conversation with the president. There's a lot, even just in that one clip we played there. This is not unconditional surrender for Iran, obviously. But what stood out to you?

What's not for me is the guy didn't really sleep. The president hadn't slept much. I think maybe two hours he had flown back from Europe. But his general attitude was very positive, despite all of the negative commentary and pushback over the deal. The president seems pretty relieved because he has an exit here. And he's looking at two. He's looking at the stock market, and he's looking at the price of oil. And the price of oil

was down, and at one point in the interview, he said it, or a few points in the interview, he said that. At one point, he said, it's a gusher, as if he literally struck oil through this deal because of the price, like, lowering. And that really impressed me because it just shows what Trump is really focused on. Yeah. Mark, you talked also about, I mean, a whole range of things. You had half an hour, I think, with the president. You spoke about regime change. You also spoke about his relationship with Netanyahu. We heard J.D. Vance earlier being very critical of the Israeli government. Surprisingly so, for an American vice president, how was the president when you asked him about his relationship at the moment with Netanyahu?

Yeah, specifically asked him that. And he said, like, Bibi, like, we're good. He said, but we've got to keep him, and he sort of paused for a second, sane. And I said, well, how do you control Israel from attacking Lebanon and possibly sort of starting to wreck the ceasefire of the steel? And he says, they're going to do what I say. And they listen to me. And it was just a very kind of clear statement from Trump that he thinks he has so much influence over there because of not just his relationship with Netanyahu, but also I think Israel standing in the world as Vance indicated that. he has this sort of ability. Now, whether or not Netanyahu is going to go along with it, who knows, we reported a little while ago at Axios, that very hot phone call that Trump had with Netanyahu and Netanyahu attacked Lebanon a certain point and the Iranian sort of pull out of negotiations and caused all the stern and dron. So it's less of a close relationship now

than it was heading into the war. He spent the last few days in Europe as the details of the MOU started to come out. And we report on the program, the number of Republicans senators Cassidy, Cotton, Wicker, who have now come out pretty critical about the deal. Do you think, and you say that the president sounded genuinely positive about what he had achieved, do you think now that he comes back and he turns on Fox News and he's sitting in the residence and he's watching television and he sees the criticism even coming from Fox News, that that's going to change his mind about this deal or that it's going to make it harder for him to defend it? Well, the tide him who predicts what Donald Trump is going to do.

Nevertheless, I would find it difficult to believe that he would change that much. My general view of Trump is that if you criticize something that he has started to put his chips in, he doesn't like the criticism. I asked him during the interview, are you going to punish any of the Republicans who oppose you on this? Because there are elements of the deal with sanctions that are going to need to come back to Congress for sort of a final approval in part to set up or make effective as $300 billion reconstruction fund. And it took me a little while to get the president to answer, but he said basically no.

Now, I'm wondering if that'll change. That is, if the criticism reaches a fever pitch from his own party, does he start to really push back and start to target people? I don't know that. So, Mark, congrats on the interview. Obviously, it's yet another example of President Trump trying to assert his own reality, right? Living in denial, I'd argue, about some of the outcomes here in Iran.

but he can read the polls and certainly other members of the Republican Party can, and they see how unpopular this war was and currently how unpopular he and the GOP is. So is there any recognition, not from Trump himself personally, but AIDS you've talked to, just about what a bind there in? Is there any sort of concern as to what this meant for November? If you scratch a few layers beneath the surface, yeah, you'll hear that, but there certainly is going to be nothing on the record or even on background. But you can tell that what was just really concerning them is not just the poll numbers, but what was causing the underlying poll number troubles.

And that was the price of gas. And my guess here, having talked to them over the past few months about the war, is that the argument they're going to make is, look, everyone was complaining about gas prices. Well, gas prices are coming back down. And therefore, what the president is proposing is a good idea. And that might be a challenging argument for his opponents and his critics to push back on. It's realized the American people don't really pay a lot of attention to the finer points of foreign policy and, you know, these various points of the MOU. They're focused on their lives. And they're driving around.

And every day there's been a scoreboard on street corners that people have seen. That's the price of fuel. Even if you drive a Tesla, you at least can see what the price of fuel is doing. And it's been up. And people don't like it. it's going to come down and the president's hope is as a result of that coming down, the fortunes of Republicans increase. That is, if they take yes for an answer, his version of yes, and embrace this deal. One of the many extraordinary moments in this interview when you ask

about regime change, you say, how is this regime change? And the president says, well, they are different people. Kamene Jr. is different from the father, which I guess technically is true, but probably not the definition of regime change. You can see the full interview online for Axios, White House reporter for Axios, Mark Caputo. Thanks so much for bringing it to us. We appreciate it. And still ahead here, more reaction to President Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran. Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Mike Turner joins us with his take.

Morning Joe's coming right back. Mayor Mamm Dhani presented the players with the key to the city, which is signing. There's Jalen Brunson, as opposed to his, remember his predecessor, New York's former mayor a few years ago, Eric Adams, presented the key to the ditty. Oops. Obviously, that key doesn't work on every lock. The owner of the Knicks, James Dolan yesterday said his team will accept an invitation to visit the White House so the players can officially hand their trophy over to the president.

But it's all very exciting. The president will get to hold a trophy that stands just the same way he does. New York City celebrated the NBA champion, say it again, the NBA champion New York Knicks yesterday in a victory parade through Lower Manhattan's Canyon of Heroes, fans gathering very early to honor the team's first title in 53 years, celebration also marking the first ticker tape parade in franchise history. Capacity inside the viewing areas along the parade route was reached less than 90 minutes after Gates opened at 6 a.m. That's a full three hours before the parade was set to start.

They were turning people away in their jerseys, tipping off at 10 a.m. near Battery Park fans cheered as the float carrying the players and their trophy traveled up Broadway to a ticket and ceremony at City Hall, where as you saw there, Mayor Zoranamandhi presented the team with the keys to the city. Richard Hoss, you look at these images and you still have to remind yourself, it's real.

The New York Knicks, after 53 years, won the championship, And that guy, actually those two guys, probably Kat, and Jalen Brunson now, going to the pantheon of great all-time New York athletes. Well, absolutely. And I love that most of the people out there weren't born 53 years ago, Willie. Most of them don't know what the hell ticker tape is. I had multiple conversations with younger people asking me what it was yesterday. But yeah, those two guys, I think the coach deserves tremendous credit for,

being flexible and adaptable and knowing how to use the bench and the team. I think the executive, you know, guy who basically made the trades, Leon Rose, the Knicks grew not through draft choices, but through some very gutsy, gutsy trades. I think this is a sensational story. You know, you can even argue one last thing, really, the Spurs had some amazing athletes. But for the Spurs, I'd say actually the whole of the team was less than the sum of its part. And I think the Knicks, the whole, was greater than the sum of its parts.

It really was and is a sensational thing. So there's a lot of really good lessons to be drawn from what's this happen here in New York. And just giving the city such a great vibe for the last couple of weeks. We should say the Spurs, their stars are 22, 21, and 20 years old. They're going to be around for a long time. Also, Richard, while we have you here, I believe you're the only member of our panel this morning, who has played Shinnecock, where the U.S. Open is being held right now, played out on Long Island. two-hour delay after some fog yesterday for the opening round of the 126 U.S. Open at Chitticock Hills.

It has resumed this morning. Leaderboard up top. Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark wrote a birdie, birdie eagle stretch to a six under par through 16 holes. Could even improve on that over these last two when they resumed today. He was called for darkness there at the end. So, Richard, this course, the fog is one thing. but my goodness, the rough, the greens, you've got to hit them perfectly or everything rolls off. You've been there.

How difficult is this golf course? I was there under normal conditions. I wasn't playing with the rough, longer, narrower fairways. I wasn't playing back from the championship teams. This is a brutally tough course for the reasons you mentioned. Also the wind. You had the fog yesterday, but the wind is brutal. And the speed of the greens.

And if you just sort of like a foot or two off, the ball just will roll and roll and roll. So the idea that Wyndham Clark is six under Willie after 16 holes. I didn't see that coming. I actually, you would have thought that even par or one or two under would be just fine. The idea he is where he is, just amazing. And you're right, that's where it was until he came along,

two under, one under. There was a small collection of guys up there, and that looked like that was going to hold. And then here he comes, still with a couple to play. So big name still lurking with three rounds to go. We know everything will change to Shambos up there. Rory's playing pretty well, so we'll see what happens over the next three days. Richard Haas, thanks so much covering a lot of ground, as always.

We appreciate it. Still ahead, a historic day on Chicago's south side as the Obama Center opened its doors. We'll have a live report from Chicago ahead of today's public opening. Plus, Reverend Al Sharpton, he was there for the celebration. He'll fill us in and speak to us about the significance of today's Juneteenth. Morning Joe's coming right back. Oh man, a beautiful sunrise over Lake Michigan and Chicago, 547 in the morning there, 647 here on the East Coast. Former presidents, music icons, and a long list of special guests gathered yesterday in Chicago to celebrate the grand opening and the dedication of the Obama Presidential Center.

The long-awaited opening. Feature performances by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Bono, and many more. Biden, George W. Bush, and Clinton all in attendance, while former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, delivered speeches focused on shared American values that transcend party politics. And since we're a few weeks away from America's 250th birthday, it is worth remembering just how radical the whole idea of self-government really was back in 1776. To that point, human history.

was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies. A world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage. And the many were ruled by the few, but out of the fire and steel of a revolution, a different story took flight on this continent. A declaration that we are all, created equal, endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, and that in the newly

independent United States, there will be no kings or lords, no serfs or subjects, but only citizens, each of us free to pursue our own version of happiness and able to determine our collective fate through an elected representative government. Eight years in the crucible, and not once did you melt from the heat, not once did you let it harden you. Instead, you used it to reveal your truest essence, your stubborn optimism and unflinching courage, your dazzling brilliance and unpretentious decency, your ferocious work ethic. an absolutely unshakable moral fiber. And to do it first, and the higher standard that comes with all that, the claims that a U.S. Senator and constitutional law expert wasn't qualified for the job,

the lies about your birthright, your faith, your patriotism, the outrage when you stated the biological fact that if you'd had a son, that he too would be black. Yet you were unflappable at every turn, always focused, always calm, always looking at the long view. How absurd it is to even imagine that you might have buckled under the pressure even once, lashed out in frustration. lost your temper. Absurd it is to imagine that you might have done anything, but make our family and this entire country proud. Many there noting, and you can see a little of it, President Obama, getting choked up while listening to his wife, the former first lady. The center is located on Chicago's south side and features a public library, a playground, athletic center, and a museum,

a space to be used. It officially opens to the public today, coinciding with the Juneteenth holiday. Let's go live to Chicago where we find MS Now reporter Nambi and Ghanwu. Nambi, good morning. So tell us a little bit more about that ceremony yesterday and what people can expect today as it opens to the public. We know that ceremony yesterday was jubilant to say the least. It was also a reminder of the political and cultural weight the Obama still hold, seeing the likes of not just all the former living presidents, but also 2028 contenders like Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom, the former Vice President Kamala Harris. Also several celebrities, David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, who we know is sparred with President Trump.

The performances we saw, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera. It's a reminder of just how much Obama meant to the thousands of people who came here, but also the cultural figures that were in the room. The capstone, though, was, of course, those speeches from the Obama's, which included subtle and sometimes not so subtle references to the current president. Michelle Obama, for her part, describing immigrants as, the beating heart of America, saying that no one has the right to judge who is more American than the other. Also, praising her husband for always letting science lead these decisions, you know, the former president during his remarks, emphasizing the importance of things like a peaceful transfer of power, of free and fair elections, an independent judiciary,

all things that we know with this administration have felt like they're under attack. Though the core of the remarks from both of the Obama's zone was that they want this center, this museum to serve as a source of hope and inspiration for not just for the country, but also specifically Chicago on the South Side, an area that historically has faced social and financial economic challenges. For the residents of the South Side that I spoke to, that message meant a lot and carried weight. I want you to take a listen to some of the conversations I had. I run a mentor organization for girls, and I feel like when they come to see this space,

they know that it's hope for us. I'm only 23 years old. Every day I come outside, I have a direct replication of Obama and all the work he put in for America and for my people every single day. You can't miss it when you come outside the door. It's just amazing. To go back into this building, first of all, be reminded of America's history right around the 250th. And then to find hope in there again. And you know what? We're only 250 years old. So I'm hoping that in the long run, we're going to look back and say that hope is alive because that's what America was built on.

So the bulk of the 19 acres that this campus sits on will open to the public in about 15 minutes here. People will be able to access the big park that they renovated, that basketball court, the public library that's on the campus. The museum opens at 10. But to my personal heartbreak, tickets are sold out for that museum and through November, which is another sign of the excitement that's being felt here. We still expect thousands to come here today. and ultimately the center says they expect upwards of 600,000 people to visit this museum every year. MSNNNAS NANW live for us from Chicago this morning. Nambi, thanks so much. Joining us now, the host of Politics Nation on MS now, Reverend Al Sharpton,

he's the president of the National Action Network. He attended yesterday's grand opening and dedication of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Rev, great to see, I'm interested to hear your thoughts from the day. It does strike you watching former President Obama especially speak publicly the contrast to what we've been hearing for the last decade. There were no grievances. There were no petty insults. There were no threats. There was no looking back on things he thought should have been different or the way he should have been treated.

He's talking about a grand vision of the country. What did you see at that ceremony yesterday? President Obama not only did not have grievances. and blame, he even said he made mistakes. And it was a real contrast to the present occupant of the White House, that he was humble. He came to a community that he said he first drove from New York when he was a student in Columbia and moved to Chicago right on that corner.

His wife, Michelle, who made the, I think, probably the speech of the day, was born and raised there on the south side, which is a mostly black working class community. I know it well as I was a protege of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was building his office is only about three blocks from there. So I know the area. They did not only build this huge 19-acre edifice. They built it in the middle of the south side. So people that would say, well, I don't know if I've got a fair share in life, where can I go, where can I plan? I have no hope. Well, look at that edifice and say, yes, I can be somebody.

Look at what Michelle and Barack, who came from around the corner, became the president of the United States, first lady of the United States. And as she mentioned, also, Nobel Prize winner, which was another veiled shot at President Trump. And I think that that was important. And it is an economic engine. Imagine the jobs that they're providing right there on those 19 acres. And then the tourism that it brings in. So it was a win-win. And it contrasts the present president.

And it was interesting to me that on this day that President Trump yesterday was having to try to explain what he did with this. deal in Iran, which fell far short of what he promised and really weakened a lot of relations with Israel. You have him, he had attacked Obama for the deal Obama made, and he was having a bad day, worst day of his international aspect of presidency while Obama was being raised back up. It was a contrast that I couldn't resist thinking about sitting there as one of the Yeah, certainly Trump remains obsessed with Obama.

So, Rev, obviously, President Obama and the first lady, means so much to show many people, and particularly for the black community in the United States. The opening of the center was time for Juneteenth weekend. But this is certainly, I think there are a lot of people in your community. You speak about this a lot who feel very disillusioned and disheartened right now because of the vote backs because the voting rights, because we've seen from the Supreme Court,

and from the administration, the policies from this administration. do you think that this is a moment where this, the opening of this and talking about this again could inject more hope for the things could change, the page could be turned on the Trump era? I think it absolutely does because what it does is, yes, there's a lot of despair, a lot of discouragement, particularly in the black community and the brown communities. But this opening reminds us, but wait a minute, we beat these kind of forces before. We elected and reelected a black president. What are we talking about what we can't do? And Obama represents that, yes, we can spirit. And for that to be front and center again on Juneteenth weekend,

Juneteenth was when slaves in Texas did not know they were free until two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and the Union Army went in and said, you're free. And I think it was that kind of, uh, combination of saying we're free to fight people like Trump. We cannot act as though we're weak and don't have an ability to confront this. We're not going to be bullied. And that monument in Obama's name unveiled yesterday does that. Rebs stay with us. We want to remind viewers tonight, MS Now's Michelle Norris hosts a special behind-the-scenes look inside the Obama Presidential Center featuring exclusive interviews with the former president and first

lady and members of the administration's inner circle. Hope comes home as the program. It airs at 9 p.m. Eastern right here on MS now. And as we reach the top of the hour, 7 o'clock on the East Coast, back to the news, Vice President J.D. Vance no longer traveling to Switzerland for negotiations today with Iran. The White House cited logistics for negotiations in announcing the postponement of the trip. The Swiss foreign ministry also said today's planned talks between the U.S., Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan would be pushed to a later date. Let's bring an MS now international reporter, N.S. Delacotaara, who joins us live from Zurich. So, Ines, what more can you tell us about why these talks have been postponed and what it might mean for this larger process? Hey, good morning. Yeah, so I am here in Zurich, not far from where those technical talks were set to begin.

And I'll tell you, the hotel where we're staying at is packed with reporters who were hoping to. cover that event. There are also a number of White House advanced staffers there who were all waiting for the vice president to make the trip over. We were also expecting Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkoff to be here to meet with Iranian officials alongside mediators to kick off these technical talks. But we found out at the last moment that the talks were called off that the vice president would not be making the trip over. So we actually got an email in the middle of the night from a White House spokesperson. So I'll read you that statement. They say, as the vice president said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S.

delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity. But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not departing tonight. We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible. So they don't really get into why the talks were called off. We did hear from a senior Iranian official moments ago who told MS now, it's difficult to see how talks can get underway around the MOU, whilst Israeli hostilities continue in Lebanon. Regional officials have said the focus now is on Lebanon because, of course, the Israelis have launched overnight strikes on Lebanon. The death toll continuing to rise in Lebanon.

We are now at at least 21 people who were killed overnight in Lebanon. There were also four Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon. So clearly the Israelis remaining defiant. We heard from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just a few days ago, who was basically rejecting this deal, suggesting that Israel wasn't bound by this deal, saying that the struggle continues and that Israel would not withdraw from Lebanon. The Iranians, of course, had repeatedly said that any permanent ceasefire must also include an end to the hostilities in Lebanon, and that's what we're hearing again from that senior Iranian official. So we'll see how that plays out, but there are real questions as to whether everything going on in Lebanon could really

derail these talks. I will say we're also hearing from some in the far right in Israel, who are kind of fanning the flames here, far-right ministers who are really focused on the fact that these four Israeli soldiers were killed. They are calling for all of Lebanon to burn and for the gates of hell to open. That's significant because the Israeli prime minister is facing an election in the fall. So he is going to be under pressure domestically from these far-right ministers to potentially keep the war against Hezbollah going. And this senior Iranian official telling MS now that the death toll in Lebanon is unacceptable. Okay. Ines, well, the good news is that June and Zurich is a lovely time to be there and you may be there for a while

because there are clearly so many issues that still have to be resolved. I'm seeing the same reports that you are of Iran seeking guarantees that hostilities in Lebanon will end before resuming U.S. talks. This has always been the sticking point. Would either Hezbollah attacking Israel or Israel attacking Hezbollah push the Iranians to get back involved in this and therefore the whole thing crumbles? But said against that, we know, and we had Mark Caputo on the program just now, President Trump really, really does not want to get back involved in fighting again. He is done with this. He wants to move on. So how are people about it thinking about it there? I mean, I'm hearing in Washington from a surprising number of people that they think this doesn't

hold, that it doesn't hold for very long. And some form of kind of cold hot war continues for quite a while. What's the interpretation there in Zurich? Yeah, so I mean, that is a big question. question here is whether the president will be able to rein in Netanyahu. And I think that's what makes these overnight strikes all the more shocking because we saw the vice president just yesterday warning Israel, blasting Israel, saying that Israel can not just kill its way through any national security problem. So we'll see. We know the president, President Trump has had heated conversations with the Israeli prime minister before over Lebanon. So, you know, I'm expecting we're going to see more of that in the coming days. We'll see if he's able to rein in the Israelis. In terms of. In terms of the mood here, I do think there's skepticism. There is skepticism from European leaders. I think we kind of saw that playing out at the G7. They were all kind of trying to drill down on the details. This was a G7 that was focused on Iran, everybody trying to learn more about this deal.

But there's still so much we don't know. And that's why these technical talks that were set to begin here were so crucial because they're going to be hammering out these details, which will essentially decide whether this is a deal that can last or whether this will all fall apart again. MS now international reporter, Inez Deliquiterra reporting live from Zurich this morning. Inez, thanks so much. We're going to fit in a quick break, but stay tuned because coming up,

the president of Eurasia group, Ian Bremmer, joins us with his analysis of the Iran deal and where it goes from here. Morning Joe's coming right back.