Shortly before President Trump revealed a breakthrough agreement between Iran and the U.S. regarding their ongoing conflict, former Vice President Mike Pence expressed skepticism about the potential for such a deal.

Speaking with Chris Stirewalt on “The Hill Sunday” via NewsNation, Pence remarked, “My current concern isn’t about the president’s intentions. The president has certainly earned significant respect from the American populace. However, my trust does not extend to the Iranian side.”

Pence further elaborated, “The president and his team understand that a suboptimal agreement is worse than no agreement at all. Unless Iran agrees to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, ensures free passage through the straits, and ceases its support for regional terrorist factions, it might be in our best interest to allow the U.S. military to conclude the matter.”

As the conflict has persisted, the surge in oil and gas prices has strained U.S. relations with certain international partners. Surveys and polls reflect growing discontent among Americans regarding the ongoing hostilities.

In a social media announcement on platform X, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction, stating, “I am pleased to announce that a Peace Deal between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED.”

“Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” he added.

Trump said in his own Sunday evening Truth Social post that “the Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete.”

“Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” he added.

Earlier Sunday, Trump advised Israel and Iran to “not blow” the finalization of the emerging peace deal during strikes in Lebanon.

“We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Updated on June 15 at 6:01 a.m. EDT

Ari was not merely a plush polar bear.

He was Julian’s steadfast companion—Kathy’s grandson’s loyal friend, accompanying him to restaurants, joining in on family vacations, and holding a cherished role in the 4-year-old’s nightly routine.

That is, until the day Julian inadvertently left Ari behind at Kathy’s home.

To keep Ari’s spirit “alive” until we could reunite him with Julian, we sent photos of Ari embarking on “new adventures”—taking tennis lessons, baking cookies, and tagging along on everyday errands.

Stuffed animals serve as catalysts for creativity and imagination.

This type of childhood play, however, may soon become extinct.

Today’s children are increasingly being offered playthings powered by artificial intelligence instead of traditional toys — interactive dolls and plushies that converse with kids, remember previous interactions, say “I love you” and sometimes even express sadness when switched off.

Some connect directly to the internet in unsafe ways; others are explicitly marketed as social companions.

This week, Disney’s “Toy Story 5” will confront this question directly: What happens when technology competes with imagination for children’s attention and affection?

As developmental scientists and educators, we believe this conversation could not come at a more important time.

This isn’t an argument against technology — AI will undoubtedly become part of children’s lives, schools and futures.

But young children develop emotional intelligence and mental agility through human relationships, hands-on exploration and imaginative play — not through responsive machines designed to maximize engagement or to simulate human interactions.

And the research increasingly suggests that the distinction matters.

In one of our studies, we examined what happened when parents and children played together using electronic toys.

When a shape sorter announced “square” or “triangle” on its own, parents spoke less, interacted less and engaged less naturally with their children.

The toy effectively replaced vital parts of the human interaction necessary for learning.

For young children, the chip can get in the way.

That’s crucial, because the work of early childhood is not simply preparation for book learning — it’s where children learn to become human.

Through conversations, pretend play and relationships, children develop language, empathy, self-regulation, curiosity and creativity.

A stuffed animal like Ari does not do the imaginative work for a child: The child supplies the voice, the story and the emotional meaning.

The toy supplies the safe place where children try out what they learned in the world beyond their bedroom door.

Digital toys and AI companions can change that equation.

Unlike traditional toys, many AI toys are designed to sustain attention and emotional attachment.

They’re like energy drinks, supplying sugary stimulation without nutrition.

Some repeatedly flatter children to encourage continued interaction.

Others blur the line between pretend friendship and simulated emotional dependence.

We should pause before allowing this dynamic to become the norm for preschoolers.

Our children will use technology. But we must ask whether we’re willing to outsource some of childhood’s most important developmental experiences to machines.

This concern extends beyond toys.

Several years ago, when we were part of a group of researchers who reviewed the 100 most-downloaded “educational” apps for preschoolers, we found that only a tiny fraction of them met basic standards for supporting meaningful learning.

Yet parents are routinely sold technology that claims to be educational simply because it’s interactive.

But interactivity alone is not education — and neither is adaptive interactivity that parrots back a child’s thoughts or extends her conversation.

Children need experiences that nurture curiosity rather than passive consumption or endless stimulation.

Education expert Rebecca Winthrop has warned that poorly designed technologies may even contribute to what she calls “cognitive stunting” or, we’d add, “curiosity stunting” — cutting off deep thinking, exploration and imagination.

The irony is that children themselves know what they need.

Give a young child a cardboard box, a blanket fort, a beloved stuffed animal or a collection of assorted figurines and he’ll build entire worlds.

Children don’t need digital toys or AI-generated affirmation and algorithmically optimized companionship.

They need people. They need time. They need play.

The conversations sparked by “Toy Story 5” shouldn’t focus on nostalgia for Woody and Buzz, but on a far more urgent debate — over the forces we should allow to shape the emotional lives of our youngest children.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek is a professor of psychology at Temple University and author of “Einstein Never Used Flashcards.” Aimee Ketchum is a therapist and author of “The Early Childhood Promise.”

Kentucky’s Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who is 84 years old, has been admitted to the hospital.

On Sunday, his spokesperson stated, “Senator McConnell has been admitted to the hospital this morning. He is receiving excellent care.”

CNN later disclosed that McConnell was taken to George Washington Hospital in Washington, D.C. The reason behind his admission on Sunday has not been disclosed.

Not seeking reelection in this year’s midterm elections, McConnell has faced several health challenges during his current term in the U.S. Senate.

In February of last year, a fall left him dependent on a wheelchair, requiring assistance to navigate the Capitol. He suffered another fall in December 2024, resulting in a sprained wrist.

He has also endured several on-camera ‘freezing’ episodes, most notably in August 2023, when he stood motionless for 30 seconds after being asked whether he would seek re-election in Kentucky, just weeks after abruptly halting mid-sentence at a press conference.

The then-81-year-old gave no response when pressed on his political future. He has since announced he will not run for re-election.

The longest-serving GOP Senate leader, McConnell first entered the Senate in 1985. He has long drawn the ire of Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters following a years-long feud.

His wife, Elaine Chao, served as Secretary of Transportation for most of Trump’s first term, but resigned in the wake of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Mitch McConell speaks in the US Senate chamber

In 2024, McConnell announced he would step down as Republican leader, ending an era that stretched back to 2007, clearing the way for John Thune to take the helm.

His retirement from the Senate opened up his Kentucky seat, and Congressman Andy Barr was selected during a May primary as the GOP nominee to succeed in November’s midterm elections.

Older lawmakers of both parties on Capitol Hill have been plagued with health scares, and even death.

Longtime Democrat David Scott, 80, suddenly died in April after mounting concerns over his advanced age.

Scott served as a representative from Georgia for 23 years and was the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee before being replaced by Angie Craig. 

Republican Doug LaMalfa from California, 65, died during surgery in January.

In March, President Donald Trump revealed the terminal diagnosis of a member of the House GOP conference as well.

Republican congressman Neal Dunn, a father of three, has a terminal diagnosis, and Trump said at the time that the outlook was so grim that doctors pronounced ‘he would be dead by June.’

Speaker Mike Johnson, who was sitting next to the President, appeared stunned that day as Trump grinned at reporters.

‘Okay, that wasn’t public,’ Johnson quipped at the time.

Dunn had not planned to run for reelection in 2026.

Concerns about the health and average age of government leaders have been highly scrutinized in recent months as members of Congress of both political parties have experienced health scares, with some dying in office.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was taken to hospital for dehydration as scorching temperatures in Washington, DC, reached 100 degrees last summer.

The 74-year-old was at the Senate gym in the morning and reportedly ‘got lightheaded,’ according to his office.

The top Democrat was taken to the hospital ‘out of an abundance of caution,’ his office also noted at the time.

However, a few prominent lawmakers have – finally – read the writing on the wall and are leaving Congress on their own terms.

Washington, DC, representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, first planned to run for re-election to a 19th term. But she ultimately withdrew her bid in January.

And former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, is not seeking re-election this year, after serving in Congress for 20 terms.