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How it Happened: US Attack Against Iran Hinged on Misdirection and Decoys (Bloomberg)

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The operation — dubbed “Midnight Hammer” — was detailed by top Pentagon officials on Sunday morning. They described an extensive operation that included 125 aircraft overall, strikes by Tomahawk missiles launched from a US submarine, and the use of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or "bunker buster," bombs.

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The heart of the 37-hour operation was a feint in which a group of B-2 bombers flew west across the Pacific Ocean as decoys to maintain tactical surprise.

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In the end, the Saturday night operation was deemed a success by the Pentagon. No US service members were lost, and Iran didn’t fire at any of the US military assets, according to the officials. Hegseth said members of Congress were only notified after the planes were out of danger, contradicting earlier reports that Trump had informed Republican congressional leadership beforehand.

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What's Next: World Braces for Iran’s Response After US Strikes Signal New Era (Bloomberg)

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The US airstrikes on Iran have set traders and governments on edge, as the Islamic Republic warns of retaliation and Israel shows no sign of letting up. Oil climbed and US futures fell as trading got underway. The US issued a “Worldwide Caution” alert for American citizens, flagging the potential of travel disruptions and demonstrations following the strikes.

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The Aftermath in Iran: Satellite Images Undermine Trump’s Claim Atomic Sites Destroyed (Bloomberg)

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'Dangerous Escalation': World Leaders Call for Return to Diplomacy after US Strikes Iran (France 24)

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The US military strikes on Iran sparked reactions from world leaders across the globe on Sunday, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres saying he was “gravely alarmed” by the use of force. A number of countries condemned the strikes as a dangerous escalation in a volatile region, with US allies also calling for a return to negotiations.

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Israel Latest: U.S. State Department Begins to Evacuate American Citizens from Israel, Ambassador Mike Huckabee Says (CBS News)

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The evacuations began hours before President Trump said the U.S. launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Other U.S. citizens in Israel needing assistance should register in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

A Boost for Ireland.

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Mike Bloomberg: Ireland’s Success is a Magnet for Investors (Business Post)

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Today, more and more American companies are investing in Ireland’s bright future, and Bloomberg is glad to be one of them, Mike Bloomberg writes in an oped in the Business Post.

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Over the past decade, the number of Bloomberg employees in Dublin has doubled – and we are still growing. This week, I’ll be in Dublin to help officially open our new office in Charlemont Square. Our Dublin office is now nearly our largest in the EU – larger than our offices in Paris, Geneva, and Berlin, and on par with our office in Frankfurt, long one of Europe’s largest business and financial capitals.

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Before companies enter a new market or expand in an existing one, they look for fundamental strengths: talented professionals, an educated population, political stability, strong rule of law, and a high quality of life. Ireland has all of them in abundance.

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As we expand here, we are committed to being good neighbours. That starts with the design of our sustainable new office. Reducing air pollution and carbon emissions are an important priority for our operations team.

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We are also increasingly active in supporting the Dublin community. Over 50 Dublin-based employees participated in our volunteering and giving program last year. Those individual commitments complement the local investments made by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Little Museum is the first of many Dublin institutions we plan to feature on the free Bloomberg Connects mobile app, which already offers expert, behind-the-scenes guides to more than 900 cultural spaces and counting. 

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Of course, like all countries, Ireland faces difficult challenges – from a shortage of housing to infrastructure delays across key sectors like transport and energy. We faced similar challenges during my time as mayor of New York.

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Key to navigating them will be harnessing long-term public and private investment in ways that expedite major infrastructure projects and new housing construction, including addressing planning and regulatory bottlenecks that delay projects and slow growth. And it will require government, business and local communities to work in partnership along the way.

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But the country’s outlook is clear. In a time of global uncertainty, Ireland stands out for its readiness to seize whichever opportunities may present themselves next.

NYC Votes Tomorrow.

Race to the Finish: NYC Mayoral Primary May Hinge on Early Voters as Heat Wave Looms (New York Times)

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The critical Democratic primary for mayor of New York City has shifted into an urgent final footrace to push every last supporter in the five boroughs to the polls.

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The round-the-clock effort took on fresh urgency this weekend, as the weather forecast for Primary Day on Tuesday threatened to bring dangerously high temperatures that some campaigns fear could keep older voters at home.

In Case You Missed It:  Our Advice to Voters in a Vexing Race for New York Mayor (New York Times Editorial Board - Gift Link)

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Budget Buster: NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Seeks $70 Billion of Debt to Fund Affordable Housing (Bloomberg)

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Mamdani is proposing that New York borrow $70 billion over the next 10 years on top of the roughly $25 billion already targeted for affordable homes in the city’s 10-year capital plan. The city currently plans to issue $136.2 billion of bonds backed by property taxes or sales and incomes taxes to finance schools, roads, bridges and housing. Mamdani’s plan didn’t specify if he would reallocate any of that funding or add to the existing debt load.

What I'm Reading.

US Sizzles:  Extreme Heat Warnings Blanket Midwest and Northeast US (New York Times)

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Monday and Tuesday temperatures across the New York City metropolitan area will likely climb into the high 90s Fahrenheit (35C+), and potentially break 100 degrees Fahrenheit, rising above 38C. High temperatures would normally range from 80 to 85 (between 26.6C and 29.4C) this time of the year.  

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New Heat Records: Health Warnings as UK and Northern Europe Bake in First Heat Wave of 2025

(Associated Press)

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The hottest day of the year so far in the UK was recorded on Saturday near Gatwick Airport with a temperature of 33.2C, about 91.8 degrees Fahrenheit, beating the previous 2025 record set earlier in the week, according to the BBC.

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Carl Pope: What Environmentalists Like Me Got Wrong About Climate Change (New York Times)

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I now believe that cleaning up methane leaks from the production and shipping of oil and gas — one of the most significant sources of these emissions — is the best hope we have to avoid triggering some of the most consequential climate tipping points in the next decade. I think realistically it is our only hope.

Traffic Success Story: NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25% (Bloomberg)

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Time lost due to traffic in Manhattan fell 28% from Jan. 5, when the toll launched, through April 26, with congestion pricing accounting for a quarter of that drop.

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The program — the first of its kind in the US — charges most motorists $9 during peak hours to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, excluding the West Side Highway and FDR Drive. It aims to reduce congestion, curb pollution and generate $15 billion to modernize the city’s transit network of subways, buses and commuter rails.

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As NYC's Mayor, Mike Bloomberg championed congestion pricing, first proposing the idea in 2007 in his administration's PlaNYC, a comprehensive sustainability and long-term planning initiative for New York City. 

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As Mike said in his March op-ed, "Congestion pricing isn’t just about reducing traffic. It’s about ensuring New York remains an economic powerhouse that produces benefits not only for the entire region, but also for the whole country."

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Failure to Launch: SpaceX’s Starship Explodes on Test Stand in Yet Another Setback (Bloomberg)

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No one was injured and local residents aren’t at risk, the company said, calling the incident “a major anomaly” as the rocket program prepared for its 10th flight test.

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The apparent destruction of the rocket extends the string of mishaps for a spaceship program that’s central to NASA’s plans to put American boots back on the moon — and also to Musk’s grander ambitions to send cargo and people to Mars.

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Click the photo to see the explosion for yourself. 

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Talk of Tech: Microsoft Planning Thousands More Job Cuts Aimed at Salespeople (Bloomberg)

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The cuts are expected to be announced early next month, following the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year, according to people familiar with the matter. The reductions won’t exclusively affect sales teams, and the timing could still change.

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Don't Miss Today's Daily Read Podcast: Click here to listen to the latest episode of the AI-generated companion of today's newsletter on Spotify. It's also available on Apple Podcasts.  Take a listen today.

Rights Rollback: On a 6-3 Vote, Supreme Court Upholds Curbs on Care for Transgender Minors in Tennessee and Two Dozen Other States (Bloomberg)

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Congratulations to the NBA Champions! Oklahoma City Thunder Wins NBA Finals, Beating Indiana Pacers in Game 7 (Bloomberg)

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The best team all season was the best team at the end, bringing the NBA title to Oklahoma City for the first time. Gilgeous-Alexander finished off his MVP season with 29 points and 12 assists, and the Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers — who lost Tyrese Haliburton to a serious leg injury in the opening minutes — 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night.

Hope for the Arts.

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The Bloomberg Arts Internship Opens Up An Industry To Vital New Talent (Forbes)

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The Bloomberg Arts Internship was the inspiration of author and Bloomberg Philanthropies board member Walter Isaacson.

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According to Kate D. Levin, who oversees the Arts Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, Isaacson made the perceptive observation that in large cities like New York, culture is a major industry but one with limited career access, especially for young people from underserved communities who don’t have connections and can’t afford an unpaid internship.

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That aligned with Mike Bloomberg’s long-standing belief in the importance of urban areas and his support of overlooked communities. So, in 2012 the Bloomberg Arts Internship was created with the goal of opening up an industry to new talent.

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And the program is showing success:  Close to 60% of interns place out of remedial writing when they get to college, according to Levin. And the program’s alumni enroll in college at rates nearly 30% higher than the national average. 

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Last year, BAI facilitated more than 1,100 internships with 150 organizations in seven cities—Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. In 2026 the program will expand into Los Angeles.

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Be inspired, click here to learn more about this program.

Bloomberg Arts interns make their final presentations, August 2024, New York City. BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES

Kamora Monroe, Production Intern, with the Brooklyn Rail's July/August 2024 issue. KAMORA MONROE

Best of Late Night.

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On Donald Trump's hasty departure from the G7 summit in Canada:

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“After a few days with Trump, the Canadian prime minister was like, ‘I hate to see you go, but I also hate to see you here.’” 

— Jimmy Fallon

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On polling that shows Trump's approval has fallen to the lowest level of his second term:

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“Trump's approval rating has never been lower. And thanks to all the drugs, Elon Musk has never been higher.’” 

— Jimmy Fallon

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On a recent Breyers ice cream recall:

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"Breyers ice cream has issued a recall for nearly 7,000 cases after it mistakenly put Rocky Road in cartons labeled Chocolate Truffle. Even worse, the Rum Raisin cartons actually have Rum Raisin in it."

— Seth Meyers

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On reports that bacon prices have risen almost 20% since last year:

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"Yep, bacon is super expensive, but it's still not expensive enough for Americans to try turkey bacon."

— Jimmy Fallon

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