Strait of Hormuz traffic slow despite ceasefire and design flaw raises re-entry risk for Artemis II: Morning Rundown

In today’s newsletter: Only a handful of ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire deal was announced. A design flaw in Artemis II ‘s spacecraft will make re-entry to Earth even riskier than usual. And a “civil war” among a group of chimps could give clues to the root causes of human violence.

Here’s what to know today.

Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic is effectively at a standstill

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was at a virtual standstill yesterday, despite the Trump administration’s claims of an increase in ships moving through the critical waterway.

This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Just nine vessels had transited the waterway since the ceasefire through Thursday, S&P Global Market Intelligence said. The exact numbers are unclear, but the current traffic is a trickle compared with the prewar average of more than 100 vessels sailing through the strait daily. It is also far from the “total reopening” that President Donald Trump had demanded as a condition for the truce.

Throughout the war, Iran attacked several vessels and vowed to hit any that it viewed as connected to the U.S. or Israel, effectively blocking a route through which 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas once passed.

Iran has insisted that ships wanting to transit the strait must secure its permission and has suggested it retains the right to impose a fee for passage. The seemingly selective system for passage of ships has been dubbed Iran’s “tollbooth” system and raises legal questions.

Read more about the uncertainty and fear in the global shipping industry.

Trump has accused Iran of violating its ceasefire promises by “doing a very poor job” of opening up the trade route — follow our live coverage.

More Iran war news:

Israel’s continued intense bombardment of Lebanon left people there to confront new devastation as global condemnation mounts.

Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News that he is “very optimistic” a peace deal with Iran was within reach. And if there is no deal, “it’s going to be very painful,” he added.

For subscribers: After five weeks of the Iran war, where do things stand — and is the U.S. better off? NBC News looked into the aims of the war and whether they’ve been achieved. For three of the five goals, the answer is no.

For subscribers: The war has cost the U.S. an estimated $28 billion. How else could the government have used that money? For starters, free day care for 2 million children and rent for 1.2 million people. Here’s what else.

A mother mourning the death of her son, a 35-year-old Army captain who was killed on the second day of the war, said she told Trump to “Go Get ’em.”

For subscribers: How Live Nation muscled venues and artists — even while under scrutiny

Deadmau5 Sonia Recchia / Getty Images file

Facing antitrust allegations in a New York City courtroom this month, Live Nation has argued it is not a monopoly and does not strong-arm venues and artists. But lawyers for the entertainment giant have also managed to keep much of its operation secret.

Internal documents obtained by NBC News — covering artists like Van Halen and Deadmau5 and an array of venues, from the Hollywood Bowl to Doggett Ford Park Pavilion in Beaumont, Texas — shed light on how Live Nation has used its own power in the industry to dictate terms to artists and promoters that boost its bottom line.

Artemis II mission’s riskiest moments may still be ahead

NASA’s Artemis II mission has made history during its 10-day mission. This evening, the crew faces one final dangerous and nerve-wracking challenge: returning to Earth. The Orion capsule is scheduled to begin plunging through the atmosphere at around 7:53 p.m Eastern. If all goes well, the mission will culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. Eastern off San Diego.

Re-entry is always one of the riskiest parts of spaceflight, but that is particularly true this time because the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield, which protects astronauts from extreme temperatures, has known flaws in its design. The flaws were first revealed in the Artemis I mission in 2022, which was an uncrewed test flight. This current mission marks the first time the capsule is carrying a crew whose lives are on the line.

Learn more about the vulnerabilities of the Orion capsule’s heat shield and how NASA has modified its re-entry path.

Melania Trump denies ties to Epstein

FORSUBSCRIBERS

First lady Melania Trump made a rare public statement yesterday, saying she “never had a relationship” with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The statement marks the first time she has spoken about the Epstein controversy on camera, though her staff has been aggressive at knocking down what they call “defamatory” rumors.

The first lady said there have been numerous “fake images and statements about Epstein and me” circulating on social media. She said Epstein didn’t introduce her to her husband, President Donald Trump. She also referenced an email she once sent to Maxwell, saying that it was nothing more than “casual correspondence.” And she called on Congress to provide Epstein survivors with a public hearing. What else to know about the first lady’s Epstein statement.

More politics news:

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel insisted he’s not “stepping down” in an interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker despite pressure from the Trump administration.

The White House tried — and failed — to push a candidate out of a Republican state Senate primary in Indiana.

For subscribers: Inside the packed California governor primary race, the possibility that two Republicans could advance sparked Democratic worry — until Trump announced his endorsement.

Inflation report to offer first glimpse of war’s impact

Inflation for the month of March is expected to have remained elevated, Wall Street analysts predicted ahead of today’s release of the Consumer Price Index. The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will offer an initial glimpse into how the economy has begun absorbing the war with Iran.

Forecasters expect core inflation, which excludes food and energy, to climb to 2.7% on the year, up from 2.5%. When food and energy prices are included, annual inflation most likely climbed 3.3%. However, the war’s full impact won’t be fully captured in today’s report.

Read more about what analysts predict.

Read All About It

Lynette Hooker, who vanished during a boating trip with her husband in the Bahamas, was previously arrested after a domestic violence incident involving her husband.

The family of a 17-year-old Texas cheerleader claims a popular energy drink played a role in her fatal heart condition.

The man ICE shot this week in Northern California was wounded more than half a dozen times, his attorney said.

Rex Heuermann, the Gilgo Beach serial killer, must cooperate with the FBI’s behavioral analysis units as part of his plea agreement. Here’s what investigators are hoping to learn.

Staff Pick: A chimpanzee war: Study describes gruesome attacks on former companions

A fascinating study about chimpanzees landed on my desk this week, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Scientists have closely followed the Ngogo chimpanzees in Uganda since 1995. About 10 years ago, the group began to split into two, apparently after one group charged another — and something resembling a human civil war broke out.

The community became unglued and the male chimpanzees fully severed social ties. Then, one set of chimps began to inflict collective violence against their former neighbors. At least 28 chimpanzees — including 19 infants — have been killed since.

The researchers think the reasons the chimpanzees’ social structure dissolved and led to brutal attacks could give clues to the root causes of human violence and war. — Evan Bush, science reporter

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Tried, tested, ranked: NBC Select found the 100 best moisturizers for every skin type, teeth whitening products that actually work, and gardening gloves that will protect your hands from pesky weeds and sharp thorns. Plus, we talked to influencer Hannah Bronfman about the products she’s loving right now, including an SPF face mist that’s perfect for summer.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.