6/16 to 6/22, 2025

This week’s news felt like a rollercoaster — global tensions in the Middle East, whispers in Washington, a river reclaiming its flow, and yes, the biggest boy band on earth getting back together. I’m Robyn Davies, and this is This Week, Basically. Let’s dive in.

We’ll start in Iran.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has gone into bunker mode. After Israel launched its fiercest attacks since the Iran-Iraq War, and after the U.S. joined in by bombing nuclear sites, Khamenei is preparing for the worst . He’s named backups down the military chain of command, and even designated three clerics as possible successors in case he’s assassinated. The message is clear: continuity of the Islamic Republic comes before everything else. It’s a striking moment: Khamenei at 86, hidden underground, promising defiance while already sketching out what comes after him.

From Tehran to Washington, let’s talk about the swirl around Katie Miller. You may know her as half of a Trump-world power couple — married to Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s most loyal policy architects. But Katie’s been spending her political capital in a different orbit: Elon Musk’s . For months she served as Musk’s right-hand in D.C., echoing his priorities with the authority of an executive order: “Elon wants this” became her calling card. But after Musk’s spectacular split with Trump, the Millers’ household has turned into a study in divided loyalties. Stephen defends Trump, Katie sticks with Musk, and the whispers in Washington are less about policy and more about: what will Katie do next? It’s a power soap opera. Part West Wing, part reality TV.

Meanwhile, President Trump is extending his reach east. This week, he sent an envoy to Belarus, signaling a bid for warmer ties with one of Russia’s closest allies. On its face, it’s diplomacy. But in context — with Ukraine still under assault, Belarus seen as Moscow’s satellite; it’s a move that tilts U.S. foreign policy further toward Putin’s camp. The administration frames it as pragmatic outreach. Critics see it as another alignment with Russia at the expense of U.S. allies.

And speaking of Ukraine, the war there continues to hit unexpected fronts. Ukrainian officials are warning teenagers about a new weapon: their phones . Russian hackers have been targeting young people through social media, phishing schemes, and fake apps, trying to manipulate or recruit them. The line between the digital world and the battlefield is thinner than ever, and Kyiv is pushing a campaign to make kids as wary of a message ping as they are of a missile alert.

Now, let’s come back home. New York City’s mayoral primary is heating up and the heat is literal. With a record-breaking wave scorching the Northeast, early voting is turning into a test of endurance . Candidates are scrambling for visibility, but with temperatures soaring, turnout may hinge less on policy proposals and more on who can motivate voters to leave the safety of air conditioning. It’s politics meets meteorology, democracy sweating it out.

Across the Atlantic, another kind of heat wave is gripping the UK. Britons are improvising ways to stay cool, from late-night swims in rivers to makeshift air conditioning with ice buckets and fans. The problem? Many British homes were built for damp winters, not blistering summers. As climate change accelerates, the country is facing a new normal: summers that test infrastructure and patience alike.

And in Brazil, tragedy struck in the skies. A hot-air balloon carrying tourists crashed, killing at least eight people. Witnesses described a sudden loss of control and a fiery descent. Hot-air ballooning is a popular draw in the region, but this accident is one of the deadliest in recent memory. Authorities are investigating whether weather conditions or mechanical failure were to blame. For the families involved, it’s devastation in what was supposed to be a moment of beauty.

Let’s shift gears to a river finally free. The Klamath River, running through Oregon and California, is flowing unobstructed for the first time in a century after the removal of four dams . For Indigenous tribes, this is more than environmental restoration. It’s cultural renewal. Salmon are returning to waters they haven’t reached in generations, and this month, a group of Indigenous teens launched kayaks from the headwaters, aiming to paddle 300 miles to the Pacific. It’s both adventure and ceremony — a living link between ancestors who once fished these waters and descendants determined to restore them.

Now for culture and a comeback. BTS, the world’s biggest boy band, is officially back together . Suga, the last member to complete military service, was discharged, and fans around the globe erupted in celebration. It’s been nearly a thousand days since the seven were all free to perform together, and while the band’s management hasn’t announced comeback plans yet, that hasn’t stopped fans from throwing parties and plastering social media with tributes. Experts say BTS may be one of the rare acts able to weather such a long hiatus without losing their crown. After all, they’re cultural icons.

And finally, from pop to the personal. Katie Miller isn’t the only Washington player caught between titans. Across the capital, aides and allies are navigating the turbulence of Trump’s second term, Musk’s shadow, and the swirl of global crises. It’s a reminder that politics is personalities, alliances, and the friction as they collide.

So that’s the week. From Iran’s bunker planning to Washington’s intrigue, from Ukraine’s digital battleground to New York’s sweaty polling places, and from Brazil’s skies to California’s rivers, it’s been a study in resilience and reinvention. And yes, BTS is back — because even in a world full of conflict, there’s always room for a little music. That’s all for now. This is This Week, Basically. I’m Robyn Davies. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time.