From the New York Times, it's the headlines.

I'm Tracy Mumford.

Today's Wednesday, April 8th.

Here's what we're covering.

At 806 a.m. yesterday morning, President Trump issued an apocalyptic threat to Iran, saying he was prepared to order widespread

attacks against civilian infrastructure, and that a whole civilization will die.

Just over 10 hours later, he backed down from that threat, announcing on social media that the

U.S. and Iran have reached a two-week ceasefire deal. The idea is that negotiators will spend

that time trying to finalize a permanent peace agreement. The breakthrough came after a frantic

diplomatic effort by Pakistan, which had been urging Trump not to carry out the devastating attacks,

and pushing Iran to accept the proposal which Pakistan had drafted.

Under the terms of the deal, Iran will let ships carrying oil, gas, and other goods

through the Strait of Hormuz. During those two weeks, all fighting is supposed to stop.

Though, as of this morning, there have been a number of strikes reported across the Persian Gulf,

raising questions

about whether news of the deal has reached all corners of Iran's decentralized military.

Israel, which has been carrying out strikes on Iran alongside the U.S., said it also supports

the agreement, but explicitly noted that the ceasefire doesn't apply to Lebanon, where it has been attacking the Iran-backed Hezbollah and trying to seize territory.

When it comes to Trump, who called yesterday, quote,

a big day for world peace,

the whole head-spinning situation appears to be the latest example of a kind of playbook

that he has come to rely on,

...