PBS News Hour full episode, June 8, 2026

Israel and Iran traded long-range missile strikes for the first time since their cease-fire two months prior, sparking fears of a return to full combat. Iran's actions were framed as retaliation for Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut and an attempt to gain leverage for sanctions relief, sensing a rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. This direct engagement marks a significant escalation, potentially emboldening proxy groups like the Houthis.

Iranian missiles targeted Israel, forcing evacuations in Jerusalem. Israel retaliated by striking a petrochemical facility in Iran. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated the U.S. bears 'unequivocal' responsibility. Miad Maleki noted Iran's economy is under pressure, with 87% inflation and 200% food inflation, and they are using Hezbollah as a 'negotiating asset'. David Makovsky described Netanyahu facing pressure from northern mayors and Trump to limit strikes in Lebanon.

President Trump continued to make unfounded claims about rigged elections in California and the 2020 presidential election. These claims are not supported by evidence, as the 2020 election underwent extensive audits, recounts, and court challenges without discovering widespread fraud. Experts emphasize the security of mail-in voting, citing signature verification and other state-specific authentication methods.

Trump asserted California elections were 'rigged' and the 2020 election was 'stolen'. Tammy Patrick, CEO of programs at the National Association of Election Administrators, confirmed 'no evidence to dispute the official results of who won the 2020 presidential election.' She detailed signature verification processes for mail-in ballots, noting the difficulty of forging signatures due to unique characteristics.

Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has sharply declined nationwide following the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Over 3.5 million people have lost access due to stricter eligibility requirements, increased documentation burdens, and state understaffing, which hinders timely processing of applications and renewals. This decline is not attributed to an improved economy or reduced fraud, but rather to administrative hurdles making it difficult for eligible individuals to maintain benefits.

The 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' is projected to cut $186 billion from SNAP over a decade. Sara Naomi Bleich of Harvard University stated the economy has not 'measurably improved' since the act passed. She explained stricter time limits (20 hours/week work requirement) and understaffed state agencies lead to eligible people being 'automatically removed' if paperwork isn't processed within 30 days. Bleich also noted SNAP fraud is 'very low' at 1.6% and the new rules don't target it.

A federal judge in Boston ruled President Trump's $100,000 fee on H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers unlawful. The judge determined Congress never authorized such a tax, contrasting it with previous fees typically ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. The H-1B program grants visas to approximately 85,000 individuals annually, many in the tech sector.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin called the $100,000 fee an 'unlawful tax that Congress never authorized'. Employers previously paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in fees. The H-1B program provides 85,000 visas annually.