June 8, 2026 - Israel Defies Trump, Strikes Iran

Back where we started.

Not just the missiles - though those are flying again too. I mean the deeper problem: Israel doing what it wants, and the United States scrambling to respond.

Today is Day 100 of the Iran war. Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire for the first time since a ceasefire was declared two months ago. Iran's Revolutionary Guard struck two Israeli military bases. Israel responded by hitting radar sites and petrochemical targets across Iran. Yemen's Houthis warned they would target Israel-affiliated ships in the Red Sea. A deal that Trump says is within reach is now in serious jeopardy.

What triggered this latest round? Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs without warning - in defiance of Washington's request to stand down. Iran retaliated. Here we go again.

According to Axios, Trump called Netanyahu and told him to hold off on striking back - that a deal was close. Then, to the Financial Times, Trump said this: "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn't call the shots."

That sounds less like confidence than remorse.

Because remember what Rubio told Congress on Day One. "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that they would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties."

Israel was going to strike regardless. The US followed. Netanyahu pushed the timeline. Washington got flat-footed.

Trump says he calls the shots - but Rubio admitted on Day One that Israel forced America's hand, and 100 days later Israel is still acting unilaterally, suggesting Netanyahu has been calling the shots all along.

##

Iran launched multiple missile barrages at Israel and Yemen’s Houthis joined the attacks after Israel struck Iranian military, air defense, and missile-production targets, defying President Trump’s public calls for restraint as tensions threatened to further escalate across the region.

The Times of Israel

President Trump said he supports compensating some January 6 defendants through a proposed “anti-weaponization” fund and did not rule out payouts for individuals convicted of assaulting police, while also repeating unsubstantiated claims that California’s recent elections were “rigged.”

NBC News

In his first interview since being fired from CBS, Scott Pelley details what he calls editorial interference by new editor in chief Bari Weiss, the firing of senior "60 Minutes" staff, and a clash with new executive producer Nick Bilton that he says preceded his dismissal.

The New York Times

President Donald Trump is set to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, marking a rare return to New York City as he cheers on his longtime favorite team, the New York Knicks, toward its first championship in more than 50 years.

Associated Press

Steven Spielberg says decades of advances in visual evidence have convinced him that the existence of extraterrestrial life is "overwhelming," as he reflects on his lifelong fascination with aliens and his new sci-fi film, "Disclosure Day."

USA Today

As Philadelphia prepares for America’s 250th anniversary, a series of community dinners is bringing longtime residents and immigrants together to share meals, discuss citizenship, and build connections across cultural divides in response to growing national tensions over immigration and belonging.

The Washington Post

Uber’s 10th annual Lost & Found Index reveals how a decade of forgotten items—from phones and AirPods to dentures, live fish, and Labubu dolls—offers a quirky snapshot of changing cultural trends, while introducing new app features designed to help riders recover lost belongings more easily.

Uber Newsroom

A growing number of Jewish Democrats say rising hostility tied to debates over Israel and Gaza is making them feel increasingly alienated within their own party, raising concerns about voter support and Democratic prospects in the 2028 election.

Axios

House Democrats are signaling that, if they regain power, they plan to launch sweeping investigations into Trump administration officials over alleged abuses of power, with some lawmakers suggesting future prosecutions could follow if evidence of criminal wrongdoing is uncovered.

The Hill

Rep. Ro Khanna condemned Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s past behavior toward women as “misogynistic” and “shameful,” but said voters were already aware of his history and are focused on whether he has taken accountability as Democrats weigh the high-stakes race against Sen. Susan Collins.

CBS News