This Morning's Political News: 4‑Minute Read
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Monday, June 8, 2026 · 8:00 a.m. ET
Federal Level
Trump Walks Out of “Meet the Press” Interview
President Trump abruptly ended a taped interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday, June 7, removing his microphone and telling her, “Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough,” after a heated exchange over election integrity and the proposed anti-weaponization fund. Trump claimed the 2020 and the 2026 California primary elections were rigged, which Welker challenged for lack of evidence. He called NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN all “crooked” before walking out. The interview had covered Iran, the economy, and Jan. 6 defendants, and Trump later said rainy weather contributed to his frustration.¹
GOP Resistance to Trump Widens Ahead of Midterms
A Reuters report published Sunday, June 7, documented a growing pattern of Republican lawmakers in both chambers breaking ranks with President Trump. Over the previous seven days alone, House and Senate Republicans rebuked his Iran war policy, rejected $1 billion in White House ballroom funding, helped force a retreat on the anti-weaponization fund, blocked his domestic surveillance legislation, and passed Ukraine aid over his objections. The White House dismissed the dissent as “election-year politics,” but analysts noted it could complicate Trump’s most ambitious priorities before November.²
Anti-Weaponization Fund Officially Dead, Says Acting AG
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on Sunday, June 7, that the Justice Department is permanently scrapping the proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, stating the department will “not move forward with the fund, period.” The fund had faced a federal court injunction, bipartisan opposition in Congress, and public anger over concerns it could be used to pay Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Trump, who publicly supported the fund on his NBC interview the same day, said he would be “disappointed” if it wasn’t approved, putting him at odds with his own Justice Department.³
McConnell Won’t Back Trump’s Interim DNI Pick for Top Job
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement Sunday, June 7, making clear he will not support Bill Pulte, Trump’s recently appointed interim Director of National Intelligence, for the permanent role. McConnell said the law requires the DNI to have extensive intelligence experience, stating, “No nominee who falls short of this requirement will earn my vote.” Pulte, a real estate investor and Trump loyalist, was appointed after Tulsi Gabbard departed. McConnell’s signal is likely to complicate any formal Senate confirmation process for Pulte.⁴
Trump Defends Iran War as Consistent With “No New Wars” Pledge
In his NBC “Meet the Press” interview on Sunday, June 7, President Trump was asked directly whether launching a war with Iran contradicted his repeated “No new wars” campaign promise. Trump replied that he “didn’t guarantee” there would be no wars if he returned to office. He said progress toward a ceasefire continues but that Iranian leaders “are going to have to do” things that hurt their pride, and that a final deal hinges in part on whether the U.S. would unfreeze $24 billion in Iranian assets, a step the White House has described as politically difficult.⁵
State Level
Maine Primary Polls Open Today as Platner Scandal Deepens
Maine voters head to the polls today, June 9, in a Democratic Senate primary that has been upended by a week of damaging allegations against frontrunner Graham Platner. Senator Cory Booker publicly distanced himself from Platner on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, June 7, saying “that guy has questions to answer,” and CNN reported that rank-and-file Democratic voters across Maine are increasingly torn over whether to support him. Platner continues to deny the most serious allegations while acknowledging inappropriate text messages. Former Governor Janet Mills remains on the ballot as the party establishment’s preferred candidate.⁶
California Governor Race: Steyer Closing Gap on Hilton
With additional mail ballots still being counted on Sunday, June 7, Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer continued to narrow Republican Steve Hilton’s lead for the second spot in California’s November governor’s runoff. Democrat Xavier Becerra’s place as the top finisher is confirmed. Steyer’s campaign pointed to remaining uncounted ballots in heavily Democratic Los Angeles and San Francisco counties as the basis for its optimism. Election officials said a final certified count will not be available until early July, leaving the identity of November’s second candidate still uncertain.⁷
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Article Sources
1. Newsmax, “Trump Abruptly Ends ‘Meet the Press’ Interview,” June 7, 2026.
2. The Guardian, “Trump walks out of interview with NBC’s Meet the Press after clash over election claims,” June 7, 2026.
3. Facebook/NBC News, “President Donald Trump sat for a ‘Meet the Press’ interview with host Kristen Welker,” June 7, 2026.
4. Reuters, “Trump faces new Republican resistance in Congress as midterm pressures build,” June 7, 2026.
5. The Japan Times, “Trump faces new Republican resistance in Congress as midterm pressures build,” June 7, 2026.
6. Yahoo News, “Trump faces new Republican resistance in Congress as midterm pressures build,” June 7, 2026.
7. PBS NewsHour, “Department of Justice appears to drop ‘anti-weaponization’ fund,” June 1, 2026.
8. NPR, “Blanche says DOJ has nixed the ‘anti-weaponization’ fund,” June 1, 2026.
9. CBS News/YouTube, “Department of Justice drops anti-weaponization fund,” June 2, 2026.
10. Reuters, “Trump faces new Republican resistance in Congress as midterm pressures build,” June 7, 2026.
11. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Trump dismisses idea that Iran betrays his ‘no new wars’ campaign message,” June 7, 2026.
12. TFI Daily News, “Sunday, June 7, 2026,” June 7, 2026.
13. The Center Voter, “This Morning’s Political News: 4-Minute Read,” June 8, 2026.
14. CNN, “Democratic voters in Maine are grappling with new allegations against Senate candidate Graham Platner,” June 6, 2026.
15. ABC News, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” June 7, 2026.
16. Ballotpedia, “United States Senate election in Maine, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary),” 2026.
17. CalMatters, “Xavier Becerra advances to California’s November governor election,” June 5, 2026.
18. KQED, “Becerra Advances in California Governor Race as Hilton, Steyer Battle for Second Spot,” June 4, 2026.
19. ABC7 News, “Governor of California race: Live election results and updates,” June 2026.