This is the June 10, 2026, edition of “The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter.Subscribe hereto get it delivered straight to your inbox every Monday through Friday.
JOE’S NOTE
Donald Trump assured us last year that Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated” after he launched attacks against three of the country’s nuclear facilities.
On June 24, 2025, Trump wrote: “It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also declared that same week that thanks to the leadership of President Trump, “Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.”
Reporters who dared to cite an intelligence assessment that contradicted the administration’s fantastical claims had their patriotism questioned.
And yet, earlier this year when Trump officials were trying to justify their coming war with Iran, they had the temerity to warn that the Islamic Republic was only two weeks away from building a nuclear weapon.
There were, of course, no apologies for members of the media who had accurately called out the president’s previous lies.
Fast-forward to March of this year. Once again, Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth questioned the patriotism of reporters asking about White House claims that Iran’s military capabilities had been obliterated by a week of intense U.S. airstrikes.
Yesterday, we learned that extreme claim was also false when the Islamic Republic somehow managed to shoot down an Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump responded to the Iranian attack by ordering strikes against several strategic targets across Iran — proving once again that members of the media had accurately called out the president and the secretary of defense for overstating the success of their military operations.
Again, no apologies to the media. Just more bluster, more bombs, and more bullshit.
Americans now know better because they see the bitter reality staring them in the face every time they fill up their gas tanks.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We’ve won. Let me say we’ve won. You know, you never like to say too early you won. We won.”
— President Donald Trump on March 11
CHART OF THE DAY
ON THIS DATE
On June 10, 2018, NASA’s Opportunity rover sent its last message from the surface of Mars. Originally expected to serve a three-month mission, Opportunity functioned for over 14 years, traveling more than 28 miles across Mars and revealing fascinating discoveries about the planet’s geology.
WHAT THEY SAID
David Ignatius on President Trump’s limited options
“President Trump’s problem is he can’t finish this war. It’s a war that he desperately wants out of, but can’t seem to find an acceptable formula yet.”
Jonathan Martin on the strain of war
“Politically, it’s straightforward. Gas prices are going to keep going up, and that’s going to increase Trump’s political burden. And that is the burden Trump is putting on his candidates this fall.”
Willie Geist on new reporting on the Epstein files
“Donald Trump absolutely did not want to talk about this. JD Vance was the voice saying, ‘We’ve got to get it out there,’ but Trump would just snap at people bringing it up, which opens the question of why is he so defensive about this?”
U.S. FACING QUESTIONS OVER FIFA WORLD CUP VISA DENIALS
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, draped in the Somali flag, is surrounded by fans following his arrival in Mogadishu on June 9, 2026.
Questions are growing about who the U.S. is allowing to attend the FIFA World Cup.
U.S. officials confirmed that Omar Artan, a Somali referee set to officiate, was barred from entering the country after flying into Miami on Saturday. He would have been the first Somali to referee at the World Cup.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection told MS NOW that the denial was related to “vetting concerns.” Multiple reports cited “an anonymous official” who said — without providing evidence — that Artan was denied for “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”
Iran is also accusing the U.S. of barring members of its team staff, though U.S. officials have said visas for Iranian “athletes and necessary support staff” were issued.
The International Sports Press Association president also says “many” reporters from Iran and some African countries have been denied the necessary visas. The Department of Homeland Security did not comment on those specific cases.
EXTRA HOT TEA
2032
— The year by which Social Security funds are expected to hit a “critical low.” The drop will reportedly be partly driven by reduced immigration and Trump’s tax cuts.
ONE MORE SHOT
Serena Williams competing in — and winning! — her Round of 16 doubles match at the HSBC Championships 2026 women’s tennis tournament at The Queen’s Club in London.
CATCH UP ON MORNING JOE
The post Social Security funds to hit a “critical low” in 2032 appeared first on MS NOW.