The Daily Brief — June 9, 2026
US helicopter crashes, judge blocks $100K fee for H1B visa, Vance refers MN gov., AG for fraud probe
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US Chopper Crashes
A US Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. US Central Command initially said the cause was under investigation, but President Trump said today that Iran shot it down and the US will respond to the attack.
Both crew members were rescued within about two hours and are in stable condition. The helicopter was patrolling waters off the coast of Oman.
The US and Iran have been negotiating since April to turn a temporary ceasefire into a permanent agreement. Trump told reporters yesterday there was a “good chance” of signing a deal in two or three days. Talks have stalled repeatedly over Iran’s uranium stockpile and US sanctions relief.
Minnesota Fraud Probe
Vice President JD Vance referred Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Justice Department yesterday for a criminal fraud investigation tied to the state’s social services programs.
Yesterday, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released a 205-page report that alleges Walz and Ellison knew about widespread fraud in federally funded programs for years but failed to take meaningful action.
The report outlines two fraud schemes. The first case involved nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which was found to have billed a federal child-nutrition program for meals never served. The second was a broader Medicaid fraud scheme where providers allegedly billed for autism therapy, housing assistance, and other services they didn’t actually deliver. The report puts losses or at-risk funds at $300 million in the first case and potentially $9 billion in Medicaid fraud — a figure Walz has disputed.
The House report also accused state officials of retaliating against whistleblowers who raised concerns.
Vance, who heads the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, said the allegations warrant a criminal review by the Justice Department. Walz and Ellison have denied wrongdoing, calling the accusations politically motivated.
Judge Voids Visa Fee
A federal judge in Boston ruled yesterday that President Trump’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications is unlawful and must be invalidated. The H-1B program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialized roles, particularly in technology and medicine.
Trump announced the fee in a September 19, 2025, proclamation, arguing it would encourage employers to hire American workers. The fee is paid by the employer sponsoring the visa.
After Trump announced the fee, 20 Democratic state attorneys general sued, arguing the administration infringed on Congress’s power to set taxes. US District Judge Leo Sorokin agreed.
The White House plans to appeal.
Alabama Executions
A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas to execute people may violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, but did not halt the execution of death-row inmate Jeffery Lee scheduled for Thursday.
Alabama became the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia for executions in 2024. The method involves replacing breathable air with pure nitrogen, causing death through oxygen deprivation.
While the court of appeals found there was more study needed to decide whether the use of nitrogen would violate the Eighth Amendment, the execution may still go forward using a different method. The court of appeals sent the case back to the trial court to consider whether Lee’s proposed alternative — death by firing squad — is feasible.
Lee, 50, was convicted of capital murder for killing pawn shop owner Jimmy Ellis and employee Elaine Thompson during a 1998 robbery in the state.
Newsbreak
This richly illustrated book from the travel experts at National Geographic — 50 States, 5000 Ideas — showcases the best travel experiences in every state, including national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out-of-the-way museums, and more. You’ll discover the world’s longest yard sale in Tennessee, swamp tours in Louisiana, dinosaur trails in Colorado, America’s oldest street in NYC, and the best spot to watch for sea otters on the central California coast. Each entry provides detailed travel information as well as fascinating facts about each state that will help fuel your wanderlust and ensure the best vacation possible.
Trump Demands Senate Parliamentarian’s Removal
President Trump renewed his demand yesterday that Senate Republican leaders remove the chamber’s rule-keeper after she found that provisions of the SAVE America Act violate Senate budget rules.
Trump and some Republican senators have been pushing for passage of the SAVE America Act, an election-overhaul bill that would require Americans to show proof of citizenship before registering to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot. Republicans have repeatedly tried to advance it through the budget reconciliation process, which allows legislation to pass with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes normally needed to overcome a filibuster.
Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough determined that the bill does not comply with the Byrd Rule — named after the late senator Robert Byrd — which bars reconciliation bills from including provisions unrelated to the budget.
In a social media post, Trump called MacDonough a “Radical Left Lunatic” and demanded Senate Majority Leader John Thune fire her immediately. The Senate majority leader can dismiss the parliamentarian, though it has happened only twice before. Thune has rejected the demand.
Screwworm Cases Spread
Federal officials confirmed three additional cases of the flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm yesterday, including the first detection outside Texas. No human cases have been reported in the United States in connection with the current outbreak, according to the CDC.
The US Department of Agriculture announced that a dog in Lea County, NM, tested positive, while a calf in La Salle County, TX, and a goat in Gillespie County, TX, were also confirmed. That brings the total to five cases since the first US detection on June 3.
New World screwworm larvae feed on living tissue, making the parasite especially dangerous to livestock. Any warm-blooded animal — including cattle, wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, humans — can be infected.
The parasite was eradicated from the United States in 1966, and officials warn that its reappearance poses a threat to the US cattle industry.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminated USAID programs that included monitoring and containing screwworm in Central America (where it had already been detected), according to Agri-Pulse, a media organization focused on agriculture and food. The screwworm program was among roughly 5,300 USAID grants and programs cut.