Politics and views in the United States

U.S.-Iran War enters its second week, and students here protest. States consider their role in election administration, and some move to set terms on federal immigration action.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

There are a range of risks and they have to be weighed against the significant benefit of at minimum, the significant degradation or destruction of Iranian conventional military power and the possibility of a dramatic change to a much friendlier Iranian government.

Undersecretary of Defense Eldridge Colby says the Iran war, now in its second week, won't be a "Iraq 3.0."

Donald Trump campaigned on an isolationist America First agenda, but the administration is now giving numerous justifications for the war, including ending Iran's nuclear and missile programs and changing the regime entirely.

The White House has also given different estimates for how long those will take.

Critics in Congress argue without a clear rationale or exit strategy, it's uncertain how the war could end.

Iran's Council of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of longtime head Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader.

Putting a hardliner in the job suggests the regime hopes to continue without changing course.

Gas prices have risen more than 40 cents and oil's over $100 a barrel.

Few tankers can get through the vital Strait of Hormuz, but Trump says the U.S. will insure the ships and start protecting them militarily.

Humanitarian groups in Iran say people are afraid to go to work or school or even sleep through the night.

The military action is unpopular with Americans, and college students nationwide have already begun protesting.

Some at Montana State University are highlighting the dangers to ordinary Iranian citizens.

Julian Staggs is with MSU's Students for a Democratic Society.

The actions in Iran are blatantly illegal under international law and have already led to the deaths of over a thousand civilians in Iran.

There is no justification for the conflict.

Ahead of the midterms, red states are further restricting non-citizen voting as moves in Congress stall.

South Dakota and Utah's legislatures have voted for two-tier voting systems, providing all ballots to those who give proof of citizenship, but only ballots for president, the Senate, and the U.S.

House for those who don't.

Michigan voting is already illegal for all federal elections and rarely happens, except for clerical errors.

Trump says he wants a federal takeover of elections in states he claims have had problems with fraud.

Supporters of a Michigan ballot initiative have submitted three-quarters of a million signatures for a state constitutional amendment that would require proof of citizenship to vote.

Curtis Hertel Jr., Michigan's Democratic chair, says they're bracing for a fight over this fall's election.

"This is an attack on our democracy.

We've had free and fair elections in Michigan and whether in courts or by Senate Republican hearings, they have proven over and over again there was no widespread fraud.

A Myanmar refugee died after being abandoned by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Buffalo, New York.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she spoke with Borders Tsar Tom Homan to prevent New York from seeing the issues that happened in Minneapolis.

She says though borders should be safe and secure, migrants and refugees need pathways to citizenship and jobs.

I want those individuals to be able to work.

We talked about work permits and how important that is to be able to allow them to work on our farms and in hospitality and in health care and all the jobs that are going unfilled now.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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