Negotiating with bombs

Summary

Ark News Daily - “Negotiating with bombs”

Date: June 11, 2026
Host: Deborah Pardes
Theme: This episode covers escalating US-Iran military action, the geopolitical and Jewish community impacts, Israel’s ongoing ultra-Orthodox draft crisis, and the implications of a political upset in Maine’s Senate Democratic primary.

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1. US-Iran Conflict Escalation

Main Story:

• Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated, with the US conducting airstrikes for the second consecutive night (00:13).
• Labelled as “self defense strikes,” the US targeted multiple sites in Iran following recent attacks by Iran on US and allied positions.

Key Context:

• The trigger: An Iranian drone downed a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, leading to reciprocal military strikes (01:00).
• The attacks came after nearly two weeks of silence from Iran during high-stakes nuclear deal negotiations.
• President Trump’s negotiating approach has shifted to demonstrate strength, employing military pressure to bring Iran back to the bargaining table.

Notable Insights & Quotes:

• Pete Hegseth (US Defense Secretary):

  “Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal... So they're going to have bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America.” ([00:47])

• Deborah Pardes (host):

  "Trump is losing patience with Iran and now he's negotiating with bombs." ([00:13]) “Trump accused Iran of playing us for suckers and said that they had taken too long to negotiate.” ([01:00])

• US insists strikes are to force negotiations, not restart full-scale war, but both sides expect further retaliation.
• Iran’s president dismisses US actions as “a sign of desperation, not strength.”

Diplomatic Moves:

• Qatar has dispatched a delegation to Iran to mediate and try to salvage negotiations.

Timestamps:

• [00:13] - Introduction to escalation
• [00:47] - US stance and rationale
• [01:00] - Details of recent hostilities and negotiation breakdown

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2. Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Draft Crisis

Street Protests and Knesset Showdown:

• Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) opposition to military service intensified, with street blockades aiming to prevent 19 yeshiva students from entering military custody (02:10).
• Police responded forcefully, arresting three protesters.

Recent Background:

• One week prior, demonstrators targeted Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Solberg’s home in a violent attack, a response to the 2024 ruling striking down the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption.

Legislative Battle:

• The Knesset debated a bill designed to protect ultra-Orthodox men from being drafted.
• The original draft would have equated yeshiva study with military service—this controversial language was removed after threats of opposition.
• The passed bill instead recognizes Torah study as a “significant service to the state and the Jewish people” in Israel’s Basic Law, which holds constitutional weight.
• Critics argue it’s a softer approach aimed at the same outcome.

Notable Quotes:

• Deborah Pardes:

  "Both the fight over the bill and the protests show just how far the ultra Orthodox are willing to go to resist the draft and how much political cover they still have from the top of the government." ([04:40]) “Netanyahu seems to be making a political calculation that he can maintain his alliance with the ultra orthodox no matter how unpopular their position is, because his opposition has an even worse problem.” ([05:00])

Political Calculations:

• PM Netanyahu remains silent, seemingly relying on his alliance with the ultra-Orthodox for political survival.
• Israel’s opposition coalition is dependent on Arab party support, equally controversial among swing voters—Netanyahu is betting that will help him with the electorate.

Election Impact:

• The outcome of this struggle could influence voter attitudes in the upcoming election.
• The new bill still needs committee review and three more legislative readings before becoming law.

Timestamps:

• [02:10] - Ultra-Orthodox protest actions
• [03:35] - Bill debate and legislative changes
• [04:40] - Political analysis and Netanyahu’s stance

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3. US Politics: Maine Senate Democratic Primary Upset

The New Populist Progressive:

• Graham Platner, a marine veteran and oyster farmer, wins the Maine Democratic primary by a landslide (72% of the vote) (05:26).
• Platner ran as a populist progressive, advocating for Medicare for all and opposing the war with Iran.

Controversies Explored:

• Platner’s history includes:
  • A Nazi SS tattoo ("claims that he didn’t know what it was") (05:26).
  • Sexual misconduct (explicit texts sent to women).
  • Criticism even from his own former campaign director (Washington Post op-ed: “he... shouldn’t be a US senator.”).
• Platner’s stances are particularly divisive in the Jewish community, given his:
  • Past Nazi iconography
  • Outspoken criticism of AIPAC
  • Calls to end US support for Israel

Contrasts:

• Platner’s broader platform is distinct from Amir Makled, a Michigan Democrat focused solely on anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian advocacy.

General Election Stakes:

• Platner will face incumbent Republican Susan Collins, backed by pro-Israel donors.
• The race could sway control of the Senate and may center debates on Israel and antisemitism.

Notable Quotes:

• Graham Platner (acceptance speech):

  “If you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator.” ([05:17])

• Deborah Pardes:

  "For many American Jews, there's the Nazi tattoo, but also because he's a critic of AIPAC's influence on American politics and has called for ending support to Israel." ([05:26])
  "That could put the fight over Israel and antisemitism at the center of one of the most consequential races this year." ([07:13])

Timestamps:

• [05:17] - Platner campaign and victory speech
• [05:26] - Background controversies
• [07:13] - Election implications

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4. Memorable Moments & Additional Highlights

• Sharp summary of Trump’s approach: “Negotiating with bombs.”
• On the anti-draft bill: “Anyone who devotes themselves to studying the Torah performs a... significant service to the state and to the Jewish people.”
• Platner’s blunt campaign messaging and fraught relationship with Jewish voters.

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Conclusion

This episode deftly captures the geopolitical and domestic crosscurrents shaping both Middle Eastern conflict and Jewish life. It examines how military escalation is used as a negotiation tactic, reveals the persistence of Israel’s internal cultural rifts, and explores how US electoral politics intersect with global Jewish concerns. The reporting is brisk, clear, and punctuated by memorable, sometimes sharp language from both policymakers and the host.

Transcript

[A]

You are listening to an art media podcast.

[B]

It's Thursday, june 11th. This episode was recorded at 9:00pm new york time on Wednesday. I'm deborah pardes and this is arc news daily. Trump is losing patience with Iran and now he's negotiating with bombs The US Struck Iran for the second night in a row yesterday. Central Command confirmed it launched what it called self defense strikes on multiple targets in Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced it in advance from CENTCOM headquarters in Florida.

[C]

Because Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal to codify what they said they've been willing to do and they haven't been willing to do it. So. So they're going to have bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America.

[B]

The latest round of fighting started on Monday when an Iranian drone brought down a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The US Struck Iranian air defenses in southern Iran. Iran then fired back, launching missiles and drones at US Military sites in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. The backdrop to it all is nearly two weeks of silence from Iran. According to Axios, in late May, Trump was close to an agreement, but then decided to send Iran two new requests, one about diluting its enriched uranium and another to stop tolling ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign minister asked for a few days to respond. That turned into nearly two weeks of nothing, while Trump faced criticism for being unable to close the deal. Yesterday, Trump accused Iran of playing us for suckers and said that they had taken too long to negotiate. U.S. officials say the strikes are not meant to restart the war, but to force Iran back to the table. Still, they expect Iran to retaliate. Iran says they will. Their president called Trump's threats a sign of desperation, not strength. With the standoff still in place, a delegation from Qatar is in Iran right now to try to get the negotiations back on track. Yesterday, the ultra orthodox fight against the draft played out on two fronts at once. On the streets and inside the Knesset. On the street, the extremist group Jerusalem faction blocked vehicles at four detention facilities across the country. Their goal was to stop the transfer of 19 yeshiva students into military custody for dodging the draft. Police moved in to disperse the crowds. Three protesters were arrested for rioting and attacking officers. Now, this came about a week after a mob descended on the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Solberg. He's one of the court's most senior justices and a member of the bench that issued the 2024 ruling striking down the ultra orthodox draft exemption. The rioters destroyed Solberg's car and smashed the windows of his home while he and his family were inside. The police described it as a secretive, organized operation and said it was a serious criminal event with real intent to harm on the second front Inside the Knesset, there was a fight over a bill. The bill was designed to protect ultra Orthodox men from evading the draft. The original version would have formally equated yeshiva students with IDF soldiers giving draft evaders the same legal rights and benefits as people who actually serve. That language was stripped out before the vote after several lawmakers threatened to vote against it. Instead, lawmakers passed a version that would enshrine Torah study in Israel's Basic law. Israel doesn't have a formal constitution, but basic laws carry special legal weight and are much harder to overturn. The bill states that anyone who devotes themselves to studying the Torah performs a, quote, significant service to the state and to the Jewish people. Critics say the phrasing is softer than the original language but still designed to give ultra Orthodox men the same protections. Both the fight over the bill and the protests show just how far the ultra Orthodox are willing to go to resist the draft and how much political cover they still have from the top of the government. So far, Israel's prime minister has remained silent on both the protests and the latest bill. Netanyahu seems to be making a political calculation that he can maintain his alliance with the ultra orthodox no matter how unpopular their position is, because his opposition has an even worse problem. Their coalition is dependent on support from the Arab parties who are also unpopular. Netanyahu is betting that an opposition with Arab support will be a harder sell to swing voters than his own alliance with the ultra Orthodox. The upcoming election will show if the voters agree. In the meantime, the bill still needs a committee review and three more readings before it becomes law.

[A]

If you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator.

[B]

Democrats from Maine voted in the primaries yesterday and Graham Platner won by a landslide. Platner is a 41 year old Marine veteran and oyster farmer from a small coastal town. He ran as a populist progressive taking on the billionaire class. He's also against the war with Iran and promises Medicare for all. The tally so far has him winning with 72% of the vote. That's despite his controversial past. Platner had a Nazi SS tattoo on his chest for nearly two decades. He claims that he didn't know what it was. His wife also confirmed that after the they got married. He had sent sexually explicit texts to other women. The day before the primary, his own former campaign director published an op ed in the Washington Post saying he, quote, shouldn't be a U.S. senator. Platner is a polarizing figure. For many American Jews, there's the Nazi tattoo, but also because he's a critic of AIPAC's influence on American politics and has called for ending support to Israel. But he's different from someone like Amir Makled. Makled is a Democrat from Michigan who ran for a seat on the Board of Regents. His campaign was based almost entirely on his opposition to Israel and his work defending pro Palestinian protesters for Makhlid hostility to Israel was the whole campaign. For Platner, it's one part of a broader economic and anti war message. He will run against Republican Susan Collins in the November election. The seat could decide which party controls the Senate. Collins is seen as an establishment candidate and has the support of pro Israel donors. That could put the fight over Israel and antisemitism at the center of one of the most consequential races this year. I'm Deborah Pardes and this is ARC News Daily. See you tomorrow.

[A]

Hi, I'm Dan Senor, host of the Call Me Back podcast. These past few years have asked a lot of the Jewish world. We've been wrestling with pain, disagreement and dilemmas. The war in Gaza, the war with Iran, the pressure on Jewish communities in diaspora societies. And the upcoming Israeli elections, which may bring many of these tensions to a head. These are not simple stories. And in a moment filled with bad information and overly simplistic answers, it can be hard to know who to trust. At CallMeBack, we know that trust has to be earned and we know your time is valuable. So when you spend it with us, we take that seriously. We don't claim to have all the answers, but we do try to ask better questions with honesty and humility. And maybe that is where hope begins. Not in pretending this moment is simple, but but in believing at a minimum, we must face it together. You can find Call me back on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you there.