US strikes Iran again, as Trump declares MOU dead

Summary

---

Ark News Daily – US Strikes Iran Again, as Trump Declares MOU Dead

Date: July 9, 2026
Host: Deborah Pardes (Ark Media)
[Episode Start Time: 00:12]

---

Episode Overview

This episode analyzes the rapid escalation between the U.S. and Iran following a new wave of American strikes, reviews political reverberations in Israel, and tackles ongoing challenges faced by Jewish professionals in mental health sectors. The show covers the geopolitical fallout, shifts in Israeli politics, and the launch of a new initiative seeking to reform therapeutic approaches to Jewish trauma amid rising antisemitism.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Escalation

[00:12 – 03:00]

• Background:

  • Tensions spiked after Iran fired at three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The U.S. retaliated with strikes on over 80 Iranian targets, notably air defenses and 60 boats of the Revolutionary Guard.
  • Iran reported casualties and responded with attacks on U.S. sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

• Escalatory Signals:

  • President Trump declared the longstanding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran dead, making inflammatory remarks:

    “To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people.”
    — Donald Trump [00:47]

  • Trump also suggested potential strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and seizing Kharg Island, although confirmation was pending as of the episode's recording.

• Military Objectives:

  • U.S. Central Command claims recent strikes aim to limit Iran's ability to threaten shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Official U.S. Stance:

  • While Trump attempted to “lower the flames” by dismissing the likelihood of full-scale war and leaving space for negotiations, Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized the administration’s readiness to act decisively:

    “The president has said to them very simply, the Strait of Hormuz is going to be open. If they try to close it down, there's going to be response for the American military. It's that simple. And that's the deal.”
    — VP J.D. Vance [02:15]

---

2. Israeli Response and Political Turbulence

[02:33 – 05:39]

• Security Measures:

  • Israeli officials prepare for potential escalation; Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled a ceremony for urgent security meetings.
  • Despite tension, assessments in Jerusalem suggest a full-scale war is unlikely at this stage.

• Expert Commentary:

  • ARC Media’s Nedav Eyal shares:

    “My bet right now is that this is not going to devolve to a full blown war again. But it's going to get worse... it's not only up to Washington. It's plausible that the Iranians themselves think that now is their time to escalate.”
    — Nedav Eyal [03:01]

• Political Shifts:

  • New polling shows challenger Gadi Eisenkot edging ahead of Netanyahu (Yeshar Party, 23 seats vs. Likud’s 22).
    • Eisenkot’s centrist Zionist platform is gaining appeal amid concerns over Netanyahu's government decisions, particularly ignoring Supreme Court rulings (which 62% of voters oppose).
    • Even among Netanyahu supporters, 74% approve ignoring such rulings.

• Restoring Trust and Resilience:

  • Yossi Klein Halevi addresses public sentiments toward Eisenkot:

    “What made me change my mind was... Gavriel's argument was, look, these are not ordinary times. The main crisis ... is internal, and we need someone who is the antithesis of Netanyahu. ... No one does that better than a father who lost his son in combat. Every time he stands up and delivers a speech calmly, without emotion, you feel that he's channeling the Israeli resilience.”
    — Yossi Klein Halevi [04:44]

---

3. Jewish Trauma and Mental Health: New Approaches in Therapy

[05:39 – 07:55]

• Problem Statement:

  • Jewish patients often report experiences of “traumatic invalidation” by mental health professionals, where their testimonies of antisemitism are downplayed or dismissed.

• New Training Program:

  • Developed by Miri Bar Halpern (Harvard Medical School) and Dean McKay (Fordham), the initiative aims to prevent ideological biases (notably from “decolonization therapy”) from undermining Jewish clients’ accounts.
  • Bar Halpern describes the core issue:

    “Jewish people weren't just experiencing antisemitism. They're often told that their experience just didn't count, that their pain didn't matter, and that eventually lead to traumatic invalidation.”
    — Miri Bar Halpern [06:16] “Good therapy should begin with curiosity about the person in front of you, not with an ideology.”
    — Miri Bar Halpern [06:44]

• Pilot and Support:

  • The program will launch in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, supported by the Academic Engagement Network.
  • Triggered by increased reports of isolation among Jewish therapists and clients post-October 7th, and a study showing that 75% of Jewish-identifying medical professionals in the U.S. have encountered antisemitism.
  • Federal authorities have launched a civil rights investigation against the American Psychological Association over related allegations.

• Looking Forward:

  • Plans are underway to expand the program into a national faculty network after its initial three-year rollout.

---

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Trump's Dismissal of Iran:

  “They're scum. They're sick people.”
  — Donald Trump [00:47]

• VP Vance Asserts U.S. Resolve:

  “If they try to close it down, there's going to be response for the American military. It's that simple. And that's the deal.”
  — J.D. Vance [02:15]

• Eyal’s Geopolitical Insight:

  “It's plausible that the Iranians themselves think that now is their time to escalate.”
  — Nedav Eyal [03:01]

• Halevi on Leadership and Resilience:

  “Every time he [Eisenkot] stands up and delivers a speech calmly, without emotion, you feel that he's channeling the Israeli resilience.”
  — Yossi Klein Halevi [04:44]

• Bar Halpern on Therapy Practices:

  “Good therapy should begin with curiosity about the person in front of you, not with an ideology.”
  — Miri Bar Halpern [06:44]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.-Iran Strikes Explained: [00:12 – 03:01]
• Israeli Security and Politics: [03:01 – 05:39]
• Jewish Mental Health and Antisemitism: [05:39 – 07:55]

---

Further Listening and Resources

• For Heaven’s Sake:
  • Yossi Klein Halevi explores the rise of Gadi Eisenkot and broader Israeli dilemmas in a linked episode.
• Academic Engagement Network:
  • Backing new initiatives to improve mental health training for Jewish communities.

---

This episode of Ark News Daily delivers a multi-level briefing on fast-shifting US-Iran dynamics, the evolving Israeli political landscape, and progressive responses to rising antisemitism in health care—grounded in firsthand analysis, polling data, and on-the-ground expert commentary.

Transcript

[A]

You are listening to an art media podcast.

[B]

It's Thursday, july 9th. This episode was recorded at 7pm new york time on Wednesday. I'm deborah pardes and this is ark news daily. The Middle east is on high alert after another night of American strikes on Iran. They came just hours after President Trump said the memorandum of understanding was over.

[C]

To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people.

[B]

For a quick recap of how we got here. On Tuesday, Iran fired on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The US responded later that night with strikes on more than 80 targets inside Iran, including air defenses and some 60 boats that belonged to the Revolutionary Guard. The Iranian military said eight of its soldiers were killed. Then they hit back once again, targeting US Military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. In response, Trump floated the idea of striking Iranian civilian infrastructure, like power and desalinization plants, and seizing Kharg island, which handles most of Iran's oil exports. As of this recording, it wasn't clear if the US Followed through on that specifically, but Iranian state media did report that explosions were heard last night in at least three port cities along the country's southeastern coast. U.S. central Command said those attacks were intended to undercut Iran's ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Still, Trump tried to lower the flames yesterday, saying he didn't think the war is going to start again and that he'd let the negotiations continue. But Later, Vice President J.D. vance said that whatever Iran decides to do, the U.S. will respond.

[D]

Now, the president maintains a lot of options. I'm obviously not going to tell you exactly what's going to happen tonight, but the president has said to them very simply, the Strait of Hormuz is going to be open. If they try to close it down, there's going to be response for the American military. It's that simple. And that's the deal.

[B]

In Israel, officials say they're preparing for the possibility that fighting will continue. Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled a military ceremony yesterday to hold security meetings instead. But at the same time, the prevailing assessment in Jerusalem is that this won't turn into a full scale war, at least not right now. ARC Media's Nedav Eyal agreed. He gave his thoughts on what happens from here. On today's episode of Call Me Back.

[E]

My bet right now is that this is not going to devolve to a full blown war again. But it's going to get worse, and I think we need to recognize something important. It's not only up to Washington. It's plausible that the Iranians themselves think that now is their time to escalate. And that's the reason we're seeing what we're seeing.

[B]

For the first time in his short campaign, Gadi Eisenhat is polling ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to a Channel 13 poll from Wednesday, Eisenhat's Yeshar Party is now winning 23 seats to Likud's 22. Eisenkat is a former IDF chief of staff, and he's campaigning on a centrist Zionist platform that's similar to Bennett and Lapid's Bayachad Party, which has been slowly declining, declining in the polls. One clue as to why Israelis are looking to someone like Eisencot well, The same Channel 13 poll found that a majority of voters, 62%, said they believe the government should not ignore rulings by the Supreme Court. Netanyahu's cabinet voted to do exactly that earlier this week. It's also worth noting that, according to the poll, 74% of Netanyahu supporters say that's okay. Eisencot is gaining popularity among centrist voters in part because he's seen as someone who can restore trust in government institutions and bring back a sense of normalcy. Yossi Klein Halevi touched on that in the most recent episode of For Heaven's Sake.

[F]

We know from past experience that when you catapult someone from the head of the IDF directly into the prime ministership, it doesn't work out well. And so I've been a little bit queasy watching the rise of Eisenkot. And what made me change my mind was actually a conversation with my son Gavriel. Gavriel's argument was, look, these are not ordinary times. The main crisis in Israel today is internal, and we need someone who is the antithesis of Netanyahu. We need someone who represents the national ethos, and no one does that better than a father who lost his son in combat. Every time he stands up and delivers a speech calmly, without emotion, you feel that he's channeling the Israeli resilience.

[B]

You can find the link to the full episode in our show notes. While Eisenhower has risen sharply in recent weeks, he still needs to build a coalition right now, as the new poll results show. That would mean, among other things, bringing in the Arab parties. A new training program is trying to change how psychologists care for Jewish patients. The program was created by Miri Bar Halpern a lecturer at Harvard Medical school, and Dean McKay, a professor at Fordham. We spoke with Bar Halpern and she explained where the idea came from.

[A]

Jewish people weren't just experiencing antisemitism. They're often told that their experience just didn't count, that their pain didn't matter, and that eventually lead to traumatic invalidation.

[B]

Bar Halpern says that traumatic invalidation, the dismissal of Jewish patients, trauma is being driven in part by something called decolonization therapy. It's an approach that isn't evidence based but has appeared in some training programs. She explains it like this.

[A]

Imagine a Jewish client comes to therapy with depression or anxiety after experiencing antisemitism. The concern is that in some setting, political beliefs are brought into therapy room in ways that can lead clinicians to see Jewish identity or Zionism as part of the problem instead of simply listening to the patient experience. Good therapy should begin with curiosity about the person in front of you, not with an ideology.

[B]

The new professional program Bar Hallpern founded will teach participants to incorporate these insights into both training and clinical supervision. The pilot is launching as Jewish therapists and clients have reported feeling more isolated and dismissed since October 7th. A study from last year in the Journal of Religion and health found that 75% of Jewish identifying medical students and professionals in American healthcare reported exposure to antisemitism. Those concerns are also on the federal government's radar. Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services opened a federal civil rights investigation into the American Psychological association, citing allegations that it discriminated against Jewish and Israeli members. The pilot program will launch in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts and is supported by the Academic Engagement Network. But Bar Hallpern is already thinking past the three year startup period to building out a national faculty network. I'm Deborah Pardes and this is ARC News Daily. See you tomorrow.

[C]

Foreign.

[G]

Hi, I'm Daniel Hartman, president of the Sholem Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

[H]

And I'm Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Sholem Hartman Institute.

[G]

What's more important to be feared by your enemies or morally true to yourself?

[H]

Should Israel strive to be a nation among nations, or should it accept the fact that it is now a fortress apart?

[G]

What do Israelis and Diaspora Jews owe each other? If you're Jewish or a friend, an ally?

[H]

These questions have been gnawing at you these past few years.

[G]

For some of you, like for us, these questions have been keeping you up at night. And for some they've been simmering in the background, waiting for answers.

[H]

But dilemmas don't always have clear answers. What they do deserve are honest and respectful debates.

[G]

And as it happens, Yossia and I love to challenge each other to get to the bottom of things.

[H]

We look at current events through a lens that speaks to us most deeply. A Jewish lens.

[G]

So if today's Jewish dilemmas are on your mind, tune in to our conversation on For Heaven's Sake, a partnership between ARC Media and the Sholem Hartman Institute.

[H]

You can find For Heaven's Sake on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[G]

See you there.