The Democrats’ Platner Problem & The Tech CEO Who Smuggled for Iran | 6.9.26

Summary

Morning Wire — June 9, 2026

Episode: "The Democrats’ Platner Problem & The Tech CEO Who Smuggled for Iran"

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Overview

This episode of Morning Wire explores three major stories: escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and the U.S. administration’s response; the Democratic Party’s dilemma over Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, embroiled in multiple scandals; and the dramatic FBI raid of a wealthy tech CEO accused of smuggling American technology to Iran's regime. Through interviews with policy experts and frontline reporters, the episode dives deep into the intersections of politics, ethics, and national security.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Escalation in the Middle East: Iran, Israel, and U.S. Involvement

(Segment Start: 02:22)

Key Points:

• Current Status:
  Tensions are soaring as Iran and Israel exchange missile strikes. President Trump is publicly urging both sides to return to the ceasefire.
• Expert Insight:
  Guest: Benham (Ben) Taliblu, Senior Director, Iran Program, Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
  Ben explains the Trump administration's approach: balancing pressure on Iran while supporting Israel, and the challenge of achieving a wider diplomatic solution, especially regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
• U.S. Strategy & Risks:
  The administration maintains a maritime blockade and continues "maximum pressure," but some rhetoric and actions show signs of risk aversion, which could embolden further Iranian escalation.
• Iran’s Internal Situation:
  Despite crippling inflation (~77%), Iran’s leadership appears more focused on military matters ("it's more about missiles than money in the very short term"), expecting short-term hardship for possible long-term financial gain.
• Nuclear Concerns:
  Iran doesn’t yet possess nuclear weapons but holds significant quantities of highly enriched uranium. Ben urges a comprehensive strategy, suggesting only a regime-focused ("counter regime in its entirety") policy will ensure lasting peace.

Notable Quotes:

• "The challenge here is how best the Trump administration can, one, stand with its partners like Israel, two, deter the regime from continuing to engage in these attacks...and three, be able to actually get what it wants, which is some sort of a larger diplomatic settlement..."
  — Ben Taliblu (03:02)
• "It's more about missiles than money in the very short term for them... In the medium term, long term, it's all about money."
  — Ben Taliblu (05:13)
• "The regime doesn’t have a nuclear arsenal, thank goodness, but it does have significant fissile material..."
  — Ben Taliblu (05:41)

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2. Democratic Party’s Platner Problem: Scandals, Hypocrisy, and Internal Divisions

(Segment Start: 08:05)

Key Points:

• Background:
  Senate candidate Graham Platner faces scandals: a Nazi tattoo, past abusive behavior, and recent allegations of sexual misconduct. Yet, most of the Democratic establishment is still backing him, focusing on broader political considerations.
• Party Reaction:
  Many Democrats attempt damage control, stressing Platner’s "accountability" for past behavior while also expressing support for women accusers—a difficult balance.
  • Supporter Quote: "I believe her. I think Graham acted shamefully and that's what makes him different, is that he's taken accountability for that period of his life." (08:29)
• Intraparty Criticism:
  Senator John Fetterman stands nearly alone in opposing Platner, calling for honesty about his record.
• Anti-Zionism Focus:
  Guest: Bhatia Ungar Sargon, author of "The Jews and the Left."
  Bhatia explains that Platner’s harsh attacks on Israel—and attempts to tie opponents like Susan Collins to Israeli influence—are now core to the progressive platform.
  • Example: Platner's campaign tweeted, "Susan Collins is bought and paid for by Benjamin Netanyahu... A third of her money comes from AIPAC."
  • Viral Moment: At a Platner rally, a voter says she’s unbothered by the Nazi tattoo but would "never vote for him" if he had an Israeli flag tattoo (11:00).
• "Believe All Women" Double Standard:
  The hosts and Bhatia highlight the left's apparent hypocrisy: fierce advocacy for believing women accusers in the past, but now relativizing abuse claims when it involves their own candidate.
  • "The same side that called all of us Nazis for 10 years now backing a guy with an actual Nazi tattoo..."
    — Bhatia Ungar Sargon (11:28)
  • Bhatia: Some are excusing documented physical abuse by Platner as forgivable, a stark contrast to past zero-tolerance rhetoric.

Notable Quotes:

• "Anti Zionism has become the most important plank in the progressive platform. It is now the cause du jour on the left."
  — Bhatia Ungar Sargon (09:09)
• "We can forgive all of that." [referring to abuse allegations]
  — Bhatia Ungar Sargon, on the shifting "Believe All Women" standard (11:28)

Memorable Moment:

• Viral voter quote at Platner rally:
  "What if he had a tattoo of the Israeli flag?" "Well, I would never vote for him then, honestly." (11:00)

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3. The Tech CEO Who Smuggled for Iran: FBI Raid in Newport Beach

(Segment Start: 12:44)

Key Points:

• The Raid:
  Reporter Ben Chapman (California Post) recounts being onsite as federal agents raided the $35M estate of Jamshid Gomi, an Iranian-American tech CEO in an exclusive gated community.
• Allegations:
  Over several years, Gomi allegedly purchased sensitive U.S. networking equipment, then illegally rerouted them to government and military clients in Iran via fake shipping routes (ostensibly to the UAE or Europe).
• Unraveling the Scheme:
  IRS criminal investigators noticed discrepancies—Gomi reported only $20,000/year in income despite his lavish lifestyle. This was likely the initial tip-off.
• Dramatic Details:
  Agents surrounded the mansion, called for Gomi to surrender, and ultimately apprehended him inside.
• National Security Significance:
  The operation assisted Iran’s military and nuclear programs, showing both the breadth of sanctions evasion networks and the vigilance required by U.S. authorities.

Notable Quotes:

• "According to federal investigators, it was a massive operation that went on for years...sold to hundreds of different organizations in Iran, including the government."
  — Ben Chapman (13:35)
• "He lived in a $35 million mansion and he was reporting $20,000 in annual income to the IRS. So it’s my guess this may have been what tipped them off."
  — Ben Chapman (15:46)
• "It was quite a dramatic scene as this caravan of federal agents...surrounded his estate at the end of this exclusive cul de sac and then called over a loudspeaker with guns drawn for him to come out of the house..."
  — Ben Chapman (16:30)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Middle East/Iran Analysis – 02:22–06:59
• Maine Senate Race & Platner Scandal – 08:05–12:09
• FBI Raid on Tech CEO – 12:44–17:34

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Summary of Tone & Style

Throughout the episode, Morning Wire employs a direct, investigative, and occasionally wry tone. The hosts balance policy analysis with sharp observations about hypocrisy and political maneuvering, letting their guests provide both factual depth and pointed critique.

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Closing Takeaways

• The Biden administration is walking a tightrope between deterrence and de-escalation as the Middle East remains volatile.
• The Democratic Party grapples with defining its core values as it faces the fallout from a candidate whose actions test both its proclaimed standards and political alliances.
• Sanctions evasion remains a high-stakes game, illustrated by a multimillion-dollar lifestyle unraveling into a high-profile FBI raid.

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This summary gives a comprehensive overview of the episode, focusing on major themes, key events, and notable quotes with relevant timestamps. It's structured to benefit both regular listeners and those catching up on the news.

Transcript

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[Georgia Howe]

President Trump fights to maintain the fragile ceasefire after a massive flare up in the Middle East.

[Ben Taliblu]

It's hard to think of any Israeli prime minister that would take a missile barrage from the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism and do nothing in response.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, June 9th, and this is MORNING Wire.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Are Democrats willing to overlook a Nazi tattoo? And now allegations of sexual misconduct to win a key Senate race?

[Bhatia Ungar Sargon]

Anti Zionism has become the most important plank in the progressive platform. It is now the cause du jour on the left.

[Georgia Howe]

And the FBI uncovers a pipeline moving American tech into the hands of the Iranian regime. We talked to a reporter who was on the ground for the pre dawn raid.

[Ben Chapman]

This guy was living in a $35 million Italianate estate. It was quite a dramatic scene.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Thanks for waking with MORNING Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

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[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

with Iran and Israel exchanging missile strikes, President Trump is calling on both sides to stand down.

[Georgia Howe]

Joining us now is Ben and Ben Taliblu, senior director of the Iran program at the foundation for Defense of Democracies. He specializes in Iranian security sanctions and nuclear policy, and has spent years analyzing the regime's strategy both at home and abroad. Benham, thanks for coming on.

[Ben Taliblu]

Great to be with you. Thanks for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

So tell us, where do things stand currently between Israel, Iran and the Trump administration?

[Ben Taliblu]

Well, it's something of a hot potato dance. The Trump administration has kind of entered the Middle east, restraining both adversary and ally, calling for a return to ceasefire. The Islamic Republic, meanwhile, has been looking to use escalation against America's partners in the Persian Gulf, or more recently, Israel, in a way to restrain the Trump administration. And the challenge here is how best the Trump administration can, one, stand with its partners like Israel, two, deter the regime from continuing to engage in these attacks while allegedly there is a ceasefire. And three, be able to actually get what it wants, which is some sort of a larger diplomatic settlement that first and foremost opens up the strait in Hormuz. And the real X factor here to know if Iran was successful in flipping this script on the Trump administration is if the thing that brought the regime to use force, the Israeli response of fire against Hezbollah, continues in the same way or not. So after the 24 hours and more of missile exchanges in the Middle east, don't look for diplomacy as the telltale sign that things have been successful. Look for a more freer hand or a more restrained hand to know if things are looking up or down in the region by Israel.

[Georgia Howe]

What kind of messaging have we heard from the White House?

[Ben Taliblu]

Well, the White House is still, you know, walking this fine line, this tightrope, talking about a ceasefire, de escalation and de confliction. And the challenge here really is this is an administration that has pioneered maximum pressure. This is an administration that has really created a very successful maritime blockade against the Islamic Republic's ports. And so while the Trump administration has been talking about keeping the blockade, the rest of their rhetoric and even some of their actions point to potential risk aversion more than risk tolerance, which may end up underwriting the next Iranian cycle of escalation, be it against America's Persian Gulf partners or Israel.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, what about the economic situation on the ground in Iran? Obviously, they want to hold onto their nuclear arsenal, but with the blockade in place, they've really been strangled. I understand there's about a 77% inflation rate that's obviously crippling. How is that affecting their willingness or ability to negotiate?

[Ben Taliblu]

Well, this is a regime that unfortunately has a drastically different social contract with its own people than US or other members of the international community or global economy in good standing. So While these facts do matter, you know, they're not the facts that in the very short term are governing the national security decision making of the Islamic Republic. So the art of the deal for this president, and really any president, is to be able to put this regime to the choice to make those facts matter. The problem is in the short term, the Iranians are distributing that pain, taking it and operating still as if they have a bunker mentality. It's more about missiles than money. In the very short term, for them, in the medium term, long term, it's all about money. And that's why they're playing to the edge with what's left of their missile arsenal, to get the Trump administration to blink, to get them to give cash up front. So far, that has not happened. But the Iranian art of the deal is to wave a missile and hope that there's a deal that has sanctions relief and access to frozen funds on the back end. But when it comes to the nuclear side, the second part, that is my view, is even harder to achieve. The regime doesn't have a nuclear arsenal, thank goodness, but it does have significant fissile material, including highly enriched uranium, that I think so long as it remains buried in Iran and the US Communicates clearly that it will strike anybody that moves towards those previously declared nuclear sites, things should be okay. But this is a regime that's proven its intent on rebuilding, repairing, and rearming anyway. So that is a band aid. It's not a long term solution. And I think the long term solution really either on extracting that uranium or having a policy that is much bigger than counter proliferation, but having a policy that is counter regime in its entirety.

[Georgia Howe]

All right, well, Benham, thank you so much for coming on.

[Ben Taliblu]

Thank you.

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[Georgia Howe]

Democrats continue to largely circle the wagons around Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose controversies have prompted outsize attention on today's primaries in Maine. Along with revelations about his not tattoo and his alarming online behavior, unsettling stories from Platner's past girlfriends have forced members of his party to defend him while also claiming to believe all women.

[Unnamed Democrat Supporter]

We should focus on acknowledging it was misogynistic, acknowledging it was wrong. I believe her. I think Graham acted shamefully and that's what makes him different, is that he's taken accountability for that period of his life.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

One lone Democrat who's pushed back on Platner's candidacy is Senator John Fetterman, who says Democrats need to be hon about his behavior and views.

[Unnamed Commentator]

One of those women in her journal 10 years ago described him as an incredibly abusive man that ruined her life. I mean, he's not really technically a Democrat. You know, in his own words, he said, I'm a, I'm a communist socialist.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

In response, Platner accused Fetterman of being bought and paid for by Israel. Here to discuss is Bhatia Ungar Sargon, host of News Nations Bhatia and author of the new book the Jews and the Left. Bhatia, great to see you again. It's been a while.

[Bhatia Ungar Sargon]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

So a major primary today in Maine, and the Democrats have really found themselves in this predicament with Platner that's highlighted by this public feud with Fetterman. Let's start with Platner's Israel attack from the weekend, which has really turned some heads. Why is Platner choosing to make his response about Israel and Zionism?

[Bhatia Ungar Sargon]

Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of people feel that the Democrats are backing Platner despite the fact that he has a Nazi tattoo and offensive views about Zionists. But the truth is the progressives are backing him because anti Zionism has become the most important plank in the progressive platform. And you're right, he did this twice. So about a week and a half ago, there was a big expose that revealed that he had been cheating on his wife and sexting with anywhere from six to 12 women. They'd only been married for three years, by the way. Now, when this was revealed, the day of this expose, he came out and his campaign tweeted, susan Collins is bought and paid for by Benjamin Netanyahu. A third of her money comes from AIPAC. Ilhan Omar had to apologize for saying this in 2019 when she said, it's all about the Benjamins. A PAC is buying American elections. Fast forward six years, seven years, and it's literally being put out as a campaign ad for a progressive candidate. You had a woman in a video. It's going viral. It's insane. She was asked at a Grand Platinum rally this weekend. She doesn't his Nazi tattoo offend you? She says, no, it doesn't. I don't think he knew what it was. And then the interviewer says, well, what if he had a tattoo of the Israeli flag? And she said, well, I would never vote for him then, honestly.

[Mint Mobile Representative]

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[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Now, as for the believe all women theme that Georgia mentioned, that's also taken center stage in recent days. A lot of Democrats are now being pressed on this with these new allegations against Graham about his really troubling background. What are we to make of Democrats messaging on believe all women now related to him?

[Bhatia Ungar Sargon]

You know, the same side that called all of us Nazis for 10 years now backing a guy with an actual Nazi tattoo. The same side that chased men out of public life for things much less bad than what Graham Platner is accused of doing. The believe all women side, the Justice Kavanaugh vigilantes, you know, the Me Too firing squad, as I call them, the same people are now out here saying, well, he didn't hit her. He didn't punch her. He just grabbed her arm and shoved it behind her back hard enough to leave bruises and locked her in her room. We can forgive all of that.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Well, all eyes on Maine today for all of these reasons. Bhatia, thank you so much for coming on.

[Bhatia Ungar Sargon]

Thank you so much for having me. God bless and protect you.

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[Georgia Howe]

Last week, federal agents raided a $35 million estate in Orange county owned by an Iranian American businessman. He's accused of selling computer hardw to the Iranian government to be used by their military along with other financial crimes to hide his income.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Joining us now is Ben Chapman, reporter for the California Post. He was on the scene as federal agents carried out that pre dawn raid. He's been reporting on the allegations. Ben, thanks so much for joining us.

[Ben Chapman]

Thanks for having me.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

So when most people think of, you know, sanctions violations, they picture paperwork and bank transfers. But your reporting describes this pre dawn FBI raid on a $35 million mansion. Allegations involving tons of technology. How large and sophisticated was the operation according to federal investigators?

[Ben Chapman]

According to federal investigators, it was a massive operation that went on for years. Basically what we have is a businessman, 63 years old, dual Iranian and United States citizen named Jamshid Gomi of Newport Beach, California, had a company that was based in Tehran. And what he was doing, according to prosecutors, was sending sensitive technology from the United States to his business in Iran. And then at that point, the technology was distributed by the local company and sold to hundreds of different organizations in Iran, including the government, which used the technology in both military operations and in its nuclear programs.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

So how was he able to accomplish this and avoid US sanctions?

[Ben Chapman]

According to prosecutors and investigators, Mr. Gomi used fake shipping protocols to get this hardware out of the United States. So what he was doing was legally purchasing this stuff domestically and it was primarily networking equipment is my understanding. And then he would create false shipping systems where he would pretend that the final destination of the technology was in the uae, I believe, or countries in Europe. And in fact, the technology was then shipped from those destinations onto its final destination in Iran. That's the part that was illegal, was the fact that he was sending this stuff to Iran because it was sensitive technology.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Do we know what mistake or what breakthrough allowed investigators to unravel this whole scheme?

[Ben Chapman]

The raid was actually conducted by criminal investigators with the irs. There were definitely tax abnormalities with this guy's business. So this guy was the CEO and founder of a tech company. He lived in a 35 million dollar mansion and he was reporting 20,000 bucks in annual income to the IRS. So it's my guess that this may have been what tipped them off.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

You know, kind of hard to miss. You'd Think these criminal masterminds would figure out that you, like, pay your taxes, man, or make. At least make it look close or something? We mentioned at the top you were on the scene for the raid. Anything stand out to you about the operation?

[Ben Chapman]

Sure. It was quite an unusual raid in the sense that it took place in a upscale and exclusive gated community above the Pacific Ocean, populated by gigantic mansions. It was quite a dramatic scene as this caravan of federal agents, you know, blew into this gated community and then surrounded his estate at the end of this exclusive cul de sac and then called over a loudspeaker with guns drawn for him to come out of the house. And they called for some time before he emerged. The agents actually went inside and ended up apprehending him inside of the estate before they brought him outside and put him in an suv, whereupon he was taken to custody.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

Well, a dramatic scene that you were there to witness firsthand. Thank you so much for reporting for us.

[Ben Chapman]

Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. The reporting that fuels this show is only possible because you tune in every day and because of our Daily wire subscribers.

[Host/Anchor (possibly Georgia Howe or another main host)]

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