Podcasts about Tehran

The New Yorker staff writer Jay Caspian Kang joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the role the church has played in sustaining protest movements—and whether effective political dissent in the United States is possible without involvement from religious institutions. They talk about how churches have historically provided moral authority, infrastructure, and community to movements for social change, why those qualities have been difficult to replicate in the age of social media and mass protest, and what is lost when dissent becomes sporadic or primarily digital. They also examine whether churches still have the widespread credibility and organizing capacity to anchor protest today, and what it would take for religious institutions to once again embrace a central place in modern political life. This week's reading: “Can American Churches Lead a Protest Movement Under Trump?,” by Jay Caspian Kang “Inside Bari Weiss's Hostile Takeover of CBS News,” by Clare Malone “An Unhappy Anniversary: Trump's Year in Office,” by Amy Davidson Sorkin “The Overlooked Deaths of the Attack on Venezuela,” by Oriana van Praag “Why Trump Supports Protesters in Tehran but Not in Minneapolis,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells  The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, as time goes on, the urgency and immediacy for helping the Iranian people lessens in the public mind and among the decision-makers. Already, the media are losing interest. This is very worrisome. The revolution in Iran cannot succeed without the U.S. Also, it's essential for U.S. national security to control Greenland. One idea would be to propose a 99-year lease of Greenland to the United States, granting military control, infrastructure development and access to Greenland's rare earth minerals in exchange for sharing benefits with Denmark and Greenlanders, with an automatic renewal option. This approach protects American interests logically and consistently. Later, the Wall Street Journal's accidental admission reveals that tariffs are not merely taxes but tools of foreign policy and diplomacy. The Constitution assigns Congress the power of the purse while granting the President plenary power over foreign policy and national security. Tariffs often intertwine these areas, making judicial intervention impractical and unwise, as courts would end up deciding case-by-case whether a tariff is more about national security or taxation, leading to endless litigation.  The Supreme Court needs to reverse the lower court, avoid ruling on constitutionality at this stage, and allow Congress and the President to handle such matters through their respective powers rather than ceding decisions to judges. Afterward, in Lee Carter's opinion piece, President Trump's approval ratings do not indicate failure but instead demonstrate his successful delivery on campaign promises in a divided America. Rather than softening his approach like typical presidents, Trump has remained a consistent disruptor which has led to stable numbers with no significant erosion of his base. These ratings reflect identity-driven polarization sorting the country rather than persuading it. The legacy media fixates on the low headline numbers while refusing to recognize this stability as proof of Trump's authenticity and the nation's discomfort with unfiltered promise-keeping. In addition, Michael Doran, Director of the Middle East center at the Hudson Institute, urges Trump to seize billions of dollars in Iranian assets hidden in Dubai-based financial institutions. These shadow banks enable Iran to evade U.S. sanctions and fund its regime. Freezing or seizing these offshore accounts would deliver a powerful blow to Tehran comparable to a military strike, but with far lower risk and escalation potential, making it a preferable non-military pressure tactic. Finally, Peter Schweizer calls in to discuss his new book - The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SEGMENT 7: IRAN EXECUTIONS AND TRUMP'S PROMISE OF HELP Guest: Jonathan Schanzer (Washington, DC) Schanzer reports on the surge of executions inside Iran as the regime cracks down on dissent. Discussion covers Trump's remarks signaling support for the Iranian people, the brutal nature of the regime's repression, recent execution numbers, and whether American policy shifts could aid those suffering under Tehran's authoritarian rule.

SHOW SCHEDULE 1-20-20251907 GREENLANDSEGMENT 1: RETAIL SALES AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Guest: Liz Peek Strong retail sales signal consumer confidence as Trump takes office. Peek discusses holiday spending numbers, the stock market's performance, and economic expectations for the new administration. Conversation touches on inflation pressures, interest rate concerns, and whether the economy's momentum can continue under new policy directions.SEGMENT 2: MARKETS AND GREENLAND CONTROVERSY Guest: Liz Peek Peek analyzes market reactions to the incoming administration and addresses Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Discussion covers the strategic importance of Greenland's resources and location, European responses to the proposal, and how this diplomatic imbroglio fits into broader economic and geopolitical considerations facing the new term.SEGMENT 3: EUROPEAN FRUSTRATION WITH TRUMP'S RETURN Guest: Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Berlin), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Dempsey assesses European anxiety as Trump begins his second term. Discussion covers EU economic stagnation, Germany's struggling industrial base, and widespread frustration among European leaders unprepared for renewed American pressure on trade, defense spending, and NATO commitments. McCotter joins from Detroit offering domestic political perspective.SEGMENT 4: EU ECONOMY AND TRANSATLANTIC TENSIONS Guest: Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Berlin), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Continued analysis of Europe's economic malaise and political uncertainty ahead of German elections. Dempsey examines how EU leadership plans to navigate Trump's transactional approach to alliances, concerns over tariffs and energy policy, and whether Europe can muster unified responses to American demands on defense and trade.SEGMENT 5: POWELL VS. TRUMP ON MONETARY POLICY Guest: Joseph Sternberg (London) Sternberg analyzes the brewing conflict between Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and President Trump over interest rate policy. Discussion examines Trump's public criticism of Powell, the Fed's independence, inflation concerns, and how this tension between the White House and central bank could shape economic policy and market confidence.SEGMENT 6: STARMER'S LEADERSHIP FAILURES AND CHINA EMBASSY CONCERNS Guest: Joseph Sternberg (London) Sternberg critiques Prime Minister Keir Starmer's struggling leadership and lack of clear direction for Britain. Discussion turns to Starmer's belated scrutiny of China's massive new London embassy complex, raising security concerns about the sprawling diplomatic compound and questions about why earlier governments permitted its construction without adequate review.SEGMENT 7: IRAN EXECUTIONS AND TRUMP'S PROMISE OF HELP Guest: Jonathan Schanzer (Washington, DC) Schanzer reports on the surge of executions inside Iran as the regime cracks down on dissent. Discussion covers Trump's remarks signaling support for the Iranian people, the brutal nature of the regime's repression, recent execution numbers, and whether American policy shifts could aid those suffering under Tehran's authoritarian rule.SEGMENT 8: GAZA CEASEFIRE AND POSTWAR GOVERNANCE Guest: Jonathan Schanzer (Washington, DC) Schanzer examines the fragile Gaza ceasefire and critical questions about who will govern after the fighting ends. Discussion analyzes the proposed makeup of any postwar governing board, the challenges of reconstruction, Hamas's continued presence, and regional players jockeying for influence over Gaza's future political arrangements.SEGMENT 9: GREENLAND STRATEGY AND ARCTIC AMBITIONS Guest: Mary Kissel (Former Senior Adviser to Secretary Pompeo) Kissel offers insider perspective on Trump's renewed push for Greenland, drawing on her State Department experience. Discussion examines the strategic rationale behind the proposal, Arctic security concerns, Danish and European reactions, and whether this represents serious policy or negotiating leverage for broader geopolitical objectives.SEGMENT 10: GAZA DIPLOMACY AND INVITATIONS TO ADVERSARIES Guest: Mary Kissel Kissel analyzes the peculiar diplomatic landscape surrounding Gaza negotiations, including controversial outreach to bad actors like Putin. Discussion questions the wisdom of engaging hostile powers in Middle East peacemaking, the signals this sends to allies, and how the new administration might reshape these diplomatic approaches going forward.SEGMENT 11: JAPAN'S SNAP ELECTION UNDER PM TAKAICHI Guest: Lance Gatling (Tokyo), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Gatling reports from Tokyo on Prime Minister Takaichi's decision to call snap elections. Discussion covers the political calculations behind this move, Takaichi's nationalist stance, implications for US-Japan relations under the new Trump administration, and how Japanese voters are responding to shifting domestic and regional dynamics.SEGMENT 12: CHINA'S GROWING THREAT TO JAPAN Guest: Lance Gatling (Tokyo), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Gatling assesses the mounting Chinese military threat facing Japan, including naval provocations and airspace incursions. Discussion examines Japan's defense posture, increased military spending, the importance of the US-Japan alliance in deterring Beijing, and how Tokyo views the security landscape with Trump returning to the White House.SEGMENT 13: NATO'S DECLINE AND THE GREENLAND CRISIS Guest: Gregory Copley Copley argues the Greenland controversy reveals deeper fractures signaling NATO's erosion. Discussion examines how the alliance has weakened through neglect and diverging interests, European defensiveness over Arctic claims, and whether the transatlantic security architecture built after World War II can survive current political and strategic pressures.SEGMENT 14: EMERGING SUNNI OR ISLAMIC NATO IN ASIA Guest: Gregory Copley Copley explores the potential formation of a new security alliance among Sunni Muslim nations in Asia. Discussion covers the strategic drivers behind such a coalition, which countries might participate, how this Islamic NATO could reshape regional power dynamics, and implications for Western alliances and Middle Eastern stability.SEGMENT 15: GREAT POWERS VERSUS SMALL STATES IN STRATEGIC THINKING Guest: Gregory Copley Copley contrasts how great powers often act impulsively while smaller states analyze carefully before moving. Discussion examines the hubris of major nations shooting from the hip on foreign policy, the advantages smaller countries gain through meticulous strategic calculation, and lessons for American policymakers in an increasingly complex world.SEGMENT 16: THE CALMING POWER OF KINGSHIP Guest: Gregory Copley Copley offers praise for monarchical systems as stabilizing forces in nations facing discontent. Discussion examines how kingship provides continuity, national unity, and legitimacy that elected leaders often cannot muster, with examples of how constitutional monarchies successfully navigate political turbulence and maintain social cohesion during crises.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe Danes are pushing back and they are planning to sell all US Treasuries. The EU is moving forward with the Great Reset. The US and EU are moving in opposite directions. SC hearing the Fed case, Cook committed fraud. Message is clear, globalism has failed. The [DS] is now planning to push the agenda of shutting down the midterm elections. They are pushing an insurrection to push Trump into shutting down the election. The opposite will happen, Trump is preparing to make it possible to have one day voting. The message is clear, expose the criminal syndicate and the crimes they have committed to the people of this country. Then once the people understand, arrest those involved. Finally win the midterms to have accountability. This is not just a 4 year election.   Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2013609922974421502?s=20  push for Greenland. https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/2013591319399092551?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2013563044270383434?s=20 Europe is going for a digital Euro which will allow people to be cut off financially in 2029 if they say anything the government doesn't like    https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2013589829951615468?s=20 Supreme Court to hear Trump case on firing Federal Reserve governor  Howard Lutnick: “Globalism Has Failed”…  The fully engaged Trump MAGAnomic team begin their outlines to the World Economic Forum in Davos with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the top line announcement, “Globalism has failed the United States of America.”   Lutnick explains the reason are for President Trump's policy. Why would the EU destroy it's own energy policy?  “Why would Europe agree to be ‘net-zero' in 2030, when they don't make a battery,” he asked.  Thus, the pragmatic realism of policy intersects with the hypocritical action and creates an outcome that no one can explain.  “So, if they go 2030, they are intentionally deciding to be subservient to China who makes the batteries,” he continued.  This makes absolutely no sense. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com Political/Rights https://twitter.com/KristiNoem/status/2013275291385319855?s=20   last 6 weeks, our brave DHS law enforcement have arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals. A HUGE victory for public safety. There is MASSIVE Fraud in Minneapolis, at least $19 billion and that's just the tip of iceberg. Our Homeland Security Investigators are on the ground in Minneapolis conducting wide scale investigations to get justice for the American people who have been robbed blind. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/2013058985125929230?s=20 https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2013363079086567449?s=20 https://twitter.com/lukerosiak/status/2013419999000424488?s=20   Minnesota Transgender State Rep. Leigh Finke Calls on Anti-ICE Protestors to Storm More Churches  Minnesota transgender State Rep. Leigh Finke called on leftists to storm more churches in protest of ICE. Far-left anti-ICE protestors stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/2013337519853834307?s=20  ” Don Lemon can go to hell. But he must go to federal prison first. https://twitter.com/AAGDhillon/status/2013311806647738613?s=20   anything but a Government job. Investigate these Corrupt Politicians, and do it now! https://twitter.com/RealJessica/status/2013413159663534169?s=20 https://twitter.com/TheLastRefuge2/status/2013437081947640243?s=20   DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/2013431594967802038?s=20   candidates who will do precisely that. Turns out you can just do things. https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2013607858760196486?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2013614189823004938?s=20   https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/2013597058142294419?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2013624149948723648?s=20    extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING. Thank you for your attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP https://twitter.com/HungaryBased/status/2013364583168098337?s=20   https://twitter.com/nettermike/status/2013455319201128884?s=20   Cold War – Eisenhower → Kennedy: nonstop negotiations for bases, radar, missiles. Post–Cold War – Clinton/Bush/Obama: expanded Arctic security & missile defense. 2019 – Trump: said publicly what presidents discussed privately for 150+ years. The U.S. didn't “suddenly” want Greenland. It's been defending it, negotiating it, and embedding there since the 1800s. Greenland = Arctic power, shipping lanes, missiles, minerals. Trump didn't invent it. He said the quiet part out loud. https://twitter.com/scrowder/status/2013340689522925582?s=20  2/3 of NATO defense costs. That imbalance, and the arrogance behind it, is why Greenland is on the table.   https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2013591373006676322?s=20   Reports: Iranian Regime Accused of Using Chemical Agents in Crackdown on Protesters  The Iranian regime is accused of using deadly chemicals against the protesters who want the regime replaced. Growing allegations that the Islamic Republic of Iran may have used chemical agents against protesters have intensified scrutiny of the regime's most recent crackdown, described by observers as the deadliest suppression of public dissent in the country's modern history. The claims gained momentum following the circulation of footage from Sabzevar showing Iranian security forces equipped with protective gear typically associated with hazardous chemical environments, as well as testimony from protesters in Tehran describing prolonged and unusual medical symptoms after exposure to what authorities labeled “tear gas.” Video at Iran So Far Away.     source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/GBNT1952/status/2013441161247998050?s=20 This is how states demonstrate commitment along a shared line of effort without firing a shot: visible logistics, presence, and implied backing that complicate an opponent's decision cycle. This is also why the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on the way to the Middle East as we speak. From a doctrinal standpoint, this kind of move deliberately raises the escalation ladder, forcing US planners to account not just for Iranian responses, but for second and third order effects involving a near peer competitor. That reality likely explains why President Trump has avoided striking Iranian targets, because any kinetic action now risks collapsing the problem set from a regional contingency into a multi theater confrontation. In simple terms, Iran stops being a standalone target and becomes part of a larger system tied to Chinese interests, and no serious commander ignores force posture, alliance signaling, and deterrence dynamics when weighing an OPLAN. China obviously understands this, which is precisely why these moves matter: they restrict American freedom of action by design, without ever needing to engage directly. Thus the Iran problem becomes even more complex. War/Peace https://twitter.com/DougAMacgregor/status/2013468575055405338?s=20 https://twitter.com/HansMahncke/status/2013426712839614628?s=20 Oh Dear – The Wall Street Journal Just Realized, President Trump is Making U.N. Functionally Obsolescent  The Wall Street Journal just realized the purpose of President Trump inviting world leaders to a new structure of global leadership. As the outlet contemplates the mission of the “Gaza Board” they recognize the bigger intention, the nullification of the United Nations. WASHINGTON DC – President Trump has expanded the mission of his proposed Gaza Board of Peace into a global body that would take on the role mediating conflicts currently held by the United Nations and carry a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat, according to a charter sent to prospective members. “It's hard not to read this as an attempt to establish a precedent in Gaza that could be used elsewhere in terms of saying that Trump is going to be calling the global shots here, and you either fall in line or you're not part of the process,” said Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations. (read more) Figured that out all on their own, did they? Source: theconservativetreehouse.com Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2013471087640686700?s=20 BUSTED: California Ordered to Return $1+ BILLION After Dr. Oz–Led Audit Exposes Federal Healthcare Funds Spent on Illegal Immigrants The Trump administration has dropped the hammer on California and a coalition of deep-blue states after a sweeping federal audit uncovered more than $1.3 billion in misused federal healthcare funds spent on non-emergency medical care for illegal immigrants, a clear violation of federal law. A Federal auditors identified nearly $1.4 billion owed back to U.S. taxpayers, with California alone accounting for the overwhelming majority: California: ~$1.3 billion New York: ~$30.7 million Illinois: ~$29.8 million Minnesota: ~$12.7 million Oregon: ~$5.4 million Washington: ~$2.3 million Washington, D.C.: ~$2.1 million Colorado: ~$1.5 million TOTAL: ~$1.394 billion These funds were billed to the federal government for routine medical care, not emergencies, an explicit violation of Medicaid rules. WATCH: https://twitter.com/USAttyEssayli/status/2013360442626973796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2013360442626973796%7Ctwgr%5E80a417827250e274cad382abb10aebc715484685%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fbusted-california-ordered-return-1-billion-after-dr%2F Source: thegatewaypudit.com https://twitter.com/FBI_Response/status/2013361891712631238?s=20   are th https://twitter.com/BehizyTweets/status/2013417355272130860?s=20 https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/2013350008733487510?s=20   brackets of 8% and 10% on people making over $600K.  – A new 10% tax bracket for anyone making over $1M. – 3.8% investment tax on top of state income taxes. – Raise the hotel tax. – New personal property tax on landscaping equipment. – Ban gas powered leaf blowers. – Guarantee illegal aliens free education. – Make it illegal to approach somebody at an abortion clinic. – Extend the time absentee ballots can be received after election day to three days – Allow people to cast their votes electronically through the internet. – Expand ranked-choice voting. – Extend the deadline for ballot curing to one week after election day. – Redact the addresses of political candidates from FOIAs. – Add Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact for presidential electors. – Make it illegal to hand count ballots. – $500 sales tax on firearm suppressors . – “Assault weapons” and large capacity magazine ban. – 11% sales tax on all firearms and ammunition. – Prohibit outdoor shooting of a firearm on land less than 5 acres. – Lower the criminal penalties for robbery. – Ban the arrest of illegal aliens in courthouses. – Remove mandatory minimum sentences. – Allow localities to install speed cameras.  Replace Columbus Day with “Indigenous Peoples Day.” https://twitter.com/nedryun/status/2013371388653117889?s=20  an existential threat to their party.” President Trump's Plan The Insurrection Act could be a dress rehearsal for interfering in the midterms President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a statute first enacted in 1792, allowing him to deploy the military inside the United States in response to protests in Minnesota. The largely peaceful protests intensified after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency officer shot and killed Reneé Good, a Minneapolis mother, after an encounter. “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” Trump wrote last Thursday morning on Truth Social, adding that the move would “quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great state.” He has already alerted 1,500 troops in Alaska for possible deployment to Minnesota. If he does it, the action will certainly face legal challenges. Occasional acts of violence do not an insurrection make. But don't bet on the Supreme Court to block Trump from invoking the law. Before this court, the bottom line is that Trump usually wins.   Americans have been traditionally uncomfortable with the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. Granted, the law gives the president power to deploy troops in an emergency. Trump tried it with the National Guard in Chicago but was shot down by the Supreme Court because of the statutory requirement of showing that “regular forces,” namely the military, would not be effective in executing the law.  Does Trump see the deployment of the military in Minnesota as a dress rehearsal for the armed forces policing key polling places to intimidate voters and seize voting machines? A slippery slope is always dangerous, and a slippery slope from a fragile democracy to a malignant authoritarianism is a real red flag for all of us. Source: thehill.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2013682627941630020?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2013329534729285982?s=20   It's all one giant criminal conspiracy, imbedded within our own system. Uprooting it, while managing public perception, is not an easy or straightforward task. This is why the Insurrection Act and the NG Quick Reaction Force are so important, because the enemy we are facing is within. Foreign adversaries have infiltrated the United States, and they used the Democrat Party as a vehicle to destroy this nation from within. The US MIL must be on standby to safeguard the public, because the Dems are going to try to burn this nation to the ground in an attempt to avoid accountability for their crimes . That's what you are witnessing right now. A cold/warm civil war, that the Dems are trying to turn into a hot civil war. https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/2013410848186798440?s=20  https://twitter.com/thomasjeans/status/2013481182785077577?s=20  https://twitter.com/justicecometh/status/2013434601935376795?s=20  https://twitter.com/TheNatConvo/status/2010225316598559209?s=20  https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2013577244950851725?s=20   (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

This week we talk about war, inflation, and currency devaluation.We also discuss tyrants, police violence, and social media threats.Recommended Book: Post-Growth Living by Kate SoperTranscriptBack in mid-June of 2025, a shooting war erupted between Iran and Israel, with Israeli military forces launching attacks against multiple Iranian military sites, alongside sites associated with its nuclear program and against individual Iranian military leaders.Iran responded to these strikes, which left a lot of infrastructural damage and several military leaders assassinated, with large waves of missiles and drones against both Israeli and allied military targets, and soon after, later the same month, both sides agreed on a ceasefire and that was that.Following that blip of a war, though, Iran's economy suffered greatly. It already wasn't doing well, in part due to the crippling sanctions enforced by the US government for years, but also because of persistent mismanagement by Iran's ruling regime, and the resultant deterioration of local infrastructure, both physical and bureaucratic.Millions of people fled Iranian urban centers during the war with Israel, and while most of them returned when the ceasefire was brokered, the pace of life and other fundaments of these cities never got back up to where they were, before, as there have been fairly consistent blackouts that have kept people from being able to function as normal, and these outages have also kept businesses from getting back on their feet. That, in turn, has resulted in closures and firings and an overall reduction in economic activity.The general hamhandedness of the government has amplified these issues, and the countless other issues of trying to exist within a country that is being so persistently targeted—both in the sense of those crushing sanctions from the US, but also in the sense of being periodically struck by Israel—has dramatically increased uncertainty throughout Iran these past several years.Even before that brief war, Iran was already on the backfoot, having suffered the loss of their local proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip—all of which have been either severely weakened by Israel in recent years, or functionally wiped out—and that in turn has more directly exposed them to meddling and attacks from their key opposition, which includes the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.That new vulnerability has put the Iranian government on high-alert, and the compounding effects of all that infrastructural damage, mismanagement, and the need to reallocate more resources to defense has left the country suffering very high levels of inflation, a severely devalued currency, regular blackouts, mass unemployment, a water shortage, and long-time repression from a government that is in many ways more paranoid and flailing than in any time in recent memory.What I'd like to talk about today is a recent wave of protests across Iran and why the US government is apparently considering taking action to support protestors against the Iranian government.—Iran has long suffered all sorts of issues, including regular efforts by ethnic secessionists to pull it apart into pieces they periodically occupy and want to govern, themselves, and concerns from citizens that the government spends a whole lot of their time and the nation's resources enriching themselves, oppressing the citizenry, funding what seems to be a pointless nuclear program, and prioritizing their offensive efforts against Israel and their other regional enemies, often by arming and funding those aforementioned, now somewhat defunct proxy militias and militaries.On top of all that, as of October 2025, inflation in Iran had surged to 48.6% and the Iranian currency, the rial, dropped in value to 1.45 million per dollar. The government tried to artificially boost the value of the rial to 1.38 million per dollar in early January of 2026, but it dropped further, to 1.5 million per dollar a few days later, hitting a record low. This combined with that wild inflation rate, made the basic fundamentals of life, food, electricity, and so on, unaffordable, even for those who still had jobs, which was an ever-shrinking portion of the population.For context, the drop of the rial to a value of 1.38 million per dollar, the boosted value, represented a loss of about 40% of the rial's value since June of 2025, just before that war with Israel, which is a staggering loss, as that means folk's life savings lost that much in about half a year.When currency values and inflation hit that level of volatility, doing business becomes difficult. It often makes more sense to close up shop than to try to keep the doors open, because you don't know if the price you charge for your product or service will make you a profit or not: there's a chance you'll sell things at a loss, because the value of the money you receive and the cost of goods you require, both to survive and to keep your business functioning, will change before the day ends, or before the sale can be completed.Iran's economic crisis has further exploded in the past few weeks, then, because all those issues have compounded and spiraled to the point that simply selling things and buying things have become too risky for many people and entities, and that means folks are having even more trouble getting food and keeping the lights on than before; which becomes a real survival issue, on top of the regular crackdowns and abuses by the government that they've suffered in various ways for decades.In 2022, those abuses and limits on personal rights led to large protests that were catalyzed by the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini, who was in police custody for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Those 2022 protests were historically large—the biggest in the country, by some estimates at least, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.On December 28 2025, a group of shopkeepers in Iran's capital city, Tehran, went on strike, closing their shops in protest against what's been happening with Iran's economy; again, it's basically impossible to safely do business in a country with that much inflation and currency devaluation happening.Other shopkeepers followed suit, and large protests formed around these closed shops. Those protests flooded social media platforms in short order, protestors shouting slogans that indicated they were pissed off about all the economic mismanagement in the country, and then eventually that led to anti-government slogans being shouted, as well.Things remained peaceful at these protests, at first, and they expanded across the country within the next few days, shops closing and people filling the streets.By the fourth day, police had started to use live ammunition and tear gas against protestors, some of the protestors were killed, and things spiraled from there.By December 31, the government ordered a total, nationwide business shutdown, to try to get ahead of these protests, which again tended to revolve around the shutdown of businesses in protest—the government said they were making this call because of cold weather, but the writing was kind of on the wall at this point that they were scrambling to make it look like businesses were shutting down because they said so, not in protest of the government.The government also announced that they would start cracking down on protestors, hard, and on the first day of 2026, things escalated further, police using even more force against those who gathered, which of course led to more protests in more places, more angry slogans being shouted, and more protestor deaths at the hands of government forces.Protests had spread to all 31 Iranian provinces by early January of 2026, and at this point there were only 17 confirmed deaths.US President Donald Trump got involved around this time, maybe feeling confident following the successful nighttime grab of Venezuelan President Maduro; whatever the case, he warned the Iranian government not to shoot protestors, or the US government might have to get involved, coming to the protestors' rescue.Iran's government responded by saying the rioters must be put in their place, suppressing the funerals of protestors, and muffling local internet service, slowing down access speeds and increasing the number of outages by about a third. They threatened to execute hundreds of protestors by hanging, then said they wouldn't. Trump declared this to be a personal victory, though the Iranian government has used his insinuation of himself into the matter to position the fight as Iran against the US, the protestors backed by their great enemy, which has shown itself to be responsible for these protests.The government then started forcing captured protestors to make confessions on video, which only seemed to further anger the non-arrested protestors, and some protestors began to fight back, in one case setting a police officer on fire, and in other cases local militia groups defended protestors against police, leading to several deaths.Iran's government shut down more communication services in an attempt to regain control, in some cities taking down the internet completely, though some information, photos and videos of police abuses of protestors still made it out into the wider world using satellite services like Starlink, and by the 9th of January, protests reached a scale that rivaled and maybe surpassed those seen during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and protestors began to set fire to buildings associated with the Islamic Republic, the government, and directly clashing with security forces in some cases.Hundreds of people were reportedly killed per day from that point forward, and thousands were rushed to hospitals, overwhelming local doctors.Thousands of people were also violently killed by police, under cover of the now complete internet blackout, and on January 10th, it was estimated that around 2,000 protestors had been killed in the past two days, alone, while other estimates from inside and outside Iran range from 12,000 to 20,000 protestors killed by the government. The most reliable source I could find, as of last weekend, indicated that the true number of dead is something like 3,300 people, at minimum.In the past week or so, the Iranian government has apparently figured out how to jam Starlink internet signals, making it even more difficult for protestors to share what's happening in the country, and President Trump posted on his social network, Truth Social, telling Iranian citizens that they should overthrow the government and that help is on the way.The Iranian government has arrested tens of thousands of people, has tanks patrolling their towns and cities, and seems to have successfully quashed protests for the time being; no protests at all were reported across the country as of mid-January, and so many people were killed and injured that hospitals and other institutions are still overwhelmed, trying to work through their backlog; much of the country is in mourning.Government forces are reportedly going door to door to arrest people who were spotted in CCTV and social media footage participating in protests, and they've set up checkpoints to stop people, look through their phones, and arrest them if any photos or videos are found that indicate they were at protests, deleting that digital evidence in the process.This remains a fast-moving story and there's a chance something significant, like the US striking Iranian government targets, or renewed, more focused protests will arise in the coming days and weeks.Some analysts have argued that it's kind of a no-brainer for the Trump administration to hit the Iranian government while it's strained in this way, because it's a long-time enemy of the US and its allies that's currently weak, and doing so would reinforce the narrative, sparked with the capture of Maduro, that Trump's administration is anti-tyrant; which is questionable by most measures, but again, this is a narrative, not necessarily reality. And narratives are powerful, especially going into an election year.It's also possible that, because economic conditions in Iran haven't changed, that this is just the beginning of something bigger; protestors and militias taking a moment to regain their footing and consider what they might do to have more of an impact when they start back up again.Show Noteshttps://www.iranintl.com/en/202601130145https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/31/we-want-the-mullahs-gone-economic-crisis-sparks-biggest-protests-in-iran-since-2022https://www.nytimes.com/article/iran-protests-inflation-currency.htmlhttps://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/06/25/mapping-the-protests-in-iran-2/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/world/middleeast/iran-protests-death-toll.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/world/china/iranian-mp-warns-greater-unrest-urging-government-address-grievances-2026-01-13/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-is-hunting-down-starlink-users-to-stop-protest-videos-from-going-global-d8b49602https://archive.is/20260114175227/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/bank-collapse-iran-protests-83f6b681https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protest-death-toll-over-12000-feared-higher-video-bodies-at-morgue/https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/did-irans-currency-collapse-rial-plummets-to-000-against-euro-while-inflation-protests-escalate-across-the-country-164403/https://archive.is/20260116034429/https://www.ft.com/content/5d848323-84a9-4512-abd2-dd09e0a786a3https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jek15m8nohttps://theconversation.com/the-use-of-military-force-in-iran-could-backfire-for-washington-273264https://archive.is/20260114182636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/14/iran-regime-protest-trump-strike/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/world/middleeast/iran-protests-deadly-crackdown.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/world/middleeast/iran-ayatollah-khamenei.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iranian_protestshttps://www.en-hrana.org/day-thirteen-of-the-protests-nighttime-demonstrations-continue-amid-internet-shutdown/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iran_internal_crisishttps://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-trump-khamenei-fc11b1082fb75fca02205f668c822751 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

A president on camera says only his own morality can stop him. That single line sets the tone for a high-stakes hour where we track real-time war signals around Iran, interrogate the Greenland fantasy, and examine how power bends rules when no one close is willing to say no. We connect the dots between rhetoric, logistics, and escalating options—from sanctions and cyber operations to reports of potential strikes on non-military targets in Tehran—while reading the tea leaves of embassy closures, airspace changes, and force posture moves across the region. We also unpack the protest landscape inside Iran: genuine economic anger, contested casualty figures, and the fog of information operations that can turn small fires into regional infernos. If the United States acts without congressional authorization or public persuasion, it won't just risk a wider war; it will cement a template for executive overreach that future presidents will inherit. That same impulse shows up at home in the response to the ICE shooting in Minnesota, where dissent gets rebranded as disrespect and disrespect is treated like a crime. When loyalty becomes the yardstick for justice, constitutional limits become optional. Finally, we turn to the media arena. Dave Smith's blunt challenge to Dan Bongino raises a hard question: what happens when those who pledged to expose the “deep state” are accused of shielding it, especially on the Epstein saga? Independent platforms earn trust by pressing for receipts, not rehearsed talking points. Along the way we decode the Greenland push—why NATO already covers the threat it cites, and why chasing cartographic glory would shatter alliances without delivering strategic value. If you care about constitutional guardrails, Middle East stability, media accountability, and honest statecraft, this one's for you. Listen, share with a friend, and tell us where you draw the line—then hit follow so you don't miss what comes next.

In February 1979, after the Shah left Iran, religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini flew back to Tehran from Paris.He had been in exile and was greeted by millions of people lining the streets. In 2011, Mohsen Sazegara who worked for the Ayatollah, spoke to Louise Hidalgo.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: Ayatollah Khomeini on the flight back from exile. Credit: Gabriel Duval/AFP via Getty Images)

Protests sweeping Iran are unlike anything the regime has faced since coming to power in 1979. What began as demonstrations by shopkeepers in Tehran over the sharply devalued Iranian rial quickly morphed into sustained, nationwide anti-government protests. The government responded with extreme brutality, killing thousands of people—and in doing so, once again put itself in the crosshairs of the United States. Donald Trump has publicly encouraged the protesters and is threatening military action against the Iranian government. Could the United States strike Iran yet again? Why are Israel and America's Gulf allies—normally among the loudest advocates of confronting Tehran—suddenly urging restraint? And if the U.S. does launch a strike, how might Iran respond? My guest today, Dalia Dassa Kaye, literally wrote the book on the long and fraught relationship between the United States and Iran. A senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and the author of Enduring Hostility: The Making of America's Iran Policy, she has spent years studying how escalatory cycles between Washington and Tehran unfold. We begin by discussing why this protest movement is fundamentally different from those that came before—and then examine why the military options now being debated in Washington are unlikely to produce their intended results. As a crackdown intensifies in Iran and Trump weighs conducting strikes, this conversation gives you useful context for understanding events as they unfold.

Start with the headlines and everything looks simple: a “crown prince” trending on social feeds, viral clips of pre-revolution Tehran, and bold claims that one more round of pressure will tip the balance. Look closer and the picture changes. We unpack Iran's internal stalemate and Syria's shifting lines with a clear eye on what's driving events: sanctions that harden the regime's patronage networks, diaspora psyops that mistake nostalgia for strategy, and the vanishing space for any liberal or left alternative that might organize hope into power.We walk through how Iran's formal elections and parliament sit under real veto points from the Supreme Leader and security services, why the reformist track keeps collapsing, and how dollarization and elite access to cheap currency rig the economic playing field. That material strain feeds youth despair, anti-religious backlash, and polarizing street slogans the regime can exploit. Outside the borders, expected lifelines don't arrive. Russia and China prefer stability at low cost. The “axis of resistance” has limits and its own priorities. Israel and Turkey maneuver in Syria while the SDF faces pressure to retreat from Arab-majority areas. Once again, Kurdish politics become the lever many states pull to consolidate authority.We also scrutinize the information environment: Saudi-backed outlets, AI-washed propaganda, and English-language punditry that often substitutes for real reporting under an intense blackout. When verification fails, certainty thrives—and that's a gift to hardliners. Instead of romantic solutions or regime-change fantasies, we outline realistic levers that protect lives and keep political possibilities open: unions and professional associations setting bright lines, targeted pressure that hits elite rents rather than civilians, and media practices that prioritize verification over virality. It's not flashy. It's the kind of strategy that sustains pluralism after the hashtags fade.If you value sober analysis without cheerleading, hit follow, share this episode with a friend who loves geopolitics, and leave a review with the one question you want answered next. Your questions shape where we take this conversation.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian

The Notes: Will sinks our wagon train right out of the gate! Fording the river of podcast consent! The lies we've been told re: sucking! Snake bite corner! Herpetologist vs herpestologist! Will is enthusiastic about herpes! Herpes is a bad brand partner! STDs are the wrong time to practice self-diagnosis! Oops, it's not herpes! What we're watching! New Game of Thrones, Tehran, and Night Manager! Finally, a Game of Thrones spin-off that doesn't suck! The horniness of Hiddleston, a televisual study! Sports Corner (go Broncos)! Contact Us! Follow Us! Love Us! Email: doubledeucepod@gmail.com Twitter & Instagram: @doubledeucepod Bluesky: @doubledeucepod.bsky.social Facebook: www.facebook.com/DoubleDeucePod/ Patreon: patreon.com/DoubleDeucePod Also, please subscribe/rate/review/share us! We're on Apple, Android, Libsyn, Stitcher, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Radio.com, RadioPublic, pretty much anywhere they got podcasts, you can find the Deuce! Podcast logo art by Jason Keezer! Find his art online at Keezograms! Intro & Outro featuring Rob Schulte! Check out his many podcasts! Brought to you in part by sponsorship from Courtney Shipley, Official Superfans Stefan Rider, Amber Fraley, Nate Copt, and listeners like you! Join a tier on our Patreon! Advertise with us! If you want that good, all-natural focus and energy, our DOUBLEDEUCE20 code still works at www.magicmind.com/doubledeuce for 20% off all purchases and subscriptions. Check out the Lawrence Times's 785 Collective at https://lawrencekstimes.com/785collective/ for a list of local LFK podcasts including this one!  

What Trump's federal takeover of Minneapolis tells us about the current moment in American history; Rep. Pramila Jayapal discusses the ICE hearing she co-hosted; the new developments in the standoff between Trump and Iran's leadership and how it's playing out on the ground in Tehran; Emily St. John Mandel's ‘Station Eleven' is the subject of this week's Velshi Banned Book Club To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dear Mr. Baker,I am but one in a sea of many Americans viewed as a threat to the established order. I was once a part of that order. I helped build it. It would turn out I couldn't survive because I couldn't follow the rules of thought and speech that are mandated by everyone on the Left, especially those at the New York Times.It's personal, you see. I used to believe that if all I did was read Page One of the New York Times, I'd be well-informed. Brainwashed is more like it.It's easy to spot the bias now where it wasn't before. For instance, this was the New York Times on January 12th, and one of the strongest activists for the Democrats pretending they're pushing some sort of objective conclusion on X.But that's just another day at the New York Times. I know you didn't write this piece, Michelle Goldberg did, but it is worth mentioning as an aside that no, the “resistance libs” were not right. They were never right. I was one of them until I wasn't. It's been an ugly road out of the Doomsday Cult of the Left, but now, I live free as an exile.We were never the “resistance.” We were always the empire. We colonized the internet, after all, and, together with Barack Obama, the rise of Silicon Valley, social media, and the iPhone, as society migrated online, we were in control of all of it.But that's a story for a different time, Mr. Baker. This letter is much more urgent regarding the matters at hand. Your “analysis” and observation about Trump and protests is so wildly off base, a complete distortion of reality, that I felt compelled to write you this letter. You wrote:You write:President Trump had a ringing message of solidarity on Tuesday for demonstrators in the streets. “KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” he wrote on social media. He decried “the senseless killing of protesters,” and added that those pulling the triggers “will pay a big price.”He meant the protesters in Tehran, not Minneapolis. By contrast, the people in the streets of Minnesota, he wrote just 63 minutes earlier, were “anarchists and professional agitators” trying to cover up a fraud scandal. He vowed that “THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!”The eruption of protests on opposite sides of the planet at this moment in history has brought Mr. Trump's views of democracy and popular dissent into stark relief. The situations in Iran and Minnesota, of course, are different and complicated, but the president's rule of thumb seems simple enough: Those who take to the streets supporting a cause he favors are laudable heroes. Those who take to the streets to oppose him are illegitimate radicals.I read this, and my jaw dropped open, Mr. Baker. Where have you been for the past five years as we watched a split screen of protests in the Summer of 2020 and then on January 6th? Are you actually saying that you at the New York Times and anyone on the Left saw these things as comparable? Democracy and popular dissent in stark relief, boy, I couldn't have said it better myself.Tell me this is satire. Tell me you do not live in such an isolated bubble that you can't possibly see the blatant hypocrisy here? The treatment of these two events was very different and will be written about in opposite ways in history books forever. One will be seen as heroic and democracy in action, and the other, as dangerous. An insurrection in action. People like me were pulling our hair out, not because we would justify the riot at the Capitol, but because all of you said nothing about what happened in the Summer of 2020, a year that broke America and broke me.It wasn't only your paper that lied that Trump “incited” a mob to storm the Capitol and that it was a threat to “democracy.” That was the narrative pushed by every legacy media outlet, with no kind words for the protesters who were also doing what protesters do - getting angry and having their voices heard by a government and a culture that had demonized them, dehumanized them, and abandoned them. Trump included.The Democrats put up a Green-Zone-like fence around the Capitol. Ordinary Americans had their doors kicked in as the FBI hauled them off to jail. Anyone who even attended the “mostly peaceful” protest on January 6th was called an “insurrectionist” and “election denier,” and anyone who dared to question the 2020 election or who voted for Trump was inspected under a microscope by you all as some kind of insect or insurgent terrorist. Vice President Kamala Harris likened it to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor. These were American citizens, many of whom had been on lockdown, their businesses destroyed after COVID, and had watched the absurd events of 2020 play out. Masks, no masks, “systemic racism was more urgent than COVID,” then the pivot back to COVID, changing election rules, preventing people from gathering and thus, preventing campaigning, a surge of mail-in voting that won the election all before Election Day, a revolution in the streets that almost no one in the mainstream was even talking about once they got really bad, lest they hurt the Democrats.Oh, I know the game. I know we're all supposed to see the Trump supporters as racists, angry that Black and Brown people were in government, a second Confederacy flying their Dixie flags on January 6th, and that the protests over the Summer were about racial inequality and therefore justified. But here's the thing about democracy. You don't get to decide. We either all have the same rights or we don't have a democracy.There was nothing in your coverage, or the Liz Cheney show trial, that was, in any way, fair to the Americans who protested that day, and even to Donald Trump, who had a right to have their voices heard. No, they didn't have the right to riot. Ashli Babbitt lost her life over it, and then her memory was dragged through the mud by all of you.Here is how the Times covered Ashli Babbitt:And here is how they covered Renee Good:You see, one is treated like human garbage, and the other is treated like a hero. So just say it. Just admit that this has become a two-tiered society, you are among the ruling class, and the underclass has none of the same rights. You will decide they are “racists” and thus have no real stake in what happens in this country, even when they win the popular vote. Now that the protests in Minneapolis are violent, as violent as, if not more so than, January 6th, still you say nothing and pretend they are fighting the good fight. What has changed in ten years? Nothing except the Democrats failing to address the problem, allowing millions to flood over the border, and shaming Americans for caring about it. It's a sickness on the Left by now, a reality distortion that spilled out into real-world violence. Just look at what happened at Evergreen College. These students believed they were protesting “racism” at one of the most liberal colleges in America. Why? Because Bret Weinstein did not think it was right that white people should be asked to leave the campus on a “day of absence.”This kind of strange, new, justified violence by people who don't live in the same reality as the rest of us has become the new normal on the Left, backed up by all of you. How dare you compare them to the protesters in Iran? Complicated, you say? Oh, it's way beyond that. Pampered, privileged, bored white women and bratty college kids attacking ICE are, in no way, risking their lives. Yes, if you attack a police officer or an ICE officer, you are risking your life. Every American knows that if they live in the real world. In Iran, you are risking your life just for standing there and protesting peacefully, or speaking out of turn, or anything they decide is a crime punishable by death, which include adultry, dissent against the government, and blasphemy. At the New York Times, you want the tragic death of Renee Good to be the symbol for protesters dying at the hands of the regime, but, as usual, it is not the truth. That won't stop you from perpetuating the mass delusion and injecting it into the veins of your already unhinged readership.Here is Page One of the New York Times today. Every headline is about Renee Good. That is still the most important news of the day, even as hundreds, maybe thousands of Iranians are slaughtered.Followed by non-stop negative Trump coverage:The protests in Minneapolis are not against ICE. They are against democracy. The wrong people won the election, and that means the Left throws a fit. They've been throwing fits for ten years, starting in 2015 when they attacked a group of Trump supporters in California, calling them “racists,” because all of you sold them that lie. The violence continued on through Trump's inaugural and protests all through his first term. The Summer of 2020 was the biggest by far in modern American history, yet the legacy media, your paper, Mr. Baker, did not capture the truth of what happened. The baby tyrants who run your newsroom insisted the one op-ed by Tom Cotton, Send in the Troops, was itself violence and that caused the resignation of Bari Weiss and James Bennett, a shamefulprotst moment that should live on in infamy if people tell the truth. The Left's protesting now says one thing: Do what we want, or else. That is, Mr. Baker, closer to fascism than Trump will ever be. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Winston Marshall Show, I sat down with Iranian activist and campaigner Lily Moo for a harrowing and urgent conversation on the unfolding crisis inside Iran, the collapse of the Islamic Republic's legitimacy, and the fight for freedom.Lily explains what she is hearing directly from contacts and family inside Iran amid widespread blackouts, mass arrests, and violent crackdowns by the IRGC. We discuss the scale of the protests, the reported death toll, and why many Iranians believe the country is now in a revolutionary moment rather than another failed uprising.The conversation explores the role of economic collapse, sanctions, and inflation, alongside decades of repression, executions, and ideological control. Lily describes how protests spread from the Tehran bazaar across the country, why mosques have become symbols of regime violence, and how fear has given way to open defiance.We also examine Iran's relationship with the West, the threat posed by the IRGC beyond Iran's borders, and the growing calls for Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as a unifying transitional figure. Lily argues that Iran's future depends on reclaiming national identity, restoring dignity, and ending decades of Islamist rule.A powerful and deeply personal conversation about revolution, exile, courage, and whether Iran is finally approaching a decisive break with its past.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To see more exclusive content and interviews consider subscribing to my substack here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Lily's Activism & Life Under Threat05:35 Leaving Iran, Assimilating in Britain & Loyalty to the Crown08:24 IRGC Threats on British Soil10:12 What Is Actually Happening Inside Iran Right Now12:06 Reza Pahlavi, Monarchy & the Question of Leadership16:01 Economic Collapse, Sanctions & the Spark of Revolution19:39 Regime Fear, Military Pressure & Strategic Deterrence24:34 Is This a Revolution or Another Uprising?30:46 Blackouts, Mass Killings & First-Hand Testimony35:50 Why This Moment Is Different37:07 Persian Identity, Zoroastrian Roots & National Memory41:30 Religion in Iran: Islam, Christianity & Conversion45:57 Regime Change, Chaos & the Fear of the Unknown48:10 Can Reza Pahlavi Actually Govern?52:45 Foreign Intervention, History & Legitimacy56:46 Who Would Run Iran After the Regime Falls1:01:43 London Protests, Activism & Calling Out the BBC1:05:16 Final Reflection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This past week, Iranian protesters were labelled “terrorists” and “saboteurs” by the state. That rhetoric was accompanied by an internet blackout and a surge in violence, with the death toll still unclear. Simultaneously, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated, raising the stakes in what has become one of the most serious political upheavals in the country in years. Contributors: Tohid Asadi – Correspondent, Al Jazeera English Narges Bajoghli – Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University Roxane Farmanfarmaian – Lecturer, University Of Cambridge Farzan Sabet – Managing Researcher, Global Governance Centre On our radar In the US, the shooting - in public - of a woman two weeks ago by immigration officers has spiralled into a case of outright lying that is remarkable even by the standards of the Trump administration. Ryan Kohls reports on how official accounts, allied media and even AI-generated spokespeople were deployed to defend the shooting. Cory Doctorow: The AI hype machine Artificial intelligence is routinely framed as unstoppable - a technology the world must adapt to, not question. But as companies invest hundreds of billions and the hype accelerates, scrutiny has fallen away. Cory Doctorow on who controls the story around AI and why past tech “revolutions” offer a warning. Featuring: Cory Doctorow – Author and activist

In God's timing the tyrants ruling the nation of Iran (biblical Persia) will be toppled. The fates are being sealed of modern-day villains who behave like the antisemite Haman in the Book of Esther. We're living in prophetic times of which the Bible has a lot to say!

Russia's Role as a Stabilizing Factor in Middle East Tensions. Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Russia has reportedly arbitrated between Jerusalem and Tehran to prevent preemptive strikes and maintain stability in Eurasia. While Russia lacks the power to defend Iran from a U.S. attack, it seeks to avoid regional instability. Russia's diplomatic approach contrasts with perceived universal aggression from other global actors.1900 RUSSIA

SHOW SCHEDULE1-15-25`1923 GREENLAND Rival Factions Contending for Power in Post-Maduro Venezuela. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. Following Maduro's detention, four major crime families are competing for authority in Caracas, including the Rodriguez siblings and military leadership. While Delcy Rodriguez shows cautious cooperation with the U.S. regarding oil and prisoners, the country remains unstable as criminal interests and political repression continue to stifle progress. Cuba's Collapse Amidst U.S. Oil Blockade and Economic Ruin. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. The Trump administration has halted oil shipments to Cuba, exacerbating a crisis where the electrical grid is failing and life is becoming "impossible." Despite minimal aid from Mexico, the repressive communist apparatus remains ingrained, and the regime is expected to muddle through despite massive out-migration. Regional Tensions: U.S. Pressure on Mexico and South American Shifts. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. The U.S. is pushing Mexico for joint military operations against cartels, forcing President Sheinbaum into a "delicate dance" to protect sovereignty. Meanwhile, Brazil's Lula balances leftist ties against a conservative military, and Colombia shows a potential shift to the right as Petro's policies face significant discredit. Trade Integration and Security Concerns in Mercosur and Costa Rica. Guest: PROFESSOR EVAN ELLIS, U.S. Army War College. Mercosur has achieved a historic trade deal with the European Union, potentially offsetting U.S. economic pressure and deepening ties with China. In Costa Rica, rising public insecurity has led the government to consider El Salvador's "mega-prison" model as they head into elections dominated by concerns over organized crime. The Risks of Seizing Russia's Shadow Fleet at Sea. Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. The U.S. seizure of Russian-owned "shadow fleet" tankers raises the risk of a direct military clash if European nations follow suit. Russia views a maritime blockade as an act of war. Hardliners in the Kremlin may seek to escalate to terrify the West into withdrawing support from Ukraine. Russia's Role as a Stabilizing Factor in Middle East Tensions. Guest: ANATOL LIEVEN, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Russia has reportedly arbitrated between Jerusalem and Tehran to prevent preemptive strikes and maintain stability in Eurasia. While Russia lacks the power to defend Iran from a U.S. attack, it seeks to avoid regional instability. Russia's diplomatic approach contrasts with perceived universal aggression from other global actors. Economic Realities: Chinese Struggles and U.S. Consumer Strength. Guest: CHRIS RIEGEL, CEO of Stratacache. China's economy is struggling, evidenced by declining imports of raw materials and factory workers facing destitution. In contrast, the U.S. economy remains strong, with banner retail sales during the Christmasseason. However, the "K-shaped" economy shows consumer fatigue in the quick-service restaurant sector. Strategies for a Democratic Transition in Venezuela and Cuba. Guest: CLIFF MAY, Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Marco Rubio is reportedly developing a plan for a gradual transition in Venezuela by making specific demands on the remaining "gangster regime." By cutting off subsidized oil to Cuba, the U.S. hopes to cause the collapse of the Castroite regime, encouraging people to seek liberation from tyranny. Canada's Strategic Pivot to China. Guest: CONRAD BLACK. Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Chinato establish a "new strategic partnership" and a "new world order." This mission serves as a "Plan B" to offset potential trade losses with the United States under President Trump, specifically regarding strategic minerals and the renewal of the USMCA agreement. The Upwardly Mobile but Anxious Middle Class. Guest: VERONIQUE DE RUGY. Despite reports of a shrinking middle class, data shows many individuals are actually moving into the upper middle class. However, significant anxiety remains due to rising costs in government-regulated sectors like healthcare, housing, and education. This discontent leads to a search for scapegoats among the elite. Cosmological Mysteries: The Little Red Dots. Guest: DINESH NANDAL. The James Webb Space Telescopediscovered "little red dots"—compact, bright objects in the early universe that are not easily explained as galaxies or accreting black holes. These findings challenge the standard model of cosmology, suggesting the universe matured much earlier than previously thought by 21st-century scientists. Mapping the Future of Space Observation. Guest: DINESH NANDAL. Advancing cosmology requires a "James Webb 2.0" with larger mirrors and a successor to the Chandra X-ray telescope. Funding is also needed for researchers to develop new mathematical models. While AI can assist with pattern recognition, human physicists remain essential for creating the necessary new theoretical frameworks. Sovereignty and the Russian Identity Crisis. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. Sovereignty is fundamentally tied to geography and identity. In the current period of "cratomorphosis," Russia exhibits defensive nationalism rather than expansionism. To the Kremlin, Ukraine remains the "cradle of Russia," making its loss a profound threat to Russian ethos, historical religious origins, and its personal identity. China's Quest for Legitimacy and Defense. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. The Chinese Communist Partyyearns for ancient China's legitimacy while defending its modern borders. Rather than traditional imperial expansion, China employs "total war" non-military means. However, the state currently faces a crisis of sovereignty as it implodes internally under disproven totalitarian models and intensifying defensive pressures. The Reassertion of American Empire. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. During Donald Trump's second term, the United States moved into an offensive mode to reassert dominance and energy security. Simultaneously, the European Union faces a crisis of legitimacy, with nation-states rebelling against its supra-state model. The EUlacks a cohesive vision, leading to internal distress. Lessons from the Superpower's Economic Resurgence. Guest: GREGORY COPLEY. The 21st century reveals that nations prioritizing energy security and enforced borders tend to succeed. President Trump's focus on manufacturing and cheap energy has bolstered the U.S. economy, positioning it as an unchallenged superpower. However, his dynamic approach often alienates allies while redefining grand strategy.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Despite an easing of rhetoric, the United States tightens its military posture toward Iran, moving a carrier strike group into the Middle East. While rhetoric between Washington and Tehran appears to cool, the deployment signals that military pressure—and U.S. options—remain firmly in place. Later in the show—the Gaza ceasefire enters Phase Two…at least on paper. President Donald Trump backs a new transitional governing plan for Gaza, but serious doubts remain over whether Hamas would ever agree to disarm. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Joi + Blokes: Go to http://joiandblokes.com/PDB and use code PDB for 50% off your labs and 20% off all supplements Mars Men: Boost energy and strength naturally with Mars Men—get 50% off for life + 3 free gifts at https://MenGoToMars.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Friday Radar Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan delivers quick but critical headlines to watch heading into the weekend, from violent unrest in Minnesota to improving economic signals and new risks tied to artificial intelligence. Minnesota Riots and the Insurrection Act: President Trump warns he may invoke the Insurrection Act after left-wing riots erupt in Minneapolis, fueled by rhetoric from Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey targeting ICE officers. Protesters stole firearms from an FBI vehicle, raising alarms about escalating violence and state-level defiance of federal authority. Democrats Push to Abolish ICE: Michigan Representative Shri Thanedar introduces new legislation to abolish ICE, joining a growing majority of Democrats openly calling for the end of deportations. Bryan argues the bill signals a revolutionary shift in immigration policy, even if it fails in the current Congress. U.S. Seizes More Oil Tankers: U.S. forces capture a sixth ghost-fleet tanker carrying Venezuelan, Russian, and Iranian oil. Bryan explains how the strategy squeezes Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing while potentially impacting global oil prices and American consumers. Economic Updates Worth Watching: Mortgage rates hit a three-year low near 6 percent, inflation continues to cool, and consumer sentiment improves. Hiring remains weak, but falling rents, rising wages, and lower prices offer signs of relief heading into 2026. AI Risks Expand: Workers are increasingly being paid to train AI systems that may ultimately replace them. Bryan also warns of a surge in AI-driven scams, including fake videos and emails impersonating pastors and religious leaders. Unexpected Medical and Market News: GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may lower airline fuel costs as passengers weigh less, offering a surprising boost to airline profits.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 16 2026 Wright Report, Minnesota riots Insurrection Act, Tim Walz ICE rhetoric, abolish ICE bill Thanedar, ghost fleet oil tanker seizure, mortgage rates three-year low, inflation cooling economy, AI job displacement training, AI scams fake pastors, GLP-1 drugs airline fuel savings

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Israel Story producer Mitch Ginsburg. On February 20, 1979, the last 33 Israelis returned from Tehran upon the forced closure of the Israeli embassy. After the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khoumeini's new regime, the Israeli trade mission's location was given over to the Palestine Liberation Organization, whose supporters immediately stormed the building. In today's episode, we relay the untold saga of the derring-do that saw these final Israeli officials back to the Jewish state. A story of four chapters, Ginsburg narrates the tale through the eyes of the Tehran embassy's military attache, Brigadier General Itzik Segev. Hear how they walk the plank, assume false identities and eventually meet up with the American delegation, which was also fleeing the country. Our conversation is followed by the complete episode of Ginsburg's recent Israel Story installment, "Frankly, My Deer," which tells the tale of the final and frantic days of the Shah’s regime, when an unlikely Israeli envoy — a cross between David Attenborough and Jason Bourne — landed in Tehran. His secret mission was to bring back something certain powerful people in Israel sorely wanted. And so this week, we ask Mitch Ginsburg what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: In this December 10, 1978 file picture, demonstrators hold up a poster of exiled Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini during an anti-shah demonstration in Tehran at the Shayah monument which was built to commemorate the monarch's rule and symbol of his power. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While global attention was fixed on the fallout from U.S. intervention in Venezuela and rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi quietly toured three African countries in a notably low-profile visit. Eric, Cobus, and Géraud unpack why this understated trip mattered despite attracting little media attention, and examine its timing alongside a controversial BRICS naval exercise held off the coast of South Africa.

On today’s show, Josh breaks down the latest developments with Iran after President Trump set a clear red line—and Tehran crossed it. While Josh has long been skeptical of “red line” diplomacy, he explains why the president now has to act to avoid projecting weakness or the appearance of empty threats.Josh then turns to the unrest in Minneapolis, where some within the administration are labeling the ongoing riots an insurrection and urging the president to consider invoking the Insurrection Act.He closes the show with a broader cultural discussion on personal responsibility, reacting to Oprah’s recent comments about weight loss, willpower, and genetics—and why that debate matters far beyond diet and health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world watches events in Iran, and wonders whether the US will intervene, the Spectator's cover this week examines 'British complicity in Tehran's terror'. When thinking about what could happen next in the crisis, there is a false dichotomy presented between regime survival and revolution; the reality is more complicated, though there is no doubt that this is the biggest threat to the theocratic regime in decades. For this week's Edition, host Lara Prendergast is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, columnist Rachel Johnson and features editor – and Edition co-host – William Moore. They commend the bravery of Iran's protestors but criticise the ‘inept, naive and wrong' response of the Foreign Office. Are some Brits proving to be Iran's ‘useful idiots'? As well as the crisis in the Middle East, they discuss: whether the Starmer administration should be considered Gordon Brown's second term; the growing obsession with race in Britain – particularly by the right; Rachel's reflections on her travels to the US – from transatlantic cruise liners to partying with our former colleague Katy Balls; why some men lament the loss of their libido; and finally, the controversy over Elon Musk's AI tool ‘Grok'. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Delhi should realise that an unstable Iran, or a pro-American regime in Tehran, is not in India's interest.  

Good morning. There is deep sadness in Tehran and other Iranian cities today as more that 2,500 dead are mourned and it appears that the regime is in control of the streets again. It looks as though the brave attempt of the protestors to bring about change has ended in nothing but more cruel repression. It must be easy to lose heart, not just here but in so many places of the world, and to think that things will always go on in much the same way. So it is good to remind ourselves that things can change. I did not think Apartheid would end without civil war but in 1994 a democratic government was elected in South Africa. I did not think the cold war would end in my lifetime but in 1989 the Berlin wall came tumbling down, whilst in 1979 in Iran the Shah was toppled suddenly and surprisingly. But for those suffering it always seems so long. In the last book of the Bible, written when Christians were being killed for their faith, the author pictures them sheltering under the altar, crying out ‘How long O Lord?' – how long before justice is established. A cry that goes up every day. In response to this cry Jesus told one of his surprising stories. A woman who had a legal case against someone kept pestering a hard hearted judge. The judge had no sympathy for the woman and kept sending her away. Eventually he could stand it no longer and granted what she wanted. Jesus told the story to urge us not to give up. However hopeless things appear we are not to cease to pray and work for a world which is just. We are not simply to resign ourselves to things always being as they are now. I love the words of the American playwright Tennessee Williams. He said: I've met many people that seemed well-adjusted, but …I'm not sure I would want to be well-adjusted to things as they are. I would prefer to be racked by desire for things better than what they are, even for things which are unattainable, than to be satisfied with things as they are. Those words always bring to my mind one of the Beatitudes of Jesus ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst that right might prevail'. Hunger and thirst are strong words but they reflect the longing of those not only in Iran but in so many places of the world where people are suffering - and the longing of those who stand in solidarity with them.

Violence last night in Minneapolis as ICE operations continue there. Is President Trump's tune changing on Iran, and is Israel behind what is happening in Tehran? The Senate votes to allow Trump's plans to continue in Venezuela. Is progress being made in negotiations to get Greenland from Denmark? A congressman calls for abolishing ICE.  Words of wisdom from Renee Good's former father-in-law. Is the Minneapolis airport a hub for massive fraud? Signs that the economy is improving? Supreme Court still hasn't released its ruling on tariffs. Kamala Harris purchases a home worth $8.2 million on the coast … despite her concern for rising seas. Washington Post reporter's equipment taken by federal agents in pursuit of a government leaker. How much would you pay to see your favorite team in person? Author Brad Meltzer joins the show! 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:26 ICE Protest Update 02:36 President Trump on Iran Killings 05:46 Iran Foreign Minister Speaks with Fox News 06:51 Iran Foreign Minister Blames Israel 15:28 President Trump on Greenland Joining the US 22:32 Denmark is Not Ready for US Takeover 35:52 Tom Homan on Deportation Numbers 39:06 Tom Homan Asked Why ICE is in Minneapolis? 40:24 Tim Walz Continues the Revolution 42:53 The Left Sings Once Again! 45:28 John Leguizamo's Message about Renee Good 49:56 Renee Good's Former Father-in-Law Talks about ICE 58:55 Joe Rogan Bashes ICE? 1:03:08 Addressing Housing Affordability 1:15:15 UAW Statement 1:24:29 Brad Meltzer's Newest Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: As Iran's regime tightens its information blackout, rare eyewitness accounts are beginning to slip through, offering a disturbing look at how Tehran is carrying out its crackdown— from targeted maiming to raids on hospitals and clinics, revealing tactics that go far beyond disputed body counts. The war on the high seas widens, with new reporting that the United States is seeking court warrants to seize dozens of additional Venezuela-linked oil tankers, signaling a major escalation in maritime pressure. The United States freezes all visa processing for seventy-five countries, including Iran, Russia, and Somalia, in a sweeping move that signals a tougher stance on immigration and national security. And in today's Back of the Brief, a new development in the Havana Syndrome mystery, as the U.S. government quietly acquires a device believed to be linked to the unexplained injuries reported by American officials. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief  Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Mars Men: Boost energy and strength naturally with Mars Men—get 50% off for life + 3 free gifts at https://MenGoToMars.com. DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDB and use promocode PDB at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran is reaching a breaking point as tensions escalate across the Middle East. Iranian state TV threatens President Trump, Qatar rejects U.S. use of its airbase, and Israel issues a direct warning to Tehran as airspace over Iran is cleared.We break down Trump's latest comments on Iran, Gaza, Greenland, and Venezuela, including Steve Witkoff's announcement of Phase Two in negotiations to end the Gaza conflict. Domestically, chaos erupts as ICE officers face violence, misleading media narratives spread, and Joe Rogan amplifies a story critics say leaves out key facts. Plus:Tim Walz under fire for inflammatory rhetoricSCOTUS rulings and protestsKash Patel exposes a Washington Post leakerKamala Harris' $8M Malibu mansionThe trans debate reaches new extremesRiley Gaines targeted by online mobsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW!Get 35% off your first Dose Daily subscription to support your liver at https://Dosedaily.co/CHICKS code CHICKS today!Get up to 30% off your first 3 OneSkin subscription orders with code CHICKS at https://OneSkin.co/Chicks and support our show at checkout!Visit https://ChicksLoveOliveOil.com and get a full-size $39 bottle of fresh-pressed olive oil for just $1 shipping—no commitment! Taste the freshness difference.Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite

As protests spread across Iran and the regime intensifies its crackdown, Mosh sits down with Jason Rezaian — former Tehran correspondent and Iranian regime prisoner— to break down what's really happening inside the country, and why this moment feels different from past waves of unrest.Rezaian draws on both history and lived experience. His father left Iran for the U.S. before the revolution; Jason returned decades later to cover the country — and was ultimately arrested and held as prisoner for 544 days.In this conversation, Rezaian explains how Islamic Regime has reached its end date — from economic collapse and internal fractures to a public that increasingly feels it has nothing left to lose. He shares how Iranians still find ways to communicate and organize under extreme censorship, why outside military pressure often strengthens hardliners, and what real support for Iranian civil society could look like.The episode also looks ahead: how fragile the regime actually is, who could emerge as a credible leader if it falls, and what kind of transition would give Iran its best chance at stability after decades of repression. Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

Today's Headlines: We're starting in Iran, where airspace has been shut down as the US appears to be preparing for a possible strike — even though Trump says (with zero real verification) that the regime has stopped killing protesters. The internet remains mostly offline, US troops are being evacuated from bases across the Middle East, and Iran is threatening retaliation if Trump gives the green light. Meanwhile, JD Vance and Marco Rubio met with Danish and Greenland officials about Trump's ongoing obsession with Greenland, walking away with “fundamental disagreements” and a new working group that solved nothing. Several European countries responded by sending troops, aircraft, and ships to Greenland. Back in the US, DHS claims the ICE agent who killed Renee Good is suffering from “internal bleeding,” as Stephen Miller announced via DHS that ICE agents have federal immunity and that interfering with them is a felony. The First Amendment also had a rough day: the FBI searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson and seized her devices as part of a leak investigation — while insisting she's not the target — and the Trump administration opened an investigation into Senator Elissa Slotkin for appearing in a video urging troops to resist illegal orders.The State Department is suspending immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries deemed likely to need public assistance, while also quietly expanding scrutiny of non-immigrant visas. The administration also canceled up to $2 billion in mental health and addiction treatment grants. Elsewhere, the Ford worker who called Trump a “pedophile protector” during a factory visit was suspended, Verizon users endured a widespread outage, and finally, some actual good news: US cancer survival rates are at an all-time high. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Trump claims killing of Iran protesters 'has stopped' even as Tehran signals executions ahead Axios: U.S. evacuates troops from Middle East bases as Trump weighs Iran strikes Newsweek: Jonathan Ross Update: ICE Agent Suffered Internal Bleeding After Renee Good Shooting The New Republic: Stephen Miller Delivers Chilling Message to ICE as Violence Grows WaPo: FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter's home Trump administration is investigating Sen. Slotkin for Democrats' video urging troops to resist 'illegal orders' AP News: US will suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns Axios: Trump admin abruptly cancels mental health grants WaPo: Trump makes obscene gesture, mouths expletives at Detroit factory  NBC News: Widespread Verizon outage prompts emergency alerts in Washington, New York City US News: U.S. Cancer Survival Rates Reach Record High, Report Says Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, armed Kurdish separatist groups tried to cross into Iran from Iraq in recent days, stoking fears that the country's spiraling unrest has attracted dangerous foreign militants who could destabilize the wider region, according to reports. Iranian officials said the attempted breach came amid a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests against the country's regime, with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leading the response. Now all eyes are on the skies of Tehran as questions loom over what President Trump will do regarding the leaders of Iran and how he will mitigate peace in that region. Also Minnesota Governor Tim Walz brought up on charges of impeachment regarding the Somalian fraud case and hilarious headlines from the Babylon Bee. For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus a Stupid Milk Press Conference, America's Role, and Harbaugh to the Giants—Paul Rieckhoff with Connell McShane.  What's really happening on the streets of Iran? Is the regime conducting executions or not? Reports say yes. Trump says no. During a crazy press conference at the White House about changing the rules for milk in schools. Will Trump hit Iran again? Will Congress do anything?? What does it mean for America and the world? Rieckhoff explains why the protests feel like a potential tipping point, why organic, grassroots uprisings matter, and why the best move for President Trump may be to avoid military escalation while supporting those risking their lives for freedom.​ From reports of snipers on rooftops and internet blackouts to questions about executions, regime brutality, and U.S. intelligence, Rieckhoff and retired General Richard Newton dig into the realities on the ground and the risks of miscalculation. They explore how regime change in Tehran could ripple across Russia, North Korea, and beyond—and what true American leadership should look like in 2026.​ Rieckhoff also calls out Congress's responsibility to reassert its war powers, lays out non-military ways the United States can stand with Iranian protesters, and warns against turning a democratic uprising into a Trump-branded intervention. They examine how shifting U.S. assets, Israeli calculations, and a fraying global coalition reveal that America is no longer automatically trusted to “quarterback” world events—and what independent Americans should demand from their leaders now. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Ways to listen: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram  Social channels: X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iran is reaching a breaking point as tensions escalate across the Middle East. Iranian state TV threatens President Trump, Qatar rejects U.S. use of its airbase, and Israel issues a direct warning to Tehran as airspace over Iran is cleared. We break down Trump's latest comments on Iran, Gaza, Greenland, and Venezuela, including Steve Witkoff's […]

After days of urging the people of Iran to continue to protest, President Trump suddenly appeared to back down last night — noting to reporters that Iranian sources told him that the killing of protesters was over and planned executions will not go ahead. But even as the crackdown on protesters has proven deadly, with thousands reported killed, some are still staunch defenders of the regime. Christiane speaks to one of those voices — Mohammad Marandi is a Professor at the University of Tehran and joins the show from Tehran, Iran.  Also on today's show: Nazenin Ansari, Journalist /Managing Editor of Kayhan London; Phil Gunson, Andes Project Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group; NYT columnist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LIVE FROM TEHRAN: Foreign Pressure or Internal Crisis? : Prof. Seyed Mohammad MarandiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a new bonus episode out! find it in your feed, or here: https://bit.ly/49pirZ1Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ICs1pgQgCbYFor more Unholy content, social media, etc: https://linktr.ee/unholypodIran is burning, the world is watching – and, as ever, everyone is waiting to see what Donald Trump does next. As mass protests face a ferocious crackdown that may already rank among the bloodiest in the region's modern history, Yonit and Jonathan speak to scholar of Iran Dr. Suzanne Maloney about the possibility of an eventual regime change in Tehran, Washington's options and Israel's concerns.In the UK, a police chief is urged to quit as the truth emerges of his ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, there's a Mensch award for sporting excellence  - and in the midst of it all, Unholy turns five. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As protests spread across Iran and the regime intensifies its crackdown, Mosh sits down with Jason Rezaian — former Tehran correspondent and Iranian regime prisoner— to break down what's really happening inside the country, and why this moment feels different from past waves of unrest.Rezaian draws on both history and lived experience. His father left Iran for the U.S. before the revolution; Jason returned decades later to cover the country — and was ultimately arrested and held as prisoner for 544 days.In this conversation, Rezaian explains how Islamic Regime has reached its end date — from economic collapse and internal fractures to a public that increasingly feels it has nothing left to lose. He shares how Iranians still find ways to communicate and organize under extreme censorship, why outside military pressure often strengthens hardliners, and what real support for Iranian civil society could look like.The episode also looks ahead: how fragile the regime actually is, who could emerge as a credible leader if it falls, and what kind of transition would give Iran its best chance at stability after decades of repression. Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.

President Trump calls off all meetings with the Islamic regime—suggesting he may come to the aid of Iranian protestors, inflation holds steady as the administration touts an affordability push, and Congress tosses around a funding package to keep the lights on until October. Get the facts first with Morning Wire. - - - Ep. 2579 - - - Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 - - - Today's Sponsors: ZipRecruiter - Go to https://ZipRecruiter.com/WIRE to try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE. HelloFresh - Go to https://HelloFresh.com/morningwire10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy morning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States is urging its citizens in Iran to leave immediately, warning that protests continue to escalate. A notice released by the US virtual embassy in Tehran advises American nationals to travel by land to Turkey or Armenia, if they can make the journey safely. It says those unable to leave should take refuge at home or in another safe building and keep a supply of food, water and medication. Also: Scientists say 2025 was one of the three hottest years on record. US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio are meeting the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers in the White House on Wednesday. Bill Clinton has refused to testify in the Congressional investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee chairman says there will be a vote to hold the former President in contempt of Congress. K-pop megastars BTS announce a 79-date world tour after all members of the boyband completed their mandatory military training in South Korea. The American civil rights activist Claudette Colvin, has died at the age of 86.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Intense protests in Iran, sparked by decades of mismanagement, have led to a violent crackdown by the regime. Schanzer highlights that these demonstrations are uniquely supported by President Trump'srhetoric. Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a potential figurehead for a transitional government or constitutional monarchy, as the population remains largely pro-Western.1978 TEHRAN

Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Syria's new central government remains extremely fragile, with authority barely extending beyond Damascus as factions clash in Aleppo. Schanzer describes a "Sunni jihadist regime" facing retribution from sectarian minorities. Meanwhile, regional tensions escalate as Israel and Iran reportedly narrowly avoided direct conflict, prompting Russia to evacuate its embassy.1979 TEHRAN

Guest: Gregory Copley. Reza Pahlavi proposes a constitutional monarchy where the crown serves as a symbolic figurehead, similar to the British system. Copley highlights Pahlavi's unique name recognition and legitimacy as the former crown prince. However, air power alone cannot decisively change the situation on the ground, requiring covert support after the clerics collapse.1970 TEHRAN

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Wednesday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan exposes a stunning Secret Service breach that put Vice President JD Vance and President Trump at risk, explains why emerging weapons like bioweapons and directed energy systems are reshaping warfare, and tracks escalating political and legal clashes tied to immigration enforcement, Venezuela, Greenland, China, and Iran. Secret Service Scandal Puts Leaders at Risk: An undercover sting revealed that Secret Service agent Tomas Escotto shared highly sensitive security details about Vice President JD Vance and President Trump, including movement patterns and advance travel plans. Bryan explains how such pattern of life leaks are exactly how foreign intelligence services plan assassinations and warns that internal ideological bias inside protective services now poses a grave national security threat. New Weapons That Change Everything: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly warned that future military dominance will hinge on hypersonic missiles, long-range drones, space systems, biotechnologies, and directed energy weapons. Bryan breaks down why targeted bioweapons and portable energy weapons are no longer science fiction, how they may already have been used in Venezuela, and why cartels or hostile states gaining access would be catastrophic. SPR and Venezuelan Oil Strategy: Congress and the White House are considering how to use Venezuelan oil now under U.S. control to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Because the oil is heavy and high in sulfur, officials may sell it on the open market and purchase more suitable crude instead, turning Venezuela's resources into strategic leverage. Minnesota Protests Turn Organized and Political: Far left activists continue coordinated attacks on ICE officers in Minneapolis, with media outlets downplaying the political funding and organization behind the protests. Bryan explains why lawsuits by Minnesota officials to block federal immigration enforcement are political theater designed to energize the Abolish ICE movement, not serious legal efforts. Trump Moves Against Sanctuary Policies and Fraud: President Trump warned that federal funding will be cut off to sanctuary jurisdictions within ninety days unless they comply with immigration law. He also announced plans to revoke citizenship obtained through fraud nationwide, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirming investigations are underway in all fifty states. Greenland Becomes a Spy Battlefield: As U.S., Danish, Chinese, and Russian interests collide over Greenland, Bryan answers a listener question on CIA operations there. He explains how U.S. intelligence identifies motivations, recruits sources, and counters Russian and Chinese influence as all sides quietly prepare for long term control of the Arctic. Global Power Plays Intensify: The Pentagon is repositioning naval assets near Venezuela while courts battle over deportations. Trump is quietly seeking seizure warrants for Russian-flagged ghost fleet tankers to squeeze Moscow and Tehran. Meanwhile, new assessments warn China could neutralize the U.S. Navy around Taiwan by mass-producing hypersonic missiles faster than America can replace them. Iran and Argentina Close the Episode: Iran's protest death toll may exceed twenty thousand as Trump weighs military action despite regional warnings. Bryan closes with rare good news as Argentina repaid a $2.5 billion U.S. loan with interest, bolstering President Javier Milei's reforms and delivering a win for American taxpayers.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: January 14 2026 Wright Report, Secret Service breach JD Vance, Tomas Escotto sting operation, Pete Hegseth new weapons warning, bioweapons directed energy systems, Strategic Petroleum Reserve Venezuelan oil, Minneapolis ICE protests Abolish ICE, sanctuary city funding cutoff, citizenship revocation fraud, CIA operations Greenland Arctic, China hypersonic missile threat Taiwan, Iran protest death toll Trump decision, Argentina Milei loan repayment

Today's Headlines: Six federal prosecutors in Minnesota resigned after the DOJ pushed them to investigate the widow of Renee Good — while still refusing to treat the ICE officer who killed Good as a civil rights case. The DOJ is now probing alleged ties between Good's wife and local ICE protest groups, a move prosecutors called a blatant inversion of justice. At the same time, Rep. Jamie Raskin is pressing DHS over reports that ICE is recruiting pardoned January 6 participants, asking how many now have guns, masks, and badges. That scrutiny comes as more than 50 House Democrats roll out articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for obstruction, civil rights violations, and alleged self-dealing. Trump escalated things in Detroit, announcing he'll cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities and states starting February 1 — targeting 11 states and D.C. labeled as sanctuary jurisdictions. Abroad, Iran's regime crackdown has reportedly killed more than 2,000 protesters. Trump says he's canceled talks with Tehran, urged protesters to “take over your institutions,” slapped new tariffs on countries doing business with Iran, and — as the regime jams Starlink — the White House has reportedly held quiet talks with exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi. In Epstein news, Bill and Hillary Clinton refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee about Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending an eight-page letter arguing the subpoenas are invalid and noting they already submitted sworn statements the committee accepted from others. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard arguments on state bans targeting transgender athletes, with signs the justices are unlikely to strike them down. And civil rights trailblazer Claudette Colvin, whose defiance on a Montgomery bus at 15 helped ignite the civil rights movement, has died at 86. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: Six Prosecutors Quit Over DOJ Push to Investigate Renee Good's Widow Axios: "Who's behind the masks": Raskin seeks answers on Jan. 6 defendants hired by ICE Axios: Scoop: Over 50 House Dems sign onto Kristi Noem impeachment articles Politico: White House to end funding to sanctuary cities and states on Feb. 1 AP News: Trump pressures Iran with tariffs that could raise prices in the US WaPo: Iran jams Starlink, protesters' lifeline. Trump, Musk say that won't stand. Axios: Scoop: Trump's envoy secretly met Iran's exiled crown prince WaPo: Supreme Court appears skeptical of arguments against bans of trans athletes AP News: Claudette Colvin, who refused to move seats on a bus at start of civil rights movement, dies at 86 NYT: Bill and Hillary Clinton Refuse to Testify in Epstein Inquiry - The New York Times TMZ:   President Trump Filmed Flipping Off Ford Worker Who Yells 'Pedophile Protector' at Him Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Dems Rig the System. Chicago the Next Minneapolis? Non-binary is About Freedom. Trump Sics FBI on Wash Post. US Troops to Iran? RIP John Forte. Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff has an exclusive first media interview with Lindsay Church—Minority Veterans of America founder, disabled post‑9/11 veteran, queer non-binary parent, and now independent candidate for Congress in Illinois' 4th District. This all-new episode dives into what it means to take on ICE in Chicago, confront a rigged Democratic party primary, and run as an independent veteran in the middle of Trump's escalating war on democracy and the free press.​ Lindsay's campaign is already historic—as they'd be the first non-binary candidate on a federal ballot in American history.  From the streets of Berwyn and Cicero—where ICE raids have become an everyday terror—to the halls of Congress where Lindsay has already helped pass landmark reforms like the PACT Act and the Deborah Sampson Act, this is a raw, unfiltered conversation about power, courage, leadership and accountability. Paul and Lindsay break down the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis from a combat veteran's perspective, the weaponization of ICE and PTSD, and how this shooting exposes the consequences when discipline and democracy break down.​ You'll hear why Lindsay believes the corrupt Democratic Party machine in IL‑04 “coronated” a successor behind closed doors, how an independent needs more than 10,000 signatures just to get on the ballot, and why they are running for office in the face of hate and danger—because people deserve a real choice in November and a representative who's earned their vote, not inherited it. The episode zooms out to Trump's broader authoritarian overreach—ICE raids, FBI raiding the home of a Washington Post journalist, threats to NATO, escalation toward Iran, Greenland and Venezuela—while Paul also honors the late musician John Forté, celebrates his wife's new independent film “The Florist,” and reminds listeners that from Tehran to Kyiv to Chicago's Southwest Side, hope and resistance are still alive. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Watch/hear previous appearances on the show by Lindsay - Episode 324 and Episode 177. -Learn more about Lindsay's work at Minority Vets as well as their campaign for Congress here. -Support John Forté's family through GoFundMe here. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Ways to listen: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to listen: YouTube • Instagram  Social channels: X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iran is once again witnessing large-scale protests, on which the regime is cracking down through mass arrests and deadly force. President Trump has stated that the United States would come to the rescue of Iranians if the regime continues to kill protestors. Meanwhile, Tehran continues to reconstitute its nuclear program, which was damaged during the 12-day war over the summer. President Trump has threatened to eliminate Iran's nuclear and missile programs if Tehran does not stop rebuilding its capabilities. Iran's regional standing remains diminished, though its relationships with Russia and China continue even as tensions create limits to cooperation. On today's episode, Lawfare Public Service Fellow Ariane Tabatabai sits down with Richard Nephew, Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and former Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, to discuss the latest developments in Iran, take stock of U.S. policy toward Iran during President Trump's first year back in office, and offer indicators for what to expect next.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump says countries trading with Iran will face an immediate 25% percent tariff on business with the United States, in response to Tehran's deadly suppression of protests. China alone is estimated to buy around 90% of the oil that Iran exports to the global market. As Washington considers additional action, we hear from Iranians who have lost loved ones in the lethal response to the nationwide demonstrations.Also: we hear from a Syrian man who was duped into fighting in Ukraine by a former Russian teacher, who promised hundreds of foreign recruits they could avoid combat. The US states of Minnesota and Illinois sue the Trump administration to try to halt mass deployments of ICE agents. A mobile app has gone viral in China as young people living alone seek reassurance that someone will be alerted if they go missing. More than 100 environmental officers in India are searching for an elephant that's believed to have killed at least 22 people in the state of Jharkhand in the past week. Archaeologists celebrate the discovery of what could be the largest ever Roman villa in Wales. And the man whose body began brewing its own alcohol.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureConspiracy no more, the D’s in Mass want to limit miles people can drive because of climate change. Biden/Obama forces electrical prices higher, Trump is now bringing the prices down and AI datacenters will be powered separately. The [CB] awakening has begun. Sometime you need to show the people the truth. The world is changing, Trump has shutdown the money supply around the world, the [DS] is in a deep panic and soon the people of Iran will take back their own country. As the [DS] criminal syndicate falls apart are they planning an armed civil war? Trump admin designates the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, other chapters to follow. In the end the Patriots have full control, once the chaos begins the partios will round them all up, it will be clean and swift. Economy https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2010831605430976627?s=20  Telecommunications, Utilities, & Energy and now heads to the Senate Ways and Means Committee (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");    major changes beginning this week to ensure that Americans don't “pick up the tab” for their POWER consumption, in the form of paying higher Utility bills. We are the “HOTTEST” Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE but, the big Technology Companies who build them must “pay their own way.” Thank you, and congratulations to Microsoft. More to come soon! President DJT Trump Will Request to Limit Credit Card Interest Rates to 10% for One Year to Combat the Scams of the Big Financial Companies   Trump Administration. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP This initiative is a great for reversing the damage caused by leftist policies that prioritized uncontrolled spending and galloping inflation over the well-being of the working people. Under the Biden administration, credit card interest rates skyrocketed, reaching an average of 21.5 % in 2024, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank, exacerbated by inflation that reached peaks of 9 % in 2022. This escalation was not an accident, but the direct result of Democratic policies that injected trillions in unnecessary stimuli, increasing the national debt and forcing the Fed to raise base rates to contain the crisis. Source:  gatewayhispanic.com  https://twitter.com/truflation/status/2011071380175860037?s=20   price data has been showing  https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/2010924086981984640?s=20 https://twitter.com/DrJStrategy/status/2011032604313518251?s=20  a hoax. What Powell actually did •Powell chose to go public with a dramatic video statement saying DOJ subpoenas “threatened a criminal indictment” over his testimony on the Fed's multibillion‑dollar building renovations. •He explicitly framed the subpoenas as “pretexts” and cast them as retaliation for the Fed setting rates independently of the president, elevating a renovation/cost‑overrun inquiry into an existential attack on central bank independence. The framing of criminal indictment came from Powell! In what look liked a scripted response, all of the Fed acolytes on Wall St cried foul, they bought in hook line and sinker!!! What the U.S. Attorney is saying •The U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. has stated they contacted the Fed “on multiple occasions” about cost overruns and Powell's congressional testimony, were ignored, and therefore resorted to formal legal process, which they stress “is not a threat.” •Jeanine Pirro has been explicit that “the word ‘indictment' has come out of Mr. Powell's mouth, no one else's,” and that “none of this would have happened if they had just responded to our outreach.” “Above the law” behaviour. •Powell now publicly insists “no one is above the law,” even as the record shows the Fed disregarded informal outreach and only engaged once grand jury subpoenas landed, which is the opposite of transparent cooperation. Recall Choke Point 2.0 and the unbanking of individuals. •By recasting a straightforward question of cost overruns and possible misstatements to Congress as an illegitimate “criminal indictment threat,” Powell is effectively demanding a special zone of immunity wrapped in the rhetoric of independence. Why central bankers are “charging the hill” •Former Fed chairs and global monetary grandees have rushed out statements condemning the probe as an attack on Fed independence, treating any prosecutorial look at a central banker as inherently out of bounds. The former Fed officials' statement is doing exactly what the “51 intel officials” letter did on the Hunter Biden laptop: using elite signatures to launder a political narrative into institutional dogma and declare scrutiny itself illegitimate. Powell and his allies are recasting a narrow DOJ inquiry into cost overruns and testimony accuracy as an existential assault on “independence,” and an all‑too‑willing media is once again treating the letter as revealed truth instead of asking hard questions This closes ranks around the idea that central banks sit on a higher plane than normal agencies, immune not only from political pressure on rates, which is legitimate, but also from standard legal and fiscal oversight, which is not. MSM and the death of the 4th estate •Much of legacy media has adopted Powell's framing almost verbatim: “unprecedented attack on independence,” “monetary policy under assault,” while relegating the core factual dispute,ignored outreach, cost overruns, accuracy of testimony, to secondary status. Powell and the central banking crowd are behaving in a way that is frankly odd: they stonewall basic oversight, scream “independence” the moment anyone reaches for legal tools, and act as though they stand above the law—while a compliant MSM gladly carries their narrative, proof the fourth estate has checked out. All of this does not meet the smell test. Is the Fed above the US Constitution? Why did Powell go public and choose the framing that he did? Why did MSM and so called objective pundits not do any objective analysis. Smells like elements of a Russia Russia Russia hoax strategy to me. https://twitter.com/MetaLawMan/status/2010816276508082343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2010816276508082343%7Ctwgr%5E6585e9ff019ea8191354a3bf06c918cdfd10f00c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjoehoft.com%2Fcorrupt-fed-head-jerome-powell-added-trillions-in-unnecessary-us-debt%2F   service of a subpoena on the Fed is not a threat to indict him. Subpoenas are investigative tools. It's possible that the government separately advised Powell that he was a “target” of the investigation, but he didn't say that. 3. Nowhere in the statement does Powell say his testimony to Congress about the Fed construction project was truthful and accurate. https://twitter.com/USAttyPirro/status/2010886969518170452?s=20  Powell's mouth, no one else's. None of this would have happened if they had just responded to our outreach. This office makes decisions based on the merits, nothing more and nothing less. We agree with the chairman of the Federal Reserve that no one is above the law, and that is why we expect his full cooperation. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/2011107269585616922?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011108530842108290?s=20 https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2010742739562901678?s=20   Procedure is same used in any location, such as hospital etc. https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2011067479603257616?s=20 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2011085032606102012?s=20  American law and the accompanying reduction in crime. However, there are a few certain locations where law enforcement refuses to assist in law enforcement, and the local politicians and a base of Marxist-organized civilians actively oppose (sometimes violently) ICE’s lawful operations. It’s those latter locations, few in number but outsized in media reporting–all run by Democrats–that give a false impression as to how much Americans appreciate getting what they voted for. https://twitter.com/KCPayTreeIt/status/2010475982038147336?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2010965644867485898?s=20   Tehran, according to the Wall Street Journal https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2011029585161568307?s=20 lowballing. In 2019 they said 230 died, Reuters reported 1,500. Iran International estimated 2,000+ last week based on hospital reports and morgue footage. Now the regime’s confirming it. But they’re framing it as “terrorists killed these people” not “we shot 2,000 protesters.” That’s the setup for mass trials and executions. 2,000 dead in 2 weeks. That’s 140+ per day. During a communications blackout. In a country claiming it has “total control.” Source: Reuters, Iranian official https://twitter.com/IranIntl_En/status/2011018647255322754?s=20   a coordinated blackout aimed not only at security control but at concealing the truth, reflected in internet cuts, crippled communications, media shutdowns, and the intimidation of journalists and witnesses. Publication was delayed until the evidence converged. The assessment is based on a multi-stage review of information from a source close to the Supreme National Security Council; two sources in the presidential office; accounts from several sources within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Mashhad, Kermanshah and Isfahan; testimonies from eyewitnesses and families of those killed; field reports; data linked to medical centers; and information provided by doctors and nurses in multiple cities.  Trump administration designates 3 Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations   The Trump administration labeled three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, imposing sanctions on them and their members. The Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood pose a risk to the United States and American interests, according to the Treasury and State departments. “These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters' violence and destabilization wherever it occurs,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. “The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.” The Jordanian and Egyptian branches were designated by the Treasury as specifically designated global terrorists for providing support to Hamas. The Lebanese branch was labeled a foreign terrorist organization, which is the most severe, meaning it is a criminal offense to provide material support to the group. Source;  wsbt.com  Rubio Designates Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese Chapters of Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations Keep in mind the Muslim Brotherhood is the fabric on the umbrella of political Islam. Each faction represents and individual spline on the umbrella construct, but the Muslim Brotherhood overall is a political extremist system for various levels of authentic Islam. The regional chapters that really matter, the difficult ones to navigate will be in Qatar, Syria and especially the Turkish factions. These are more politically connected to the home government interests. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com 1237 Apr 22, 2018 1:31:31 AM EDT Q !xowAT4Z3VQ ID: 3e4934 No. 1141069  “The process of settlement is a ‘Civilization-Jihadist Process' with all the word means. The Ikhwan [MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers…” https://clarionproject.org/muslim_brotherhood_explanatory_memorandum/ Q 3881 Q !!Hs1Jq13jV6 ID: b03e04 No.8238822 Feb 24 2020 20:36:43 (EST) EMHyS2xXkAA8JrB.png https://twitter.com/cain_nate/status/1231066589996318720 Listen carefully. Think: re: why [no] arrests (justice) yet? What if (almost) every critical position [sr] within the US GOV apparatus was infiltrated? WHAT MUST BE DONE FIRST? THE SWAMP RUNS DEEP. +Sleepers Backgrounds are important. Muslim Brotherhood List of ‘in the news now [names]‘ w/ known ties to Islam? THIS IS NOT ANOTHER 4-YEAR ELECTION. [assumptions correct – package well rec [known]] Q https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2010902536757162398?s=20 765 Feb 15, 2018 1:08:41 AM EST Q !UW.yye1fxo ID: 276796 No. 382161  WATCH THE WATER. Q War/Peace Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2010746570853990773?s=20 https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2010419447987937370?s=20 Antifa TikTok Agitator Urges Armed Leftist Militias to ‘Fight' ICE Agents Radical TikTok agitator Danesh Noshirvan has crossed a dangerous line. The Antifa-aligned mega influencer is now openly calling for organized, armed left-wing militias to confront ICE agents and federal law enforcement in America's largest cities. Danesh Noshirvan is directly linked to Scott Dworkin, founder of the Democratic Coalition Against Donald Trump. According to reports, Dworkin and even foreign interests bankroll Noshirvan's activities. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2010988104853659986?s=20 https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2010833162151346316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2010833162151346316%7Ctwgr%5Ec535903544267d9392f4466181097498d09593a1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fnew-minnesota-ag-keith-ellison-minneapolis-mayor-jacob%2F   should be in JAIL. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Says There Are “DISTURBING TAPES” of Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Taking Money to Stop Investigations Into Somali Fraud   the U.S. Treasury Secretary confirmed that federal authorities are aggressively “following the money” amid explosive fraud investigations tied to Minnesota's sprawling Somali-linked financial networks. According to Bessent, the Treasury Department has launched multiple enforcement actions focused on suspicious financial flows between Minnesota residents and businesses and overseas destinations, including East Africa, as the federal government intensifies its immigration and fraud crackdown in the state. But the real bombshell dropped during an interview with Blaze: Scott Bessent:“It's hard to follow the money. There are evidently some disturbing tapes of AG Ellison in meetings with people who donated to him—calling for political favors to stop the investigations. We'll see. I don't want to get out ahead of the investigation. It's going to be very methodical. But I can guarantee you—when the bear trap snaps, we're going to get these folks. We're going to follow the money, whether it's here in Minneapolis and St. Paul or over in East Africa. There are tons of luxury properties and cars that have been bought over there.” WATCH: Source: thegatewaypundit.com    Countries who illegally entered the USA though Sleepy Joe Biden's HORRIBLE Open Border's Policy. Every place we go, crime comes down. In Chicago, despite a weak and incompetent Governor and Mayor fighting us all the way, a big improvement was made. Thousands of Criminals were removed! Minnesota Democrats love the unrest that anarchists and professional agitators are causing because it gets the spotlight off of the 19 Billion Dollars that was stolen by really bad and deranged people. FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING! Minnesota’s total population as of July 1, 2024, is estimated at 5,793,151.  Approximately 8% of the state’s population is foreign-born, meaning about 463,452 individuals, while 92% (around 5,329,699) are native-born (U.S.-born). Minnesota is home to the largest Somali-American population in the United States, with people of Somali descent making up a notable ethnic group.  Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for 2024 put the number of individuals of Somali descent in Minnesota at around 107,000 to 108,000, representing about 1.85% of the state’s total population.  (Note: Some sources provide slightly varying figures, such as 76,000 as a lower estimate, but the ACS data consistently points to the higher range. )Breakdown Within the Somali Population in MinnesotaThe Somali community in Minnesota includes both U.S.-born individuals and foreign-born immigrants or refugees. Here’s a detailed split based on nativity and citizenship status:  https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/1919002207896174765?s=20  or his NGOs appeared in the Journal of Democracy. It’s the flagship journal of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the same organization featured prominently in that widely circulated “Uniparty NGO” network diagrams below. NED is a U.S. government-funded outfit. It includes currently sitting members of Congress on its board… from both parties, not just former officials. Soros's involvement is deep. He has co-chaired NED conferences abroad and his Open Society NGOs regularly partner with NED operations, especially in countries undergoing “transitions” (read: regime change or soft power penetration). Together, Soros and US-backed NGOs have shaped funding pipelines, media narratives, and even foreign electoral strategies. So when people ask, “Why isn't Soros banned?” … they need to understand: he’s not an outsider. He’s part of our government. The Uniparty protects and partners with him, because he helps carry out a shared foreign policy vision… the same one that labels President Trump as a threat to democracy. NED members include:    Victoria Nuland – Director of the National Endowment for Democracy; Acting United States Deputy Secretary of State under Biden (served in both parties).   Karen Bass – Vice Chair of the National Endowment for Democracy; former U.S. Representative and current Mayor of Los Angeles (Democrat).    Todd Young – Honorary at the National Endowment for Democracy; U.S. Senator from Indiana (Republican).    Elise Stefanik – Director at the National Endowment for Democracy; U.S. Representative from New York and House GOP Conference Chair (Republican).   Mel Martinez – Director at the National Endowment for Democracy; former U.S. Senator from Florida (Republican).   Steve Biegun – Director at the National Endowment for Democracy; former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (Republican).    Todd Young – Honorary at the National Endowment for Democracy; US Senator from Indiana (Republican). https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2011165232815882294?s=20 Just In: Bill and Hillary Clinton Refuse To Testify in Front of House Oversight Committee, Daring Chairman Comer To Hold Them in Contempt of Congress After months of dispute against House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Bill and Hillary Clinton have today (13) REFUSED to testify in the House's Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This escalates the battle with Comer, Republican of Kentucky, and the former U.S. President and Secretary of State are effectively daring him to hold them in contempt of Congress. The New York Times reported: Source: thegatewaypundit.com President Trump's Plan Lefty DOJ Lawyers Rage-Quit After Harmeet Dhillon Blocks ICE Witch Hunt A group of lawyers in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have reportedly resigned after Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon declined to investigate the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in last week’s shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group had apparently pushed Dhillon to let a DOJ delegation fly to Minneapolis to investigate the January 7 shooting death of far-left agitator Renee Nicole Good, who was shot after she used her two-ton Honda Pilot as a weapon against the officer. Despite pressure from the lefty lawyers – described as “career prosecutors” – to initiate a witch hunt against the officer, Dhillon put a kibosh on their plans. They were apparently informed of the decision not to move forward with an investigation of the ICE agent last Friday.  After being told “no,” a group of “top leaders” in the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division “have left their jobs to register their frustration with the department.” Shock, horror. Sounds like the DOJ is well rid of this cabal, and these departures could be part of a trend of mass resignations amongst the old guard. This, of course, also saves Dhillon the trouble of having to draw up their pink slips.  Source: redstate.com  https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2010791586980933826?s=20   later. This is a system built for abuse by design https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2010886531838595278?s=20 https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2010777023673999531?s=20 https://twitter.com/USDOL/status/2010771852696617401?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

A.M. Edition for Jan. 13. President Trump is set to receive a briefing today on options for responding to anti-regime protests in Iran, but he's not waiting for that meeting to act. Journal reporter Gavin Bade explains the likely effect of fresh 25% U.S. tariffs on Tehran's trading partners. Plus, Minnesota sues the Trump administration over its immigration tactics. And Moody's Ratings' John Medina discusses the challenges and opportunities accompanying an expected $3 trillion in data-center spending over the next five years. Luke Vargas hosts.  Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices