Protest in Tehran, Iran, January 8, 2026
EA on International Outlets: From Trump’s Threats to Iran’s Protests
UPDATES: Iran Protests Continue Despite Rising Death Toll
Jounalist Daniela Sepehri and I joined Byline Times’ Adrian Goldberg on Monday for a 28-minute podcast setting out and evaluating the nationwide protests in Iran.
We examine the causes, the regime’s response, and the prospect that demonstrators — and Iranians — can finally get the political, social, and economic rights which they are seeking.
I draw upon my experiences in Iran almost 20 years ago, meeting colleagues, students, and others who are my friends to this day, to put today’s protests in the context of their fears, their disappointment such as the aftermath of the 2009 and 2022 protests, and their hopes.
Trump demands confirmation of death toll: https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-israel-war-nuclear-economy-1b2368e0804676d33d6aa0696815a102
“Trump said about the Iranian security forces: “It would seem to me that they have been badly misbehaving, but that is not confirmed.”
Wild claims of up to 20,000 protesters killed have been announced on opposition outlets like Iran International. But the NYT has U.S intel claiming 600 have definitely been killed: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/world/middleeast/iran-protester-deaths.html
Amnesty International have not updated their reports since Thursday when they reported 28 killed.
The truth is that nobody really knows the death toll and who is responsible for it.
“…Donald Trump only cares about Iran’s oil…”
Can you enlighten this poor ignorant soul what Jimmy Carter cared about in 1978/79 when he covertly supported mullahs?
And no, unlike many iranians I don’t think Carter supported khomeini knowing what he stood for. No, Carter was duped, soccer punched. It would be a good place to start if democrats could bring themselves to admit that.
I listened to the podcast because I try to keep a remote chance that I might hear something useful.
Well, at least I tried.
The conclusion is to take a chance, Trump might do something that may lead to something hopeful, or follow the alternatives and have zilch for results as it has been for four years of Biden and 8 years Obama.
And btw, you may not have noticed, iranians have had target on their back for the last 47 years, if you looked.
***People are not fools, they know a war or Trump, or RP may not get them what they want. They just can’t take any more of the same non-action of internal or external characters.*** Maybe in your next podcast say something about that.