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  1. Quillette Podcast
  2. Fighting for Freedom in Iran
Fighting for Freedom in Iran

Fighting for Freedom in Iran

Quillette Podcast · Jan 8, 2026

Iranian protests are different this time. The regime's unprecedented geopolitical weakness, not just internal dissent, signals a real chance for change.

Iranian Protest Slogans' Evolution Signals a Shift from Reform to Revolution

The progression of protest slogans from demanding a vote recount in 2009 ('Where is my vote?') to calling for regime overthrow today ('Death to the supreme leader') indicates a fundamental change. Protestors no longer seek to work within the existing system but aim to dismantle it entirely.

Fighting for Freedom in Iran thumbnail

Fighting for Freedom in Iran

Quillette Podcast·3 months ago

Iran's Scale Makes a Venezuela-Style Regime Decapitation Highly Complex

A clean, external removal of Iran's leadership, similar to what occurred in Venezuela, is unlikely. Iran's population is nearly four times larger, it is geographically distant, and the American political psyche associates the Middle East with costly military entanglements, creating a much higher barrier to intervention.

Fighting for Freedom in Iran thumbnail

Fighting for Freedom in Iran

Quillette Podcast·3 months ago

Iran's Regime Is Weakest Ever Due to Geopolitical Isolation, Not Just Internal Protests

The current Iranian protests are uniquely potent because the regime is at its weakest geopolitically. The loss of regional proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, coupled with key ally Russia's preoccupation with Ukraine, has left the Iranian government more isolated and vulnerable than during any previous wave of unrest.

Fighting for Freedom in Iran thumbnail

Fighting for Freedom in Iran

Quillette Podcast·3 months ago