Episode 257 – Iran's Protests Explained
Mon Jan 26 2026
This week, Iranian historian and returning guest Navid Zarrinnal calls in to the show from Tehran via telephone amid Iran's continued internet shutdown to elaborate on his recent dispatch for BreakThrough News, "Iran's Protests Explained: A Diary from Tehran."
Navid is professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, host of The Colony Archive, and working on his first monograph, "Secularisation, Mass Literacy and Education in Modern Iran."
Navid gives us a timeline of events and shares his analysis, discussing key differences with previous waves of protest, the evidence and extent of foreign infiltration, the nature of the government's response, and what Iranians think about "regime change".
Check out Navid's amazing work on The Colony Archive on YouTube.
If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, including the new and improved "Last Week in Lebanon" column and video blog by Roqayah and Lebanese war correspondent and our new third cohost Hadi Hoteit, you can subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts. We can't do this show without your support!!!
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This week, Iranian historian and returning guest Navid Zarrinnal calls in to the show from Tehran via telephone amid Iran's continued internet shutdown to elaborate on his recent dispatch for BreakThrough News, "Iran's Protests Explained: A Diary from Tehran." Navid is professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, host of The Colony Archive, and working on his first monograph, "Secularisation, Mass Literacy and Education in Modern Iran." Navid gives us a timeline of events and shares his analysis, discussing key differences with previous waves of protest, the evidence and extent of foreign infiltration, the nature of the government's response, and what Iranians think about "regime change". Check out Navid's amazing work on The Colony Archive on YouTube. If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, including the new and improved "Last Week in Lebanon" column and video blog by Roqayah and Lebanese war correspondent and our new third cohost Hadi Hoteit, you can subscribe on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts. We can't do this show without your support!!!