Invite ye felawes and frendes desirous in gold to enter the gates of Shrewd'm, for they will thanke ye later.
- Manlobbi
Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 4
ABC and the WaPo are reporting this:
Iranian protests expand beyond the economy as students demand freedom, end to regime rulehttps://abcnews.go.com/International/iranian-prote...Iranian protests sparked by economic woes quickly spread across countryhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/31/ir...Same thing at the Beeb
Protests spread across Iran for third day after currency hits record lowhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj2llkjv8voAll about demonstrations spawned by economic hardship. As it happens, I was watching CBS "news". CBS, run by a militant zionist, was too busy blathering about "severe weather", New Year parties, and football players, to report anything about Iran.
My first thought was that the CIA and/or Mossad was hip deep in stoking the unrest, even though the reports I saw on the Beeb said nothing about those agencies.
But Israeli media openly says what western media refuses to report.
Mossad spurs Iran protests, says agents with demonstrators in Farsi message
As protests grow across Iran, the Mossad posted an unusual Farsi message urging demonstrators to act, saying it is with them in the streets, amid rising economic pressure and public unrest.https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/articl...Interesting, eh?
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 3
Time to run some guns in there…
No. of Recommendations: 1
Time to run some guns in there…
Aren't you the teeniest bit curious why the USian media is saying the Iranian economy is the issue, or ignoring the unrest entirely, while the Israeli media openly says Mossad is stoking it?
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 3
Aren't you the teeniest bit curious why the USian media is saying the Iranian economy is the issue, or ignoring the unrest entirely, while the Israeli media openly says Mossad is stoking it?
Of course various intelligence agencies are helping. Why wouldn’t they?
Naftali Bennet (former Israeli defense minister) is out on his Youtube channel openly calling for the Iranian people to rise up.
Because he’s either a moron or really sympathizes with them Obama blew a similar opportunity itt during his term.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Aren't you the teeniest bit curious why the USian media is saying the Iranian economy is the issue, or ignoring the unrest entirely, while the Israeli media openly says Mossad is stoking it?
I imagine it's because of lack of verifiable evidence of Mossad, as is typical if you're running the agency right. The stoking is having an effect because of the economy.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Of course various intelligence agencies are helping. Why wouldn’t they?
As I said above, I assume the CIA and/or Mossad is stoking the unrest. That is what they do. I have always assumed that the protests that unhorsed the pro-Russian President of Ukraine were a CIA op. My question is why some USian media is completely ignoring it, while they blather about "severe weather", "celebs", and football players?
Naftali Bennet is out of office. What he says has as much weight as Tucker Carlson. The Jerusalem Post is quoting current serving Mossad officials, and social media posts by Mossad, in Farsi.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 0
I imagine it's because of lack of verifiable evidence of Mossad, as is typical if you're running the agency right.
Mossad is openly posting on social media, in Farsi, encouraging Iranians to riot, and saying there are Mossad agents in their midst. There is no question whether Mossad is engaged.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 3
My question is why some USian media is completely ignoring it, while they blather about "severe weather", "celebs", and football players? /i>
Part of the answer to your question is Climate Change: the moron media has to inject their narratives into everything. In this case, Tehran is out of water so it must be Because Climate Change. Now never mind that the Mullahs have done zero work on Iran’s infrastructure in over 40 years and that’s it’s fallen apart because of that…Climate Change must be fueling the riots.
The American media couldn’t put 2 and 2 together to get 4 even if you tattooed the answer on the back of their hands.
No. of Recommendations: 2
The American media couldn’t put 2 and 2 together to get 4 even if you tattooed the answer on the back of their hands.
I have been barking, for years, about the decline in quality of the USian media. The evening "news" is so full of fawning over "celebs" and British royals, fuzzy puppies, and touchy-feely nonsense, there isn't room for much news, then they carve 3-5 minutes out of the "news" segment to stoke hysteria about the weather.
Not long ago, someone commented about the weekend edition of the PBS "news hour", which was only a half hour, is going away. I replied the "news hour" was nearly useless, because they only spent about 5 minutes reporting news, then filled the rest of the time with long discussions.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 3
In this case, Tehran is out of water so it must be Because Climate Change. Now never mind that the Mullahs have done zero work on Iran’s infrastructure in over 40 years and that’s it’s fallen apart because of that…Climate Change must be fueling the riots.
It's not either/or. It's both. They have had substantially less precipitation (including snow in the mountains that results in a snowpack that melts and flows into rivers they tap), and they have neglected their infrastructure. The former is climate change, the latter is incompetence (and theocracy more concerned with oppressing women than fixing things).
As to the OP, TV "news" needs ratings. So, they emphasize getting eyeballs tuning-in over substance. That means celebrities, and stoking rage.
No. of Recommendations: 3
I have been barking, for years, about the decline in quality of the USian media. The evening "news" is so full of fawning over "celebs" and British royals, fuzzy puppies, and touchy-feely nonsense, there isn't room for much news, then they carve 3-5 minutes out of the "news" segment to stoke hysteria about the weather.
The media left the “news” business years ago. Now it’s all about “entertainment”. They also figured out that if they can drive their audience into a near panic (climate change, theyyyy toook yerrrr jerrrrbs, etc.) that more people would tune in. It’s a sad state of affairs.
No. of Recommendations: 2
The media left the “news” business years ago. Now it’s all about “entertainment”.
Ayup. Remember the coverage of the attempted coup in South Korea last year? South Korea is a major trading partner, and has a sizeable economy. What happens there matters. What did the US media say? "oohhh, Taylor Swift! Taylor Swift!!!" If I had not watched the Beeb, I would have never known about it.
President Yoon was impeached and removed from office. Elections were held last summer for a new President, to replace the temporary care taker. Yoon's criminal trial for insurrection is ongoing. Sentencing expected this spring.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 2
Mossad is openly posting on social media, in Farsi, encouraging Iranians to riot, and saying there are Mossad agents in their midst. There is no question whether Mossad is engaged.
Yes, I see that's true. But the ECONOMY IS THE ISSUE, Mossad may be urging it, but the reaction to the bad economy was already there. Without the bad economy, there may not be enough unrest. Let's just cross our fingers.
No. of Recommendations: 0
But the ECONOMY IS THE ISSUE,
Are the sanctions totally ineffective? Seems they, and the western powers that impose them, would be the obvious scapegoat. The west wants another quisling in charge. The existing government is probably no more eager to surrender than the government in Ukraine. Of course, plunging Iran into civil war would have the happy side effect of taking Iranian production off line, so big oil can make more profit on the oil it produces elsewhere.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 2
Are the sanctions totally ineffective?
I find it difficult to judge, but it seems they are at least partially effective. It's normal for a country to neglect their infrastructure even when not under sanctions. Watching the BBC at times is good. Since I've been back to the USA I do more reading than watching news. I haven't found a news station that I like yet. I haven't found a combo of reading and TV news that I like. I like it when Euros and Aussies are in a forum for the different views. I was getting some Asian views for a bit, but that group died.
No. of Recommendations: 0
It's normal for a country to neglect their infrastructure even when not under sanctions.
Anyone driving on Michigan roads can attest to that. After all, ideology dictates that all the money must go to the "JCs".
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 0
By the way, watched the national "news" on NBC tonight. They actually mentioned the demonstrations in Iran, but, of course, not until after the daily weather hysteria.
The demonstrations have turned violent. Three killed and 17 injured today.
But not one peep about Mossad's involvement. The demonstrations were entirely attributed to economic distress.
Steve
No. of Recommendations: 8
In this case, Tehran is out of water so it must be Because Climate Change
Here in the desert southwest water supply is an increasingly serious issue. Climate change models for decades have been predicting warmer and drier in the US southwest and that is being born out. The Colorado is over allocated and the entities involved in managing the river's water cannot come to an agreement on what to do about it.
With luck we'll still get the occasional wet year, but right now the drought is prolonged and things are looking grim.
AI search results:
As of January 2026, the U.S. Southwest is in the midst of a multi-decade megadrought that began in 2000. Research indicates this is the driest 22-year period in the region since at least 800 CE.
Current Status (2025–2026)
Ongoing Persistence: Despite record-breaking rainfall events in October 2025, approximately 79% of the Colorado River Basin remained in drought at the end of 2025.
Widespread Conditions: As of August 26, 2025, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 100% of the Colorado River Basin under drought conditions.
Reservoir Levels: Major stores of water are at critical lows. By January 1, 2026, Lake Powell was estimated to be at 3,538 feet (roughly 27% capacity) and Lake Mead between 1,050 and 1,075 feet (roughly 33% capacity).
Key Characteristics of the Current Period
Megadrought Intensity: The 21st-century drought has exceeded the severity of the previous record-holding megadrought in the late 1500s.
Anthropogenic Influence: Human-caused climate change is responsible for approximately 42% of the drought's severity. Rising temperatures have increased "atmospheric thirst," meaning evaporation plays a larger role in drying the land than the lack of precipitation alone.
Aridification: Scientists increasingly view this not as a temporary event but as a permanent transition to a drier climate, a process known as aridification.
Emphasis mine.
No. of Recommendations: 0
After all, ideology dictates that all the money must go to the "JCs".
OK...gotta ask. Who are the "JCs"? From context I assume the 1%. But every time I read that I think "Jaycees", which is completely different.
No. of Recommendations: 4
OK...gotta ask. Who are the "JCs"?
"Job Creators", the cheery euphemism used by their propagandists to describe selfish, greedy, people, and justify government policies that primarily serve their enrichement.
(L&Ses) are "leaders and statesmen", the corrupt pols who are the means by which the "JCs" redirect government money from the Proles, to the "JCs".
Steve
