This past week, Iranian protesters were labeled “terrorists” and “subversives” by the state. That rhetoric was accompanied by internet blackouts and increased violence, with the death toll still unclear. Simultaneously, tensions rose between the United States and Iran, leading to the country’s most serious political upheaval in years.
Contributors:
Tohid Asadi – Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
Narges Bajoghli – Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Roxanne Farmanfarmian – Lecturer, University of Cambridge
Farzan Sabet – Managing Researcher, Center for Global Governance
On our radar
In the US, cases of outright lying have increased, remarkably even by the standards of the Trump administration, since immigration officials publicly fired a woman two weeks ago. 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 embrace, no question. But as companies have invested hundreds of billions and hype has gained momentum, scrutiny has eased. Cory Doctorow Who Controls the Story Around AI and Why Past Technologies Warn of a “Revolution”
Featured:
Cory Doctorow – Author and Activist
Published on January 17, 2026