Why is the Iranian regime's state broadcaster (IRIB) airing segments of Tucker Carlson during the riots and the country’s blackout? This is the reply Grok gave:
The Iranian regime's state broadcaster (IRIB) is airing segments of Tucker Carlson The particularly his July 2025 interview with President Masoud Pezeshkian and other clips dubbed in Persian—during the current economic protests and nationwide communications blackout because his messaging aligns closely with the regime's longstanding propaganda needs.
### Key Reasons for Broadcasting Carlson
1. Anti-Western and Anti-Intervention Narrative — Carlson frequently criticizes U.S. foreign policy, neoconservatism, endless wars, and American/Israeli influence in the Middle East. This mirrors Iran's core narrative that portrays the U.S. and Israel as aggressors while presenting Iran as a victim or reasonable actor. The Pezeshkian interview allowed the regime to showcase its president speaking directly to a prominent American figure who doesn't aggressively challenge Tehran—effectively giving the appearance of legitimacy and openness to dialogue on Iran's terms.
2. Countering External Pressure and Protests — Amid widespread unrest over inflation, currency collapse, and economic mismanagement (protests ongoing since late December 2025), the regime has imposed severe internet/phone restrictions to hinder coordination. Broadcasting Carlson serves as filler content that distracts from domestic chaos while reinforcing anti-American sentiment. It signals to the public: "Even prominent voices in the U.S. agree the West is the problem, not us." This is a classic authoritarian tactic—using foreign critics of the West to bolster domestic narratives during crises.
3. Propaganda Value from a Credible U.S. Voice — Iranian state media has a history of amplifying Western figures who critique U.S. policy (similar to how Russian state media used Carlson clips during the Ukraine war). Carlson's large audience and isolationist stance make him particularly useful: the regime can frame his views as evidence that "America's own people" oppose intervention in Iran, deterring potential U.S. support for protesters or escalation.
4. Regime Desperation Signal — With trust in state media at rock bottom (as evidenced by the need for total blackouts to suppress dissent), turning to recycled foreign content like Carlson's interviews highlights weakness. It's not a sign of strength or partnership but survival mode—borrowing external "credibility" when domestic messaging fails.
In short, it's opportunistic propaganda: Carlson's critiques of U.S. policy hand the regime free material to rally (or numb) the public against "foreign enemies" while violently suppressing internal dissent. This isn't new for authoritarian regimes, but the timing—during a near-total communications shutdown—makes the irony especially stark.
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A local Muslim community leader in Birmingham, UK, says Muslims can never live in peace with Jews, claims Jews lack morality, portrays Muslims as eternal victims, then openly calls for religious war against Jews and insists this is “not antisemitism,” but Islam itself.
This isn’t coexistence. This is genocidal ideology preached openly in Britain.
How is this tolerated in a Western democracy, and why isn’t this treated as incitement to violence?
@JakeWSimons Even if it were true, it still wouldn't justify an attack on Australian Jews who were celebrating a Jewish holiday (not celebrating Israeli policy). In Australia! Is this person actually trying to say 'nothing to see here?' Unbelievable, the obfuscating gall! 😡😡😡
@YasirQadhi Islam of the Muslim-Brotherhood-ISIS-Hamas-IRGC-Taliban-Al-Qaida-Al -Shabab varieties have no place here. Bc their unifying idea is to assault pluralism, democracy, religious freedom, and every other kind of freedom for everyone else. 4 the cause of total dominion. Clearer now?
@Dukeyunuz@Fanceepantzz@thatdayin1992 Read how King Faisel welcomed the ✡️s home in 1921(?). Read the history from the 1880s to today. Don't skip over the parts where every Western country closed it's doors to ✡️ immigration. Also note, 850K ✡️s were driven out of Arab countries mid century. Property stolen. 2/2
@Dukeyunuz@Fanceepantzz@thatdayin1992 If that's your hot take, you know absolutely nothing. Go back, read about the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. Before 🇮🇱 was even a state. Read abt the Farhud in 1941. Read what Ernest Bevin said in 1947 to the British Parliament abt why the conflict was irreconcilable. 1/2