wavePod

INSIDE EPIC FURY: CONSEQUENCES, WAR POWERS, REGIONAL FALLOUT, NUCLEAR THREAT - Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels | Wave AI Podcast Notes

Back to Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels

INSIDE EPIC FURY: CONSEQUENCES, WAR POWERS, REGIONAL FALLOUT, NUCLEAR THREAT

Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels

Wed Mar 04 2026

Summary

Podcast Summary: Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels

Episode: INSIDE EPIC FURY: CONSEQUENCES, WAR POWERS, REGIONAL FALLOUT, NUCLEAR THREAT

Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Jillian Michaels

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jillian Michaels departs from her usual health and wellness territory, diving deep into the complexities surrounding the U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" (U.S.) and "Operation Roaring Lion" (Israel). Jillian aims to provide listeners with a panoramic, fact-based account, cutting through partisan narratives to explore the operation’s triggers, strategic ramifications, regional historical schisms, legal justifications, nuclear fears, the human toll, and the profound implications for both America and Iran.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Strike: What Happened & Immediate Consequences

Timestamp: 00:00–05:33
- On February 28, 2026, a coordinated U.S.-Israeli strike targeted over 1,000 Iranian sites, including military compounds and strategic infrastructure.
- The Supreme Leader of Iran, the Ayatollah, was killed in these attacks—a development confirmed by Iranian state media.
- Iranian leadership formed a provisional council and vowed severe retaliation.
- Iran responded with "Operation True Promise 4," launching missiles and drones toward U.S., Israeli, and Gulf state targets. Some projectiles penetrated defenses, killing six U.S. service members in Kuwait.
- Regional Sunni monarchies—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—are thrust into a dilemma: they fear both Iranian expansion and becoming front-line battlefields in this wider conflict.

2. The Underlying Regional Chessboard: Sunni vs. Shia

Timestamp: 01:50–05:33
- Jillian highlights the centuries-old Sunni-Shia divide as a fundamental driver, explaining that Iran is the leading Shia state surrounded by Sunni-ruled neighbors. This deep fracture predates modern nation-state rivalries.
- Notable Quote:
  - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [04:40]:
    - “Iran is not a rival to Saudi Arabia. Its army is not among the top five armies in the Muslim world. The Saudi economy is larger than the Iranian economy. Iran is far from being equal to Saudi Arabia.”
  - On the Ayatollah [04:54]:
    - “Absolutely,” when asked if he called the Ayatollah the ‘new Hitler of the Middle East’—implying aggressive expansionism akin to Hitler’s.

3. U.S. & Israeli Objectives, Claims, and the Nuclear Question

Timestamp: 07:00–13:42
- The White House cites urgent threats: Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its missile arsenal, and its established proxy network ("the Map of Five": Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Iraqi Shia militias, Palestinian groups).
- Donald Trump [09:10]:
  - “I said, I’m going to bomb the shit out of them. I don’t care.”
- Claims that Iran was “days away” from acquiring a nuclear weapon, referencing both uranium enrichment levels (60%) and missile program secrecy.
- Debate over indisputable intelligence: U.S. touts imminent threat, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offers more cautious, ambiguous findings.

4. Legality & The War Powers Debate

Timestamp: 35:33–37:36
- Jillian addresses objections over legality, citing historical and constitutional precedent.
- Conservative Commentator [36:05]:
  - “The 1973 War Powers Act clearly allows the President to initiate military action even without a congressional authorization of war…to protect American interests both at home and abroad.”
- Congress has not declared war since 1942, yet the U.S. has engaged in dozens of conflicts since then under executive authority.

5. Iranian Perspectives: History, Identity, and Protest

Timestamp: 23:28–30:30
- Jillian distinguishes between Iran’s clerical regime and its people: Persians, not Arabs; a historically pluralistic nation forced into an Islamic theocracy in 1979.
- She recounts Iran’s modern history, from British and CIA-backed coups to decades of repression, culminating in today’s nationwide euphoria at the Ayatollah’s death.
- Notable Quote:
  - Jillian Michaels [24:45]:
    - “The car horn is the only instrument the regime could not confiscate. And that’s become the sound of a nation’s liberation.”
- Describes scenes of public joy and rebellion: hijabs burned, statues pulled down, global Iranian diaspora in celebration, referencing the protest roots in tragic episodes like Mahsa Amini’s 2022 killing.

6. U.S. Domestic Fallout: Economic, Security, and Political Risks

Timestamp: 31:00–41:08
- Economic Impact:
  - Potential for skyrocketing energy prices as Persian Gulf shipping lanes are threatened.
- Security:
  - Concerns over terror proxy “sleeper cells” and lone-wolf attacks; mention of recent shooting in Austin, TX potentially linked to regime upheaval.
- Political Reactions:
  - Democrats rage over alleged illegality, progressives fear “imperialism,” libertarians doubt direct U.S. benefit, conservatives demand evidence of American-first interests.
  - Matt Walsh [47:00]: “If a single American life is lost in the service of that goal, it will be a travesty.”
  - Michael Knowles [50:10] (paraphrased): The stakes for U.S. foreign policy and the President’s legacy couldn't be higher.

7. Who Inherits Iran? Prospects for the Future

Timestamp: 33:00–35:41
- Three scenarios:
  1. Military Junta: Revolutionary Guard seizes direct control.
  2. Clerical Continuity: Ayatollah’s son assumes power.
  3. Restoration of Monarchy/Democratic Transition: Exiled prince Reza Pahlavi proposes secular, democratic governance.
  - Reza Pahlavi [34:36]:
    - “The strategic importance of having a partnership with Israel is critical.”
  - On New Iran’s Principles [34:58]:
    - “...Territorial integrity, separation of religion from state, equality of all citizens under the law, and a democratic process for future governance.”
  - Nuclear program [35:37]:
    - “I think it should be totally dismantled now.”

8. National and Global Reactions

Timestamp: 17:30–22:31
- U.S. allies express support (NATO, UK, Canada, Australia, Gulf states); adversaries (Russia, China, North Korea) oppose the strikes due to their strategic ties with Iran.
- U.S. administration frames the intervention as supportive of Iran’s protest movement and human rights, against Iran's crackdown on dissenters.

9. Media and Narrative Battles

Timestamp: 43:42–51:03
- Jillian skewers mainstream coverage (Washington Post, BBC, CNN), accusing outlets of whitewashing the Ayatollah’s legacy and downplaying Iranian regime brutality.
- Jillian Michaels [47:00]:
  - “The truth is malleable as long as it serves their agenda.”
- The information war between sanitized obituaries and on-the-ground realities in Iran is highlighted as another front in this conflict.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Iranian Threat & American Security:
- [09:10] Donald Trump: “I’m going to bomb the shit out of them. I don’t care.”
- [13:44] Jillian Michaels: “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you.”
On Liberation and Protest:
- [24:45] Jillian Michaels: “The car horn is the only instrument the regime could not confiscate. And that’s become the sound of a nation’s liberation.”
- [23:28–30:30] Vivid descriptions of hijab bonfires, tearing down of statues, and global Iranian diaspora’s jubilance.
On Legality and Precedent:
- [36:05] Conservative Commentator: “One of the dumbest arguments you can be making is that President Trump is conducting an unconstitutional, unauthorized and illegal war against Iran. Check out the 1973 War Powers Act.”
On Political Calculation:
- [47:00] Matt Walsh: “A free Iran at the cost of democratic rule here at home is a bad deal. A free Iran for an unfree America would be just about the worst trade of the century.”
On Stakes for U.S. Policy:
- [50:10] Michael Knowles: “This will be the greatest foreign policy accomplishment of any president in our lifetime since the end of the Cold War. The one thing we know with certainty is the stakes could not possibly be higher for the White House.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:00–05:33: Recap of the initial strike, Ayatollah’s death, and the immediate Iranian response
01:50–05:33: Sunni vs. Shia divide explained; Saudi views on Iranian threat
09:10–15:40: Trump’s war doctrine, U.S. justifications, “Map of Five” proxies
23:28–30:30: Iranian history, regime vs. people, and protest euphoria
31:00–41:08: Domestic costs, terror risk, and political controversies in the U.S.
33:00–35:41: Iran succession scenarios, Reza Pahlavi’s vision
35:33–37:36: War Powers debate & U.S. military authority
43:42–47:00: Mainstream media biases and attempts to sanitize the Ayatollah’s record
47:00–51:03: Conservative critiques and reflections on America’s strategic interests

Episode Tone & Takeaway

Jillian Michaels employs her trademark candor, blending passionate analysis with meticulous detail and occasional biting criticism of both partisanship and media spin. The episode is part briefing, part call-to-understanding, inviting listeners—regardless of political leaning—to scrutinize facts over narratives and reflect on the stakes involved for both America and the Iranian people.

Final Thought:
Michaels urges listeners to pray for troops, Iranians, and for wisdom amid the chaos, leaving judgment to the facts—not the rhetoric.

If you haven’t listened, this summary distills all pivotal arguments, context, and the charged atmosphere of the episode—ensuring you’re well informed on one of the defining crises of 2026.

Loading summary...

Transcript

Jillian Michaels (0:00)

All right, everybody, welcome to the show. If you could do me a huge favor, if you're digging it, could you please, like, share, comment and subscribe? It helps a ton with the algorithm. Only if you're digging the show, of course. Today we're going to look at Iran. And I'm guessing you guys are thinking, I've heard everything there is to hear. But the reality is you haven't. You actually have not. Nobody is breaking down the role that the Sunni, Shia divide is playing here. Nobody is talking about the fact that maybe this is an attempt to hobble our political adversaries like, like China and Russia and North Korea. Nobody is looking at the question of whether or not Iran is actually a threat. And historically, what have we learned about the threat they have posed to the United States? Is this legal or not? All we're getting is partisan rhetoric right now. So today we're gonna take a 360 approach. I'm gonna give you all the facts so at the end you can form your own conclusions. Here we go. Keeping it Real with Jillian Michaels. So this is how it started. At approximately 1:15am Eastern Time on February 28, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated strike across Iran. So Washington called it Operation Epic Fury. Israel called it Operation Roaring Line. And the opening wave was overwhelming. Tomahawk Cruise missiles from US Navy ships attack them. Rockets, B2 stealth bombers that flew round trip from frigging Missouri dropping 2000 pound precision munitions on ballistic missile facilities and hardened command sites by sunrise. US officials said that more than 1,000 targets had already been struck. Government compounds, military installations, communication hubs and strategic sites stretching from Tehran to the southern coast. And then we got the headline that changed everything. The Ayatollah is dead. And Iranian state media confirmed it. The Supreme Leader, the ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic for decades, was killed. Within hours, Tehran announced a provisional leadership council. Their president, their head of the judiciary. I didn't even know they had a judiciary and a senior cleric from the Guardian Council. And their message was immediate and unequivocal. Resistance would continue and retaliation will be severe. And retaliation did come. Iran launched Operation True Promise 4, firing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and a wave of drones towards Israel and the US Military targets across the region, including Gulf states that host American forces. The uae, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, in fact, Kuwait as well. And many incoming weapons were intercepted, but not all of them. So the United States has confirmed that six American service members have been killed and several more have been seriously wounded after an Iranian munition struck a tactical operations center in Kuwait. But what no one's talking about is the Sunni, Shia fault line. And that matters here. You know, in the west, we're so conditioned to see the Middle east primarily through one lens, right? It's like Israel versus the Arab world. But that is a very incomplete map because beneath that conflict runs a much older fracture. And that is the divide between the Sunni and the Shia Muslims. And that split dates back to the seventh century after the death of their Prophet Muhammad. And the disagreement was over succession, right? Who had legitimate authority to lead the Muslim community. And in fact, the majority of terror attack victims globally are actually Muslims with extremist groups targeting their own communities to enforce ideology or punish dissent. Sectarian violence such as Shia versus Sunni attacks is one pretty significant aspect that's been driven by a long standing political and religious tension within the Muslim world. Roughly 85 to 90% of the Muslims in the world are Sunni. Only 10 to 15% are Shia. And Iran is the most powerful Shia majority state on earth. Iraq is the second. And Iran just doesn't practice Shia Islamic. Its revolutionary government is built on Shia clerical authority. But surrounding Iran are predominantly Sunni led states. Saudi Arabia, the uae, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait. And these governments have long viewed Iran not as just a rival state, but as a destabilizing Shia revolutionary power trying to project military influence through militias and proxies. Just take a look at what the Saudi Crown Prince has to say about the Ayatollah.

Jillian Michaels (5:33)

So when Iran launches missiles, it's not just Israel that's calculating risk. It's Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Munama. And when the US strikes Iran, those Sunni monarchies face a dilemma because they fear Iranian expansion, but they also fear becoming battlefields in the Shia, Sunni Power struggle. So this is not just Israel versus Iran. That is propaganda. This is a regional chessboard that's shaped by 1400 years of division, one that still dictates alliances, proxy wars, and political survival across the Middle East. And then the war widened again because on March 2, after what it called two days of strategic patience, Hezbollah, the Islamist terror group in Lebanon, they entered the fight launching missiles and drones toward northern Israel in retaliation for Khomeini's death. So this is no longer a contained exchange. It's a regional escalation. Now, let's jump to the tally. So President Trump stated that the strike decapitated dozens of senior Iranian military and political leaders, including the Supreme Leader. He also confirmed that nine major Iranian naval vessels were sunk and the naval facilities were heavily damaged. U.S. and Israeli officials say that Iran's air defense network was severely degraded in the opening hours, which allowed their coalition of aircraft to operate with relative dominance. So you'd think, oh, but we're close to this being over. No, we're not. In fact, the President says that the stated mission continues unabated, warning us that the fighting will likely continue for the remainder of the month. Four to five more weeks. And the focus now is Iran's remaining missile infrastructure, particularly the mobile launchers hidden in the mountainous terrain. And as long as those systems remain operational, the Gulf states and Israel remain within range. Now, publicly, Tehran's new leadership is vowing continued resistance, but privately, there's talk that Iran is signaling through Oman, who is their traditional intermediary, that it might be open to de escalation. But hovering over every tactical decision is one site that cannot be miscalculated, and that's Bushire. So unlike Natanz, which is underground and part of Iran's enrichment uranium enrichment network, Bushehr is an operating nuclear power plant. So a direct strike there doesn't simply, you know, become a military escalation. It could trigger a radiological crisis. So this is where we stand, right? The fight at home immediately erupted with roughly half the country on board and half the country not on board. But what's arguably the most interesting is that the dividend isn't actually along party lines. The Democrats have leaned heavily into whether it was legal for us to go in. Shocker. The woke progressives believe it's an act of Western imperialism. I know. Shocker. Libertarians and some conservatives question whether Iran was actually a threat to the west, and therefore they feel this is a portrayal of the America first agenda. Okay, now before we evaluate those positions, we need some critical information. First. So let's start by covering the administration's reasoning for going in, and then how do the Iranian people feel about it? What is the global perspective and what's been the response and then the sentiment here at home. We'll cover. Okay, so the United States did not stumble into this. Trump has been warning about his concerns over Iran getting a nuclear weapon for over a decade. Famously, we've all seen him talk about bombing the shit out of them if need be.

Jillian Michaels (9:34)

He took out Soleimani. He literally has gloated about bankrupting the Iranian regime in his first term in office. So Operation Epic Fury was a calculated preemptive strike based on a very specific set of red lines that the administration claims were crossed in the final weeks of February. So the first and most urgent reason cited by the White House is, of course, a nuclear weapon. So after months of what Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed as political theater in Oman. So the negotiations, like a total surrender. Right. The US issued that 10 day ultimatum where Iran has to agree zero uranium stockpiling and a total dismantling of its missile program. Well, that ultimatum came and it went. And this follows the strategic shadow of Operation midnight hammer in June 2025. Right. So this is when the US B2 bombers dropped 30,000 pounds of bunker busters to obliterate Iran's nuclear sites. And the administration argues that despite those strikes, Tehran immediately began a clandestine reconstitution of its nuclear program, which made them even closer to a nuclear breakout. Now, according to national security briefings, Iran was no longer just pursuing a weapon. They claimed they were days away from finishing it. This is kind of hard for people to believe, though, because back in June, the White House put out a statement saying that, you know, Iran was wiped out. Having said that, the administration's position is that they won't allow a nuclear shield to protect a regime that destabilizes the globe. So as President Trump put it, we're not going to wait for the mushroom cloud to verify the intelligence. This time the mission isn't just to set back the clock, it's to dismantle them entirely. All right, so there's a lot of debate, right, on whether or not Iran actually posed a nuclear threat. Well, here's what we know. So the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that Iran is enriching uranium up to 60%. Well, this is far beyond the 3.67% that's typically used for civilian reactors. As of May 2025, Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium was at about 408 kilograms, which the IAEA says is concerning. So while Iran still allows inspectors, it restricts access, and it hasn't fully resolved questions about undeclared nuclear materials. And the IAEA can't verify the program is purely peaceful under those conditions. But skeptics are arguing that enrichment alone doesn't equal a weapons program. And they point out that civilian energy use is legal, that Iran hasn't crossed the line to 90% weapons grade enriched uranium. They think that diplomacy and monitoring can ensure peaceful use. And they're wary of politically motivated claims to go in to Iran. Well, how do you determine the truth here? To be honest, it's pretty confusing. One thing I can tell you for sure is that we should rely on independent bodies like the iaea. We should examine their reports on enrichment levels, their claims about inspection, access and verified findings. Right. We should avoid relying solely on political rhetoric and do our best to stick to the facts where we can get them. Now, as for the ballistic missiles, on March 2, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood at the Pentagon podium and he laid out our intentions to take out Iran's missile shield. So the US argues that Iran spent the last year building a massive arsenal of drones and ballistic missiles specifically to hold American bases and our allies in the Gulf hostage. And Hegseth called it a conventional gun to our head, designed to protect their nuclear blackmail. It took the 47th president, a fighter who always puts America first, to finally draw the line. After 47 years of Iranian belligerence. He reminded the world, as he has time and time again, being an American means something unbreakable. If you kill Americans, if you threaten

Jillian Michaels (16:16)

Yeah, high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for mortality and one in two adults has it. So that means there's a 5050 chance you're a walking time bomb. But here's the good news. You can take control of your blood pressure naturally without relying on Big Pharma. 120 Life is a Blend of great tasting superfruit juices that have been shown to help lower blood pressure. It's backed by hundreds of doctors and trusted by thousands of people who've seen measurable results. And here's the best part. It's completely risk free. Try 120Life for two weeks and if you don't see a difference in your numbers, you get your money back. Just go to 120life.com, that's 120life.com and use the code Jillian to save 20% and get free shipping. This is serious, guys. This is your life we're talking about. 120 life can help. What does comfort that really carries you from morning to night feel like? Well, for me, it's Cozy Earth. It starts with their essential socks. They're soft, they're breathable, they're thoughtfully cushioned to support you step by step. Honestly, from the moment you step out of bed to the end of a long day. They've got multiple styles. They fit seamlessly into everyday life. And when the day winds down, that same comfort shows up at night. With Cozy Earth's comforter. It's luxuriously soft. It's light, it's naturally temperature regulated so you stay cool, calm and comfortable all night long. There's no heaviness, no overheating, just deeper, better rest. And that's what sets Cozy Earth apart. Every piece is crafted with intention and attention to detail, designed to quietly elevate the everyday. And it's completely risk free with 100 night sleep trial and a 10 year warranty. So discover how care in every detail transforms simple routines into comfort. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code, Michaels for up to 20% off. That's Michaels for up to 20% off. And if you get a post purchase survey, please be sure to mention that you heard about about Cozy Earth right here on my show. So these days I'm all about quality over quantity, especially with my closet. And if something isn't well made and versatile, it's just not worth it to me. And that's honestly why I love quints. The fabrics feel elevated, the cuts are thoughtful, the pricing makes sense. Quince makes high quality wardrobe staples using premium fabrics like 100% European linen, 100% silk, organic cotton poplin, think lightweight cotton cashmere sweaters that are perfect for transitioning between seasons. Plus they've got fresh spring colors and prints that instantly update your wardrobe. They're versatile, well made pieces that make getting dressed simple. They work directly with safe ethical factories and they cut out the middleman. So you're not paying for brand markups, just exceptional quality at a better price. Everything is made to last season after season. I mean my Quince leather jacket, soft as heck, perfectly structured, looks incredible. It's lightweight and I've spent big money on luxury jackets. Quint outperforms them all at a fraction of the cost. So right now go to quint.comjillian for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's a full year to wear it and Love it. And you will now available in Canada too. So don't keep settling for the clothes that don't last. Go to Q U I n c e.com Jillian for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com/jillian okay, moving on from this, arguably one of the most important elements of this is how it impacts the geopolitical chessboard. So this is exceptionally telling, right? Our allies, Canada, Australia, the uk, NATO, they pretty much supported the strike. Because Iran's proxy network threatens regional stability. The UAE is tried to sort of stay neutral, hoping for diplomacy. And then of course we have our allies in the Gulf like Saudi, uae, Qatar pretty much saying they have our back here before they were struck with missiles. But here's what's super interesting. Our enemies Russia, North Korea and China have loudly opposed it. So Iran is part of a network of sanctioned states that have relied on each other to evade Western pressure. China has been Iran's largest oil customer and a crucial economic partner for them. I mean, importing heavily discounted Iranian crude and helping sustain Tehran's revenue despite the sanctions. Right, so China was arming Iran. They were finalizing missile deals and shipping propellant to rebuild Iran's arsenals. And with their $400 billion partnership, China planned to make Iran untouchable. So by removing Iran, China's careful investment gets kneecapped. Russia has a formal strategic partnership with Tehran aimed at mitigating sanctions, of course, and expanding defense cooperation. So they've traded drones and other military technology with Iran. The collapse of the regime would weaken Moscow's regional foothold and disrupt cooperative weapons channels that have flowed both ways. And then you have North Korea, so their connection to Iran is smaller, but it's still meaningful because both have historically cooperated on missile and weapons technologies and they've worked in parallel to resist sanctions. So while the world sees chaos, the US is likely playing out a deliberate long game strategy against our biggest adversaries. And finally, the administration explicitly cited that the massacre of the Iranian people must stop. Since the uprising of Iran's people began in 2025, the regime did not just suppress dissent. They conducted what the White House calls a savage one sided war against their own citizens, with the death toll estimates reaching as high as 40,000. So the President's red line was simple. Stop killing your people or we will stop you. By decapitating the leadership and taking out 49 of the regime's top architects, the US claims it's bolstering the historic protest movement and giving the 85% of the country that wants a regime change, a fighting chance to take back their country. Take a look.

Jillian Michaels (23:28)

So let's talk about those Iranian people. As the Hands off Iran protests at home have already begun in response to the President's actions. I think it's imperative to establish this is not a war with Iran. This is a war for Iran. The Islamic regime is not Iran. Iran is not an Arab country. Iranians are Persian. They are not Arabs. Their primary language is Farsi, not Arabic. Ethnically, culturally and historically, Persia predates Islam by more than a thousand years. So before the Arab conquest in the seventh century, the dominant religion was Zoroastrianism. And over the centuries, Iran also developed ancient Jewish and Christian communities that still exist today, albeit in hiding. Now, here's where this whole thing went south. So in 1951, the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad was Adeh, who was wildly popular. He nationalized Iran's oil industry which was controlled by the British. Now, the people loved it inside of Iran, but of course it was deeply threatening to the British and the American economic interests. So in 1953, an MI6 and CIA backed coup removed Mossadegh and restored the monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Shah ruled is a pro Western modernizer, right? Which sounds awesome in theory. He expanded women's rights, secularized parts of society and aligned closely with the United States. He also ruled through repression. His secret police crushed dissent. Political opposition was jailed, tortured and exiled. To many religious conservatives and nationalists, the Shah became a symbol of corruption, inequality and Western interference, which it was. You can see why people still shudder in America at the thought of regime change because very often it doesn't work out and it turns out worse than before. Now, by 1979, mass protests exploded across Iran. So what began as a broad coalition of secular liberals, leftists, students, clerics, eventually consolidated under one figure, Ayatollah Rola Khomeini, a cleric exiled by the Shah. And when the Shah fled, Khomeini returned, and he established something unprecedented. Not just an Islamic republic, but a system. I'm going to butcher this, but it's called val, which basically means the Guardianship of the Jurist. Now, under this doctrine, ultimate authority doesn't rest with voters, but with a supreme Islamic scholar, the supreme leader. And that position can overrule the president, parliament, courts, and the military. So it fused religion and state power into one office. The Iran we see today is not ancient Persia reborn. It's a modern theocracy born out of foreign interference, internal repression and ideological consolidation. The Iranian people are Persian. The regime was Islamist. And for 47 years, those two identities were at war inside the same borders. And now the world is watching a 47 year old tectonic plate finally snap. The streets are flooded in Iran with grandmothers, teenagers, engineers, poets, men who have not cried in public, probably since they were children. All of them screaming, weeping, holding each other in the middle of the road. Strangers embracing strangers, tears streaming down, faces that have not known public joy in five decades. In Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, massive traffic jams have formed across every major city. Not because people are fleeing, because they're stationary. They're leaning on their horns in a rhythmic collective wave that echoes for miles. You know why? Because the car horn is the only instrument the regime could not confiscate. And that's become the sound of a nation's liberation. On the rooftops, people are shouting again, just like in 1979. But the words have changed. It's no longer Al Akbar. It's now Azadi, which means freedom, or margbar, dictator, which means death to the dictator. In Ecbatan, which is a legendary stronghold of resistance in Tehran, women are building bonfires in the middle of the street and throwing their hijabs into the flames. Schoolgirls ripping off their hijabs out of joy. For many of them, this is the first time in their lives they will have felt the wind in their hair in public, without fear. And Mashad, which is the religious heart of the country, the bronze statues of the ayatollahs, they're coming down. Citizens are dragging them through the dirt behind motorbikes, reclaiming their squares one by one. And from Los Angeles to London to Paris to Toronto, the global Iranian diaspora has flooded the streets. Millions of people who have carried this wound across decades of exile are finally watching the country they were forced to leave taste freedom again. Can you imagine a nation where your hair is a political statement that's punishable by death? Where the morality police shadow our daughters. For years, Iran has been in a rolling state of revolt. 1999-2009-2017-2019, 2022. Every time the demand was the same. End clerical rule. Here's the crack that never healed. And I know a lot of you are going to remember this. And that's when Mahsa Amini In 2022, 22 year old girl was beaten to death because her hair showed through her hijab. And when the people rose up out of fury, the regime responded with sadism that is beyond comprehension. Shooting protesters in the eyes to blind a generation of witnesses. And white torture in their prison, Evan prison, so that they could break their mind. Finally, these people are liberated from 47 years of pure hell and systemic trauma. In 2025 alone, the regime has reportedly massacred 4,40,000 peaceful protesters in a matter of days. The IRGC didn't just shoot to kill, they shot to blind. Thousands of young Iranians are living today with one or both of their eyes missing. In the prisons that I mentioned, they perfected sensory deprivation. Prisoners were kept in rooms where everything was white, hence the concept of white torture. The walls, the floor, the lights, even the food. Until their minds literally detached from reality, the regime treated the entire population as a bargaining chip for its nuclear ambitions, spending billions on their terror proxies like Hezbollah, while their own Iranian children had no water, no food, no medicine. But those days are over because the Ayatollah is gone. And for the majority of Iranians, this is not a political transition. It is an exorcism. Now, having said all of that, what matters most to Americans is what this could mean for America. And that is more than fair, right? So let's look at that honestly and fairly. I. I'm gonna say right now that I've wanted to jump down the President's throat a few times since he took office again. Back in 2025, I was worried that Venezuela would go south. I was worried that Greenland would be a disaster. I thought the tariffs would crash the economy. And that hasn't been the case. The President has illustrated that he is a peacetime president. So personally, I'm going to sit back and I'm going to wait this one out before forming a decision. But this is the reality, right? Things will probably become more expensive for a while. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the world's oil supply. And oil is priced on a global market, not a local one. So even if the strait isn't fully closed, just the threat of, like, mines and drones and missile strikes are gonna make shipping riskier, which makes insurance more expensive. And then traders bid up oil futures in anticipation of a possible supply disruption. So when crude prices rise, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and transportation costs rise with it. And then, because nearly everything in the economy is moved by truck, ship, or plane, higher energy costs are going to ripple outward into food, goods and services. Right? So that's how regional instability quickly turns into higher gas prices and broader inflation at home. Second is obvious terror. You've got all these five terror proxies scattered across the world on purpose. The battlefield is not just missiles in the gulf. So while these proxies might be wounded, they're certainly not erased. And the concern inside US Intelligence circles isn't just a state to state escalation. It's lone wolf attacks, proxy retaliation, the targeting of soft targets like transit hubs, embassies, commercial centers. And we're already seeing the grim reality of this unpredictable phase. I mean, you've got the recent shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, being investigated as a potential act of domestic terror linked to the regime's fall. Now, of course, authority is or looking into the shooter's background, but the bottom line is the guy was wearing a shirt that said property of Allah. Okay? This is the venom in the system. A war that's moved from the silas of Iran to the streets of America. And the third concern is the power vacuum. So at the moment, this is less about who was killed and more about who's left alive. Right. Who inherits Iran. Some worry that with the Supreme Leader gone, the IRGC might transition into a military junta. Right? Abandoning the relig pretense for a purely brutal dictatorship. And then another, equally awful possibility is that Motaba Khomeini was the late Ayatollah's son, that he could take power. And this guy's operated behind the scenes as a power broker with influence over the Revolutionary Guard and intelligence services in Iran. So elevating this guy would preserve the regime's continuity, which would mean continued reign of terror. That would be awful. And the third possible outcome circulating is the return of Reza Pahlavi. So this is the son of the last shah, and he's been speaking from exile, calling for a democratic transition. Now, here would be his approach.

Jillian Michaels (41:08)

I try so hard not to be tribal and not to attack the other side, but this kind of ignorance is just so freaking dangerous, it's staggering. Having said that, of course you've got the Kamalas and the Newsoms admitting that the regime is repulsive, but this is not the way. Here's Gavin Newsom's. The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go. But that doesn't justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal and dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people. President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home. Okay, now hold on. Nobody's dumb here. I just outlined all of the possible reasons why we may have gone into Iran, and there's no question that at least one of them is true. And none of them list being unpopular here at home. So the bigger question that I have for Gavin and Kamala is, what's your plan? Because if you recall correctly, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry gave Iran uranium to enrich for civilian use. That went wrong. And then Obama sent them pallets of cash and Biden lifted sanctions. Having said all of that, how did it play out? Well, October 7th happened. And in fact, the 2025 Global Terrorism Index reported that the number of countries recording a terror attack increased with intensified violence from major groups, leading to an 11% rise in deaths in 2024. And what's even crazier is that the mainstream outlets, the Washington Post, described the Ayatollah as avuncular, which means like a lovable uncle with a, quote, easy smile. You have to be kidding me. Are you guys kidding me? Bill O'Reilly literally wrote an entire book on evil dictators called Confronting Evil. The Ayatollah is on the COVID You've got outlets like the BBC and Reuters who focused heavily on portraying the strikes as an external aggression that's at odds with the desire of the Iranian populace, which is a total fallacy. Look at this.

Interviewer or Host (43:42)

Ayatollah Khamenei's obituaries from Western media. You might think that a world leader, albeit a slightly controversial one, had died. The New York Times called him a hardline cleric who made Iran a regional power. They described his leadership style as avuncular and magnanimous. The Washington Post assured readers that Iran under Khamenei did not seek to destroy the Jewish state militarily, just its dissolution through referendum. The Guardian took us on a tour for his love of Victor Hugo and Persian poetry. They made him sound like a bookish scholar. While these gentle obituaries were being drafted in newsrooms across New York, Washington and London, Iranians poured into the streets not to mourn, but to celebrate. For 47 years, they have lived under a regime that imprisoned women for showing their hair, hanged gay men from cranes in public squares, executed political prisoners by the thousands, tortured dissidents and treated the most basic human rights to speak, dress and practice religion freely as crimes punishable by death. It is worth remembering what the actual record of his rule was. 22 year old Masha Amini was killed by the morality police for wearing her hijab improperly. Protests erupted. Khamenei's response? Kill 500 protesters, detain 22,000 more. In 1994, a bomb laden van was driven into a Jewish community center in buenos Aires, killing 85 people. An Argentine corps ruled that Khamenei gave the order himself. In 2000, Al Qaeda bombed the USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17Americans. US courts found Iran indirectly liable. In 2016, Iran's Revolutionary Guard seized a US Navy ship and forced American sailors to kneel, crying before Iranian forces. Five days later, President Obama sent Iran $400 million. After October 7, roughly 180 attacks on Western forces took place in the region under Khamenei's watch, including a drone strike in Jordan that killed three Americans. He built a network of terrorist proxies. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and spent decades calling for death to America and death to Israel. That wasn't rhetoric. It was official state policy. There is a reason Iranians are dancing in the streets right now. It is not because they want war. It's because they don't. The Iranian people don't need an obituary to tell them who Khamenei was. He wasn't a cleric or a statesman. He was an evil dictator who terrorized those who believed in basic human rights. The Iranian people have been waiting for this day for decades. They deserve more than sanitized obituaries from newsrooms that never had to live under the regime he built. And they also deserve what we all hope comes next, a free Iran.

Jillian Michaels (47:00)

So which is it? Is Iran a threat or not? The answer, guys, is whatever they want it to be. The truth is malleable as long as it serves their agenda. The truth is whatever they tell you, regardless of fact. And this is what's really distressing, because Americans go to war with each other over this kind of bullshit. And what I'm hoping to clear up today is what we actually know and what the actual facts are. And then you make your own decision. Now, the conservatives, they're not super duper happy either. You've got conservatives like Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly or libertarians like Dave Smith, who generally feel as follows. Check out this tweet from Matt Walsh. This is a long one. He says, as always, I only support military action anywhere in any context, if it directly serves the interest of American citizens. It's troubling that the arguments we're hearing for this war in Iran, including from Trump himself, seem to revolve primarily around bringing freedom to the Iranian people. As Americans, the freedom of Iranians is not our responsibility. If a single American life is lost in the service of that goal, it will be a travesty. What nobody has even come close to sufficiently explaining is, is how this war will first and foremost directly benefit American citizens. That is a case that needed to have been made clearly and convincingly before this move, and it wasn't. We were also told how this will benefit Israel, and I'm sure it will. But Israel is not America. What does it do for America? How does it help us? That needs to be explained to us. And it isn't panicking or demonstrating disloyalty to demand those very basic answers about how American tax money and potentially American lives are being spent. We hear about the danger of a nuclear Iran, but that's odd because we were told that Iran's nuclear capabilities had already been set back decades. We hear that this war will be over quickly and easily because Iran is powerless, which I hope and pray is the case, and maybe it will be. But that's odd too, because if Iran is such a paper tiger, then how are they a danger to us in the first place? It seems hard to argue both that Iran is an existential threat to the United States and that we can topple them in 20 minutes with no casualties or negative downstream effects. Also, the political calculation really matters here. A huge majority of Americans oppose this. That's just a fact. If it cost Republicans in 26 and 28, then no matter how things work out in Iran, it will have not been worth it. A free Iran at the cost of democratic rule here at home is a bad deal. A free Iran for an unfree America would be just about the worst trade of the century. I'm praying for our great country today. I think that's a fair assessment from Matt Walsh. I understand his position. I also think that there is a lot at stake here that affects America. But the reality is that this depends on what you personally think is America first. Ultimately, for me, the opinion that made the most sense is this one here. Check out Michael Knowles.