Mark Levin Podcast – "The Silent Holocaust: What’s Happening in Iran?"

Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Mark Levin (Cumulus Podcast Network)
Guests: Richard Goldberg (Foundation for the Defense of Democracies), Mark Goldfeder (National Jewish Advocacy Center)
Episode Focus: The ongoing mass slaughter and brutal repression of protesters in Iran, the international response (or lack thereof), the geopolitics of the Middle East, and the urgent need for U.S. and allied intervention.

Episode Overview

In this hard-hitting episode, Mark Levin delves into what he calls the "silent holocaust" unfolding in Iran—state-sanctioned mass killings, torture, and repression against young protesters. Levin lambasts the lack of global attention to Iran’s atrocities, criticizes U.S. policy responses, and argues for decisive action against the regime. He discusses the interconnectedness of regional crises including the targeting of Kurds, the questionable conduct of U.S. envoys, and the role of regimes like Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. The show features passionate commentary, analysis from security expert Richard Goldberg, and a legal perspective from Mark Goldfeder. Levin draws visceral parallels to past genocides and frames the Iranian people’s struggle as a fight for basic human rights and Western values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Atrocity in Iran: Massacre of Protesters

• Scale of the Violence: Levin repeatedly refers to the situation in Iran as a holocaust, estimating tens of thousands dead, mostly young protesters, with harrowing details of state violence.
• Methods of Repression:
  • Protesters shot in the face and eyes to blind them
  • Torture, rape, and summary executions
  • Buildings with demonstrators burned; people dragged from homes
  • Use of foreign militia (Hezbollah, Iraqi terrorists) as regime stormtroopers ([06:06])
• Genocidal Tactics & Parallels to Nazi Germany:
  • Comparison to the Nazis, use of terms like SS, stormtroopers ([06:48])
  • Accounts of mass graves, images reminiscent of Holocaust museums ([73:44])
• Nature of the Protesters:
  • Young Iranians seeking basic freedoms; desires similar to American youth ([08:08])
  • “They want what our kids want… to go to a movie, to dance, to have a drink, to go out on a date.” – Mark Levin ([08:08])

2. Global and U.S. Response – Criticism and Calls to Action

• Inaction/Lack of Attention:
  • World powers and even the U.S. accused of turning a blind eye, with only rhetorical support ([11:04])
  • Levin demands concrete action, not just statements
• U.S. Sanctions & Diplomatic Failures:
  • Levin condemns the dropping of sanctions against Syria under foreign pressure ([04:33])
  • Critique of U.S. envoys (notably Thomas Barak) as apologists for terrorists ([02:21], [21:40])
• Urgency for Military Action:
  • Strong advocacy for direct strikes against the Iranian regime, particularly Supreme Leader Khamenei:
    • “We need to hit Khomeini with one of those bombers, with a couple of those bombs and send them off to hell where that man belongs.” – Mark Levin ([24:22])
  • Emphasis on giving protesters hope and support for regime change

3. Geopolitical Context: Kurds, Hamas, and Regional Power Players

• Kurds’ Plight:
  • Repeated concern for the Kurdish people, targets of ethnic cleansing in Turkey, Syria, and Iran
  • Erdogan (Turkey) described as an “Islamist, fascist, genocidal maniac” ([02:21], [18:49])
  • Release of ISIS prisoners amidst this chaos—potential reemergence of regional terrorism ([03:48], [23:12])
• Role of Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia:
  • Critique of their opposition to U.S. intervention
  • Accused of funding/arming terror groups, supporting Hamas ([04:32], [16:12])
  • Mockery of the proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza that includes these countries ([04:44], [16:12])
• Israel’s Security:
  • Levin supports Netanyahu’s refusal to allow Turkish/Qatari troops in Gaza ([05:10])
  • Calls for solidarity with Israel, the Kurds, Iranian protesters, and other regional minorities

4. Notable Guests and Expert Analysis

Richard Goldberg (Foundation for Defense of Democracies):

• Confirms Atrocity Reports:
  • “There are still protests popping up every night… they're clashing with them… killing the people from the regime side… mass arresting still.” ([47:50])
  • Accounts of secret executions and torture in prisons ([47:50], [57:26])
• U.S. Military Posture:
  • Describes the buildup of U.S. military assets, likening President Trump’s stance to Reagan’s with the USSR ([51:06], [53:12])
  • Predicts potential for U.S.-Israeli strikes to cripple the regime, empower protesters ([52:56], [58:57])
  • “The President could conceive of something like that. There's no boots on the ground. There's no Americans in harm's way… you take actions to mitigate and prevent.” ([53:12])

Reza Pahlavi (Exiled Crown Prince of Iran):

• On the Tipping Point:
  “The decisive factor… is calculated strategic strikes against this [regime]… The cavalry can help us overcome the odds… the regime is on its last leg. It's on the verge of collapse.” ([27:56])

5. Moral Argument & Historical Parallels

• Appeals to American Values:
  • “Do you hear them, America? Do you hear them? I hear them screaming.” – Mark Levin ([10:41])
  • Sorrow for mothers grieving dead children; parallels to American Revolution, French aid, and the universal fight for freedom ([26:09])
• Martin Luther King's Legacy:
  • Played archival audio of MLK on Israel, equating antisemitism and racism, drawing links with today’s struggles ([37:41])
  • “I stand with the Iranian people for the same reason. I stand with the Kurds for the same reason.” – Mark Levin ([38:26])

6. Domestic Security, Immigration, and the "Enemy Within"

• Warning on Radical Islamism and Immigration:
  • Levin warns of radical Islamists being allowed into the U.S., changing demographics, forming what he calls an “internal revolution against our country” ([33:35])
  • Criticizes Democrats for “aligning” with these groups and undermining American identity ([30:19])
  • Extension of concern to Chinese influence and foreign-born voters ([32:25])

7. Legal Front: Antisemitism and Free Speech in the U.S.

• Mark Goldfeder (National Jewish Advocacy Center):
  • Details on New York’s new mayor rolling back antisemitism protections ([84:02])
  • Legal recourse for synagogue protests, use of FACE Act, and lawsuits against groups like CAIR ([86:03], [89:05])
  • The interconnected, clandestine nature of radical groups targeting Jews in America ([89:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Iran’s Atrocities:

  • “It's not 3,000 dead. I just read it. 23,000 dead and the number's going up. You can't see there, you can't hear there. Maybe they're not hanging people, but they have bullets.” – Mark Levin, [08:24]

• On American Responsibility:

  • “Sometimes there are things we cannot do. The Uyghurs in China… But here, we certainly can do something about it. And those of you who want to turn your head… that's on your conscience, not mine.” – Mark Levin, [24:22]

• On the U.S. President’s Role:

  • “This is the first president, certainly in my lifetime, who gets it and isn’t trying to mitigate a problem, who isn’t just trying to get along... No, this is the man who took out the world’s mastermind of terrorism, Qasem Soleimani.” – Richard Goldberg, [49:04]

• MLK on Israel and Minorities:

  • “The whole world must see that Israel must exist and has a right to exist and is one of the great outposts of democracy in the world. ...I would still take a stand against anti Semitism because it's wrong, it's unjust, and it's evil.” – Martin Luther King Jr. audio, [37:41]

• On Antisemitism in America:

  • “CARE is the unindicted co-conspirator of the largest terror financing case in history. ...I believe that they're still allowed to do the kind of things they do right out there in the open.” – Mark Goldfeder, [87:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic/Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Iran atrocity overview | 06:01 – 11:04 | | Viral Hannity segment & appeals to America | 07:24 – 11:04 | | Kurds, Gaza, and foreign policy dynamics | 15:26 – 24:22 | | Reza Pahlavi statement (exiled Crown Prince)| 27:56 – 29:10 | | Richard Goldberg on military options | 47:50 – 53:12 | | MLK on Israel & racism | 37:41 – 38:26 | | Antisemitism, CARE, legal strategy | 84:02 – 90:19 | | Atrocities against Kurds & regime’s brutality| 73:44 – 82:53 |

Tone & Style

• Urgent, passionate, and deeply moralistic: Levin delivers with intensity, emotional appeals, and stark moral judgment.
• Direct and personal: Frequent use of “America” and direct address to listeners.
• Combative & polemical: Both against U.S. political figures/unresponsive institutions and against fundamentalist regimes.
• Engaged with history: Draws analogies to WWII, American Revolution, and the Holocaust.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

This episode is an emotional and fact-laden clarion call to recognize the horror unfolding in Iran as akin to history’s worst atrocities. Levin insists that Americans, and Western powers more broadly, must not ignore or justify Iran’s current crimes. He connects the dots between the suffering of Iran’s young people, the betrayal of regional allies like the Kurds, and what he perceives as a dangerous infiltration of radical ideologies into America. The episode is a blend of news, analysis, and moral outrage, accented by expert voices and reinforced by powerful historical context.

If you’re seeking a searing indictment of Iran’s regime, a call for U.S. leadership, and a sweeping geostrategic overview—from a hawkish conservative perspective—this episode delivers.