Mark Levin Podcast: Addressing the Crisis in Iran and Its Global Implications

Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Mark Levin | Cumulus Podcast Network
Guests: Michael Doran (Hudson Institute), Peter Schweizer (author, "The Invisible Coup")

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the ongoing and escalating crisis in Iran, the geopolitical and moral responsibility of the United States, threats posed by the Iranian regime, and the broader global context, including American and allied strategies. Mark Levin also explores issues surrounding immigration as a weapon, the influence of foreign governments, and the internal challenges facing the U.S., with insight from expert guests Michael Doran and Peter Schweizer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Urgency of the Iran Crisis

• Levin expresses deep concern over the declining urgency in the media and political landscape regarding Iran’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protestors.
• He warns that as time passes without decisive U.S. action, both public and political resolve for military intervention wanes, despite ongoing atrocities.
• Notable: "This revolution in Iran cannot succeed without us. It's that simple. Europe’s not going to do anything. Israel can't really do anything on its own." (03:51)

Atrocities Being Committed

• Iranian regime accused of executing and murdering protestors: “They're slaughtering people, raping people, torturing people, murdering them at an ungodly rate. And either we're going to help them or we're not.” (29:49)
• Levin pushes against portrayals of a less urgent situation, emphasizing ongoing violence and executions: “Today, 13 people were in fact hanged in Iran… But look, that's the point is they're slaughtering people… Dead is dead, in my humble opinion. And it's not so humble, it's really out of fury at this point.” (29:49)

Geopolitical Risks

• Notes Iran's test of a 10,000-mile ICBM with Russian backing: “Now that hits America. Just so you know. I mean, that's something you need to keep in mind.” (03:19)
• Warns against complacency: “Evil is forever and has to be confronted… You have a lock on your door. Why? Because evil exists.” (34:20)

2. American and Allied Responsibilities

• Mark asserts the U.S. must act against the Iranian regime, as diplomatic and economic pressures alone may be insufficient.
• He references the limited capability of Europe and Israel to act independently and repeatedly calls for stronger American leadership.

Regional Dynamics: Kurds, Turkey, Syria

• Levin expresses outrage at the U.S. abandonment of Kurdish allies: “How many Kurds have been murdered and raped. And these are our allies. These are people who have fought with us through thick and thin.” (05:44)
• Criticizes U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack for allegedly excusing bad actors in the region.

3. Geopolitical Strategy: Greenland and U.S. Defense

• Discussion on U.S. strategic interests in Greenland: “We need to have Greenland to protect the United States... The Chinese and the Russians have key choke points geographically around the world. And one potential area is Greenland.” (12:02)
• Suggests a 99-year U.S. lease of Greenland for military purposes, access to rare earth minerals, and U.S. security (13:20-14:57).

4. U.S. Tariffs and Constitutional Power

• Levin challenges the Wall Street Journal’s critique of President Trump’s use of tariffs for foreign policy objectives (18:26-28:18).
• Emphasizes constitutional roles: “The framers gave the power to both. They gave the power of the purse to Congress, but they gave the power of a foreign policy to the president. And tariffs involve international trade, international commerce, national security and diplomacy.” (19:27)
• Argues judicial overreach in restricting presidential powers on tariffs would weaken U.S. foreign policy flexibility.

Notable Quote

"The Wall Street Journal, whether they've backed into it or not...has decided the President does not have the power to do what he's doing. Therefore Congress has the power. Really?" (28:22)

5. Interview: Michael Doran (Hudson Institute) on Iran’s Shadow Banking (45:57–61:56)

Highlights:

• Explains Iran’s use of clandestine banking networks using shell companies and Dubai-based banks to evade sanctions and fund regime activities (46:15-49:08).
• Doran’s policy recommendation: Target the few banks facilitating these transactions—particularly in UAE—with fines and terror finance designations to incapacitate the regime’s financial lifelines (49:40-54:02).
• Confirmed that the U.S. Treasury is aware but reluctant to act due to potential diplomatic/economic fallout with the UAE and risk to the global financial system (53:03-54:50).
• Doran sees choking off these financial means as the “least dangerous, high-impact step” against Iran short of military action.

Notable Exchange

Mark Levin: "So the choke point is the banks, not the end users..." (49:08)
Michael Doran: "That's it. If you want to take down the system…you've got to go after the banks." (49:21)
Doran: “This step is the least dangerous, high impact step that the United States could take.” (53:56)

6. The Weaponization of Immigration — Interview with Peter Schweizer (82:15-103:04)

The Central Thesis (Peter Schweizer)

• Immigration is not merely an economic or humanitarian issue; it’s been weaponized by foreign adversaries (China, Mexico, Islamists) and American elites to undermine the U.S. from within.
• Particular emphasis on China’s “industrial model” of exploiting birthright citizenship, producing up to 100,000 U.S.-born children annually who are then raised in China to potentially return as citizens with voting rights and government access (88:26).
• Detailed discussion of Mexican government organizing migrants and interfering in American elections via a vast network of consulates and coordination with U.S. political activists (84:17-86:44).
• Islamists exploiting the R1 visa system to import clerics who radicalize U.S. mosques, and encourage "civilizational warfare" against the U.S. (91:55-94:15).
• Discussion of “liberation theology” in the Catholic Church and its alignment with Marxist and Islamist political goals (96:06-97:47).

Notable Quote

Peter Schweizer:

“My parents were immigrants... but the immigration we've been experiencing in recent decades is very, very different. It's organized. And these groups use it as a way to undermine our country. And they also use it to meddle in our politics. They see it as a tool to undermine American civilization. And frankly, it's working.” (82:56)

7. The Threat of Marxist-Islamist-Leftist Alliance

• Levin and Schweizer discuss how diverse ideologies join forces against a common enemy: the United States.
• Cites the alliance as a marriage of convenience, not ideology: “There's a reason why some familiar faces...have now migrated to Minneapolis and are organizing the anti-ICE protests... because they see migration as a tool that can be weaponized…” (86:44)

8. The Stakes for America

• Immigration, economic policy, and foreign response to Iran are existential issues.
• Levin calls out the “weakness” of the American ruling class and the dangers of passive or complicit political actors.
• Ends with a passionate call for more active defense of American values and engagement with these civilizational threats.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Iran:

  "The world is waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on the legality of President Trump's emergency tariffs…foreign countries are waiting to see what we do..." (18:24)

• On Media Apathy:

  "The urgency of it wears down, doesn't it? Not for the people in Iran, but for our media, which has the attention span of a snail." (05:44)

• On American Power:

  "If you want to take down the system, you've got to go after the banks." — Michael Doran (49:21)

• On Weaponized Immigration:

  "We have not woken up to the fact that immigration has been weaponized by these entities and by US Elites that want this behavior." — Peter Schweizer (94:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening: Increasing debt, economic instability, need for diversification — 00:00–1:35
• Levin on decreasing urgency for Iran intervention — 2:28–5:08
• Press conference excerpt on Iran — 5:08–5:44
• Discussion of Kurdish allies and regional betrayals — 5:44–11:11
• Greenland, geopolitical strategy against Russia & China — 11:12–14:57
• Tariffs, Constitution, checks and balances — 18:26–29:33
• Horrors in Iran and regime atrocities — 29:49–33:42
• Michael Doran interview, Iranian shadow banking — 45:57–61:56
• Peter Schweizer interview, weaponized immigration—China, Mexico, Islamists — 82:15–103:04
• Caller from Iranian American community, gratitude for advocacy — 103:33–106:25

Tone & Style Preservation

Mark Levin’s passionate, urgent, sometimes combative style pervades the episode. He challenges conventional media, establishment politicians, and legal interpretations, frequently expressing moral outrage and insistence on direct, meaningful action. Levin’s guests reinforce this urgency with detailed, expert-driven explanations.

Summary Takeaways

• The Iranian regime poses a profound and persistent threat to its own people and to global stability; time is running out for meaningful intervention.
• America must leverage all tools—military, economic, diplomatic—to counteract Iran and uphold its commitments to allies and human rights.
• The U.S. faces multifaceted campaigns to undermine it from within, via weaponized immigration and coordinated efforts by adversarial powers and ideologies.
• Levin stresses the importance of constitutional clarity, decisive leadership, and active citizenship in defending the nation’s core principles and people under threat.

This summary captures the critical points, tone, expert insights, and pivotal moments of the episode, offering both a detailed guide for non-listeners and a reference for deeper understanding of today’s most urgent geopolitical issues.