Podcast Summary: "Why Don’t You Move To Iran Or Venezuela?" Roger Waters vs Piers Morgan

Podcast: Piers Morgan Uncensored
Host: Piers Morgan
Guest: Roger Waters (Pink Floyd musician, activist)
Date: January 16, 2026

Overview

This episode of "Piers Morgan Uncensored" features Piers Morgan in a combative and probing interview with Roger Waters, the legendary Pink Floyd musician known for his vocal political activism. The conversation covers Waters’ controversial support for leaders like Nicolas Maduro (Venezuela), his views on Iran, the war in Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and a recent controversy involving comments on Ozzy Osbourne. The episode highlights stark differences in worldview between the host and guest, with frequent challenges and pointed exchanges.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

1. Roger Waters’ Support for Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela

• Waters defends Maduro: "He's the duly democratically elected leader of a country that represents all the principles of the Bolivarian and Chavez revolutionary process. So? ... It's based upon socialist principles and the idea of equal human rights for all people."
  (02:21)
• Morgan questions Venezuela’s democracy and economic disaster: Piers cites corruption, poverty, and repression, claiming that “8 million Venezuelans have fled the country under Maduro.”
  (04:32)
• Waters blames U.S. sanctions: "Because of the U.S. sanctions, obviously... It's very difficult to live in a country that... has had shocking and appalling sanctions imposed upon it by a very, very powerful foreign empire, namely the United States of America."
  (04:41)

2. On Political Protest and Human Rights in Iran

• Morgan presses on Waters’ support of both Iranian protesters and regime:
  • “You support the protesters and you support the regime?”
    (00:25, revisited at 10:16)
• Waters on Iran’s protests and regime change:
  • "We know the Iranians do not want regime change... Why don't we let the Iranians figure out what kind of government they want?"
    (08:34)
  • "I support the right of women to dress how they want anywhere in the world."
    (09:14)
  • "The mass of the people are absolutely solidly opposed to the foreign interference."
    (13:11)
• Morgan calls out repression and international condemnation:
  • “This regime has been one of the most repressive and degrading regimes on the Iranian people... by common consent of every international organization you can think of.”
    (11:24)

3. The Language of “Terrorism” and the Israel/Gaza Conflict

• On defining terrorism:
  • “The word terrorist... doesn’t mean anything significant. It means whatever the person using it wants it to mean.”
    (15:00)
  • “To call Hamas terrorists, but not to call the Israelis terrorists is absurd, obviously.”
    (16:18)
• On October 7, 2023 (Hamas attack on Israel):
  • Waters refuses to call it terrorism, calls it “an act of resistance by an occupied people.”
    (17:31)
  • Claims: “The Israelis killed most of the people who died on October 7th.”
    (18:18)
• Morgan’s incredulous response:
  • “What a load of nonsense. Honestly, Roger, seriously.”
    (18:19)

4. Waters’ Critique of the West, U.S. & Sanctions

• Waters frequently attributes world crises to Western imperialism, sanctions, and foreign interference:
  • "You're a guy who's trying to prop up the evil Western empire that is trying to take over the whole world, using war as its main way of doing that."
    (23:44)
  • Waters reiterates belief in universal human rights but expresses deep cynicism about Western governments and media.

5. Waters’ Views on Russia, Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin

• Waters on Russia’s invasion:
  • “When they invaded, I thought it was wrong... but it was not unprovoked. It was provoked beyond all.”
    (31:37)
• Morgan asks about civilian casualties:
  • Waters: “Putin has conducted the special military operation with his gloves off. He really has tried not to hurt civilians...”
    (32:48-33:38)
  • Piers: “Vladimir Putin has tried really hard not to hurt civilians? Is it? Did you really just say that?”
    (33:46)
• On Crimea:
  • Waters: “The people of Crimea asked to join the Russian Federation, of course.”
    (35:08)

6. Controversy: Waters on Ozzy Osbourne’s Death

• Morgan confronts Waters over disparaging comments about Ozzy Osbourne:
  • Waters describes Ozzy: “We'll never know. Although he was all over the TV for hundreds of years with his idiocy and nonsense. The music, I have no idea. I couldn't give a fuck.”
    (37:47)
  • Sharon Osbourne's reaction is played, Waters remains unapologetic.
  • “No, not really... You have conversations about things and about people in. What do you think? Well, not a lot. I was honest. I said I didn’t like Black Sabbath...”
    (40:33, 41:41)
• Morgan: “So you’re big on empathy, right to the point. It’s a grieving family and then you couldn’t give a shit. Roger Waters, thank you very much.”
  (42:12)

7. Where Should Waters Live?

• Morgan presses Waters about his choice to live in the U.S. despite his criticisms:
  • “Why live somewhere if you hate it so much or hate the leader so much? Why don't you act on a point of principle, get off your backside and go and live in Iran or Venezuela...?”
    (19:46)
  • Waters: “Maybe I will... It may well be that Donald and his cabal will make that decision for me because he is pretty erratic and... he could send masked men around to shoot me in the head through my car window.”
    (29:08)
• Waters reflects nostalgically on America’s ideals but feels the people lack voice in a system he calls undemocratic.
  (27:51, 28:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On definitions of terrorism:
  “Anybody with an IQ above room temperature knows that’s a meaningless conversation and that the word terrorist is a blight on our language because it doesn’t mean anything significant.” — Roger Waters (15:00)

• On supporting both Iranian protesters and the regime:
  “You support the protesters and you support the regime?” — Piers Morgan (10:16)
  “Yes, of course. I would love regimes where people could protest...” — Roger Waters (10:22)

• On the October 7th attack:
  “The Israelis killed most of the people who died on October 7th.” — Roger Waters (18:18)
  “What a load of nonsense, honestly Roger, seriously.” — Piers Morgan (18:19)

• On Maduro and Western media:
  “Most of the people are absolutely solidly opposed to the foreign interference. And this, of course, includes all of the sanctions against Iran that have caused the massive inflation and the devaluation.” — Roger Waters (13:11)

• On America:
  “America is not a democracy. You can buy the presidency. Donald Trump did, and he buys it from APEC money and from oligarchical money and from donor money.” — Roger Waters (27:51)

• Waters on his activism:
  “Because I believe... I have a moral compass which I allow to guide my actions... That is why I’m here. Because I, to some extent, am a voice for the voiceless.” — Roger Waters (19:46)

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• 00:25 & 10:16 – Morgan and Waters spar over supporting both Iranian protesters and regime
• 02:21 – Waters explains why he supports Maduro and Venezuelan socialism
• 04:41 – Waters blames U.S. sanctions for Venezuela’s collapse
• 08:34 – Waters denies support for Iranian regime change
• 15:00 – Debate on the meaning of terrorism
• 17:31 – Waters refuses to label Hamas attack as terrorism
• 18:18 – Waters claims Israelis killed most on October 7
• 19:46; 27:51; 29:08 – Morgan presses Waters on why he lives in America
• 32:48 – Waters claims Putin has “tried not to hurt civilians”
• 37:47; 40:33; 41:41 – Waters refuses to apologize to Osbourne family

Conclusion

This episode is a robust, often heated confrontation between two starkly opposed worldviews. Piers Morgan consistently challenges Roger Waters on support for controversial regimes, definitions of terrorism, and personal accountability for public statements. Waters, in turn, staunchly defends his anti-imperialist activism and his skepticism of Western narratives, while deflecting on several controversies and maintaining his commitment to what he calls universal human rights. The episode is punctuated with sharp rhetorical exchanges, memorable one-liners, and energetic disagreement—characteristic of the “Uncensored” format.

For listeners interested in politics, activism, and thorny international issues, this episode offers plenty of debate, strong opinions, and confrontation—true to the podcast’s branding.