Rebel News Podcast: "Iranians Rally for Freedom as Ayatollah Toppled in US-Israeli Strike"

Date: March 3, 2026
Hosts: Sheila Gunn Reid, Ezra Levant
Guest: Scarlet Grace (Rebel News)

Episode Overview

This episode highlights two main threads:

• The Alberta Independence Tour and the culture of civil debate and robust protest in Medicine Hat.
• The outpouring of support among Iranians in Canada following the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini in a US-Israeli strike, featuring coverage of jubilant rallies in Toronto and insights into the Iranian diaspora’s hopes for the future.

The hosts champion free speech, civil dissent, and shine a spotlight on both the mechanics of Western Canadian independence and the vibrancy of anti-regime Iranian protests.

1. Alberta Independence Tour: Democracy and Civil Disagreement

Setting the Stage

• [00:28] Sheila Gunn Reid recounts a cold, snow-swept Friday night event at Medicine Hat College, the latest stop on the Alberta independence tour alongside Corey Morgan and Tamara Leach.
• Focus on the "nuts and bolts" of independence: pensions, debt, trade corridors, energy exports, indigenous jurisdiction, currency, courts, borders.

Venue & Commitment to Free Speech

• Commends Medicine Hat College for not caving to outside pressure:

  "It takes real backbone these days for a public institution... to host a controversial event and not cave the second someone sends an angry email." – Sheila Gunn Reid [00:47]

• Notes the broader significance:

  "They respected free expression, even for ideas that make some people deeply uncomfortable. And that matters to me." [01:24]

• Duality of protest and candid dialogue seen as vital:

  “This independence tour isn’t about whipping up rage. It’s about answering objections. It’s about pressure testing the idea.” [02:06]

Protesters and Civil Engagement

• Describes the protest: not token, but civil; no violence, no attempts to cancel; both camps respected each other’s rights.
• Notable commentary on protest culture:

  “Some of the crowd, let’s be honest, looked like they were manufactured in a lab to meet every one of my angry white, liberal, middle-aged lady stereotypes..." – Sheila Gunn Reid [04:01]

• Celebration of peaceful dissent:

  “That’s democracy. Not the sanitized, curated liberal version. A real one. It’s a little messy, but this way everyone’s rights matter.” [05:23]

Key Discussion Points in the Independence Debate

• Real questions from Albertans: pensions, treaties, risk of federal retaliation, being landlocked, economic fears.
• Methodical, adult answers provided regarding asset splits, demographics, energy exports, and indigenous jurisdictions.
• The driving emotions: not rage, but resolve and the desire for respect and autonomy.
• Broader point:

  “Whether independence ultimately becomes the path or a way to simply strengthen Alberta’s negotiation position, the conversation itself is powerful and necessary.” [08:21]

Takeaway

• Alberta aspires to model a civic culture valuing protest and argument rather than isolationism.

• “We could still disagree without tearing each other apart. And in this country right now, that’s no small victory.” – Sheila Gunn Reid [10:56]

2. Iranian Diaspora Rallies: Celebrating the Fall of the Ayatollah

On-the-Ground Reporting

• [11:38] Guest Scarlet Grace shares her experience at Toronto rallies, where Iranians celebrated the death of Ayatollah Khomeini following US-Israeli military action.
• Jubilee and relief replaced the “desperation” of earlier protests.

• “Instead of tears, it was cheers.” – Scarlet Grace [12:19]

Emotional Moment

• Communication lag led to moments where celebration happened in waves.

• “There’d be pockets of people erupting in cheers... I was with [a security friend] when the news came in from Israel and he ran to the stage... That’s when everybody started crying—it was kind of one just emotional mess.” – Scarlet Grace [13:56]

Trump’s Message & Diaspora Reaction

• High approval for Trump among Iranian-Canadians; his broadcasted speech resonated (“Uncle Trump” nickname, waving American and Israeli flags).

• "He’s really kind of the answer to their prayers." – Scarlet Grace [16:24]

• “Iranians love Trump. I think it’s exactly what they wanted to hear.” – Scarlet Grace [15:39]

Contrasts with Western Protesters

• Dismissal of “No war with Iran” protesters by Persians: seen as naive or regime-enabling.

  “They’re used to the left and their kind of narrative... These people are either overwhelmingly ignorant and they don’t know what they’re talking about, or they’re siding with the regime. There’s kind of no in between.” – Scarlet Grace [17:43]

• The Iranian perspective: This is not a war against Iran but a “rescue mission” or a war for Iran.

Media Coverage & Narrative Control

• Discussion of misinformation (e.g., misattributed civilian deaths), frustration with Western media focusing on anti-Trump narratives instead of the regime’s mass killings.

• “They’ll take any little thing and twist it to make America and Israel look bad. And yes, it’s been tens of thousands of innocent unarmed civilians that have been slaughtered by this regime in the last two months. It’s unlike any massacre we’ve seen.” – Scarlet Grace [21:00]

What’s Next for Iran? Unity on Leadership

• Overwhelming support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince, to serve as a transitional leader toward democracy.

  “They all are calling on the return of Reza Pahlavi... He has a plan to transition Iran to democracy after the fall of the regime. And this is who Iranians overwhelmingly trust to do this.” – Scarlet Grace [23:39]

• Iranian activists ensure his name and image are central at every protest.

3. Canadian and International Responses

Canada’s Stance

• Canadian foreign affairs minister Anita Anand announced Canada was not notified, not involved, and only supports diplomatic solutions.
• Hosts’ reaction: skepticism about diplomacy with “the world’s largest state sponsor of terror.”

• “You can’t negotiate with terrorists. You can’t negotiate with people who want your destruction, who you know since birth have been trying to indoctrinate their people by chanting, death to America, Death to Israel… there was a statement that was put out by Mark Carney... They were happy with the statement.” – Scarlet Grace [25:22]

Strong Rebuke

• “Now I think it’s time to throw the IRGC operatives out of this country, send them back to Iran to face the consequences...” – Ezra Levant [26:05]

4. Viewer Feedback and Western Separation Debate

Conservative and Liberal Dynamics

• Alberta’s separation would reduce Conservative seats; risk that Liberals would permanently dominate.

• “We can’t vote our way out of that. So the structural inequities currently work for the Liberals.” – Sheila Gunn Reid [29:30]

• Anticipated backlash not only from Liberals but also from federal Conservatives for whom Alberta is crucial to victory.

B.C.’s Future

• Questions from non-Albertan viewers about possible knock-on effects in British Columbia; speculation about B.C. itself dividing if Alberta leaves.

The Big Picture

• Many Westerners feel constitutional reform in Canada is effectively impossible; past efforts at meaningful reform have failed.

• “We don’t want to crack the country apart either, but this is a matter of self-preservation.” – Sheila Gunn Reid [31:48]

5. Memorable Quotes

• “If we’re going to ask for the right to self determination, we have to model the kind of civic culture we want in a future Alberta, whatever its constitutional status might be.” – Sheila Gunn Reid [09:19]
• "Iranians love Trump… They’re calling him Uncle Trump." – Scarlet Grace [15:39 & 16:24]
• “It’s not a war with Iran. It’s a war for Iran. It’s a war against the Islamic Republic occupying Iran.” – Scarlet Grace [18:17]
• “You can’t negotiate with terrorists. You can’t negotiate with people who want your destruction, who, you know since birth have been trying to indoctrinate their people by chanting, death to America, Death to Israel.” – Scarlet Grace [25:24]

6. Important Timestamps

• 00:28–11:38: Alberta independence tour, protest culture, and event recap
• 11:38–26:37: Discussion with Scarlet Grace on Iranian freedom rallies and the death of Ayatollah Khomeini
• 26:44–33:55: Viewer feedback: debates on Western separation, national politics, and the future of Alberta and B.C.

7. Tone and Style

The episode is candid, combative, populist, and often sardonic—capturing both the urgency of the political moment in Canada and the emotion of Iranian exiles witnessing a potential turning point for their homeland. Both segments celebrate peaceful protest, skepticism of establishment media, and the value of difficult conversations in the public square.

For listeners seeking a concise yet rich exploration of both Alberta’s independence debate and the Iranian diaspora’s reaction to geopolitical upheaval, this episode stands out for its emphasis on free speech, democracy, and the human stories behind the headlines.