The Brett Cooper Show — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Conservatives Can’t Agree on Iran — Here’s My Take
Host: Brett Cooper
Date: January 14, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper tackles the renewed crisis in Iran as Gen Z-led protests erupt against the ruling regime. She blends historical context, generational analysis, and an exploration of the conservative divide on US involvement. Brett discusses why Iran’s young people are different from previous generations of activists, scrutinizes American responses—from silence on the left to the hawkish rhetoric on the right—and ultimately questions the role the US should play in this unfolding crisis. The episode is marked by candor, skepticism about foreign intervention, and a challenge to American audiences to consider both the moral and practical implications of action or inaction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Current Crisis: Gen Z Rises Up

• [00:00] Internet Blackout & Suppression
  Iran’s government cut off the internet to quash information about mass protests. The scale of violence is hard to confirm, but reports suggest massive casualties among demonstrators.
  • “Iranians are fighting for basic human rights under a real… genuine fascist, religious extremist government. Not the kind the left complains about, but a real fascist regime.”—Brett (A), 00:35
  • Human rights organizations estimate up to 12,000 deaths, a massive increase in just days.

Historical Context: Why Iran Is Where It Is

• [03:00] 1951: Oil, Nationalism, & US-UK Coup
  • Mohammad Mossadegh nationalized oil, challenging Western interests.
  • CIA and MI6 orchestrated a coup (Operation Ajax), reinstating the Shah, leading to deep anti-Western sentiment.
  • “It was not until the early 2000s the people actually learned of the United States involvement. […] In 2013, the CIA admitted culpability… confirming beyond all doubt long running suspicions as to foreign involvement.”—Brett (A), 03:50–04:40
• [06:00] Pre-Revolution Life: The Real Story Behind ‘Golden Age’ Photos
  • 1960s–70s photos show a Westernized, liberal Iran—“Make Iran Great Again” nostalgia circulating on social media.
  • Brett reminds listeners not everyone enjoyed this freedom; the Shah’s regime was authoritarian, relied on brutal secret police, and fostered inequality.
  • “That freedom and that happiness did not exist for all Iranians. And the Shah, while he might be better than what they have now, was still called a dictator.”—Brett (A), 07:40
• [08:30] 1979 Revolution: From Dictatorship to Theocracy
  • Iranians wanted democracy, got another dictatorship—this time, a theocratic, authoritarian regime under Ayatollah Khomeini.
  • Massive curtailment of women’s rights; immediate protest among women and students.
  • “They wanted a democracy... but after the revolution, they did not get democracy. They got yet another kind of dictatorship.”—Brett (A), 09:44
• [10:20] Cycle of Unrest
  • 1999: Student protests for reform—crushed.
  • 2022: Nationwide protests after the murder of Mahsa Amini for "improper hijab," which galvanized a new wave of activism.
  • Notable quote from Mahsa Amini's father: “As the father who raised her for 22 years, I say loudly that Masa did not have any illness... The person who hit my daughter should be put on trial in a public court, not a fake trial that results in reprimands and expulsions.” (Paraphrased by Brett, 10:54)

The Information Age: Why This Time Feels Different

• [12:00] Internet as a Game-Changer
  • Women, young activists able to broadcast regime brutality to the world via social media.
  • Even regime attempts to blackout communication, tech like Starlink and social media make total suppression almost impossible.

Generational Divide: Gen Z’s Unique Power & Outlook

• [18:00] Gen Z vs. Older Iranians
  • Today’s youth grew up online; see global examples (e.g., Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea) and question why Iran can’t be the same.
  • Older generations feel exhausted; Gen Z believes they have nothing left to lose.
  • “They see peers elsewhere challenging their governments and believe that they too can demand change.” —Brett (A), paraphrasing an Iranian activist, 18:35

The Western Response: Silence, Outrage, and Division

Cultural Double Standards & Media Silence

• [22:00] Lack of Outrage from Western Progressives
  • Brett and guest Jack Mack (Barstool) mock the absence of "Instagram stories" and performative activism from American celebrities and left-wing media.
  • “I find it very interesting that I’m seeing no Instagram stories about Iran… including a five year old child that was in the arms of a mother. Various Instagram stories... have said nothing.”—Jack Mack (B), 13:58
  • “Where are the infographics about the Ayatollah and the Iranian revolution? They don't exist because it's not convenient for them.”—Brett (A), 14:42

The Big Question: Should America Intervene? (And If So, How?)

• [24:00] Conservative Debate on US Action

  • Many Republicans, including Trump, are openly considering US military involvement; debate rages over morality vs. pragmatism.
  • Trump’s position: “Iran is looking at freedom perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help.” (Cited by Brett from Truth Social, 15:10)
  • In a recent interview, Trump warned:
    “If they hang them, you're going to see some things that... perhaps you’ll be very happy.”—Trump (played by Brett, 16:09)

• [26:00] Brett’s Skepticism & Moral Quandary

  • Self-described isolationist viewpoint; warns that US interventions often backfire and may further delegitimize protests or harm American interests.
  • Historical reference: US foreign meddling (e.g., Operation Ajax) is a root of the problem; would further intervention solve anything?
  • Analogies to the American Revolution: Is there a moral imperative to assist revolutionaries in the face of slaughter, as France did for the US?

• [29:00] Lessons from Obama-era Inaction

  • Brett references Sarah Adams’ assessment that Obama’s lack of response during prior protests empowered regime brutality.
  • “Tehran learned very quickly that, wow, we can be as violent and suppress these protests as quickly as we want — there isn’t going to be any sort of international pressure or any kind of effects that come to us because of it. That was a dangerous lesson they learned.”—Brett (A), 29:45

• [32:00] The Human Perspective & Uncertainty

  • Brett admits the complexity and the limitations of commentary:
    “It is a lot easier for me to sit here behind this camera and behind this microphone and give opinions. It’s very easy to have a black and white intervention, bad POV, until shit hits the fan, until possibly 12,000 people are being murdered around the world for just standing up for freedom.”—Brett (A), 32:10

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Opening Reflection on American Freedom
  “I hope everyone appreciates we live in a country that... does not cut off Internet access, that still has freedom of speech... millions around the world do not have that privilege.”—Brett (A), 00:15

• The Golden Age Myth
  “Remember that, yes, that was real, but that freedom and that happiness did not exist for all Iranians.”—Brett (A), 07:55

• On the Failure of the Revolution
  “They wanted democracy in Iran. They wanted freedom and they wanted their cultural identity respected. But after the revolution, they did not get democracy. They got yet another kind of dictatorship.”—Brett (A), 09:44

• The Generational Shift
  “While these older generations have lived through this time and time again... Gen Z, these young Iranians... feel like they have nothing to lose and they are not ready to give up because again, they grew up online.” —Brett (A), 18:35

• On Moral Dilemmas of Intervention
  “No human being, no good, decent human being wants to sit back and watch innocent people be murdered... But we also have to acknowledge that America had stepped in before... and it ends up harming Americans and American soldiers.”—Brett (A), 26:30

• Closing Thought
  “I do hope that we see a day when Iranians have a free and democratic country. I do not know how they are going to get there, but this revolution right now, it does seem different.”—Brett (A), 33:00

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iran’s Internet Blackout & Opening Reflections: 00:00–02:15
• Historical Context (1951 Coup to 1979): 02:15–10:10
• Generational Perspective & the 2022 Protests: 10:20–14:00
• Social Media & Gen Z Empowerment: 18:00–20:45
• US Political/Cultural Response: 22:00–25:00
• Debate on American Intervention: 24:00–32:00
• Brett’s Final Thoughts: 32:10–end

Episode Takeaway

This episode provides a clear, historically grounded framework for understanding today’s Iranian protests and the unique generational dynamics at play. Brett critiques both right and left—challenging Americans to rethink knee-jerk calls for intervention, confront their own privileges, and question the consistency of their stated values. Neither advocating for immediate foreign intervention nor supporting isolationist indifference, Brett instead urges listeners to grapple with the moral gray areas exposed by world events and to respect the complexity facing both Iranians and Americans as history unfolds.