Podcast Summary: The Truth with Lisa Boothe – "Iran in Revolt: Ellie Cohanim on Regime Collapse, Terror Funding, and Trump’s Stand for Freedom"

Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Lisa Boothe
Guest: Ellie Cohanim (Iranian-born former U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lisa Boothe hosts Ellie Cohanim to discuss the historic protests rocking Iran. The conversation covers the unique factors driving today’s Iranian uprising, the regime’s brutal response, foreign intervention possibilities, and U.S. policy under President Trump. Cohanim provides a personal perspective as a refugee from Iran and delves into the broader geopolitical ramifications, anti-Semitism trends, and what regime change could look like.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why the Protests Are Unprecedented

• Economic Collapse and Repression:
  • Iran’s economy “should be an oil and natural gas exporting country, but they've mismanaged the resources. The average Iranian is poverty stricken.” (Ellie, 02:09)
  • The regime has spent vast sums on terror proxies and nuclear programs, instead of its own people.
• Generational Shift:
  • Majority of Iran’s population was born after the 1979 revolution and is driven by a desire for normal lives and freedoms.
• International Support:
  • For the first time, a U.S. president, Donald Trump, “has expressed support for this freedom movement.” (Ellie, 02:09)
• The Scale and Nature of the Protests:
  • Nationwide demonstrations, brutal government crackdowns, thousands dead, and mass arrests.

2. Historical Context and Societal Change in Iran

• Pre-Revolution Iran Under the Shah:
  • Modernization, women’s rights, and protections for minorities (Jews, Christians, Bahais, and ethnic groups).
  • “He gave women access to education…and freedoms to religious minorities, like the Jewish community that I was born into, which did allow Iran's Jewish community to really flourish.” (Ellie, 04:42)
• The 1979 Revolution:
  • Led by the ‘Red-Green Alliance’—an unusual fusion between radical leftists (Communist Party/Tudeh) and radical Islamists.
  • “The first people that they executed was the very left who helped bring them into power.” (Ellie, 06:41)

3. Modern Parallels: Islamic-Leftist Alliances in the West

• Recurring Alliances for Power:
  • Ellie points out similar alliances between far-left and Islamist groups in Western politics:
    • “Both of these groups are small in number. But when they ally, they become powerful. And so for the sake of power, they are willing to throw all of their principles under the bus.” (Ellie, 08:11)
  • Example: LGBTQ rights abandoned in the face of alliances with Islamists.

4. What Iranian Protesters Want Now

• Desire for Normalcy and Freedom:
  • Protestors seek freedom of religion, end to imposed radical Islam, and government focus on Iranian—not foreign—affairs.
  • “They want to have freedom of religion. They don’t want to have this radical Islam imposed on them.” (Ellie, 10:20)
• Opposition to Terror Proxies:
  • Slogan: “No Gaza, no Lebanon, only Iran”—an expression of frustration about national resources spent on external conflicts.

5. Impact of Israeli and U.S. Military Actions

• Role in Weakening Regime Confidence:
  • Military strikes have destroyed much of Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear capabilities—“the regime is now completely vulnerable.” (Ellie, 13:21)
• Emboldening the Protesters:
  • “The people now are emboldened…because they see that the regime has just been left completely weak and vulnerable…” (Ellie, 14:58)

6. Regime Crackdowns and Communication Blackout

• Ongoing Internet and Phone Blackouts:
  • “We are…into a complete Internet blackout.” (Ellie, 15:28)
  • Severely hampers protest organization and global awareness.
• Unknown Death Toll:
  • “We don't have accurate numbers…the Iranians who've been massacred…but we know that's in the thousands.” (Ellie, 16:35)
• Executions of Dissenters:
  • Over 800 scheduled executions reportedly stayed, but skepticism abounds.

7. Can Protesters Overthrow the Regime Alone?

• Severe Disadvantage:
  • Protesters are unarmed against live fire; face dire risks.
  • “Iranians have no weapons...they know that they're going to be shot at with live fire, often with machine guns. You’re talking about military grade equipment and they have nothing.” (Ellie, 18:06)
• Potential Avenues for Support:
  • U.S. aids could include Starlink internet, cyber activities, and kinetic strikes (e.g., on IRGC targets).

8. Military Defections and Prospects for Regime Change

• Early Signs of Defections:
  • Some mid-level military are defecting, which is “what you need in order to see a transition of power.” (Ellie, 20:27)
• Role of Exiled Crown Prince:
  • Prince Reza Pahlavi (son of the former Shah) has set up confidential contacts for defectors.

9. Regime Collapse Scenarios and Leadership Future

• U.S. Wary of a Chaotic “Iraq-Style” Collapse:
  • Past experiences in Iraq haunt policymakers.
• Ellie’s View:
  • “I don't see that as being worse than what we have right now, because for 47 years, this regime has undermined US national security interests…it has the blood of thousands of American service members on its hands…” (Ellie, 22:40; 23:23)
  • Argues that the regime’s pattern—immediately rebuilding nuclear/missile programs after suffering defeat—shows they cannot behave as a rational nation state.

10. U.S. Military Preparations and Potential Next Moves

• Major Military Buildup:
  • “We’ve got two aircraft carriers…F-35, F-15E strike fighters…three to four aerial refueling tankers…additional Patriot and Thaad air defense systems…” (Ellie, 25:53)
  • Indicates readiness for significant military action.
• Possible Strikes:
  • IRGC, missile stockpiles, and other strategic targets.
  • U.S. aims to prevent weapons falling into the wrong hands post-collapse and signals seriousness by the scale of the buildup.

11. Global and Domestic Surge in Antisemitism

• Antisemitism “Mainstreamed” Post–October 7th Attacks:
  • “What we saw happen was that Hamas massacred more Jews on October 7th…it was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust…before Israel had a chance to even bury their dead, we start to see this pro-Hamas movement explode in every Western city…” (Ellie, 29:51)
• Policy Responses:
  • Under Trump, a “whole of government approach”: robust DOJ actions, hate crimes prosecutions, and stronger federal support.
  • Ellie criticizes Democrat-run cities/states for failing to protect Jewish citizens; American Jews now rely on federal intervention.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Women’s Rights under the Shah:
  • “He gave women access to education and careers for the first time in the country's history...these things might seem minor in the West, but this was revolutionary.” (Ellie, 04:42)
• On Left-Islamist Alliances:
  • “How do these two groups ally? It makes no sense. It's a power play.” (Ellie, 08:18)
• On the Regime’s Priorities:
  • “They took again the country's resources and spent it on funding and training and arming their terror proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen…” (Ellie, 10:53)
• On U.S. Policy Shifts:
  • “I believe President Trump has reestablished deterrence when he came back…after four failed years of Biden policies, most notably the Afghanistan debacle.” (Ellie, 18:31)
• On the Risks of Regime Collapse:
  • “I don't see that as being worse than what we have right now, because for 47 years, this regime has undermined US national security interests…” (Ellie, 23:10)
• On Current U.S. Military Build-Up:
  • “The United States doesn’t move this level of assets into the region unless there is some seriousness behind that.” (Ellie, 26:36)
• On the Mainstreaming of Antisemitism:
  • “October 7th unleashed this horrific bloodlust all across the world...” (Ellie, 29:51)

Key Timestamps

• 00:04: Episode introduction—overview of Iran’s protest crisis
• 02:09: Ellie Cohanim explains why these protests are unique
• 04:42: Historical context—life under the Shah, modernization, women’s rights
• 06:41: Analysis of the 1979 “red-green alliance”
• 08:11: Leftist-Islamist coalitions in the West and their contradictions
• 10:20: What Iranian protesters want now
• 13:21: U.S.–Israeli military action’s impacts on the regime and protesters
• 15:28: Regime’s blackout and human rights abuses
• 18:06: Protesters’ risks and potential foreign support
• 20:27: Military defections and possible regime collapse scenarios
• 22:40: The risks and hopes of regime change, lessons from Iraq
• 25:53: U.S. military build-up—assets and intentions
• 29:51: Global antisemitism surge post–October 7th and government responses

Closing Thoughts

Cohanim emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the current Iranian movement, the central role of U.S. policy, and the deep costs of regime-sponsored terror and antisemitism. While wary of instability, she argues that regime change is less dangerous than the status quo and signals that U.S. military action may be imminent.

Final Word:
“People really need to understand that elections have consequences.” (Ellie Cohanim, 32:58)