5 chapters across the catalog
Iran has implemented a severe government-imposed internet shutdown, reaching over 1,000 hours of blackout by April 2026. A leaked plan titled Absolute Digital Isolation reveals a multi-year project to build a "barracks internet" using a Huawei-based platform costing up to $1 billion. This system treats global web access as a privilege for vetted individuals while forcing the general population onto a domestic intranet.
A clandestine network is smuggling Starlink satellite terminals into Iran to bypass a nationwide internet blackout triggered by the war with Israel. These devices provide a vital communications lifeline for citizens to share information and document government actions. While the Iranian regime has escalated arrests for espionage related to Starlink use, the technology remains the primary tool for circumventing state censorship.
Iran Internet Blackout, CNN Propaganda and Surgical Strikes
The hosts analyze media coverage of a near-total internet blackout in Iran, contrasting CNN's reporting with independent accounts. While mainstream outlets report massive casualties during protests, Mimi notes that recent military actions have shifted toward "surgical strikes" against specific targets. They discuss the difficulty of obtaining accurate information from within the country due to the IRGC's brutal crackdown.
Reports from Iran indicate a bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters, with claims of thousands killed and an internet blackout. President Trump stated he received information that planned executions have been halted following his warnings of "strong action." A specific case involving a 26-year-old man facing public hanging from a crane in Tehran is highlighted as a symbol of the regime's use of force.
Anti-government protests have turned violent in Colombia and Chile, resulting in dozens of deaths and allegations of military brutality. In Iran, the government partially restored internet access after a week-long blackout following protests over gas prices. The hosts ask if any amateur radio operators have made contact with "hams" in Iran during the blackout.
