1297: Iran | Out of the Loop

Protests, missiles, and a regime on the ropes — Iran is at a turning point. Ryan McBeth explains the forces driving one of the world's most complex crises.

Welcome to what we're calling our "Out of the Loop" episodes, where we dig a little deeper into fascinating current events that may only register as a blip on the media's news cycle and have conversations with the people who find themselves immersed in them.

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1297

On This Episode of Out of the Loop:

Iran is an ancient civilization stretching back 5,000 years — but most Americans only know the post-1979 version • , which is like judging Rome entirely by the fall of its empire and missing the aqueducts, art, and architecture that came before. The 1953 CIA-backed coup that toppled Iran's democratically elected government planted the seeds for the 1979 Islamic Revolution • — a theocratic regime that crushed dissent, built a proxy empire through Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and turned the IRGC into its enforcer. Iran's proxy strategy is devastatingly cheap and effective — rather than build a navy, they fund groups like the Houthis to launch missiles based on Iranian targeting intel • , giving Tehran plausible deniability while disrupting global shipping and oil markets. AI-generated war footage and disinformation are rapidly becoming a frontline weapon • — fake videos of captured soldiers and fabricated attacks spread faster than fact-checkers can respond, and producing convincing deepfakes now costs as little as $12 per video. Despite decades of repression, Iranian citizens continue to protest and push for change • — and experts suggest that if the regime falls, Iran's strong collective national identity makes a Libya-style collapse unlikely, offering real hope for a democratic future. • And much more! Connect with Jordan • on Twitter • , on Instagram • , and on YouTube • . If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on an Out of the Loop episode, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com • and let him know! Connect with Ryan McBeth • at his website • , Twitter • , Instagram • , and on YouTube • . If you’d like to stay on top of what’s happening in the world, subscribe to Ryan’s Substack • !

And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps!

Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger! This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:

Bombas: Go to bombas.com/jordan to get 20% off your first orderGusto: Three months of free payroll: gusto.com/jordanSimpliSafe Home Security: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanThe President's Daily Brief: Listen here or wherever you find fine podcasts! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.