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California’s Iranian Diaspora Despairs Over Brutal Crackdown

Mina Kim
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People gather during protest on January 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Demonstrations have been ongoing since December, triggered by soaring inflation and the collapse of the rial, and have expanded into broader demands for political change. (Anonymous/Getty Images)

Airdate: Monday, January 19 at 10 AM

At least 2,600 protesters have been killed in Iran’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Those protests now appear to have abated after nearly two weeks, but many outside Iran are still struggling to get information about loved ones because of the Islamic Republic’s communication blackout. Meanwhile, as President Trump gives mixed signals on intervention, the U.S. imposed additional sanctions on Thursday. We’ll hear from Iranians in California about how they’re processing the latest news, and from you: How do you want the U.S. to respond?

Guests:

Robin Wright, contributing writer, The New Yorker - her most recent piece for the magazine is "Iran’s Regime Is Unsustainable"; Wright is also the author of "Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East" among other books

Hoda Katebi, labor attorney, Iranian-American writer and community organizer

Sahar Razavi, associate professor, Department of Political Science; director, Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center, California State University, Sacramento

Shani Moslehi, founder and chief executive officer, Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (OCIACC)

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