This week we welcome Hamoun Dolatshahi to discuss how the Kurdish-Iranian community is responding to rumblings of the Shah’s return and the thwarted revolution in Iran. We dive into Kurdish culture more broadly and Rojava, their transformative practice of borderless governing. We also take some time to ridicule Trump’s “Board of Peace” and tariff threats, along with JD Vance reminding us that sometimes smoking is therapeutic.

Notes:

https://dolatshahi.com/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/trump-gaza-board-rubio-blair?utm_term=696b41899b91f1accbe955924076ac83&utm_campaign=SaturdayEdition&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=saturdayedition_email

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/world/middleeast/trump-board-of-peace-gaza.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/trump-france-wine-gaza.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20260120&instance_id=169564&nl=the-morning®i_id=61617578&segment_id=213944&smid=url-share&user_id=938bf81e2a681e73b55de1f8ba3e8d23

https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000010655180/trump-norway-prime-minister-texts-greenland.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20260120&instance_id=169564&nl=the-morning®i_id=61617578&segment_id=213944&smid=url-share&user_id=938bf81e2a681e73b55de1f8ba3e8d23

https://www.reuters.com/business/davos/us-treasury-secretary-bessent-brushes-off-hysteria-over-greenland-2026-01-20/

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1421530059693312

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This week, Seena breaks down the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran– how it started, what happened during the Iranian revolution, and how Reza Pahlavi fits into the current situation. Is reverting to a monarchy the pathway to a secular democracy or a slide backwards? We don’t know, but one thing is clear: anything is better than the current regime. We also look into Trump’s embarrassing attempt to take down Jerome Powell, Pakistan’s kangaroo court, and Australia’s crackdown on hate speech. We also raise our blood pressure watching JD Vance’s attempts to gaslight the public over the murder of Renee Good.

Notes/Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/us/politics/jerome-powell-fed-inquiry-trump.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20260112&instance_id=169149&nl=the-morning®i_id=61617578&segment_id=213526&user_id=938bf81e2a681e73b55de1f8ba3e8d23

https://youtu.be/VWi_oyqRUfI?si=CRBkADzC9btFES3q&t=24

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20260112&instance_id=169149&nl=the-morning®i_id=61617578&segment_id=213526&user_id=938bf81e2a681e73b55de1f8ba3e8d23

https://x.com/brendanpedersen/status/2010836111384269280?s=46&t=Rt3obzYwRA_nH1pyOmaHPQ&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/commonwealth-secretariat-lodges-dissent

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-13/neo-nazi-group-national-socialist-network-to-disband/106225638

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/01/vp-vance-defends-ice-officer-in-fatal-minneapolis-shooting-announces-new-doj-position.html

https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/08/repub/defiant-vance-scolds-reporters-over-descriptions-of-minneapolis-ice-shooting/

https://x.com/Acyn/status/2009073815066947750?s=20

https://x.com/atrupar/status/2009334128433406234?s=20

https://x.com/atrupar/status/2009340240314393028?s=20

https://x.com/Acyn/status/2009339527622742509?s=20

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It’s 2026 and FP Zaddy & T-Ceps are back! We thought we might ease into this new year, but, nope, this week we’re diving into the seizure and kidnapping of the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro – what’s motivating Trump, why you need to know about REEs, and what may happen next. We also welcome journalist Samira Mohyeddin to talk about WTF is happening in Iran and help us work through why it feels a bit different this time. And of course, we close out with JD Vance corner. Nicki Minaj called JD what?!

Media:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTGKAwvD9pc/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTGSKZEkS-a/

https://x.com/moneyacademyke/status/2007663281826083074?s=46

https://youtu.be/p_m-yxNgb-Y?si=PO9XET-6XgkkdUCx&t=287

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/oklahoma-has-had-a-surge-earthquakes-2009-are-they-due-fracking

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/11372/

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/erika-kirk-endorses-jd-vance-president-2028/story?id=128552499

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/22/g-s1-103284/vance-at-turning-point

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nicki-minaj-praises-jd-vance-assassin-erika-kirk-sits-rcna250476

https://www.gao.gov/blog/critical-materials-are-high-demand.-what-dod-doing-secure-supply-chain-and-stockpile-these-resources

https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-how-rare-earths-power-u-s-defense/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/30/us-issues-iran-venezuela-sanctions-over-alleged-drone-trade

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