Happy Thursday, Michael Brooks is joined by Djene Bajalan to discuss the state of affairs in the Middle East and the United States’ history of interference in Iran. Starting in 1953, Brooks and Bajalan discuss the CIA’s role in removing Mohammed Mossadegh from power. Mosadegh was a staunch nationalist whose primary goal in office was to nationalize Iran’s oil reserves, which at the time was under the control of the British Empire. Bajalan takes a broader view of Persia before the 1950s and Mosadegh’s rule and the region’s history with reclaiming its natural resources before foreign powers who were colonizing or warring in neighboring areas. Brooks and Bajalan also explore the Shah’s role in disposing of Mossadegh and the monarchy’s interests and its intersection between both domestic needs and international pressure. Bajalan then describes the developments which led to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 and the coalition between Iranian leftists and Islamists leading the revolution behind the Ayatollah’s rise. Bajalan and Brooks conclude the interview discussing the Iraq-Iran conflict of the 80s, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s efforts to improve relations with America in the 90s, and the contemporary state of affairs between the US and Iran.

And in the Fun Half: Pence pushes the “sources and methods” defense as reason for not sharing any intel to Congress, Rand Paul and Mike Lee on yesterday’s inadequate intel hearing from the White House, KT McFarland and Pete Buttigieg give boths sides of American ahistorical understanding of Islam and Iran, considering the Elizabeth Warren’s campaign heading into the Iowa caucus, addressing the real concerns of anti-semitism from within the Jewish community, on providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants, plus your calls and IMs!

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