The Monocle Daily Will Iran be Donald Trump’s next target?
Jan 6, 2026
In this discussion, Daniela Pellett, Managing Editor at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, analyzes Iran's recent protests and the implications of U.S. intervention. Robin Lustig, veteran journalist, debates the unpredictability of Trump's motives and the potential impact of U.S. foreign actions. Technology author Dan Wong contrasts the engineering approaches of the U.S. and China, shedding light on infrastructure advancements. The panel also critiques Germany's migration policy and questions if disaster recovery is becoming a privilege for the wealthy.
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Episode notes
Trump's Words Aren't Predictive
- Donald Trump's unpredictability makes it unsafe to assume his rhetoric predicts actions.
- Robin Lustig warns regimes shouldn't trust Trump's statements as policy guarantees.
Iran Protests Echo Past Waves
- Iran's protests are spreading but echo past uprisings that dissipated.
- Daniela Pellett notes the regime is responding with subsidies and dialogue as well as violent crackdown.
Foreign Strikes Can Strengthen Regimes
- External military strikes often produce a rally-round-the-flag effect for targeted governments.
- Daniela Pellett warns that threats or attacks can unintentionally stabilise regimes and destabilise the region.
