The Young Turks Beating War Drums - January 12, 2026
Jan 13, 2026
Trump is contemplating military options against Iran while protests erupt in Los Angeles, causing chaos when a U-Haul drives into demonstrators. The hosts discuss the complexity of supporting Iranian protesters without military intervention, emphasizing the negative consequences of foreign action. Tim Dillon criticizes inefficiencies within ICE, highlighting concerns about agent training. The dangers of labeling citizens as terrorists are explored, along with the implications of past U.S. interventions on current sentiments.
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U.S. Options Risk Undermining Iranian Protests
- The Trump administration is publicly weighing military and non-kinetic options against Iran amid large domestic protests.
- Cenk Uygur and Jordan Uhl warn that U.S. intervention risks undermining genuine Iranian protest movements and serving Israeli strategic aims.
Bombing Would Strengthen The Regime
- Cenk emphasizes a core tension: wanting an organic democratic uprising but rejecting foreign military intervention.
- He argues bombing would rally support for the regime and discredit protesters as foreign-backed.
Prioritize Restoring Internet Access
- Enable non-lethal support like restoring internet access rather than military strikes.
- Cenk explicitly supports Starlink-style measures to reconnect Iranian protesters without violence.