A car on fire in a public square at night, with flames and smoke rising into the air. A person stands nearby observing the scene, with buildings and a decorated structure illuminated in the background.

Protests escalate in Iran with little information getting in or out

Full Episode
49:52

This frame grab from a video shows a man holding a device to document burning vehicles during a night of mass protests in Zanjan, Iran, Jan. 9, 2026.

Iranian state TV via AP

Protests in Iran have turned deadly, with hundreds feared shot and killed. The government has shut all communications with the outside world, making it difficult to get accurate information from the ground. But a few have been able to get through, using Starlink, a satellite internet network, including one doctor living in New York. Also, Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked Grok, the AI chatbot feature on the social media platform X, citing concerns that the chatbot is being used to produce sexually explicit images. And, an inside look at the Venezuelan capital as uncertainty over the country’s future continues. Plus, we take a listen to a single from Dhruv’s debut album, a singer with roots in India and an upbringing in Singapore.

In This Episode

Protesters in Iran are too afraid to get medical care, says doctor
5:33
A woman wearing a colorful scarf and striped gloves holds up a peace sign with both hands during a night protest. She stands in front of a crowd holding signs and flags, including one reading "Women Life Freedom."
Witnesses describe escalating unrest over past week in Iran as opposition figures speak out
Special Coverage
6:10
‘Genius’ chimpanzee dies
1:14
Malaysia and Indonesia block X’s Grok over concerns of sexual content
7:54
Life goes on in Caracas, even as uncertainty grows
6:21
Europe’s night trains have made a comeback but face big challenges
6:16
‘America First’ is pushing Canada closer to China
4:46
What’s beneath the ice in Greenland?
5:55
A debut album for a formerly private songwriter
1:56