The Iranian Revolution and the Hypocrisy of the Liberal Media & Democrats
My first post in 20+ years of lurking on this site. Whenever there is a major geopolitical event, I make sure to visit WSO, as I’m always curious what the finance community has to say. For what it’s worth—and for those of you who care—I’m sharing my perspective on how eye-opening the ongoing revolution in Iran has been as it relates to my political beliefs, while exposing hypocrisy that, until December 2025, I believed was nothing more than bat-shit right-wing conspiracy talk about liberal media and Democrats.
For background, I’m your typical Iranian-American. My family fled Iran in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War, coupled with my parents’ foresight that the mullahs were going to destroy any chance of a future there through their economic and political policies. It goes without saying that we are forever grateful to have immigrated to America and became U.S. citizens. My family assimilated well, and my siblings and I have all thrived academically and professionally in the U.S. Truly, we love this country just as much as we love our Iranian heritage.
To front-run the typical BS Iranians get asked: I was born into a non-religious Shia family (we truly couldn’t care less about Islam or any other religion), and we are neither monarchists nor MEK supporters—just regular people. Lastly, since I’ve been able to vote, I’ve voted Democrat, starting with Bush vs. Gore.
Since the onset of this revolution, I started asking myself these questions as it relates to media coverage and various actions of the media and other parties with vested interests in the outcome (and know that I’m not naïve—I understand political and strategic interests):
- Where are all the pro-human-rights activists? Where are the flotillas? Where is the public outrage and protest?
- Where are the campus protesters?
- Where are the celebrities supporting the basic human rights and dignity of the Iranian people? Not even one mention at the Golden Globes?
- Where is the EU? What is the EU besides a manufacturer of strongly worded letters?
- Why do the UK and France permit the mullahs’ children to obtain citizenship and live as billionaires on money stolen from the Iranian people - while they sanction the regular people?
- Of all the “freedom-loving” presidents we’ve had since 1979, why might Donald Trump become the liberator of the Iranian people?
- Why is Lindsey Graham the most vocal politician, while Barack Obama is keeping his mouth shut the entire time? Why am I agreeing with Laura Loomer on anything (are we living in an alternate timeline)?
- Why are the Israelis the only ones willing to shed blood to help liberate Iran (and secure peace for themselves), while Iran’s so-called “Muslim” neighbors—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar—are pleading with the U.S. to keep the mullahs in place? I understand this is a watershed moment for Israel’s security and that removing the mullahs is of utmost importance to them, but they’re still risking blood and treasure to help.
- Do you really believe it’s Islamophobic to support Iranian protesters in their quest to rid themselves of a theocracy?
- Is nefarious money—from the likes of Qatar—influencing liberal media coverage?
- Is an Iranian life worth less than a Gazan one, such that speaking up would expose hypocrisy?
- Do you think the average Iranian supported the mullah's sending money to Hezbollah or Hamas while they could barely feed their own children?
- Is hatred for Donald Trump so strong that it prevents people from vocally supporting Iranians in their fight for freedom?
I’m not asking for boots on the ground or airstrikes—just unified public support for a people striving to live a normal life like you or me. Is the divide between left and right so wide that we must choose sides even when the people of Iran are fighting simply to exist, to not worry about clean water or food on the table? If so, the left is catastrophically wrong on this issue, and it will create a generational grudge among Iranians.
I was delusional and wrong to dismiss everything the right had to say about Democrats and the media. I was wrong to dismiss the Israeli perspective and the actions they’ve taken not only to defend themselves, but to bring change to the region.
Since this is a finance forum, I’ll end with a note for my capitalist colleagues who only care about making money: the world’s largest untapped market—with a 90M+ educated population, ~210bn barrels of oil reserves, the third-largest natural gas reserves, and unreal tourism and hospitality potential—is on the verge of opening up. That alone should be a compelling reason to show support for real change.
just put the fries in the bag bro
Your title is idiotic. Nobody in the Western world is rooting for the Islamic Republic here. What is there to protest against?
The United States' track record on fomenting regime change in the Middle East is abysmal. We already tried this in Iran and it's the reason the country is where it is. The best thing for us to do right now is watch, wait, and help facilitate democratic elections if / when the time comes.
And the MAGA crowd one year ago was saying the exact same thing. Remember no new wars? They have decided to embrace regime change/neo conservativism not out of principle but out of blind obedience to their pedo god.
It seems you're sharing a detailed and thought-provoking perspective on the Iranian Revolution and its broader implications, particularly regarding media coverage, political hypocrisy, and global responses. While the WSO dataset doesn't directly address this specific post or topic, it does provide insights into geopolitical dynamics, media biases, and the interplay of political and economic interests.
For example, based on previous WSO threads, discussions often highlight how media outlets and political entities prioritize narratives that align with their audience's worldview or strategic interests. This can explain why certain issues, like the Iranian protests, may not receive the same level of attention as others. The media's tendency to cater to their base, as noted in discussions about looting and rioting coverage, reflects a broader pattern of selective reporting driven by business models and ideological leanings.
Additionally, geopolitical threads on WSO, such as those discussing the Middle East, emphasize the complex alliances and rivalries shaping regional politics. The relationships between Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Western powers are often described as a "Faustian bargain," where strategic interests outweigh moral considerations. This aligns with your observations about the lack of unified support for Iranian protesters and the contrasting actions of different nations.
Your point about Iran's untapped economic potential also resonates with WSO's focus on market opportunities. The country's vast natural resources and educated population make it a compelling prospect for investors, provided there is political stability and reform.
If you're looking for more insights or discussions on this topic, exploring WSO's geopolitical and investing forums could provide additional perspectives.
Sources: Macro Monday: The Middle East, Macro Monday: The Middle East
What's the actual point of your post? To argue Donald Trump will "liberate" the people of Iran???
Legit just peep anywhere on social media. It's there. It's just that this isn't the first time Iran has had mass protests. No one thinks it'll go anywhere until massive things happen, in which case yes, you'll see more vocal protest. Just cause you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Protesting what? There have been protests against Iran for decades, it never goes anywhere. Also, people aren't protesting at colleges right now because last time college protests happened Trump started deporting people. No one wants to risk that right now
Are you really complaining about celebrities, the EU, and UK/France doing exactly what they've done for every other nation? South Sudan has been in a constant state of civil war since it began as a nation. Somalia has been a smoldering fire for decades. Uzbekistan has an insane leader constantly driving the country to ruin. For decades, Bangladesh had a horrible dictatorship and mass corruption with "disappearances" mass spread. Why tf do you feel that Iran gets to be special? Countries around the world are fucked. What do you actually want anyone to do about that?
Oh, idk, maybe because Obama learned from the shit storm that was Libya post Gaddafi, and he knows that shutting the fuck up is probably best. If the Iranian people want to overthrow the Shah, let THEM be the deciders of this. Playing world police has almost never ended well for the US. Last time the US overthrew a leader of Iran, it ended up with the Iranian revolution that led to the current Iranian administration
Have you ever thought about the fact that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have long standing relationships with the US, while Iran has actively been antagonistic for decades towards the US? Why should the US spend money and resources in a nation that has actively opposed all US interests in the region?
No. Most people just aren't informed enough to have an opinion
No. Media does whatever gets viewers. If Iran was something people wanted to watch, you'd get coverage
False comparison. The pro Gaza protests had an end goal: Divest from Israeli companies. What could protests actually do here? Most protests have some end objective, whether it's to support or cut support to some topic or issue. The only protest here would literally be "Go to war" which no one wants to do. No one was protesting for the US to go to war with Israel. It's a massive leap to compare the 2
No
You actually think Trump gives 2 shits about the people of Iran?
It seems like boots on the ground is exactly what you're asking for, because protests with no end goal are basically nothing. Like, straight up, they will never achieve wide spread support because people realize quickly that they're protesting for nothing. Almost every mass protest and movement had some sort of end goal.
And how is the left wrong here? You're acting like the left has to protest and has to do all these things to support the people of Iran, while the right just has to sit there and have the high ground. Why does the right not protest for the people of Iran? Why aren't MAGA supporters in the streets with Iranian flags and supporting Iranian freedom?
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