In this emergency episode of Intelligence at the Edge, host Chip Usher is joined by Jonathan Panikoff, Director of the Near East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council and former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East. They provide a critical update on the widespread protests and severe regime crackdown that have seized Iran since late December 2025.

Panikoff analyzes how this movement differs from previous uprisings, noting that while the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests were driven by social frustrations, the current unrest is fueled by a collapsing economy, soaring food prices, and a dire potable water crisis, all while the regime imposes internet blackouts to repress connectivity. The discussion explores the regime's ruthless use of force—resulting in casualties far exceeding those of 2022—and the potential for an inflection point similar to the 1979 revolution.

Intel at the Edge Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.