Mike Baker

He said, quote, we should not expect the government to handle all of this alone, adding that the government simply does not have the capacity to manage the crisis by itself.

That's not language typically heard from Iranian leaders during moments of unrest.

And then, of course, there's the economy.

In response to the protests, the government announced plans to provide a monthly cash payment to each citizen.

Officials say the goal is to preserve purchasing power, curb inflation, and ensure food security.

The amount, you ask?

Well, good question.

Apparently, roughly $7 a month in U.S.

dollars.

In the middle of nationwide unrest, driven in large part by economic pressure, that figure may not exactly solve the problem.

So, where does this go next?

Protests are spreading, security forces are responding with significant force, courts are being mobilized for rapid punishment, and the president himself is publicly acknowledging limits to the state's control.

Whether or not protesters did actually seize control of those two cities in Western Iran, as reported by activists and opposition groups, the larger reality is unmistakable.

Iran appears to be entering a far more volatile phase of unrest.

And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon Bulletin for Wednesday, the 7th of January.

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