February 10th, 2026: Second Wave Of Protests Builds In Iran & Israel Signals Unilateral Action
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
It's Tuesday, the 10th of February. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, public anger is once again flaring up across Iran. And this time, the anger isn't just on the streets, but inside the regime itself. I'll have the details. Later in the show, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu prepares to meet with President Trump, new reports suggest Israel has warned Washington it may act alone if Iran crosses a ballistic missile red line. Plus, Russia's foreign minister is accusing the White House of backing out of alleged agreements tied to Ukraine, accusing Trump of, quote, Bidenism. Now, I don't know this for sure, but I suspect that President Trump won't find it charming that Putin and his minions are comparing him to former President Biden.
That's just a guess. And in today's Back of the Brief, a chilling reminder of China's grip on Hong Kong, as media tycoon and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai receives a 20-year prison sentence. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. A second wave of public unrest appears to be building inside Iran, and this one looks different from what we saw just weeks ago. According to new reporting from The Wall Street Journal, Iran is now seeing a broader, more deeply rooted surge of anger following last month's mass killings of protesters. What began as street demonstrations has evolved into something far more persistent and far more dangerous for the regime. A society wide rejection that's showing up in schools, hospitals, universities, unions and even at funerals.
Mourning families are chanting anti-regime slogans over the graves of those killed by security forces. University students are holding memorials for classmates who died during the crackdown and refusing to stay silent. Medical students are staging sit-ins to protest the arrest of doctors who treated injured demonstrators. Teachers unions are issuing public statements condemning the violence.
What is the current state of public anger in Iran?
High school students are quietly refusing to sing the national anthem. It has the appearance of what could become sustained defiance. And importantly, the rhetoric has changed. Iranians are no longer calling for reform or accountability. They're openly calling for the fall of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Massavi, long under house arrest and once considered a reformist, has now said the Islamic Republic is beyond reform and must be replaced altogether. Mousavi said, quote, when you were wearing the uniform of war against your own people, you were striking your own roots with an axe, end quote. Civil society activists have published open letters blaming Khamenei personally for what they describe as crimes against humanity.
A well-known Iranian actress has announced she'll no longer perform, saying she refuses to work in a country that, quote, smells of blood. Now, as you can imagine, the regime's response to the ongoing unrest has been brutal and expansive. Security forces are carrying out waves of arrests, not just at protests, but afterward, detaining people in their homes, at memorial services, and even inside hospitals. Armed men in plain clothes have reportedly raided medical centers, dragging away injured protesters seeking treatment.
How is Israel preparing for potential unilateral action against Iran?
Doctors and nurses accused of helping demonstrators have been beaten and detained. Teachers have warned students to stay home if they show visible injuries and to wipe their phones of anything political before inspections. Independent rights groups estimate that roughly 7,000 people have been killed since demonstrations began in late December, with more than 50,000, that's five zero, 50,000 arrested. Iranian authorities say the numbers are far lower. Oh, labeling the dead as rioters or terrorists. Well, I'm sure the Iranian regime wouldn't lie about something like that. One woman interviewed by the Journal summed it up by saying that people are terrified but also filled with hatred. She said many Iranians are willing to die themselves if it means their children won't have to live under the same system.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:12–2:14
2
What is the current state of public anger in Iran?
2:14–3:27
3
How is Israel preparing for potential unilateral action against Iran?
3:27–4:35
4
What accusations is Russia making against the U.S. regarding Ukraine?
4:35–6:38
5
What does Jimmy Lai's sentencing reveal about Hong Kong's political climate?
6:38–7:37
6
How is the Iranian regime responding to the recent wave of protests?
7:37–21:14
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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