Unrest in Iran: A Tipping Point for the Middle East?

Unrest in Iran: A Tipping Point for the Middle East?

Author: Geopolitical Futures - Geopolitics from George Friedman and his team at GPF January 14, 2026 Duration: 41:34

Widespread anti-government protests in Iran have been growing for weeks now in Iran, and the government crackdown has turned deadly. While protests here are not a new phenomenon, many are saying this time things are much different. With the US poised to intervene and the future of the Iranian regime hanging in the balance, this week on the podcast we're taking a look at how the situation is evolving and how it is perceived by the wider region.

Talking Geopolitics host Christian Smith is joined by GPF Chairman George Friedman as well as Geopolitical Futures contributing analyst Kamran Bokhari to break it all down. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.


Talking Geopolitics offers a clear-eyed, non-partisan look at the forces shaping our world, moving beyond the daily headlines to examine the deeper historical and strategic currents. This podcast comes from the team at Geopolitical Futures, the publication founded by George Friedman, whose analysis is grounded in decades of experience. You'll hear discussions that distinguish between fleeting noise and the underlying realities that truly matter in international affairs. The conversations focus on understanding national imperatives, regional tensions, and long-term trends, all framed within a historical context. It’s for anyone who feels overwhelmed by fragmented news cycles and seeks a more structured, insightful perspective on global power dynamics. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to a disciplined method of thinking about geopolitics, one that prioritizes enduring geographic, economic, and political constraints over partisan narratives. Each episode aims to provide listeners with a coherent framework, making sense of complex events from Eastern Europe to the South China Sea. The analysis presented here is designed to be practical and forward-looking, exploring not just what happened, but the likely consequences and strategic options available to key nations. Engaging with this content regularly helps build a more nuanced understanding of why states behave as they do, offering a valuable resource for navigating an interconnected world. The tone is conversational yet precise, reflecting the serious work done by Friedman and his analytical team at GPF.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Talking Geopolitics
Podcast Episodes
India and Iran's Water Problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:52
Jacob Shapiro and Xander Snyder are back at it to talk climate change, water scarcity in India and Iran, and the future of the Arctic. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://bit.ly/2w9bCYd
George Friedman on the Leighton Smith Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:08
Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith brings GPF Chairman George Friedman back on his podcast to discuss the latest geopolitical events in China as push comes to shove in the US-China trade war, updates on Brexit, and the future…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
The Latest on North Korea and Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
Jacob L. Shapiro welcomes Xander Snyder and Phillip Orchard onto the podcast to discuss the latest on U.S. relations with North Korea and Iran. Sign up for free updates on topics like this! Go here: https://bit.ly/2Umma4…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=9512804
The Geopolitics of Deadwood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:15
Join Cole, Jacob, and Phillip on this auspicious April Fools' Day for a discussion of the Geopolitics of Deadwood. No unauthorized cinnamon. To read the report, click here: https://geopoliticalfutures.com/geopolitics-dea…
The Brexit That Never Ends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:00
Cole hosts Phillip, Jacob, and Ryan to talk about the latest developments on the Brexit soap opera. Other exciting topics include Turkey's economy and everyone's favorite -- Chinese banking reform. Sign up for free updat…
Is Democracy Failing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:33
CEO George Friedman joins the podcast to talk about whether democracy is failing in the United States and in Europe.
The New Silk Road Runs Through Italy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:43
This week, Jacob, Cole and Xander discuss why the Belt and Road Initiative isn't China's Marshall Plan, what is and is not boring about Brexit, and how the Caspian Sea could solve some of Iran's economic problems. Sign u…

«1...678910