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886: Blackout

May 3, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

Since the war began in Iran, we've heard very little from people inside the country — and there's a reason for that. The entire country has been under an internet blackout. We worked with reporters Roxana Saberi and Fatemeh Jamalpour to get voice memos out of the country. Even though it was dangerous and difficult, people wanted to be heard.

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  • Prologue: Shirin's parents suddenly disappear into the blackout. (5 minutes)
  • Act One: It’s a war and a blackout. People want to talk about both. (17 minutes)
  • Act Two: What happened before America and Israel went to war with Iran. (9 minutes)
  • Act Three: Iranians have many opinions about the war, and about each other. (12 minutes)
  • Act Four: What happened inside Iran the night President Trump threatened that "a whole civilization could die." And a clue about where the internet blackout is headed. (19 minutes)

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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