Breaking — Trump: "Help Is On Its Way" for Iran's Protesters
Meanwhile, His Brownshirts Invade American Cities and Shoot American Protesters
While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it’s connected.
“TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!”
That’s the President of the United States—the same one whose federal agents just occupied Minneapolis—telling Iranians to overthrow their government. “Help is on its way,” he promised. “MIGA!!!”1
Yesterday, the death toll from Iran’s protest crackdown stood at 599. Today, Iran International’s Editorial Board—after reviewing sources from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the presidential office, and IRGC commanders in multiple cities—has concluded that at least 12,000 people were killed over two nights, January 8th and 9th.2 They’re calling it “the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—fully organized, carried out on the direct order of Ayatollah Khamenei, most victims under 30. CBS News, citing sources inside Iran, reports the toll could be as high as 20,000.3 A US-based rights group has confirmed at least 1,850 dead by name. More than 16,700 detained.4
This is a genuine atrocity. The Iranian regime is butchering its own people in the streets, shooting them for demanding economic relief after their currency collapsed to 1.4 million rials to the dollar. Videos show body bags lining the streets outside Tehran morgues. The government declared three days of mourning—but only for security forces. Not a word about the protesters they killed.
Trump cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials.¹ He slapped 25% tariffs on any country doing business with Tehran. His White House says airstrikes are among “many, many options” on the table.⁴ The House Foreign Affairs Committee posted on X: “Make regime change inevitable.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he believes the regime is in its “final days and weeks.”5 Eight European countries summoned Iranian ambassadors. The UK announced new sanctions. Oil prices jumped 3%.6
Iran’s security chief called Trump and Netanyahu “the main killers” of the Iranian people. Foreign Minister Araghchi warned that if Washington wants to “test” military options, “we are ready for it.”⁵ A 26-year-old protester named Erfan Soltani is scheduled to be executed Wednesday.⁵
The Selective Sanctity of Protests
Here’s what Trump didn’t mention in his “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS” post: eight days ago, his ICE agent shot Renee Good in the head. She was sitting in her car in Minneapolis. Trump called it “self-defense.”
Since then, his administration has flooded Minneapolis with thousands of federal agents, conducted warrantless arrests, shut down schools, and cost the city millions in emergency response. Minnesota’s attorney general called it “a federal invasion.” When asked to present warrants, agents respond: “We don’t need one.”
Iran kills protesters: “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
ICE kills protesters: “Self-defense.”
Iran shuts down the internet: International condemnation.
Trump occupies American cities: A lawsuit.
Trump is demanding Iranians rise up against their oppressive regime while his own agents occupy American communities for protesting an American his agents killed. He promises “help” to foreign protesters while prosecuting the Fed chair for not cutting interest rates. He threatens to “shoot” Iran while his DOJ tells states they can’t prosecute federal agents who break the law.
“Take over your institutions.” That’s rich, coming from the man systematically capturing ours.
There’s more below, but first: If work like this—cutting through the hypocrisy in real time—feels worth having in the world, please consider supporting The American Manifesto. Paid subscriptions make it possible to keep fighting.
The Pattern
We’ve been mapping this administration against the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is backsliding into fascism. Today:
Aggression as virtue: Military threats against Iran. “Help is on its way.” Airstrikes on the table. Strength measured by capacity to inflict harm.
War on reality: “Freedom” for Iranian protesters; federal occupation for American ones. Same president. Same week.
Normalization of political violence: Renee Good is dead. Her community is under occupation. The official response: a lawsuit.
“TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Maybe start with the ones currently being captured at home.
If you want to understand the machine—and how to dismantle it—start here:
Your Move
Trump is calling for regime change in Iran while his agents occupy Minneapolis. What does that tell you about who this administration considers legitimate protesters?
If military action in Iran happens, what do you think the real goal is?
What would “help is on its way” look like if it were directed at Americans facing federal overreach?
Susan Heavey, “Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, says ‘help is on its way’“, Reuters, January 13, 2026.
Documents Trump’s Truth Social post calling on Iranians to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS” and announcing he cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials. Reports Iranian government official acknowledging approximately 2,000 deaths—the first time authorities have given an overall death toll. Notes Russia condemned “subversive external interference” and warned US strikes would have “disastrous consequences.”
Iran International Editorial Board, “At least 12,000 killed in Iran crackdown as blackout deepens“, Iran International, January 13, 2026.
Editorial statement titled “The killing of 12,000 Iranians will not be buried in silence” documenting Iran International’s methodology for determining the death toll. Based on sources from the Supreme National Security Council, two sources in the presidential office, IRGC commanders in Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Isfahan, eyewitnesses, medical center data, and doctors/nurses. Concludes “at least 12,000 people were killed” over January 8-9—”the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history”—carried out “on the direct order of Ali Khamenei” with most victims under 30. Documents individual victims by name including 22-year-old Hessam Khodayarifard, 28-year-old Shayan Asadollahi, and 17-year-old Reza Moradi.
Tucker Reals, Elizabeth Palmer, Ramy Inocencio, and Joanne Stocker, “Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran protests, as video shows bodies lined up at morgue“, CBS News, January 13, 2026.
Reports death toll of 10,000-12,000 from a Washington source with contacts inside Iran, potentially as high as 20,000 based on activist groups tallying hospital medical records. Notes CBS News has not been able to independently verify figures due to internet blackout.
Tucker Reals, Elizabeth Palmer, Ramy Inocencio, and Joanne Stocker, “Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran protests, as video shows bodies lined up at morgue“, CBS News, January 13, 2026.
Reports death toll of 10,000-12,000 from a Washington source with contacts inside Iran, potentially as high as 20,000 based on activist groups tallying hospital medical records. Notes CBS News has not been able to independently verify figures due to internet blackout.
Tucker Reals, Elizabeth Palmer, Ramy Inocencio, and Joanne Stocker, “Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran protests, as video shows bodies lined up at morgue“, CBS News, January 13, 2026.
Reports death toll of 10,000-12,000 from a Washington source with contacts inside Iran, potentially as high as 20,000 based on activist groups tallying hospital medical records. Notes CBS News has not been able to independently verify figures due to internet blackout.
Tucker Reals, Elizabeth Palmer, Ramy Inocencio, and Joanne Stocker, “Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran protests, as video shows bodies lined up at morgue“, CBS News, January 13, 2026.
Reports death toll of 10,000-12,000 from a Washington source with contacts inside Iran, potentially as high as 20,000 based on activist groups tallying hospital medical records. Notes CBS News has not been able to independently verify figures due to internet blackout.