CounterCheck

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CounterCheck

CounterCheck

@countercheckpod

Leaders and experts on the frontlines of conflict and change

Katılım Ocak 2026
24 Takip Edilen41 Takipçiler
CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
As his unpopularity rose amongst Iranians, so too did their broad resentments of the western powers that had reinstated him and that were now praising his leadership. The stage was set for a seismic shift in Iran’s trajectory and that of US-Iran relations. 5/5
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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
With Pahlavi back as ruler, Iran became arguably America’s most important ally in the Middle East during the Cold War. Under Pahlavi’s rule, the United States secured access to Iranian oil. The US also provided invaluable political and security assistance to his regime. Now back in power, Pahlavi’s authoritarian rule became increasingly brutal and his “white revolution” of modernisation and land reforms increasingly divisive. 4/5
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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
As the Iran war continues into its 4th week, we looked back at 4 milestones in the history of US-Iran relations. These milestones help to explain how we got here, and how history's lessons can inform the months and years ahead. Milestone 1: 1953 coup to reinstall Shah Pahlavi. (1/5)
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CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
New from the CC team: Road to War: Four Key Milestones in U.S.-Iran Relations As the war enters its fourth week, we pause and look back at the history of US-Iran relations. That context is important for understanding not only how we got to this point, but also how things may play out in the coming weeks and months. There are events since WWII that, in important practical and symbolic ways, capture the broad trendlines that have characterised different phases in this precarious relationship. Here are four key ones:
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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
“3. Whether a state or militant group, controlling violence is crucial to maintain internal order and engage in both defensive and offensive actions against adversaries. Control over the generation, collection, and allocation of resources is of course necessary to sustain resilience efforts. The degree of that control over violence and resources will ebb and flow with the conflict. All that is important for resilience is sufficient activities to maintain and project a competitive system of control.” So many describing this Iranian regime as “resilient,” but what does that actually mean? We argue there are 5 building blocks to resilience, mechanisms to maintain control over violence is just 1… open.substack.com/pub/roadbackme…
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover@FiringLineShow

Former General Jim Mattis says that it’s “very unlikely” that this Iranian regime falls right now. “They've told the Iranian parents, don't let your sons and daughters demonstrate because we will shoot them. We will go after them. So no, they're not going to go away anywhere right now. I would not think that they're going to break.” Check out the interview on PBS, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
"ISIS probably is indoctrinating thousands of children of former ISIS fighters who fled from displaced persons camps in northeast Syria and preparing them to serve as the next generation of ISIS members." The new U.S. Intelligence Community Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) is out, and leaves this major warning in the last few pages of the report. We talked to @DevorahMargolin about the ISIS Detention Facilities Crisis and why experts like her have been sounding the alarm for years about the risks of indefinite detention of ISIS affiliates: youtu.be/oC1RxwQiNiQ?si… ATA 2026 Report: dni.gov/files/ODNI/doc…
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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
New Episode: The U.S., Iran, and the Future of American Counterterrorism Watch the trailer now. Full episode on: YouTube - youtu.be/2g1otNyWTVs?si… Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/4rthtF… Apple Podcasts - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… Counterterrorism has been the top national security and foreign policy priority for the United States for over a quarter-century. US leadership has been central to global efforts to confront terrorist threats, but, like so many aspects of US domestic and foreign policy, that has changed under the second Trump administration. We sat down with Michael Jacobson to address the pivot in US policy that has probably received less attention but it’s a policy area with major implications for global security and stability. Mike is a senior fellow in @WashInstitute's Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Mike’s professional career has been almost entirely spent working in counterterrorism roles for the US government, including in the US State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau from 2010-2025, the US Treasury Department’s office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, the 9-11 Commission, and in the FBI.
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Devorah Margolin
Devorah Margolin@DevorahMargolin·
While eyes are on the war with Iran, the events of the last month in Syria still weigh heavily. Check out this podcast I recorded at the start of February with @countercheckpod on the indefinite detention crisis in northeast Syria:
CounterCheck@countercheckpod

The ISIS Detention Facilities Crisis We sat down with @DevorahMargolin, senior fellow at @WashInstitute, to discuss the latest developments in northern Syria as the situation in ISIS detention facilities has gone from bad to worse. Thousands are now missing following the emptying of Al-Hol camp, and core questions about the international community’s response and willingness to repatriate their citizens remain unanswered. We covered Dr. Margolin’s piece for @WashInstitute: "Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk" washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi… See also her latest analysis with @Joana_Cook for @ForeignPolicy: "From Bad to Worse in Northeast Syria" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/25/syr… Follow CounterCheck on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, for more content: @countercheckpodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@countercheckp… open.spotify.com/show/4BgVkjDda… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cou… @CounterCheckPodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@CounterCheckP…

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International Centre for Counter-Terrorism
International Centre for Counter-Terrorism@ICCT_TheHague·
How does #ISKP tailor jihadist propaganda for English-speaking audiences? This ICCT report shows how ISKP blends adaptive messaging with a core narrative that glorifies sectarian violence, while training the next generation of media jihadists. ➡️ buff.ly/Cyo9ttd
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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
"Islamic State emerges from rubble of north-east Syria..." theguardian.com/world/2026/feb… As the first strikes hit Iranian targets this weekend, other news was breaking about the mass emptying of ISIS detention facilities in Northeast Syria. Of course, 1,000s of missing ISIS affiliates has now dropped from the headlines, but the group is dangerously placed to rebuild amidst the chaos. We sat down with @DevorahMargolin in February to cover this brewing crisis. Watch/listen to the full episode on our channels- YouTube: @CounterCheckPodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@CounterCheckP… Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4BgVkjDda… Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cou… Substack: @countercheckpodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@countercheckp…
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Devorah Margolin
Devorah Margolin@DevorahMargolin·
Check out the full @countercheckpod episode filmed in early February where I discuss detention sites in northeast Syria with @mines_andrew & @haroro_ingram
CounterCheck@countercheckpod

The ISIS Detention Facilities Crisis We sat down with @DevorahMargolin, senior fellow at @WashInstitute, to discuss the latest developments in northern Syria as the situation in ISIS detention facilities has gone from bad to worse. Thousands are now missing following the emptying of Al-Hol camp, and core questions about the international community’s response and willingness to repatriate their citizens remain unanswered. We covered Dr. Margolin’s piece for @WashInstitute: "Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk" washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi… See also her latest analysis with @Joana_Cook for @ForeignPolicy: "From Bad to Worse in Northeast Syria" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/25/syr… Follow CounterCheck on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, for more content: @countercheckpodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@countercheckp… open.spotify.com/show/4BgVkjDda… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cou… @CounterCheckPodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@CounterCheckP…

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CounterCheck
CounterCheck@countercheckpod·
The ISIS Detention Facilities Crisis We sat down with @DevorahMargolin, senior fellow at @WashInstitute, to discuss the latest developments in northern Syria as the situation in ISIS detention facilities has gone from bad to worse. Thousands are now missing following the emptying of Al-Hol camp, and core questions about the international community’s response and willingness to repatriate their citizens remain unanswered. We covered Dr. Margolin’s piece for @WashInstitute: "Caught in the Crossfire: Islamic State Detention Sites at Risk" washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi… See also her latest analysis with @Joana_Cook for @ForeignPolicy: "From Bad to Worse in Northeast Syria" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/25/syr… Follow CounterCheck on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, for more content: @countercheckpodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@countercheckp… open.spotify.com/show/4BgVkjDda… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cou… @CounterCheckPodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@CounterCheckP…
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@WashInstitute @DevorahMargolin @mines_andrew @haroro_ingram @Joana_Cook @ForeignPolicy @elonmusk @BarackObama