Topic: Internet Blackout

The Indian government reportedly cut internet access 65 times in 2025 to suppress dissent, the highest rate in any democracy. Developer Rahul Kumar created BitSocial, a Bluetooth-based alternative used by protesters to bypass these blackouts. The technology allows messages to travel several meters between devices, effectively covering large areas through a chain of user hardware.

Iran has implemented a severe government-imposed internet shutdown, reaching over 1,000 hours of blackout by April 2026. A leaked plan titled Absolute Digital Isolation reveals a multi-year project to build a "barracks internet" using a Huawei-based platform costing up to $1 billion. This system treats global web access as a privilege for vetted individuals while forcing the general population onto a domestic intranet.

A clandestine network is smuggling Starlink satellite terminals into Iran to bypass a nationwide internet blackout triggered by the war with Israel. These devices provide a vital communications lifeline for citizens to share information and document government actions. While the Iranian regime has escalated arrests for espionage related to Starlink use, the technology remains the primary tool for circumventing state censorship.

The hosts analyze media coverage of a near-total internet blackout in Iran, contrasting CNN's reporting with independent accounts. While mainstream outlets report massive casualties during protests, Mimi notes that recent military actions have shifted toward "surgical strikes" against specific targets. They discuss the difficulty of obtaining accurate information from within the country due to the IRGC's brutal crackdown.

Reports from Iran indicate a bloody crackdown on anti-regime protesters, with claims of thousands killed and an internet blackout. President Trump stated he received information that planned executions have been halted following his warnings of "strong action." A specific case involving a 26-year-old man facing public hanging from a crane in Tehran is highlighted as a symbol of the regime's use of force.

Viral rumors on social media claim a "five days of darkness" event will occur in August or September, involving a total internet and power shutdown. Some versions of the narrative link the event to a general strike or a "blackout" protest. Experts dismiss these claims as baseless misinformation designed to create public anxiety.

Adam Curry discusses the prevalence of fringe theories among some wealthy Republicans in Texas, including the belief that Donald Trump would be reinstated on August 11th following an internet blackout. He also mentions rumors regarding Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton being detained at Guantanamo Bay. The hosts clarify that they do not cover these stories as news but deconstruct them as cultural phenomena.

Anti-government protests have turned violent in Colombia and Chile, resulting in dozens of deaths and allegations of military brutality. In Iran, the government partially restored internet access after a week-long blackout following protests over gas prices. The hosts ask if any amateur radio operators have made contact with "hams" in Iran during the blackout.

The hosts discuss the planned January 18th internet blackout by Reddit and other sites to protest SOPA. They characterize the move as a PR stunt by Reddit's parent company, Condé Nast. They also introduce the OPEN Act, sponsored by Representative Darrell Issa, as a potential "double switch" or alternative that may be just as onerous as the bills it seeks to replace.