Iran’s top prosecutor publicly rejected former President Trump’s assertion that Tehran had halted the execution of hundreds of detained protesters, calling the claim “completely false” as the regime continues to stonewall independent scrutiny. That denial comes amid a blackout of reliable information inside Iran and shows once again that the theocracy will lie to protect its brutality.
Independent activist networks and rights groups say the human toll from the regime’s winter crackdown now tops 5,000 dead, a number that should shock every freedom-loving nation and demand the world’s outrage. Iran’s government has cut internet access and restricted communications, making independent verification difficult but not erasing eyewitness accounts of mass arrests, shootings, and summary executions.
As Tehran censors the truth at home, American military assets are responding prudently — a carrier strike group has repositioned closer to the Middle East to deter further bloodshed and to protect U.S. interests in a volatile region. Showing resolve matters; dictators count on hesitancy and mixed signals, and the presence of U.S. forces sends an unmistakable message that lawless brutality will not go unanswered.
Let there be no mistake: this is not the time for weak-kneed diplomacy or moral equivocation. Conservatives should demand that our leaders pair clear, forceful warnings with tangible measures — sanctions, asylum for refugees, and concrete support for dissidents — while working with allies to isolate and punish Tehran for its crimes.
At home, Americans are facing a different kind of emergency as a massive winter storm barrels eastward, threatening ice, heavy snow, and prolonged power outages from Texas and Oklahoma to the Atlantic seaboard. Officials rightly warned of catastrophic damage and urged preparedness, recalling the deadly lessons when grids fail and communities are left in the cold.
On the tech front, TikTok has struck a deal to form a U.S.-based entity with investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, a move designed to stave off a federal ban while leaving thorny questions about foreign influence unresolved. Conservatives should welcome stronger data controls and American oversight, but remain skeptical until independent audits prove that American user data and algorithmic power are truly beyond Beijing’s reach.
America’s role now is twofold: stand unwaveringly for human liberty abroad and protect citizens at home from foreseeable dangers. We must hold tyrants accountable, secure our digital borders, and demand competent, commonsense preparation from our leaders when nature or hostile regimes threaten our peace and prosperity.
