CBS’s Koppel Mesmerized by Iran Propaganda, Connects to Epstein

Nicholas Spinnato
May 26th, 2026 7:18 PM

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On CBS News Sunday Morning, the weekend magazine show went in-depth on Iranian A.I. LEGO propaganda, as senior contributor Ted Koppel seemed mesmerized by its musical prowess. The report also went into special focus on Iranian propaganda videos that connected the war to the Epstein Files to an alleged Israeli blackmail scheme, which Koppel gave little pushback to.

Koppel interviewed a person who created some Lego propaganda videos, who a translator said should be called “Mr. Explosive.” He described Mr. Explosive as a person who had “put Iran’s message into LEGO format.”

The propagandist said, “LEGO is a universal language” as Koppel wondered, “I get it. I speak no Farsi. The translator speaks limited English. Which raises this interesting question. Who is doing that silky rap on all those videos.”

 

 

Koppel then interviewed James Rubin, former Clinton Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and CNN/PBS anchor Christiane Amanpour’s ex-husband and current podcast co-host, to blame the Iran propaganda’s apparent success on cuts to the State Department, cuts that occurred in 2024, a year before the Second Trump Administration entered office.

Rubin exclaimed the usual talking points:

This is a painful subject because we haven't followed the rules, the basic requirements to build support for a military action. It has to start with a good cause, an urgent cause, a cause that people agree with. It has to include allies, and then it has to have a trusted messenger. It pains me to say this, but right now we don't have any of those qualities in this war with Iran.

Koppel connected this comment to changes to the closing of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, as Rubin then complained “the entire description of our policy is now controlled by the White House. If you have to go back to the White House to get approval for every sentence, every rebuttal, every response, you have lost the game. You have lost the war, the information war.”

The CBS story moved back to discuss the meme war, as Koppel played White House videos with war footage paired with video from NFL games, SpongeBob, and other aspects of pop culture along with Trump Truth Social posts.

Koppel and CBS asked the White House for a person to interview on the topic, which the White House responded to with a statement which started with, “Why is CBS News doing propaganda for a terrorist regime?”

 

 

After the statement was read, Koppel connected the propaganda to the Epstein Files, which Iran has used in their A.I. videos:

These days, Iran has zeroed in on the Epstein Files and the charge that Israel somehow used those files to draw America into the war.

He returned to interview Mr. Explosive, “You're saying that Israel used information from the Epstein files to blackmail the president of the United States into declaring a war against Iran. Is that correct?”

Koppel gave very little pushback:

KOPPEL: There are many rumors, and there are many charges, and I rather doubt that you and Iran have seen any evidence of that.

IRAN PROPAGANDIST [Via translator]: I think we should have some realistic perspective. You should not expect that the immoral documents of President Trump to be on internet.

Koppel responded, “In other words, don't be so naive. The effective propaganda doesn't require that a charge be true. Sometimes the mere suggestion that it might be is enough. “

He then gave final praise to the “creative” A.I. videos:

Iran can and literally does reach around much of the world into every pocket with a phone. It's powerful, it's creative, and it's reaching an engaged audience.

Koppel’s mesmerization with Iranian A.I. propaganda music videos raised questions about his own media literacy, but he also seemed to give some credence to the claim of an Epstein connection to the Iran War, something that can only be described as a wild conspiracy.

CBS had clearly not changed amid liberal claims of a newfound right-wing bias.

The transcript is below. Click "expand":

CBS News Sunday Morning

May 24, 2026 

9:45:50 AM Eastern

(...)

TED KOPPEL: Some of the most popular videos come from an outfit that calls itself “Explosive Media.” They have put Iran's message into Lego format. 

I spoke with their representative in Tehran through a translator. 

[To Guest] May I have a name that I can call you?

TRANSLATOR: He is Mr. Explosive.

KOPPEL: Why Lego, I wondered.

MR. EXPLOSIVE (Via Translator): First of all, Lego is a universal language. Every people around the world can understand it without saying anything.

(Iran Lego Propaganda Video Audio)

KOPPEL: I get it. I speak no farsi. The translator speaks limited English. Which raises this interesting question. Who is doing that silky rap on all those videos.

9:46:47 AM Eastern

(...)

JAMES RUBIN (FORMER ASSISTANT SEC. OF STATE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS): I was involved in an information warfare unit that was designed to combat Russian, Chinese, and, to some extent, Iranian disinformation. That unit was wiped out.

KOPPEL: Jamie Rubin ran the State Department's global engagement center. Congress eliminated its funding in 2024. Before then, he was Chief Spokesman and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs during the Clinton Administration.

RUBIN: This is a painful subject because we haven't followed the rules, the basic requirements to build support for a military action. It has to start with a good cause, an urgent cause, a cause that people agree with. It has to include allies, and then it has to have a trusted messenger. It pains me to say this, but right now we don't have any of those qualities in this war with Iran.

KOPPEL: Rubin says the Trump Administration has discurrented many of the assets that used to support the U.S. Government at war.

RUBIN: The entire description of our policy is now controlled by the White House. If you have to go back to the White House to get approval for every sentence, every rebuttal, every response, you have lost the game. You have lost the war, the information war.

KOPPEL: Reporter: Early on in the war, back in March -

(Audio playing from White House Meme Posts)

The White House did release a couple of videos mixing actual footage of the war with scenes from Spongebob - The NFL, College Football - And Hollywood. Lots of Explosions.

The videos captured hundreds of millions of views, but stopped after the White House was accused of gamifying the war.

(White House Video Post Audio Ends)

What's come since has been any number of presidential contributions on Truth Social.

PRESIDENT TRUMP (Video From Truth Social Post): Bada, ba bop ba. Okay, we have it in your sight. Fire, boom.

KOPPEL: We asked the White House to provide someone to lay out the administration's case. Was there a direct response to Iran's propaganda? 

They offered the following statement, which we're reading in full:

Why is CBS News doing propaganda for a terrorist regime? Under President Trump's leadership, the United States decimated the Iranian regime's military capabilities in 38 short days and is now strangling what's left of their dismal economy with one of the most successful naval blockades in history. Iran should be less concerned with winning the meme war and more concerned with making a deal to save their country. 

KOPPEL: Propaganda is a weapon of war.

(Iran A.I. Meme/Propaganda Videos Play)

These days, Iran has zeroed in on the Epstein Files and the charge that Israel somehow used those files to draw America into the war. 

[To Propagandist via video] You're saying that Israel used information from the Epstein files to blackmail the president of the United States into declaring a war against Iran. Is that correct?

IRAN PROPAGANDIST [Via translator]: Yes, this is correct.

KOPPEL: There are many rumors, and there are many charges, and I rather doubt that you and Iran have seen any evidence of that.

IRAN PROPAGANDIST[Via translator]: I think we should have some realistic perspective. You should not expect that the immoral documents of President Trump to be on internet.

KOPPEL: In other words, don't be so naive.

The effective propaganda doesn't require that a charge be true. Sometimes the mere suggestion that it might be is enough. 

Iran can and literally does reach around much of the world into every pocket with a phone. It's powerful, it's creative, and it's reaching an engaged audience.

American propaganda does not enjoy the same advantage in Iran where the internet has been largely blocked. That's a problem. It's a handicap. But it may be more useful to address it than ignore it.

(...)

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