With the leftist media only just arriving at the civil uprising in Iran threating to topple the Islamic regime, which has been going on for days, NBC News was downplaying it as just limited protests reacting to poor economic conditions. Meanwhile, their competitors at ABC and CBS were actually keeping their audiences up to date by noting the protests had expanded, not just across the country, but also in scope to include chants of “death to the dictator.”
“Now to those dramatic images from Iran where protesters are taking to the streets, many outraged by the government’s handling of the economy. And tonight, clashes with police have turned deadly,” fill-in anchor Kate Snow announced on Thursday night’s NBC Nightly News.
Either ill-informed or averse to sharing bad news for an adversary of President Trump and/or Israel, senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake repeatedly suggested the uprising was only about economics:
The demonstrations have been escalating for days, sparked by worsening economic conditions in the country. Cost of living is high. Inflation is soaring. And Iran's currency recently crashed to a record low against the dollar.
This video shows a protester sitting in the street, appearing to defy officers, leaving some online to draw comparison to this image in Tiananmen Square. While in Tehran, a number of shopkeepers closed their doors in protest earlier this week.
Despite the unrest in Iran expanding to a full-blown civil uprising with calling for the overthrow of the Islamic regime, last night NBC Nightly News was downplaying it as just limited economic protests.
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 2, 2026
They even even note the poor timing of the unrest, given that the government… pic.twitter.com/mX5YIKC2wv
Haake even seemed to lament that the protests were inconsiderately timed, seeing as the leadership was busy opposing America, Israel, and the West. “The latest unrest comes amid a period of heightened tension between Iran and rest. The Iranian president recently said his country is, quote, ‘engaged in a full-scale war with the U.S., Israel, and Europe,’” he said.
During Friday’s Today, senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez kept his reporting about what was happening in Iran largely on comments exchanged by Trump and an Iranian official, with a fleeting mention that the unrest was about economics:
In a social media post also overnight the President saying, quote, “if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters the U.S. will come to their rescue.” He added, “we are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The President is referring to recent economic protests in Iran that have been growing and have turned deadly.
A senior Iranian government adviser today responding to Trump, saying, “that the U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America's interests.” Adding, “the American people should be mindful of their soldier's safety.”
Even this morning, as other networks like ABC report the crowds chanting "death to the dictator," NBC was still clinging to their narrative that the protests were only about poor economic conditions. pic.twitter.com/ir41fLq4AC
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 2, 2026
While ABC was the last of the Big Three network news outlets to arrive on Iran, they actually admitted it was more than just about economics. “Now, it's been nearly a week of country-wide protests in Iran, while they started over the economic crisis, partly caused by sanctions imposed by the U.N. and U.S., they've now spread in scope with some university protesters shouting slogans like ‘death to the dictator,’” Maggie Rulli reported on Friday’s Good Morning America.
Over on Thursday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reported that “unrest” was “now fueled by anger against repression and corruption, as well as the economy.” On CBS News Mornings (their early morning newscast, not their flagship CBS Mornings), anchor Michael George noted: “In addition to the crumbling economy, anger is being fueled by the repressive policies of Tehran's theocratic government.”
The transcripts are below. Click "expand to read:
NBC Nightly News
January 1, 2026
6:40:59 p.m. EasternKATE SNOW: Now to those dramatic images from Iran where protesters are taking to the streets, many outraged by the government’s handling of the economy. And tonight, clashes with police have turned deadly. Here is Garrett Haake.
[Cuts to video]
GARRETT HAAKE: Tonight, tense chances between protesters and security forces in Iran now turning deadly with at least three people killed and 17 injured at a protest today, according to a semi-official state news agency.
The demonstrations have been escalating for days, sparked by worsening economic conditions in the country. Cost of living is high. Inflation is soaring. And Iran's currency recently crashed to a record low against the dollar.
This video shows a protester sitting in the street, appearing to defy officers, leaving some online to draw comparison to this image in Tiananmen Square. While in Tehran, a number of shopkeepers closed their doors in protest earlier this week.
They appear to be the biggest demonstrations in the country since 2022 when mass protests erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old who died in police custody after she was arrested for not properly wearing a hijab.
The latest unrest comes amid a period of heightened tension between Iran and rest. The Iranian president recently said his country is, quote, “engaged in a full-scale war with the U.S., Israel, and Europe.” And earlier this week, President Trump issued this stark warning to Iran over its nuclear program.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I hear Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we're going to have to knock them down.
[Cuts back to live]
HAAKE: Dozens of protesters have been arrested. The State Department tonight saying demonstrators are facing, quote, “intimidation and violence” from Iran's government and is calling on the crackdown to end. Kate.
SNOW: Garrett, thank you.
NBC’s Today
January 2, 2026
7:13:51 a.m. Eastern(…)
PETER ALEXANDER: Gabe, there's another headline the President made news on, specifically regarding the protests in Iran. What more are we hearing there?
GABE GUTTIEREZ: Yeah, that's right, Peter. In a social media post also overnight the President saying, quote, “if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters the U.S. will come to their rescue.” He added, “we are locked and loaded and ready to go.” The President is referring to recent economic protests in Iran that have been growing and have turned deadly.
A senior Iranian government adviser today responding to Trump, saying, “that the U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America's interests.” Adding, “the American people should be mindful of their soldier's safety.” Guys.
ALEXANDER: Gabe Gutierrez with the President today in Florida. Gabe, thank you.
