Apple News Today Iran’s top officials keep dying. This is how the regime is surviving.
21 snips
Mar 18, 2026 Margherita Stancati, Wall Street Journal foreign correspondent covering Iran, outlines the crackdown, arrests, and internet blackouts shaping public dissent. Nick Miroff, The Atlantic reporter on homeland security and immigration policy, discusses the Senate fight over the DHS nominee and plans to convert warehouses into large detention centers. They also touch on regional strikes, Cuba’s grid collapse, and other national news.
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Why Iran's Top Losses Haven't Triggered Revolution
- Iran's leadership losses haven't produced a mass uprising yet due to brutal domestic repression and communication blackouts.
- Margherita Stancati describes arrests, internet outages, checkpoints, and shoot-to-kill warnings by the Revolutionary Guard that deter coordinated protests.
Crackdown Can Signal Weakness Not Stability
- The regime's domestic flexing can signal both strength and underlying weakness at once.
- Stancati says the crackdown shows stress and that another popular uprising could still occur weeks to months from now.
Mullin's Nomination Masks Deep DHS Problems
- Markwayne Mullin faces a confirmation that may be routine but masks major operational challenges at DHS.
- Nick Miroff highlights issues from immigration enforcement to FEMA dysfunction and controversial contracts tied to Kristi Noem's tenure.