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Hello.
Hello
How are you?
How
are
you
I'm doing very well.
I'm
doing
very
well
Thank you so much for being here.
Thank
you
so
much
for
being
here
It has been-- you were held for 544 days.
It
has
been-
you
were
held
for
544
days
Were you in the notorious Evin Prison System?
Were
you
in
the
notorious
Evin
Prison
System
Yeah.
Yeah
I was the unfortunate next guest after your friend maziar.
I
was
the
unfortunate
next
guest
after
your
friend
maziar
Maziar Bahari, who was a journalist,
Maziar
Bahari
who
was
a
journalist
a friend of the show who was held
a
friend
of
the
show
who
was
held
there in solitary confinement.
there
in
solitary
confinement
And I'm assuming you got that same VIP treatment--
And
I'm
assuming
you
got
that
same
VIP
treatment-
Oh, yeah.
Oh
yeah
Torture and--
Torture
and-
And seven weeks of solitary confinement.
And
seven
weeks
of
solitary
confinement
Lights on 24 hours a day, endless
Lights
on
24
hours
a
day
endless
interrogations by morons, the whole bit.
interrogations
by
morons
the
whole
bit
Although you did, there's a story,
Although
you
did
there's
a
story
and I'm sure you've told this before,
and
I'm
sure
you've
told
this
before
but they told you to call at one point your mother.
but
they
told
you
to
call
at
one
point
your
mother
Yes.
Yes
And the idea being that this would break you
And
the
idea
being
that
this
would
break
you
and this would break her.
and
this
would
break
her
What happened with that?
What
happened
with
that
So I said, look, I've been in your custody
So
I
said
look
I've
been
in
your
custody
for the last three months.
for
the
last
three
months
I don't know where my mom is.
I
don't
know
where
my
mom
is
I don't have her phone number off the top of my head.
I
don't
have
her
phone
number
off
the
top
of
my
head
But if you think you can figure out how to get her on the phone
But
if
you
think
you
can
figure
out
how
to
get
her
on
the
phone
and I'd love to talk to mom.
and
I'd
love
to
talk
to
mom
I've been incommunicado for months.
I've
been
incommunicado
for
months
And I reached her and we spoke for, gosh,
And
I
reached
her
and
we
spoke
for
gosh
it turned out to be about a half an hour.
it
turned
out
to
be
about
a
half
an
hour
And it became, I think, one of the most surreal experiences
And
it
became
I
think
one
of
the
most
surreal
experiences
of the whole ordeal.
of
the
whole
ordeal
And when she and I talked about it afterwards, reminisced,
And
when
she
and
I
talked
about
it
afterwards
reminisced
I was like, Mom, we kind of ran out of shit to say know.
I
was
like
Mom
we
kind
of
ran
out
of
shit
to
say
know
So you were literally you're talking
So
you
were
literally
you're
talking
to your mom from prison and you're doing this, "so anyway."
to
your
mom
from
prison
and
you're
doing
this
so
anyway
So what's-- yeah.
So
what's-
yeah
And after some time, after many months,
And
after
some
time
after
many
months
she was able to come visit me and
she
was
able
to
come
visit
me
and
we would have these meetings, like you do in the prison,
we
would
have
these
meetings
like
you
do
in
the
prison
as you see in a movie, behind the thing.
as
you
see
in
a
movie
behind
the
thing
And I'd get glimpses of news from the outside world.
And
I'd
get
glimpses
of
news
from
the
outside
world
And I had been told that Muhammad Ali
And
I
had
been
told
that
Muhammad
Ali
had called for my release, which is a pretty big deal.
had
called
for
my
release
which
is
a
pretty
big
deal
Pretty big deal.
Pretty
big
deal
And so I wanted to verify this with mom.
And
so
I
wanted
to
verify
this
with
mom
And I said, Mom, is it true that Muhammad Ali
And
I
said
Mom
is
it
true
that
Muhammad
Ali
called for my release.
called
for
my
release
And she said yeah, that was something.
And
she
said
yeah
that
was
something
I said you're telling me that the two
I
said
you're
telling
me
that
the
two
most influential Muslims in America
most
influential
Muslims
in
America
have called for my release?
have
called
for
my
release
She said Muhammad Ali and Keith Ellison?
She
said
Muhammad
Ali
and
Keith
Ellison
And I said, no, Muhammad Ali and Obama.
And
I
said
no
Muhammad
Ali
and
Obama
Perfect.
Perfect
You got to keep laughing in those situations.
You
got
to
keep
laughing
in
those
situations
It's not easy.
It's
not
easy
Maziar said the same thing that the only thing that
Maziar
said
the
same
thing
that
the
only
thing
that
kept him through the darkness was
kept
him
through
the
darkness
was
that sense of humor and attachment
that
sense
of
humor
and
attachment
to those that he loved.
to
those
that
he
loved
And that was 10 years ago, 11 years ago.
And
that
was
10
years
ago
11
years
ago
- 10 years ago I got out. - 10 years ago.
10
years
ago
I
got
out
10
years
ago
Just last week.
Just
last
week
And is it-- and I'm not-- what Iran is going through
And
is
it-
and
I'm
not-
what
Iran
is
going
through
right now is so heartbreaking.
right
now
is
so
heartbreaking
You came out of--
You
came
out
of-
the Green Revolution was this moment in 2009 where you really
the
Green
Revolution
was
this
moment
in
2009
where
you
really
thought maybe there is this reformist Mousavi that's
thought
maybe
there
is
this
reformist
Mousavi
that's
going to run against Ahmadinejad,
going
to
run
against
Ahmadinejad
and then those protests end violently and all that,
and
then
those
protests
end
violently
and
all
that
and they've gone through the Mahsa Amini
and
they've
gone
through
the
Mahsa
Amini
and all these other protests.
and
all
these
other
protests
They end violently.
They
end
violently
Did this moment feel different to when
Did
this
moment
feel
different
to
when
they started protesting in Iran before the horrible crackdown?
they
started
protesting
in
Iran
before
the
horrible
crackdown
Was it different than what we saw in 2009?
Was
it
different
than
what
we
saw
in
2009
Yeah, I think what we've seen over the last 17 years,
Yeah
I
think
what
we've
seen
over
the
last
17
years
since 2009 was the rate of protests picking up
since
2009
was
the
rate
of
protests
picking
up
for the last 47 years of the existence
for
the
last
47
years
of
the
existence
of the Islamic Republic, there's
of
the
Islamic
Republic
there's
always been protests, but sporadic,
always
been
protests
but
sporadic
fewer and farther between.
fewer
and
farther
between
And in the last five or six years,
And
in
the
last
five
or
six
years
it's almost been annually and spread
it's
almost
been
annually
and
spread
across the entire country.
across
the
entire
country
And this time around, people all over the country
And
this
time
around
people
all
over
the
country
in vast numbers.
in
vast
numbers
And it's a kind of feat of nature.
And
it's
a
kind
of
feat
of
nature
It's organic because all opposition
It's
organic
because
all
opposition
leadership has been snuffed out,
leadership
has
been
snuffed
out
executed, imprisoned, exiled.
executed
imprisoned
exiled
Sure.
Sure
So this is just mass discontent at a level
So
this
is
just
mass
discontent
at
a
level
that we've never seen before.
that
we've
never
seen
before
People calling for the end of the system.
People
calling
for
the
end
of
the
system
You'll remember in 2009 they wanted their vote.
You'll
remember
in
2009
they
wanted
their
vote
Even in this very restricted system,
Even
in
this
very
restricted
system
they still felt as though every four
they
still
felt
as
though
every
four
years they had the opportunity to go out within a tightly
years
they
had
the
opportunity
to
go
out
within
a
tightly
managed situation and say, hey, look,
managed
situation
and
say
hey
look
these are eight terrible guys.
these
are
eight
terrible
guys
This is the least terrible as far as we're concerned.
This
is
the
least
terrible
as
far
as
we're
concerned
This is who we want.
This
is
who
we
want
And that was taken away from them that time around.
And
that
was
taken
away
from
them
that
time
around
Now it's let's just break this whole thing down.
Now
it's
let's
just
break
this
whole
thing
down
This is not working.
This
is
not
working
This is not tenable.
This
is
not
tenable
Our life is getting worse and worse.
Our
life
is
getting
worse
and
worse
Our standard of living is decreasing by the day.
Our
standard
of
living
is
decreasing
by
the
day
And you have no answers and no credible path
And
you
have
no
answers
and
no
credible
path
to a better future for us.
to
a
better
future
for
us
And so really begging the world to help them
And
so
really
begging
the
world
to
help
them
and not finding too much help.
and
not
finding
too
much
help
Well, that you know the help--
Well
that
you
know
the
help-
One thing also to discuss, with Iran, there are parallels here.
One
thing
also
to
discuss
with
Iran
there
are
parallels
here
Obviously, here what's going on is a hint of that,
Obviously
here
what's
going
on
is
a
hint
of
that
is a slight coloring of it.
is
a
slight
coloring
of
it
It's not what they're experiencing
It's
not
what
they're
experiencing
over there, the harm that they're experience.
over
there
the
harm
that
they're
experience
But there is, in Iran, the protests were always.
But
there
is
in
Iran
the
protests
were
always
There is an artistic educated elite.
There
is
an
artistic
educated
elite
Tehran, it's based in the cities.
Tehran
it's
based
in
the
cities
It's considered-- if you want to break it down into red and
It's
considered-
if
you
want
to
break
it
down
into
red
and
blue, there's the blue states in Iran
blue
there's
the
blue
states
in
Iran
and there's the red states.
and
there's
the
red
states
The power of the mullahs is in the Red states.
The
power
of
the
mullahs
is
in
the
Red
states
Certainly.
Certainly
So it would be like normally when they crack down,
So
it
would
be
like
normally
when
they
crack
down
like in 2009, it's like sending a masked force of thugs
like
in
2009
it's
like
sending
a
masked
force
of
thugs
into like a blue city like, I don't know, Minneapolis.
into
like
a
blue
city
like
I
don't
know
Minneapolis
So it's like that.
So
it's
like
that
This is much broader than that.
This
is
much
broader
than
that
This is not the elites rising up.
This
is
not
the
elites
rising
up
This is everybody know.
This
is
everybody
know
And Iran, we forget, is a multiethnic country.
And
Iran
we
forget
is
a
multiethnic
country
Lots of different languages--
Lots
of
different
languages-
Azeri Turks in the North, Baluchis, Kurds,
Azeri
Turks
in
the
North
Baluchis
Kurds
Afghans, everybody rising up.
Afghans
everybody
rising
up
And actually, what's really unique about these protests and
And
actually
what's
really
unique
about
these
protests
and
the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022
the
Mahsa
Amini
protests
in
2022
is this sort of a call and response
is
this
sort
of
a
call
and
response
between these different ethnic and religious groups saying,
between
these
different
ethnic
and
religious
groups
saying
we support you.
we
support
you
I think the truth is that Iranians,
I
think
the
truth
is
that
Iranians
whether they're Muslim, Shia, Sunni, Christian,
whether
they're
Muslim
Shia
Sunni
Christian
Jewish, Zoroastrian, Baha'I--
Jewish
Zoroastrian
Baha'I-
Sufi.
Sufi
They think of themselves as Iranian first.
They
think
of
themselves
as
Iranian
first
And that's something that goes back
And
that's
something
that
goes
back
2,500 years and I think it's something worth preserving.
2500
years
and
I
think
it's
something
worth
preserving
Why do you think you know in '79, when they
Why
do
you
think
you
know
in
'79
when
they
had the more fundamentalist revolution,
had
the
more
fundamentalist
revolution
the Shah's army turned.
the
Shah's
army
turned
The revolution happened because the guys with guns went.
The
revolution
happened
because
the
guys
with
guns
went
You know what--
You
know
what-
We can't do this.
We
can't
do
this
[BLEEP] these guys, we're going with you.
BLEEP
these
guys
we're
going
with
you
Why do you think that hasn't happened?
Why
do
you
think
that
hasn't
happened
I saw there was a few pieces of footage
I
saw
there
was
a
few
pieces
of
footage
I saw of some besieging, the guys
I
saw
of
some
besieging
the
guys
that you see on the motorcycles with the glove switching,
that
you
see
on
the
motorcycles
with
the
glove
switching
but that's it.
but
that's
it
It doesn't seem like it's gotten through to them.
It
doesn't
seem
like
it's
gotten
through
to
them
I think it's the ideological fervor mixed with the fact
I
think
it's
the
ideological
fervor
mixed
with
the
fact
that they can still sort of buy the loyalty
that
they
can
still
sort
of
buy
the
loyalty
of those kinds of people.
of
those
kinds
of
people
When they can't buy that loyalty anymore,
When
they
can't
buy
that
loyalty
anymore
you'll start to see them switch real fast.
you'll
start
to
see
them
switch
real
fast
But that hasn't happened yet.
But
that
hasn't
happened
yet
And I think when it does happen, that's game over.
And
I
think
when
it
does
happen
that's
game
over
But I haven't seen visible signs of that yet.
But
I
haven't
seen
visible
signs
of
that
yet
And what we're talking about, even with the 2009
And
what
we're
talking
about
even
with
the
2009
protests where people were killed in the massive protests
protests
where
people
were
killed
in
the
massive
protests
where people were killed.
where
people
were
killed
Early numbers that came out of there were,
Early
numbers
that
came
out
of
there
were
I don't know, 2,500 people or something along those lines.
I
don't
know
2500
people
or
something
along
those
lines
And now they're saying, no, it's actually tens of thousands
And
now
they're
saying
no
it's
actually
tens
of
thousands
of people were slaughtered by this regime.
of
people
were
slaughtered
by
this
regime
It's not something that people can go back
It's
not
something
that
people
can
go
back
to their daily lives after.
to
their
daily
lives
after
I've been able to communicate with some relatives and friends
I've
been
able
to
communicate
with
some
relatives
and
friends
back in Iran and the bearing witness and
back
in
Iran
and
the
bearing
witness
and
sharing what's happened is what's so important to them
sharing
what's
happened
is
what's
so
important
to
them
right now.
right
now
People are just saying you can't imagine
People
are
just
saying
you
can't
imagine
what we've just experienced.
what
we've
just
experienced
And then to be shrouded in an internet blackout.
And
then
to
be
shrouded
in
an
internet
blackout
It is mind boggling.
It
is
mind
boggling
And this time they've gotten--
And
this
time
they've
gotten-
they've always had the internet blackouts,
they've
always
had
the
internet
blackouts
and there's always been VPNs and satellite dishes
and
there's
always
been
VPNs
and
satellite
dishes
and ways to go about it.
and
ways
to
go
about
it
Total blackout for like two weeks.
Total
blackout
for
like
two
weeks
This feels like they're more sophisticated
This
feels
like
they're
more
sophisticated
with their methodologies.
with
their
methodologies
Yes, and I think one of the things
Yes
and
I
think
one
of
the
things
that we can credibly do as the United States
that
we
can
credibly
do
as
the
United
States
and the entire global community of nations
and
the
entire
global
community
of
nations
is support Iranians staying online.
is
support
Iranians
staying
online
And it's the thing that we've been promising them since 2009.
And
it's
the
thing
that
we've
been
promising
them
since
2009
In 2009, they did shut down the internet.
In
2009
they
did
shut
down
the
internet
Internet wasn't as big a part of Iranians
Internet
wasn't
as
big
a
part
of
Iranians
lives as it is right now.
lives
as
it
is
right
now
And every time each one of these rounds of protests,
And
every
time
each
one
of
these
rounds
of
protests
when they slaughter innocent people,
when
they
slaughter
innocent
people
America says it doesn't matter if it's
America
says
it
doesn't
matter
if
it's
a Democrat or a Republican, we're not going
a
Democrat
or
a
Republican
we're
not
going
to let this happen again.
to
let
this
happen
again
We're going to keep you online.
We're
going
to
keep
you
online
We're going to help you organize.
We're
going
to
help
you
organize
And we haven't done it yet.
And
we
haven't
done
it
yet
Well, listen, I got a lot of problems with Elon Musk
Well
listen
I
got
a
lot
of
problems
with
Elon
Musk
and a lot of the things he does and says,
and
a
lot
of
the
things
he
does
and
says
but the one good thing he does, I
but
the
one
good
thing
he
does
I
think he sends a bunch of Starlinks over there
think
he
sends
a
bunch
of
Starlinks
over
there
and that helps.
and
that
helps
Look, I mean, I say airdrop them in.
Look
I
mean
I
say
airdrop
them
in
They don't have air defenses at this point.
They
don't
have
air
defenses
at
this
point
Those were taken out back in June, drop a million terminals.
Those
were
taken
out
back
in
June
drop
a
million
terminals
Donald Trump was really clear.
Donald
Trump
was
really
clear
Yeah, airdrop them. - Yeah.
Yeah
airdrop
them
Yeah
Sure.
Sure
Today.
Today
He was really clear that he said to the people of Iran,
He
was
really
clear
that
he
said
to
the
people
of
Iran
keep protesting, keep going out in the streets.
keep
protesting
keep
going
out
in
the
streets
If they do anything to you, we're a coming.
If
they
do
anything
to
you
we're
a
coming
What do you think happened between where
What
do
you
think
happened
between
where
a coming to, eh, just playoff for a little bit longer.
a
coming
to
eh
just
playoff
for
a
little
bit
longer
I mean, it's an incredible question.
I
mean
it's
an
incredible
question
And last summer when we decided to enter into the war
And
last
summer
when
we
decided
to
enter
into
the
war
that Israel had started, up until the very last minute,
that
Israel
had
started
up
until
the
very
last
minute
he was saying, hey, look, we want to make
he
was
saying
hey
look
we
want
to
make
a deal with these guys.
a
deal
with
these
guys
And just today he said, you my armada is at your front door,
And
just
today
he
said
you
my
armada
is
at
your
front
door
but I want to make a deal.
but
I
want
to
make
a
deal
I think making a deal with them at this point
I
think
making
a
deal
with
them
at
this
point
would be the worst case scenario
would
be
the
worst
case
scenario
for the people of Iran. - Of course.
for
the
people
of
Iran
Of
course
Well, look, in Venezuela, you make--
Well
look
in
Venezuela
you
make-
What's the deal?
What's
the
deal
How about this?
How
about
this
You give us the oil and we'll let one of you
You
give
us
the
oil
and
we'll
let
one
of
you
guys still remain in charge.
guys
still
remain
in
charge
And things will get incrementally better
And
things
will
get
incrementally
better
for the people of Iran, but they
for
the
people
of
Iran
but
they
still won't have their own self-determination, ever.
still
won't
have
their
own
self-determination
ever
And it buys these guys who seem
And
it
buys
these
guys
who
seem
to be their last gasps of life, many more years in power.
to
be
their
last
gasps
of
life
many
more
years
in
power
And I think that would be the worst possible outcome.
And
I
think
that
would
be
the
worst
possible
outcome
Do you see--
Do
you
see-
there's now obviously the Shah, his son Reza Pahlavi
there's
now
obviously
the
Shah
his
son
Reza
Pahlavi
lives here.
lives
here
Does that have any credibility within-- or even Mousavi, who
Does
that
have
any
credibility
within-
or
even
Mousavi
who
was the reform candidate in 2009 who's been under house
was
the
reform
candidate
in
2009
who's
been
under
house
arrest, I don't know.
arrest
I
don't
know
Is he their Nelson Mandela figure?
Is
he
their
Nelson
Mandela
figure
Is there someone in the way that Khamenei led them in '79,
Is
there
someone
in
the
way
that
Khamenei
led
them
in
'79
from out of the country and then into the country,
from
out
of
the
country
and
then
into
the
country
is a figure exist like that?
is
a
figure
exist
like
that
Not in the way that Khamenei was organized
Not
in
the
way
that
Khamenei
was
organized
and had support rallying behind him without a lot of dissent.
and
had
support
rallying
behind
him
without
a
lot
of
dissent
I don't think that there's any of the leadership of the system
I
don't
think
that
there's
any
of
the
leadership
of
the
system
now or people who are in prison that folks inside Iran
now
or
people
who
are
in
prison
that
folks
inside
Iran
look to as their Savior.
look
to
as
their
Savior
A lot of people have been calling the name,
A
lot
of
people
have
been
calling
the
name
you Reza Pahlavi in the streets during this protest.
you
Reza
Pahlavi
in
the
streets
during
this
protest
But I don't know that.
But
I
don't
know
that
I mean, he's lived in exile for 47 years.
I
mean
he's
lived
in
exile
for
47
years
That's kind of a lot to ask.
That's
kind
of
a
lot
to
ask
And I don't think we have a great track record of that--
And
I
don't
think
we
have
a
great
track
record
of
that-
Just ruling their country and be like,
Just
ruling
their
country
and
be
like
so what's your Netflix password?
so
what's
your
Netflix
password
Let's just get this going.
Let's
just
get
this
going
Yeah, we don't have a great track record with that,
Yeah
we
don't
have
a
great
track
record
with
that
but it does leave.
but
it
does
leave
It's like, is this just--
It's
like
is
this
just-
there are no good options for the people of Iran
there
are
no
good
options
for
the
people
of
Iran
who are suffering at an incredible level?
who
are
suffering
at
an
incredible
level
I don't think there are any good obvious options,
I
don't
think
there
are
any
good
obvious
options
but I do think that over the last,
but
I
do
think
that
over
the
last
gosh, you 17 years since 2009, we should have been making
gosh
you
17
years
since
2009
we
should
have
been
making
inroads to opposition folks.
inroads
to
opposition
folks
I know from personal experience and relationships, hundreds
I
know
from
personal
experience
and
relationships
hundreds
of Iranian intellectuals and dissidents now
of
Iranian
intellectuals
and
dissidents
now
exiled here in the United States, who many of who
exiled
here
in
the
United
States
who
many
of
who
drive Ubers.
drive
Ubers
People that should be informing our policy and helping us
People
that
should
be
informing
our
policy
and
helping
us
understand this place and there hasn't
understand
this
place
and
there
hasn't
been a great space for them in these conversations.
been
a
great
space
for
them
in
these
conversations
And I think it's never too late,
And
I
think
it's
never
too
late
but it's pretty freaking late.
but
it's
pretty
freaking
late
And in terms of understanding,
And
in
terms
of
understanding
our ability to understand those things
our
ability
to
understand
those
things
is getting worse and worse.
is
getting
worse
and
worse
You Are at the freedom desk at The Washington Post,
You
Are
at
the
freedom
desk
at
The
Washington
Post
which is The Washington Post.
which
is
The
Washington
Post
Like you're on the freedom desk.
Like
you're
on
the
freedom
desk
Do you get, like, a window or are you in the door
Do
you
get
like
a
window
or
are
you
in
the
door
like, are you in a closet?
like
are
you
in
a
closet
Like it's The Washington Post.
Like
it's
The
Washington
Post
Like these guys they spend $80 million
Like
these
guys
they
spend
80
million
on a Melania documentary, and yet they're cutting
on
a
Melania
documentary
and
yet
they're
cutting
all the reporting overseas.
all
the
reporting
overseas
I mean, you must-- do you just walk in there
I
mean
you
must-
do
you
just
walk
in
there
and go, like, where's Beezos or Beezos?
and
go
like
where's
Beezos
or
Beezos
However you-- you know what, let's spend a little less
However
you-
you
know
what
let's
spend
a
little
less
on the boat foam wedding party and
on
the
boat
foam
wedding
party
and
keep some reporters in Tehran.
keep
some
reporters
in
Tehran
I know that you can't say anything,
I
know
that
you
can't
say
anything
so I'm just going to keep talking.
so
I'm
just
going
to
keep
talking
Well, one--
Well
one-
Can I keep talking?
Can
I
keep
talking
I'm not here to trample on your First Amendment rights.
I'm
not
here
to
trample
on
your
First
Amendment
rights
You know what, thank you so much for saying that.
You
know
what
thank
you
so
much
for
saying
that
It is the level-- what is--
It
is
the
level-
what
is-
just in terms of being there, the level of frustration.
just
in
terms
of
being
there
the
level
of
frustration
I mean, the United States government
I
mean
the
United
States
government
just raided a reporter in The Washington Post,
just
raided
a
reporter
in
The
Washington
Post
raided their house--
raided
their
house-
Seized devices,
Seized
devices
Seized devices, do all the things.
Seized
devices
do
all
the
things
You're on the press freedom desk at that newspaper.
You're
on
the
press
freedom
desk
at
that
newspaper
Your owner has, I would assume, 24/7 access to him.
Your
owner
has
I
would
assume
24/7
access
to
him
They just did a screening.
They
just
did
a
screening
How can this happen?
How
can
this
happen
How do we protect the press freedom at home
How
do
we
protect
the
press
freedom
at
home
so that we don't become Iran?
so
that
we
don't
become
Iran
Well, I can't speak to anyone else's thinking besides my
Well
I
can't
speak
to
anyone
else's
thinking
besides
my
own, but--
own
but-
Careful.
Careful
Careful, Jason.
Careful
Jason
No, but I will tell you that day in and day out,
No
but
I
will
tell
you
that
day
in
and
day
out
and we've seen our staff increase
and
we've
seen
our
staff
increase
in decline in numbers throughout the entire time
in
decline
in
numbers
throughout
the
entire
time
that I've been at The Washington Post,
that
I've
been
at
The
Washington
Post
coming up on 14 years, we've consistently
coming
up
on
14
years
we've
consistently
punched above our weight, broken
punched
above
our
weight
broken
incredible stories from Ukraine to the White House.
incredible
stories
from
Ukraine
to
the
White
House
We're at the front line of this every single day.
We're
at
the
front
line
of
this
every
single
day
We're going to be continuing to do that.
We're
going
to
be
continuing
to
do
that
No matter--
No
matter-
Bring it home, Jason.
Bring
it
home
Jason
Come on, Jason, bring it home.
Come
on
Jason
bring
it
home
We need you on that wall.
We
need
you
on
that
wall
Come on, brother.
Come
on
brother
Preach!
Preach
The Washington Post is never going to back down
The
Washington
Post
is
never
going
to
back
down
from covering these stories.
from
covering
these
stories
We have the most incredible staff in the business.
We
have
the
most
incredible
staff
in
the
business
And I promise you, I promise you,
And
I
promise
you
I
promise
you
whoever goes to work in that building
whoever
goes
to
work
in
that
building
tomorrow, the next day, a month from now,
tomorrow
the
next
day
a
month
from
now
is going to keep breaking stories,
is
going
to
keep
breaking
stories
keep holding power to account better than anybody else.
keep
holding
power
to
account
better
than
anybody
else
Thank you.
Thank
you
Sign up for The Freedom newsletter
Sign
up
for
The
Freedom
newsletter
at The Washington Post.
at
The
Washington
Post
Let me tell you something.
Let
me
tell
you
something
If there's anybody that I can trust to continue this effort
If
there's
anybody
that
I
can
trust
to
continue
this
effort
without fear or favor, it's a guy who had to spend 544 days
without
fear
or
favor
it's
a
guy
who
had
to
spend
544
days
in one of the most difficult places on this entire Earth,
in
one
of
the
most
difficult
places
on
this
entire
Earth
and to do so with your integrity and your soul intact
and
to
do
so
with
your
integrity
and
your
soul
intact
is a monumental human achievement,
is
a
monumental
human
achievement
sir, and I cannot help but salute you in all of that.
sir
and
I
cannot
help
but
salute
you
in
all
of
that
Jason Rezaian.
Jason
Rezaian
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