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This American Life

Blackout

5/3/20261 hr 3 min

Since the war began in Iran, we've heard very little from people inside the country — and there's a reason for that. The entire country has been under an internet blackout. We worked with reporters Roxana Saberi and Fatemeh Jamalpour to get voice memos out of the country. Even though it was dangerous and difficult, people wanted to be heard.

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Prologue: Shirin's parents suddenly disappear into the blackout. (5 minutes)Act One: It’s a war and a blackout. People want to talk about both. (17 minutes)Act Two: W...

Clips

Calls Vanish Into Blackout
Searching For Any Signal
Denial That Cuts Deep
Internet As Privilege
Ceasefire, But No Relief
The Landline That Saved Us
From Google To Nothing
Love Versus The Blackout

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Chana Joffe-Walt· Host0:01

    From WBEZ Chicago, it's This American Life. I'm Chana Joffe-Walt, sitting in for Ira Glass. When Shirin Jafari moved to the US as a young adult, there were a lot of promises made to her family back home. We'll be in touch all the time, call you every week, almost like we're in the same town, which is the kind of thing you say, but Shirin actually pulled this off for the last twenty years.

  2. Shirin Jafari· Guest0:25

    We are a close family. We message several times a day. Um, we send each other reels, like normal stuff. I mean, I don't want to lose those details, those small details of their lives, uh, because I am so far away from them.

  3. Chana Joffe-Walt· Host0:44

    And they really get into the details, this family. [pensive music] Who ate what? How far was the walk? What's the latest with the dental work? On the phone, by text, random thoughts tossed out at any hour. Have you seen this pumpkin dessert? Unsolicited suggestions.

  4. Shirin Jafari· Guest1:00

    I would send them, uh, videos of exercises they can do at home.

  5. Chana Joffe-Walt· Host1:06

    [laughs] Like you worrying about them getting enough movement?

  6. Shirin Jafari· Guest1:09

    I would love them to... Yeah, I would love-- Yes, I, yes, I have been- [laughs] ... trying to get my mom to do more yoga and my dad to not sit all day. [laughs] So- How's that going? [sighs] Not great.

  7. Chana Joffe-Walt· Host1:21

    So ju- just like a constant ongoing conversation with them.

  8. Shirin Jafari· Guest1:25

    Totally. The kind of thing that you would be asking them if t- if

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