Nick Reed's Must Read Headlines – 01.12.26

Posted January 12, 2026

funeral-procession-for-security-forces-civilians-said-to-be-killed-in-protests — Mourners carry coffins during a funeral procession for members of security forces and civilians said to be killed in protests on Sunday, amid evolving anti-government unrest, in Tehran, Iran, in this screengrab from a video released on January 11, 2026. IRIB/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO USE IRAN, BBC PERSIAN. NO USE VOA PERSIAN. NO USE MANOTO. NO USE IRAN INTERNATIONAL. NO RADIO FARDA. IRAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN IRAN. OVERLAY FROM SOURCE.

Iran:

A crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has killed at least 544 people and even more are feared dead, activists said Sunday, while Tehran warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

Iran security forces have killed at least 496 people as opposition protests continue (Just The News)

President Trump said Sunday that Iran is “starting to” cross U.S. red lines, citing reports of civilian deaths and warning that any attack on American interests would be met with overwhelming force as his administration weighs what he called “very strong options.”

Trump says Iran ‘starting to’ cross US red lines as protesters die in government crackdown (Fox News)

Iran’s exiled crown prince called Trump the “total opposite” of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden when it comes to speaking up for the Iranian people.

Iran’s crown prince says Trump ‘total opposite’ of Obama and Biden in courting US support (Washington Examiner)

On Friday, Elon Musk and SpaceX have activated Starlink satellite internet in Iran amid a nationwide blackout imposed by the regime during ongoing anti-government protests.

SpaceX activates Starlink satellite internet in Iran to bypass blackout (Middle East Online)

Iran is cracking down on the internet. Around 30% of Starlink’s uplink and downlink traffic was initially disrupted. The outage has now escalated to over 80%, according to the Iran Wire. According to experts, the Iranian clerical leadership activated a “kill switch” to jam Starlink satellites. The disruption, they say, was carried out using highly expensive military-grade jamming equipment which, if not indigenous, was likely supplied by Russia or China.

Iran uses kill switch to jam Starlink as protests rage on. Did China or Russia help? (India Today)

Crime:

The deranged, hammer-wielding alleged vandal accused of busting several windows at Vice President JD Vance’s home in Cincinnati is reportedly the son of a prominent millionaire family — and appears to have been going by “Julia” in recent weeks.

Alleged JD Vance home vandal is son of wealthy doctor, Dem donor — who recently changed name to Julia (New York Post)

Money that was raised in Maine for victims of a deadly mass shooting went to Somali non-profits instead.

Money Raised for Victims of Deadly Mass Shooting Went Instead to Somali Nonprofits (Red State)