Tehran Rose and the anti US influencers – “`html
From Tokyo Rose to Tehran Rose: How Academia and Media Cultivate Anti-American Voices
On the Fourth of July in 1916, Iva Ikuko Toguri entered the world in Los Angeles. Nearly a quarter-century later, she would travel to Japan and earn her place in history as Tokyo Rose, the notorious propagandist of World War II. Now, approximately one century after her birth, a new generation of American youth has emerged with similar anti-American sentiments, though their allegiances have shifted across the globe.
Calla Walsh, currently twenty-one years old, has positioned herself as what might be termed a modern Tehran Rose. She has produced propaganda content for one of the world’s most repressive governments. During the funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Walsh publicly honored him, describing him as the “greatest anti-imperialist leader” in her remarks.
A Growing Movement of Young Dissidents
Walsh represents more than an isolated case. Several other young Americans have joined her in championing causes opposed to American interests. Jackson Hinkle made headlines when he appeared on a stage in Tehran, enthusiastically supporting a crowd that chanted “Down with America.” Meanwhile, Max Blumenthal, now forty-eight, has carved out his own path as a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy. He is the son of Sidney Blumenthal, a columnist who earned the nickname “attack dog” for his work covering Bill and Hillary Clinton.
These individuals occupy an interesting position within American society. While they support regimes that restrict free expression and violate human rights for their own citizens, they enjoy protection within the United States to express unpopular opinions, even when those opinions involve criticizing their homeland. This raises an important question regarding where legitimate expression ends and potentially criminal behavior begins.
Privileged Radicals Groomed by Media Culture
Walsh, Hinkle, and Blumenthal share characteristics beyond their political views. They represent young, privileged radicals who have often moved away from their parents’ professional trajectories. More significantly, they have been cultivated by American media institutions over extended periods.
Calla Walsh grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as the daughter of Chris Walsh, an English professor at Boston University, and Mary Sullivan Walsh, who taught at Harvard’s Extension School. Raised within a progressive Brahmin tradition, she captured media attention as a radical college dropout presenting herself as an exciting new perspective. The New York Times praised her enthusiastically, while Teen Vogue featured her essay supporting socialist principles.
Her political engagement extended to campaign work for Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Both efforts received favorable coverage in major publications including The New York Times and Boston Magazine.
Similar Trajectories Across Generations
Jackson Hinkle followed a comparable path toward political radicalization. Born in San Clemente, California, he was recognized by Reader’s Digest as one of “The 17 Most Inspirational Kids of 2017.” Like Walsh, he appeared in Teen Vogue as an inspiring young activist. A Los Angeles Times article quoted a source describing him as “the kind of guy who gives you hope about the future … Jackson is fearless and well-informed.” Today, Hinkle supports not only Iran’s government but also Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its military campaign against Ukraine.
Max Blumenthal represents the Democratic establishment’s offspring. He attended Georgetown Day School in Washington before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. These connections provided him immediate access to prestigious publications. He has authored books criticizing Israel while promoting increasingly radical viewpoints. His columns appeared in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times, alongside liberal platforms such as The Nation, The Daily Beast, and The Huffington Post. He frequently defends regimes opposing American interests, often minimizing atrocities committed by nations including Syria and Russia. His father, Sidney Blumenthal, forwarded approximately two dozen of Max’s columns to Hillary Clinton, who responded with enthusiastic praise including “Max strikes again!” and “He’s so good.”
The Broader Cultural Shift
All three individuals exemplify contemporary radical chic within media and higher education, each receiving platforms as influential voices. Yet they represent only a fraction of a larger phenomenon. Thousands of young Americans share similar characteristics. American colleges are producing radicalized graduates who possess limited employment opportunities but considerable anger.
A recent Fourth of July gathering in Chicago illustrated this cultural transformation. The event featured Bill Ayers, a former professor, former fugitive, and co-founder of the Weather Underground, a domestic terrorist organization. Another speaker was Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a chaired professor in Princeton’s African-American Studies department and contributor to the New Yorker. Taylor energized the young audience by declaring them part of the “F— the U.S.” movement and urging rejection of “the idea of loving a nation state, which is what patriotism is.” She consistently emphasized that borders are “deadly” and “borders kill people,” characterizing all border systems as “a tool of death and destruction.”
Walsh’s rise as a prominent face of Iranian propaganda creates compelling parallels with Toguri, who faced arrest and conviction for treason following World War II. While Toguri was merely one of several women involved in the infamous propaganda broadcasts, her story continues to resonate as Americans watch new generations question their national identity.
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