In the ongoing Gulf war, Iran's theocratic regime appears to be winning the propaganda battle against the US. A team backing Iran releases AI-generated videos that ridicule Donald Trump and glorify those who resist him, racking up over a billion views on X in the first month of the war.
The regime's propagandists have advantages that Saddam's flack lacked, including AI technology that allows them to make expensive-looking videos cheaply and quickly in response to breaking news. They also use social-media channels to circulate their content, including YouTube, which has blocked them.
Iran's videos play up criticisms of Mr Trump that resonate with a global audience, including his unpopular war and the economic costs of the conflict. The lyrics are witty and show fluency in Western culture, with a soundtrack that often features thumping rap and English lyrics.
Despite the blatant propaganda, the videos have "hotwired" the world's brains, says Moustafa Ayad of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. The Iranians have been able to tap into the zeitgeist through really good use of internet subcultures, memes, and animations.
America's State Department used to have an office that counteracted enemy propaganda, but the Trump administration closed it last year. As a result, the US is struggling to subdue a regional bully, and the world's cultural superpower is being out-trolled by a regime that whips women for showing their hair.
