52 Americans held hostage for 444 days. A failed rescue mission that killed 8 soldiers in the desert. And a revolution that turned America's closest Middle East ally into its greatest enemy overnight.

This episode covers:

- The fall of the Shah and rise of Ayatollah Khomeini

- The 444-day hostage crisis and its impact on American politics

- Operation Eagle Claw: the failed rescue at Desert One

- How the crisis created JSOC and modern special operations

- Why both nations carry legitimate historical trauma

Part of the Iran War Report Context Series.

No spin. No sides. Just signal.