America First, Iran, and the Cost of Truth — Mahtab Farid on Journalism, War, & Serving | Matt Ep 74

In this episode of the Patriot Party Podcast, host Matt Davis sits down with Mahtab Farid, an award-winning international journalist, U.S. diplomat, and Iran expert who has reported from war zones and served on the front lines of public diplomacy.Born in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution and raised amid war and censorship, Mahtab brings a rare perspective on tyranny, freedom, and what America First truly means through the eyes of a grateful American citizen.The conversation covers: • The reality of growing up under authoritarian rule • How America First looks when you’ve lived without freedom • The current U.S.–Iran unrest and what the American public is missing • Media narratives vs. on-the-ground truth • Serving the country without wearing a uniform • Why gratitude, truth, and informed citizenship are essential to national unityDrawing on her experience as a Public Diplomacy Officer during the U.S.–Afghanistan war and as the author of Serving Without a Uniform: Reporting Truth in Defense of Freedom, Mahtab explains why service takes many forms—and why truth itself is a form of national defense.The episode also references how culture and media shape perception, including portrayals of Iran and its intelligence community seen in shows like Tehran, and where fiction diverges from reality.America First — not America only. America leads by example.A conversation about freedom, responsibility, and what it really means to serve.Links to Stay Connected:• Website: https://thepatriotparty.us/• X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/matpatriotparty• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepatriotparty?_t=ZT-8zAm6YqHs9F&_r=1• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thepatriotpartyus• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dop5HEJbf/?mibextid=wwXIfr• Support Our Store: https://thepatriotpartyus.etsy.com