Podcasts about Crimea

​@ricktheukrainian is from Ukraine, and every Sunday gets together with his community online (the Rick Rollers), to make video content and raise funds for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Rick is originally from Makiivka in the Donetsk area, and lived under Russian occupation for several years following the 2014 invasion of Crimea and Donbas. His weekly streams are attended by different Ukrainian and pro-Ukrainian guests. He talks about the Russian war against Ukraine and its culture, music and historic places. Rick translates and dubs Zolkin and Karpenko's interviews with Russian POWs into English, making them accessible to a Western audience, and providing extraordinary insights into the Russian mindset.----------Be in the Army or for the Army! https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/be-in-the-army-or-for-the-armyRick the Ukrainian, Roman Trokhymets, Rick Rollers, and Ukrainian supporters around the world are proud to announce the launch of our new campaign to support the army. This time, we are strengthening the bond between frontline soldiers and volunteers by joining forces to support three combat units with urgently needed vehicles and tires.----------LINKS:YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ricktheukrainianRaising funds for Land Robots for the 3rd Brigade: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/25Q73j7f8xVideo about robots for the 3rd Brigade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATGA4a45mEEMy PayPal (fundraisers donations): rick.karl1842@gmail.comBuy Me a Coffee (or become a member): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ricktheukr/membership----------The Steel Porcupine https://www.thesteelporcupine.com/I'm proud to say that this series of ‘Ukrainian advent' interviews is supported by The Steel Porcupine – a unique and powerful film about a country that refuses to lie down, a people who turned themselves into a fortress of needles when Russian tanks rolled in. The Steel Porcupine is an unforgettable cinematic experience that exposes Russia's campaign of extermination in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people's spirit to resist and prevail. It follows soldiers, volunteers and people who decided that survival meant resistance, not submission.Created by the makers of the acclaimed To the Zero Line, this is another film about humanity, that clearly states there is no such thing as neutrality when war crimes are being committed systematically by Russia, and on a scale in Europe only comparable to World War Two. Set to a haunting soundtrack featuring music by Philip Glass, and blending rare archival footage with original material, it is an impactful work of art and storytelling, as well as being informative.----------WORKS NOMINATED BY: Roman Trokhymets and Rick the UkrainianBOOKSViktor Andrusiv - How Ukrainians Lead: Military Leadership in a David and Goliath WarDimko Zhluktenko - Ordinary Guy at War: A Ukrainian's JourneySergey Loiko - AirportFILMSMstyslav Chernov - 2000 Meters to Andriivka (2024)Pavlo Ostrikov - U Are the Universe (2024)MUSICOleksandr Yarmak (rapper)The UnsleepingPalindromKazhannaAziza Eskender (Crimean Tatar)Kurgan & Agregat (ironic music)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureAll [CB] are now dropping rates because the US is dropping rates, we saw this during Trump first term. Initial jobless claims show the labor market is not weakening. Trump gives a speech on the state of the economy and the next inflation is almost inline with what the Fed wants. Trump has destroyed the Fed narrative, next phase coming. Trump is now in the process of setting everything up preparing for the midterms and stopping the [DS] form doing us harm. The seditious 6 sent the message, Trump just countered it with a 1776 bonus to the military. The patriots are in the process of bringing down the entire corrupt system. It’s being exposed and dismantled. Panic in DC. Economy https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2001625195526971703?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2001646305320546453?s=20 Initial Jobless Claims Show No Signs Of Labor Market Distress  After the Thanksgiving Week debacle, the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the first time remains back in the same – very low – range it has been in for the last four years at 224k…  So despite the uptick in the BLS-derived unemployment rate, jobless claims data show no signs of acute distress anywhere. Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2001662433983696966?s=20 https://twitter.com/Geiger_Capital/status/2001647313157263628?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2001656024097272170?s=20 No, Inflation Did Not “Cool Unexpectedly”, It Slowed Because Trump Policies are Working    While the media proclaim, “inflation cooled unexpectedly,” the reality is that it's not unexpected.  The results of a slowing of price increase are not accidental; they are the result of Trump's domestic economic policies working. [Non-Paywall Source and Media Spin] President Trump has been cutting waste, fraud and abuse in runaway government spending; slashing costly regulations across all sectors of the economy and ending Green New Scam energy policy in favor of drill, baby, drill.  As noted by NEC Chairman Kevin Hasset, Trump has reduced deficit spending overall. There's still a long way to go, but significant MAGAnomic progress is being made.  Oh, and that skyrocketing “tariff inflation” the same shocked pundits proclaimed was sure to happen this time, well, that has not surfaced either.  Just like it didn't surface in 2018 or 2019 when the tariffs were applied the first time. NEW YORK –  Source: theconservativetreehouse.com Trump is winning against the CB system. https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2001649080762872069?s=20 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2001477403961626755?s=20  he took office–tariffs to create fair trade, reduced income tax, gutting the Green Energy Scam, promoting investment in American manufacturing, reducing the federal bureaucracy and eliminating crippling regulations, deporting illegal aliens and eliminating the “free stuff” we taxpayers give them, getting the Fed onboard, etc. But that plan needed time. Time enough to make the economy shine come the mid-terms. Now we will start to see the fruits of that plan, and Trump’s speech tonight is to announce that. Is he right? One thing I’ve learned is to never bet against Trump. Maybe he is wrong. Maybe I’m wrong. But I still have trust. Political/Rights Nolte: Failing Oscars Demoted to YouTube Starting in 2029, the irrelevant Oscars will have its annual irrelevant Academy Awards show broadcast on — lol — YouTube. To dwindling ratings and cultural relevance, the Oscars have been broadcast on ABC since 1976. The final broadcast will occur in 2028, which also happens to be the 100th anniversary of the award ceremony. So now the Oscars will stream on YouTube, where anyone who wants to can watch them for free online, at least through the end of the deal in 2033. Source: breitbart.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2001675341828342074?s=20  Another didn't even know what building they were at. Meanwhile, no one had info on the shooter, and no one was rushing in. The suspect eventually slipped away. 10 were shot. 2 died. Brown University and the police failed, and now families are furious. And rightfully so! It wasn't just chaos. It was incompetence with a badge, and the price was paid in blood. Source: @Rightanglenews https://twitter.com/C_3C_3/status/2001369540119392433?s=20 https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/2001714347605922149?s=20  student. Chatman resigned from Utah after attempting to reform the university's police department and later took his position at Brown. His efforts coincided with student-led campaigns, including those supported by Fanaeian, to reduce campus policing in the wake of Lauren McCluskey's murder. At Brown University, Chatman recently faced an unanimous vote of no confidence back in October for the charge of having “directly contributed to an all-time low in morale and has strained the department's ability to effectively serve the Brown University community.” At the University of Utah, the student campaign to scale back policing was led by Emirya Fanaeian, the same leader of SLC Armed Queers. Fanaeian deleted the group’s social media in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. She led a student research effort into campus policing while Chatman was employed there. Credit: @SKDoubleDub33 + @iamlisalogan … Developing. https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/2001340901537517902?s=20  appeared to contradict what was visible in the videos. We learned witnesses had actively coordinated to prevent one of their own from being charged. This is the same group that deleted its social media posts on the day of Charlie Kirk's assassination and is alleged to have had advance knowledge along with multiple trans groups. Then the police officer yesterday refused to comment on what the shooter shouted although multiple media reports had already said it wash “Allah Akbar.” Between that plus the mainstream celebrations of Kirk’s death and Jay Jones’s election, we cannot just yet write off the possibility that this country has fallen so far off the end that students and professors automatically are covering for the shooter even though they saw someone get shot point blank in the face. https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/2001748138324038022?s=20  home is about 50 miles from Providence, Rhode Island, where the Brown shooting took place. “Senior law enforcement officials tell Target 12 that federal, state and local authorities are now examining possible ties between the two crimes,” WPRI reported. “Multiple people familiar with the investigation said they have discovered evidence showing the two may be linked.” Loureiro was shot and killed in his home. The suspect remains at large. Loureiro was named head of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at MIT last year. Speculation in media and online discussions has included possible ballistic matches (e.g., 9mm casings recovered at Brown) or similar vehicles spotted at both scenes (e.g., unverified mentions of Nissan Sentras), but these remain unsubstantiated and are not confirmed as the linking evidence.  Some online commentary has also suggested motives tied to international actors, like Iran, based on celebratory posts in certain Telegram channels, but this is purely speculative and unconfirmed. https://twitter.com/EWess92/status/2001718099972886750?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2001502910677397573?s=20 ‘German' Globalist Authoritarianism: Berlin Migrant Housing Costs Skyrocket to Nearly €1 Billion, Tripling Since 2020    Newly released government figures have revealed the capital spent nearly €900 million ($9.8 million) in 2024 alone to house migrants, many of which do not have any kind of status in the country, almost triple the cost from just four years earlier, Die Welt reports. Internal Senate data confirms that accommodation expenses for foreign nationals reached €883 million last year, compared with €312 million in 2020, an increase of 183%. The numbers expose the real cost of mass migration policies pushed by Berlin's left-liberal globalist political class.  Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2001674979348484469?s=20 https://twitter.com/RadioGenoa/status/2001634609424220333?s=20 https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/2001462937920184556?s=20 War/Peace FBI Agents Thought Clinton’s Uranium One Deal Might Be Criminal – But McCabe, Yates Stonewalled Investigation: Report Remember Uranium One? The massive 2010 sale of US uranium deposits to Russia approved by Hillary Clinton and rubber-stamped by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) – after figures linked to the deal donated to the Clinton Foundation? Turns out rank-and-file FBI investigators thought there was enough smoke to launch a criminal investigation, but internal delays and disagreements within the DOJ and FBI ultimately caused the inquiry to lapse, newly released records reveal.   The Uranium One transaction – involving the sale of a Canadian mining company with substantial U.S. uranium assets to Russia's state-owned nuclear firm Rosatom – became a flashpoint during Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Critics argued that then-Secretary of State Clinton, a member of CFIUS, helped approve the deal while donors connected to Uranium One made large contributions to the Clinton Foundation.  The newly released documents suggest that the circumstances surrounding Uranium One were never fully investigated, leaving unresolved questions about how a strategic U.S. asset came under Russian control – and whether potential criminal conduct went unexamined due to internal delays and legal disputes. Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/2001445235759436036?s=20 https://twitter.com/HansMahncke/status/2001673497563607325?s=20 https://twitter.com/Dmytruk__Artem/status/2001657781443596657?s=20  Everything in our life is ‘for now.' The position may change in the future. Politicians change, some live, some die.” This statement cannot be interpreted in any other way. It refers specifically to Donald Trump and his team, who have consistently and reasonably opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the continuation of the war. Zelensky is effectively speaking about the physical elimination of political opponents. I have said this many times before. Zelensky has done and will continue to do everything to destroy Trump and everything associated with him — politically, informationally, and beyond. I have also stated that Zelensky is connected to assassination attempts on Trump and is also involved in the killing of Charlie Kirk. Today, the militant faction of the West reacts painfully to the truth, because this truth destroys their convenient narrative and shows that they are accomplices of a terrorist regime that is prepared to wait for people to die in order to retain power and prolong the war. Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/2001468009248960833?s=20 https://twitter.com/HHSResponse/status/2001691600083091515?s=20 HHS, RFK Jr moves to STOP funds for hospitals that perform child sex changes [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2001676158140563662?s=20  case in US history is still billing Minnesota taxpayers. Feeding Our Future defendant Gandi Yusuf Mohamed, who changed his name before indictment, operates assisted living homes paid through Medicaid. Rep Kristin Robbins says the state paid him $49M over five years, including $132,000 this year alone. Despite red flags, Gov Tim Walz's administration approved licenses and kept payments flowing https://twitter.com/WallStreetApes/status/2001623482342224289?s=20   at 2 locations “Less than 150 square feet in size, smaller than some bathrooms — stores had one register, no carriages, no hand baskets” “One legitimate supermarket in the same area as these stores redeems approximately $80,000 in and SNAP benefits per month. Over the last 20 months, the Juswala variety store was redeeming between 3-6x that amount monthly” The 2 fake convenient store owners caught were both from Haiti https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2001342827804909728?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2001437584468082999?s=20  cases like the pipe bomb investigation. And that's only a small part of the work he went about every single day delivering for America. He not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it. We will miss him but I'm thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it. https://twitter.com/TonySeruga/status/2001666110945661112?s=20 these 4 walls all day separated from my wife in DC.” https://twitter.com/ThePatriotOasis/status/2001662279184466380?s=20  to receive this check right before Christmas—We love you and your families, and we wish you a very Merry Christmas.” https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2001484437091959133?s=20  in US cities nationwide and Trump has been threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act for months. Trump said this warrior dividend will be delivered before Christmas, and the $1,776 is meant to honor the founding of our nation. Christmas and 1776? Kind of reminds me of one very special painting. https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/2001421552496087246?s=20   No more. America's might will secure America's rights. America's military will defend America's destiny. For Americans, first and always. https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2001013033447952648?s=20 President Trump wasn’t playing “5D Chess” yesterday. There was no “OP” to leak information to retards like Tucker Carlson about war. None of that happened. The Whitehouse has been telling people for 2 days the speech was about the economy. Get a grip. https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2001412804864094502?s=20  History. As President, he passed the highly ineffective ‘Unaffordable’ Care Act, resulting in his party losing control of both Houses of Congress, and the Election of the largest House Republican majority since 1946. He presided over a stagnant Economy, approved the one-sided Iran Nuclear Deal, and signed the one-sided Paris Climate Accords, both of which were later terminated by President Donald J. Trump.” “Under Obama, the ISIS Caliphate spread across the Middle East, Libya collapsed into chaos, and Russia invaded and took Crimea. In Ukraine. He crippled small businesses with crushing regulation and environmental red tape, devastated American coal miners, and weaponized the IRS and Federal bureaucracies against his political opponents. Obama also spied over the 2016 Presidential Campaign of Donald J. Trump, and presided over the creation of the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, the worst political scandal in American History. His handpicked successor, Hillary Rodham Clinton, would then lose the Presidency to Donald J. Trump.”  JOE BIDEN “Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst President in American History. Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction. His policies caused the highest Inflation ever recorded, leading the U.S. Dollar to lose more than 20% of its value in 4 years. His Green New Scam surrendered American Energy Dominance and, by abolishing the Southern Border, Biden let 21 million people from all over the World pour into the United States, including from prisons, jails, mental institutions, and insane asylums. His Afghan Disaster was among the most humiliating events in American History, and resulted in the murder of 13 brave American Servicemembers, with many others gravely wounded. Seeing Biden’s devastation, the heinous Russia invaded Ukraine, and Hamas terrorists launched the October 7th attack on Israel.” https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/2001516571106083001?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Possibly the longest shownotes in history thanks to Gemini 3 Pro. Bless the swamp from which this AI slop emerged and enjoy the episode. Or just read this, I suppose. The title sucks terribly. Do better, Gemmo! Show Notes with Time‑Shifted Timestamps(All timestamps below have been shifted forward by 25 seconds to allow for theme music, as requested.)00:00 – Welcome, Cricket and the Pink Ball at the Gabba00:00:25 – Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) opens episode 137 of The Two Jacks and notes they're recording just after midday on 4 December.00:00:36 – Quick chat about the looming day–night Test at the Gabba and the prospect it could finish very quickly.00:00:44 – Hong Kong Jack explains why dusk session timings in Hong Kong line up perfectly with “Asahi o'clock”.00:01:07 – The Jacks wonder which pink ball is in use – Duke or Kookaburra – and what that means for Mitchell Starc and the batters.00:01:30 – They flag that full cricket chat will come later in the episode.Tai Po Fire, Mourning and Accountability in Hong Kong00:01:53 – Jack the Insider pivots from sport to tragedy: an update on the Tai Po (Typo) fire in Hong Kong, now with 159 dead, from ages 1 to 97.00:02:07 – Hong Kong Jack describes the government‑ordered three‑day citywide mourning period, mass flower layings, official ceremonies and a three‑minute silence.00:02:35 – Discussion of schools cancelling Christmas parties and staff functions in solidarity; a sense the tragedy is being taken seriously across society.00:02:55 – Hong Kong Jack outlines the judge‑led inquiry: not only into the Tai Po fire's causes, but also systemic issues in building management and renovation contracts on large estates, with hints of corruption.00:03:30 – Evidence emerging that the green construction cloth lacked proper fire retardant and that flammable materials were used to seal lift wells, helping the fire move inside.00:04:23 – Bodies, including one man, found in stairwells and lobbies; Hong Kong Jack cautions against jumping to conclusions before investigators reconstruct the fire.00:04:53 – Arrest tally climbs to around 12, mostly consultants/contractors involved in management and renovations rather than labourers.00:05:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes large numbers of displaced residents in hotels and temporary accommodation and outlines generous government payments to families of foreign domestic workers killed (about HKD 800,000 per family).00:06:05 – A harrowing vignette: a Javanese truck driver receives a final phone call from his wife, trapped with her employers' baby, seeking forgiveness because there is no escape.00:06:35 – The Jacks reflect on the horror of the story and promise to revisit the inquiry as more facts emerge.Australia's Under‑16 Social Media Restrictions & VPNs00:06:50 – Jack the Insider turns to domestic Australian politics: the under‑16 social media restrictions about to kick in.00:07:05 – He notes overwhelming parental support (around 80%) but says the government is now “hosing down expectations” and reframing the policy as a long‑term “cultural change” effort.00:07:30 – Platforms not yet on the restricted list – Roblox and Discord – are flagged as problematic globally for child sexual exploitation, illustrating rollout gaps.00:08:05 – They discuss technical enforcement: existing account age data, length of time on a platform and the likelihood that some adults will be wrongly flagged but quickly reinstated.00:08:35 – Jack the Insider explains the government's theory of cultural change: a generation that grows up never having had TikTok or Instagram under 16 “won't know what they're missing”.00:09:00 – Hong Kong Jack compares Australia to mainland China's efforts to control the internet and points out China still can't stamp out VPN usage, predicting similar Australian difficulties.00:09:25 – Jack the Insider clarifies that VPNs are not illegal in Australia; about 27% of connected Australians already use one, probably now closer to a third.00:09:55 – He strongly recommends everyone use a VPN for privacy and location masking, and warns that good VPNs now explicitly advise not to choose Australia as an exit node because of the new regime.00:11:00 – They note that Malaysia and several European countries (Denmark, Spain, France and EU initiatives) are eyeing similar under‑age social media restrictions, with large fines (Australia's up to about AUD 50 million or 1% of turnover).00:12:20 – Meta is already scanning and booting under‑age users, but teenagers are sharing tips on evading age checks. Jack the Insider describes various age‑verification methods: selfie‑based AI checks, account age, and Roblox's move to ban under‑15s.00:13:45 – Anecdote about Macau security doing ID checks: Hong Kong Jack's son is checked for being over 21, while Jack's own age makes ID unnecessary—an amusing generational moment.00:14:55 – The Jacks agree the policy is unlikely to stop kids having TikTok accounts but might “nudge” behaviour toward less screen time.00:16:00 – Jack the Insider stresses the real dangers of the internet—particularly organised child sexual exploitation rings like the notorious “764” network—and questions whether blunt prohibition can solve these issues.Bruce Lehrmann, Appeals and Costs00:18:22 – They move to the Bruce Lehrmann defamation saga: his appeal has failed and he's likely millions of dollars in debt.00:18:45 – Discussion of the prospect of a High Court appeal, the low likelihood of leave being granted, and the sense that further appeals are “good money after bad”.00:19:22 – Jack the Insider notes outstanding criminal charges against Lehrmann in Toowoomba relating to an alleged statutory rape, and outlines the allegation about removing a condom after earlier consensual sex.00:20:07 – They discuss the probable difficulty of prosecuting that case, and then pivot to the practical question: who is funding Lehrmann's ongoing legal adventures?00:20:35 – Hong Kong Jack explains why some lawyers or firms may take on such cases for profile, despite poor prospects of payment, and they canvass talk of crowdfunding efforts.00:21:07 – The Jacks agree Lehrmann should have left the public stage after the criminal trial was discontinued; now, bankruptcy in 2026 looks likely.00:21:58 – Limited sympathy for Channel 10 or Lisa Wilkinson; more sympathy reserved for Brittany Higgins and Fiona Brown, who are seen as exceptions in an otherwise “pretty ordinary” cast.NACC, Commissioner Brereton and Conflicts of Interest00:23:24 – The Jacks turn to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) and Commissioner Paul Brereton's side work for Defence.00:24:03 – Hong Kong Jack recounts Senate Estimates footage where officials first claimed Brereton's Defence consulting work occurred outside NACC hours, then later admitted more than ten instances (possibly close to 20) during NACC office time.00:25:25 – Discussion of conflict‑of‑interest: the Commissioner maintaining a paid Defence relationship while heading the body that may need to investigate Defence.00:25:57 – The Jacks question the tenability of his position, especially given the NACC's opaque nature, its minimal public reporting obligations and a salary around AUD 800k–900k plus expenses.The Struggling Australian and Global Economy, Productivity and ANZ00:26:20 – Jack the Insider outlines Australia's sluggish economy: inflation remains sticky, GDP growth is flat, and government spending is driving much of the growth.00:27:00 – They discuss a small, tentative rise in productivity (around 0.2% for the quarter) and the Treasurer's caution that productivity figures are volatile.00:27:57 – Hong Kong Jack stresses that historically, economies escape malaise through productivity‑driven growth; there is no easy alternative, in Australia or globally.00:28:23 – Broader global picture: the US isn't in outright recession but is crawling; Europe is sluggish; Poland is a rare bright spot but rapid growth brings its own risks.ANZ and Post‑Royal Commission Failures00:28:54 – Focus shifts to ANZ's continuing governance and compliance failures after the Banking Royal Commission.00:29:30 – Jack the Insider shares a personal story about dealing with ANZ's deceased estates department following his mother and stepfather's deaths and the difficulty in releasing funds to pay for funerals.00:30:20 – Justice Jonathan Beach's scathing remarks: ANZ is still mishandling deceased estates, charging fees and interest to dead customers, despite years of warnings.00:31:34 – They recall Royal Commission revelations about “fees for no service” and charging the dead, plus ANZ's recent exclusion from certain Commonwealth bond business due to rorting.00:32:12 – The Jacks see this as a clear culture problem: five years on, the basics still aren't fixed, suggesting inadequate investment in compliance and little genuine reform.UK Justice Backlog and Curtailing Jury Trials00:33:05 – The conversation moves to the UK's proposal to restrict jury trials for offences likely to attract less than a two‑year sentence.00:33:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes the English historical attachment to jury trials dating back to Magna Carta, and that defendants have long had the right to opt for a jury if imprisonment is possible.00:34:38 – Justice Minister David Lammy, once a fierce critic of similar Tory proposals, is now advancing the idea himself, creating a political shambles.00:35:02 – They weigh up pros and cons of judge‑only trials for complex financial crimes, where juries may struggle to follow long, technical evidence.00:36:10 – Jack the Insider points out that even judges can find such cases difficult, but there is at least some expertise advantage.00:36:22 – They revisit the Southport riots and harsh sentences for people inciting attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, arguing that common‑sense community judgment via juries may be better in such politically charged cases.00:37:26 – Ultimately, they doubt the reforms will meaningfully reduce the UK's huge court backlog and see it as another noisy but ineffective response.Ethics in Politics, Misleading Voters and the “Ethics Czar” Problem00:39:21 – Discussion moves to the UK budget, alleged “black holes” and whether the Chancellor misled voters about a AUD 22 billion‑equivalent gap.00:40:14 – They examine calls for the Prime Minister's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to rule on ministerial truthfulness, and Hong Kong Jack's discomfort with handing moral judgment to “anointed officials”.00:40:51 – The Jacks argue accountability should rest with Parliament and ultimately voters, not appointed ethics czars, whether in the Johnson era or now.00:41:36 – In Australia, Tony Burke's handling of “ISIS brides” returning to Australia is cited: he asked officials to leave a meeting so he could talk politically with constituents. The Jacks see this as legitimate hard‑headed politics in a very complex area rather than an ethical scandal.00:43:03 – Jack the Insider defends the principle that Australian citizenship must mean something, especially for children of ISIS‑linked families; stripping citizenship or abandoning citizens overseas can be a dangerous precedent.00:44:08 – Anecdotes segue into a broader reflection: politicians have always misled voters to some extent. They quote stories about Huey Long and Graham Richardson's defence of political lying.00:45:24 – They swap observations about “tells” when leaders like Malcolm Turnbull or Julia Gillard were lying; Scott Morrison, they say, had no visible tell at all.00:46:22 – Cabinet solidarity is framed as institutionally sanctioned lying: ministers must publicly back decisions they privately opposed, and yet the system requires that to function.Ukraine War, Peace Efforts and Putin's Rhetoric00:46:42 – The Jacks discuss reports of draft peace deals between Ukraine, the US and Russia that Moscow rejected over wording and guarantees.00:47:17 – Jack the Insider describes a gaunt Foreign Ministry spokesman, not Sergey Lavrov, delivering Russia's objections, sparking rumours about Lavrov's status.00:47:56 – Putin goes on TV to reassure Russians they're winning, threatens destruction of Europe if conflict escalates and claims territorial gains Russia doesn't actually hold.00:48:17 – Hong Kong Jack argues European fantasies of imposing a “strategic defeat” on Russia are unrealistic; retaking all occupied regions and Crimea would exact unbearable costs in lives and money.00:49:33 – The Jacks infer that Putin will eventually need to “sell” a negotiated deal as a victory to his own public; his current bluster is partly domestic theatre.00:49:50 – They note some odd, Trump‑like US talk of structuring peace as a “business deal” with economic incentives for Russia, which they find an odd fit for a brutal territorial war.Trump's Polling Collapse, Economic Credibility and 202600:50:13 – Attention turns to Donald Trump's polling in his second term: his net approval is negative across all major polls, in some cases approaching minus 20.00:51:04 – Jack the Insider highlights Trump's recent promises of USD 2,000 cheques to every American plus no income tax—claims they see as fantastical and electorally risky when voters inevitably ask “where's my money?”.00:51:39 – They compare Trump's denial of inflation and cost‑of‑living pressures to Biden's earlier mistakes in minimising pain; telling people “everything's cheaper now” when their lived experience contradicts that is politically fatal.00:52:34 – Hong Kong Jack notes history shows that insisting things are fine when voters know they aren't only accelerates your polling collapse.00:53:02 – They briefly touch on a special election in Tennessee: a safe Trump district where the Republican margin has shrunk. They caution against over‑reading the result but note softening support.00:54:14 – CNN's Harry Enten is quoted: this has been Trump's worst ten‑day polling run of the second term, with net approval among independents plunging to about minus 43 and a negative 34 on inflation.00:55:15 – They speculate about what this means for the 2026 midterms: Trump won't be on the ballot but will loom large. A future Republican president, they note, might still face governing without a Congressional majority.Disability, Elite Colleges and the Accommodation Arms Race00:56:07 – The Jacks discuss Derek Thompson's forthcoming Atlantic piece on surging disability registrations at elite US colleges: more than 20% at Brown and Harvard, 34% at Amherst and 38% at Stanford.00:57:10 – Hong Kong Jack explains how disability status yields exam and assessment advantages: extra time, flexible deadlines, better housing, etc., and why wealthy students are more likely to secure diagnoses.00:57:48 – They cite intake breakdowns at one college: small numbers for visual/hearing disabilities, larger numbers for autism, neurological conditions and especially psychological or emotional disabilities—suggesting a big shift in what counts as disabling.00:58:45 – Jack the Insider counters that many of these conditions were under‑diagnosed or ignored in the 1970s and 80s; growing recognition doesn't automatically mean fraud.00:59:40 – He brings in chronic conditions like ME/CFS: historically treated as malingering or “all in the head”, now increasingly accepted as serious and often disabling.01:00:02 – Hong Kong Jack quotes a Stanford professor asking, “At what point can we say no? 50%? 60%?”—underlining institutional concern that the system can't cope if a majority claim accommodations.01:01:05 – They wrestle with the employer's problem: how to interpret grades achieved with significant accommodations, and whether workplaces must also provide similar allowances.01:02:21 – Jack the Insider's answer is essentially yes: good employers should accommodate genuine disability, and it's on applicants to be upfront. He stresses diversity of ability and that many high‑achieving disabled people are valuable hires.01:03:40 – Hong Kong Jack remains more sceptical, shaped by long legal experience of people gaming systems, but agrees lawyers shouldn't be the priestly class defining morality.Cricket: India–South Africa, NZ–West Indies, BBL and the Gabba01:04:25 – They pivot back to sport: a successful South African tour of India, including a series win in Tests and a 1–1 one‑day series with big hundreds from Virat Kohli, Gaikwad and Aiden Markram.01:05:31 – Quick update on New Zealand's Test against the West Indies in Christchurch, with New Zealand rebuilding in their second innings through Ravindra and Latham.Women's Cricket and Phoebe Litchfield01:06:19 – Jack the Insider raves about the Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat game and singles out Phoebe Litchfield as the best women's batter in the world: technically sound, not a slogger, scoring “runs for fun” and hailing from Orange.Gabba Day–Night Test: Australia v England01:06:50 – With Usman Khawaja out, they discuss the unchanged 12 and whether Bo Webster plays, potentially pushing Travis Head up to open.01:07:39 – For England, Mark Wood hasn't recovered; they bring in Will Jacks, a batting all‑rounder and part‑time spinner, to bolster the order but lose their fastest bowler.01:08:11 – If you win the toss? Bat first, they say—if the conditions allow—and look to control the game with the bat for four hours or more.01:08:44 – They caution that with recent heavy Queensland rain, the pitch could be juicy whether you bat first or second; the key is getting cricket on Saturday.01:08:48 – Hong Kong Jack rates this as the best England attack to tour Australia in a long time, especially with Wood and Archer firing in Perth, although Archer's pace dropped markedly in the second innings.01:09:36 – They dissect England's first‑Test collapse: at one stage it was an “unlosable” match according to Ponting and the stats, but reckless strokes from set batters (Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook) handed it back to Australia.01:09:55 – Mitchell Starc's extraordinary home day–night record—averaging around 17 with the pink ball—looms as a big factor.Franchise Cricket, Empty Stadiums and Saving the Red‑Ball Game01:12:11 – Jack the Insider describes watching the ILT20 in the UAE: near‑empty stands, disengaged fielders and an overall “soulless” spectacle aimed solely at TV viewers in South Asia and the Gulf.01:13:49 – Despite his love of cricket, he worries this is a glimpse of the future if the longer formats aren't protected and nurtured. He pleads, in effect, for saving Test and other red‑ball cricket from being cannibalised by anonymous franchise leagues.Class and Cricket: Private Schools, Clubs and Stuart Broad01:14:11 – The Jacks explore the class divide in English cricket: all but one of England's Perth XI finished school at private schools; the sole exception is captain Ben Stokes, who grew up partly in New Zealand.01:15:05 – In contrast, Australia's pathway still runs largely through club cricket, though private schools with professional coaching (like Cranbrook) give some players a head start.01:15:47 – Jack the Insider notes Sam Conscientious (Sam Constance / Cummins reference is implied) spending two years at Cranbrook, reflecting how elite schools build academies with ex‑first‑class coaches that state systems can't match.01:16:20 – They agree state‑school kids like the Waugh twins still come through club cricket, but in England, some top private schools effectively operate as de facto county academies.01:17:31 – Anecdotes about Stuart Broad: a likeable “nepo baby” of former England player Chris Broad, who was toughened up by a formative season at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne sub‑district cricket. Local players loved him.01:18:20 – Hong Kong Jack recommends Broad's appearance on The Front Bar as essential viewing for understanding his character and the cultural contrasts between English and Australian cricket.01:18:40 – More class culture: Chris Cowdrey, briefly England captain, shows up in full whites and blazer to toss with Viv Richards in surf shorts and thongs. When Cowdrey starts reading out England's XI, Viv cuts him off: “Mate, I don't care who you play, it's not going to make any difference.”F1, Oscar Piastri's Bad Luck and AFLW Glory01:21:11 – Brief detour to Formula 1: Oscar Piastri's season with McLaren seems dogged by terrible luck and questionable team decisions that have cost him a near‑certain championship.01:21:57 – Jack the Insider reflects on how F1 drivers like Piastri have effectively been in vehicles since toddlerhood, climbing the ladder from go‑karts to supercars.01:22:50 – They express hope he can clinch the title in the final race, but wryly note that F1 rarely grants fairytale endings.AFLW01:22:23 – AFLW: North Melbourne complete an undefeated season to win the premiership, comfortably beating Brisbane in the grand final.01:23:07 – Hong Kong Jack praises it as the best AFLW season yet, with marked improvement in depth and skill across the competition. North remain the benchmark everyone else must chase.Wrap‑Up, Tom Stoppard Anecdote and Season Timing01:23:49 – The Jacks look ahead to watching the Gabba Test, beers on ice for Jack the Insider and the late Hong Kong dusk session for Hong Kong Jack.01:24:01 – They note the death of playwright Tom Stoppard at 88 and share a favourite story: Spielberg offers him the Jaws screenplay; Stoppard declines because he's writing a play—“actually for BBC Radio”.01:25:11 – Final reflections on how Stoppard would have improved Jaws, then a note that the podcast will soon reach its final episodes for the year, with plans to feature listener feedback before a short summer break.01:25:56 – Jack the Insider signs off, thanking listeners and Hong Kong Jack, and promises they'll be back next week.

Mary Kissel argues that Ukraine cannot surrender the Donbas without ironclad security guarantees, citing past broken agreements like the Budapest Memorandum. She validates Finnish and Baltic fears regarding Russian aggression and questions whether the Trump administration's business-centric approach can effectively manage Vladimir Putin'sideological brutality. 1855 CRIMEA

Ilya Ponomarev is a Russian-Ukrainian politician who was a member of the Russian State Duma from 2007 to 2016. After the 2022 Russian invasion, Ponomarev joined Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, and categorically denounced the invasion. While a member of the Russian State Duma, he was the only deputy not to vote in favour of the Russian gay propaganda law and to vote against Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014. He is now in exile in Ukraine and is a spokesman with insurgent Russian forces (National Republican Army) fighting on the side of Ukraine. ----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Ponomarev https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002113qhttps://www.fpri.org/contributor/ilya-ponomarev/BOOKS:Does Putin Have to Die? The Story of How Russia Becomes a Democracy after Losing to Ukraine (Hardcover – 19 Jan. 2023)ARTICLES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/19/ilya-ponomaryov-we-have-to-capture-the-kremlin-there-is-no-other-way-a83772 ----------David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS:@NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

È l'ennesima doccia fredda per Kiev e l'Occidente, dopo le parole di stamattina di Donald Trump che avevano fatto sperare in una fine del conflitto più vicina. Ma la questione territoriale resta uno scoglio: la Russia non ha intenzione di fare concessioni su Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson e Crimea e la situazione rimane così in stallo, lasciando l'arduo compito di sostenere Kiev agli alleati europei. Ne parliamo con Vittorio Emanuele Parsi, docente di Relazioni internazionali alla Cattolica, Roberto Bongiorni, inviato de Il Sole 24Ore a Odessa, e con Elio Calcagno di Iai.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comShadi is a Washington Post columnist and a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He runs a substack with Damir Marusic called Wisdom of Crowds, and his new book is The Case for American Power. It's the third time Shadi has been on the Dishcast. We hashed out the National Security Strategy and the future of US leadership in the world, if any.For two clips of our convo — on Bush's idealism leading to anarchy in Iraq, and whether Trump's amorality is stabilizing the Middle East — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: Shadi raised with a mixed identity (American/Muslim/Arab); both parents from Egypt where he spent summers; the reinvention of immigrants; the peace and prosperity of the ‘90s; our innocence shattered on 9/11; external and internal jihad; religion in public life; the Koran; blasphemy laws in the UK; Charles Taylor and the loss of enchantment; political cults like MAGA and SJW; Deneen and other post-liberals; Obama's realism in the Mideast; the Arab Spring; Islam's tension with liberalism; how Israel undermined Obama; the settlements; Gaza; Muslim views of women and gays in the West; the US intervening in Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Persian Gulf; oikophobia; elites opening up China and creating a rival; Taiwan; Russia after the USSR; the invasion of Georgia and Crimea; the Syrian war and refugee crisis; the war in Ukraine; Vance in Munich; and Trump's pressure on NATO to arm itself.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy. Coming up: Simon Rogoff on the narcissism of pols and celebrities (from Diddy to Churchill to Trump), Laura Field on the intellectuals of Trumpism, Arthur Brooks on the science of happiness, Vivek Ramaswamy on the right's future, and Jason Willick on trade and conservatism. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

In today's podcast, Professor Uehling references a letter writing campaign directed to families and other men and women in Crimea and Ukraine. If you wish to reach out by writing to the people who are often on the frontlines of the war with Russia , go to this website for more information : Crimea-Platform.org

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/10/25). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v70ocx8","div":"rumble_v70ocx8"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bondi_Memo_On_Countering_Domestic_Terrorism_And_Organized_Political_Violence.pdf A Journalist Reported From Palestine. YouTube Deleted His Account Claiming He's an Iranian Agent. (22) Thomas Massie on X: "Second federal judge has just approved release of Epstein (Maxwell) grand jury material based on the Epstein Files Transparency Act @RepRoKhanna and I ushered through Congress (and Trump signed). It's happening. https://t.co/1sWjearTKJ https://t.co/KIah7Szjgu" / X (22) Chris Rossini on X: "NATO should have disbanded when the Warsaw Pact disbanded in 1991. 34 years later, we're still waiting to get rid of it. Massie is right as usual." / X (22) Thomas Massie on X: "Why does this Jocelyn Ballantine still have a job in @realDonaldTrump and @AGPamBondi ‘s DOJ ? And why is she working on the pipe bomb case after what she did in the past?" / X (22) Jason Bassler on X: "Let me get this straight. One month after investigators found a 94% gait match between the J6 pipe bomber and a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, the FBI suddenly — after 5 years, rolls out a suspect conveniently self‑branded as an “anarchist.” Is anyone buying this? https://t.co/SnDGklTJBu" / X (22) Grok / X (22) Grok / X (22) Grok / X DOJ fails to secure new Letitia James indictment from grand jury Alina Habba resigns after court disqualified her from being New Jersey's top prosecutor (22) Thomas Massie on X: "This week we vote on the National Defense Authorization Act. I offered these amendments to restore freedom, promote peace, cut billions of dollars in foreign aid, and put America First. @SpeakerJohnson and the Rules Committee chose to prevent any amendments from coming to a vote. https://t.co/7rFVBLT1hw" / X (23) Rand Paul on X: "That's not America First. U.S. Congress approves defense bill with USD 800M in aid for Ukraine https://t.co/D7mfi8zBeu" / X Donald Trump Articles of Impeachment Update Announced in Congress %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Donald Trump articles of impeachment update announced in Congress - Newsweek New Tab Trump says U.S. seized oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela (23) The Last American Vagabond on X: "https://t.co/viqhDK6xJp" / X (23) The Recount on X: "Trump: I'd have “no problem” releasing the video of the second Venezuela boat strike. Trump, 5 days later: I never said that. This is ABC fake news. https://t.co/P2jWCNHfVJ" / X (23) HOT SPOT on X: "

El despertar de Sonya: Sonya despierta en la humilde y limpia casa de Khadija, una pastora de Crimea. Había estado inconsciente durante una semana debido a una grave infección causada por la herida de una "mujer araña" en la guarida de Temür. Khadija, una anciana que cree ser descendiente de Toqtamish, y su hijo Gizzatulla, la rescataron de un camino polvoriento cuando vagaba sin rumbo ni consciencia tras salir de la guarida de El Caníbal. La increíble aventura de la joven guerrera continúa por unos derrtoteros totalmente inesperados para ella... VOZ NARRACIÓN: MARÍA LARRALDE

Nos aventuramos en la corte de la emperatriz Catalina la Grande y damos testimonio de la historia épica y escándalos de proporciones verdaderamente reales. Con representaciones dramáticas empapadas en detalle del siglo 18, vamos a trazar el viaje de Catalina de un hogar humilde, pobre en Alemania al trono de un imperio que se extendió por dos terceras partes del mundo. Vamos a seguir a la emperatriz, a la guerra, a la corte, e incluso a la cama. Desde los campos de batalla chamuscados de Crimea a los palacios dorados de San Petersburgo, vamos a aventurarnos en el mundo de la emperatriz Catalina, un mundo de citas secretas y astutos engaños, de conquista y gloria, y daremos vida a los personajes y acontecimientos que marcaron su reinado.

International Law: Does Russia enjoy sovereign immunity against claims that it expropriated Ukrainian assets in Crimea? - Argued: Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:5:52 EDT

Darrell Castle discusses President Trump’s 28 point proposed peace plan along with a few words about the other war, the one in the Middle East. Transcription / Notes: PEACE IN UKRAINE Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 5th day of December in the year of our Lord 2025. Although the title of this Castle Report is peace, my beat is war today and as usual there is no shortage of war to talk about. Specifically, I will be discussing President Trump's 28 point proposed peace plan along with a few words about the other war, the one in the Middle East. Yes, President Trump is proposing peace in Ukraine. Perhaps he wants to turn his attention to other wars and potential wars or maybe he feels bad about campaigning that he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours with just a few phone calls. I will be telling you what I propose the U.S. do in Ukraine and the Middle East but before we get to that listen to this important information. I am currently in the last month of my 46-year legal career which ends with the end of December. I still find it hard to say the word retirement but I guess that's what is happening to me. The profession of law has been great for me over the years. I worked hard to respect the profession and it returned the affection, but it doesn't give its favors, one has to earn them. The law allowed me the opportunity to earn a good life and I am very grateful for that. No top-down collectivized system told me what my life would be, instead I was free to chart my own course and achieve all that my ability could achieve. Having said all that, this is a very stressful and very busy month for me so this will be the last Castle Report for this year. I will join you again on the first Friday in January God willing. I plan to continue telling you each week what is wrong with the world and what I think the solutions should be. The President of the United States has proposed a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war so let's take a look at that plan and compare it to what my version of a peace plan would look like. President Trump promised he would end the war 24 hours after he was elected. That was a little unrealistic as time has confirmed, but nevertheless it could have ended rather quickly. War means intervention by the United States and the best antidote to intervention is obviously non-intervention. No threats, no sanctions no weapons, no intelligence, no coordination, no missiles fired deep into Russia, and no need for elaborate peace plans. The real fix is much simpler than all that, just come home and mind your own business which is $38 trillion of debt. The President must know that intervention by the U.S. started the whole thing and this plan, though well meaning, is just more of that intervention. The U.S. has had its hands in this mess from the get-go and any plan has to consider that. The Orange Revolution in the early 2000s began it and the Maidan Revolution in 2014 completed the process from which conflict the U.S. apparently thought would result in a NATO military presence on the very border of Russia. Unless we come to understand the origin of this conflict it's hard to see how we can help resolve it. The two so-called revolutions that I mentioned were attempts to manipulate Ukraine into a hostile relationship with Russia from which Ukraine had no possibility of victory even with U.S. and NATO help. Looking back at the 2014 coup we see two U.S. senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham actually present in the capital of Ukraine demanding publicly that the people of that country overthrow their duly elected government and replace it with one more favorably inclined toward the U.S. Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokesperson for many presidents, including Joe Biden, was caught on one of those open mic telephone calls planning who would run the post-coup government. She took cookies to the protesters and bragged that we achieved it all with only $5 billion. So, as a result of this intervention, the U.S. is left trying to manage a problem that it created in the first place. Hundreds of thousands of dead and hundreds of billions of U.S. money expended and apparently all for nothing. No, actually it was not a war for nothing, so what was it for. A recent report tells us at least the main purpose. While the U.S. is $38 trillion in debt and Europe is trying to manage its decline under the weight of spiraling crime, collapsing birth rates and demographic destruction some in Europe and the U.S. are doing quite well. The global arms industry without which the bloody struggles in Ukraine and the Middle East would not be possible are enjoying record profits. The world's biggest weapons manufacturers posted an all-time record $679 billion in revenue in 2024. The globalists and neo-cons or whatever you choose to call them live to fuel these companies and make them happy. A report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports what we already knew and that is that while the middle classes and poor are decaying rapidly, arms makers are thriving as never before. The U.S. companies lead the world of course with 39 companies making $334 billion. European companies are working hard to keep up the 26 largest enjoyed a 13 Percent increase in sales. Sweden's powerful Saab led the way with a 24 percent jump in profits. One other company, a Czech based company, though smaller than Saab was given the lead in feeding the Ukraine meat grinder and its revenue increased 200 percent. Israel didn't want to lose out so its companies which send weapons to conflicts all over the world increased profits by 16 percent. The SIPRI Report concludes that the arms giants are “capitalizing” on high demand. Therefore, they and the politicians they bribe have zero incentive to make peace. In World War two the situation was different because literally everyone including the President of the U.S. had sons or other relatives in the conflict but now the cannon fodder role is left for others. Russia's situation has seemed dire politically and economically at times, but not for Russian arms makers. Combined, their increase in 2024 was 23 percent. One might reasonably conclude that this whole war thing taken in its entirety is a conspiracy to destroy as many people as possible in order to make record profits. The people of the West may fear walking the streets of their cities but they never have to fear for the health of their “defense firms” because they are on the job. For the first time ever, several Middle East companies have cracked the top 100. The deal is so sweet everyone gets in on it. These companies anxiously search the world for rare earth metals to keep the killing going as long as possible. Could that have anything to do with all the talk and deal making about the Chinese controlling the rare earth market. Back in the Middle East Dubai's Edge Group made $4.7 billion much of it through drone and missile technology which they sell worldwide. For the first time Turkey's defense sector took in $31 billion combined. So, when we discuss peace and whether this or that plan will work we have to keep in mind that war is by far the most profitable racket on earth and the global elites who pontificate about climate change and moral values are the same ones who profit from the bloodshed. We should at least mention Just a few of the points in the President's 28-point plan. 1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed. 2. A full and comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe and all “ambiguities” of the past 30 years are hereby resolved. 5. Ukraine will receive “reliable” security guarantees. 7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join Nato and Nato agrees to include language in its charter that it will not accept Ukraine as a member. 8. Nato agrees to not deploy troops in Ukraine. 10. The U.S. will receive “compensation” for its guarantee. If Ukraine invades Russia it will lose the guarantee. If Russia invades Ukraine there will be a decisive, coordinated military response and all sanctions will be reimposed. If Ukraine, without cause, launches a missile at Moscow, the security guarantee will be dissolved. 11, Ukraine retains the right to EU membership. 12. A global package for the reconstruction of Ukraine will be prepared. The World Bank will develop the funds for this effort. 13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy. Sanctions will be gradually lifted. 17. The U.S. and Russia will reimpose arms control treaties including Start-1. 21. Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk will be recognized, including by the U.S., as Russian. 24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve humanitarian issues including exchange of all prisoners and bodies. 25. Ukraine will hold elections 100 days after the treaty is signed. 28. After the agreement is signed a ceasefire will immediately go into effect and all parties will withdraw to agreed upon lines. So, one thing that comes immediately to mind is that there are a lot of ambiguous terms in the agreement that will have to be defined and resolved. Right now, nobody seems to like it. Warhawk, Lindsey Graham hates it so it has that going for it. Zelensky hates it because there are a few Ukrainian people still alive and there are more profits to be made if he could just persuade Trump to give him more money. Russia seems at least willing to talk about implementation so despite the fact that it is perhaps not the best solution it is a solution so I pray that it works. Finally, folks, I pray that the U.S. will not bend to the will of Netanyahu and Zelensky, and their lobbyists in the U.S.. Come home close down much of the wasteful foreign “defense” spending. Mind our own business, reduce the deficit and defend America and its people. That's my peace plan. At Least that' the way I see it, Until January 2nd or thereabouts folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.

863,405 views Streamed live on Nov 24, 2025 #inukraine #russiaukraine #tcc#arestovych #rustle #zelensky #umerov #war⛑️ Help for children of the Donetsk region. SYNERGY OF LIFE Charitable Foundation

Silicon Bites Ep272 | News Update - Day 1,377 - 2025-12-01 | Two things went boom, but not in Crimea. Not Sevastopol. We're 30–40 nautical miles off Turkey's coast, in supposedly “safe” waters, watching two aging oil tankers from Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet burn in the dark. Beautiful, in a sinister kind of way. Ukraine does not deny it. Sea Baby naval drones. Precision hits. A deliberate punch to the Kremlin's oil lifeline. But a moral dilemma for Western states that are nominally pro-Ukraine but get squeamish when it treats this like the existential conflict that it is and takes actions it must. Ukraine embraces tough, challenging, dirty, and morally messy problems, and owns the decision and their impacts. The hypocritical and squeamish west labels this escalation. It's not, but our view on this reality exudes weakness and hypocrisy, as well as a shirking of duty. ----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – “‘Successful' Ukrainian naval drone strike disables 2 Russian shadow fleet tankers, source says” (Nov. 29, 2025)Kyiv Post – “SBU Drones Hit Sanctioned Oil Tankers Off Black Sea Coast” (Nov. 29, 2025)Reuters – “Ukrainian naval drones strike two Russian oil tankers in Black Sea” (Nov. 30, 2025)Associated Press – “Ukraine's Sea Baby drones hit Russian oil tankers in Black Sea off Turkish coast” & “Turkey condemns Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil tankers off Black Sea coast” (Nov. 29–30, 2025) RBC-Ukraine / UNN – coverage of Turkish Foreign Ministry and Transport Ministry reactions to the Kairos and Virat strikes Lloyd's List – Oleh Dunda & Ian Ralby, “Shadow ports: how cutting off Russia's access to maritime trade could help sanctions have real impact” (Nov. 27, 2025) gCaptain – “Two Sanctioned Tankers Catch Fire in Black Sea After Suspected Mine Strikes” (Nov. 28, 2025)Kyiv Post – analysis on Ukraine's campaign against Russian energy infrastructure and Zelensky's comments on striking energy facilitiesNaval News / H. I. Sutton – “Vital Russian Supply Lines in Black Sea Cut by Ukrainian Drones” (Mar. 10, 2024) Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, RBC-Ukraine, NV – reporting on earlier explosions involving the shadow-fleet tanker Vilamoura in the Mediterranean (June–July 2025) (Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Trump continues to pursue his perverse ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize—now proffering "peace" plans for Ukraine and Gaza that would actually reward war crimes, and therefore portend wider war. In both cases these new "peace" plans are merely sanitized recapitulations of earlier proposals—for the surrender of the Donbas and Crimea to Russia, and for Israeli annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and "transfer" of their indigenous inhabitants. Meanwhile, the actual winner of this year's Peace Prize, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, is obsequiously pandering to Trump, and playing along with his bellicose designs on her country. In Episode 306 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg cuts through the Orwellian war-is-peace propaganda. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 61 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 62!

El presidente ruso ha dicho hoy que no piensa cesar las hostilidades en Ucrania hasta que se reconozcan sus demandas territoriales en el Donbas y en Crimea.Uno de los detenidos por haber saboteado supuestamente el gasoducto Nordstream en el Mar Báltico comparecerá mañana ante un tribunal, se lo vamos a contar. Estaremos en Francia donde el presidente Emmanuel Macron ha desvelado los detalles de cómo será el nuevo servicio militar voluntario. Sabremos como está siendo la visita del papa León XIV a Turquía y de Tommy Robinson, que se ha convertido en el líder más visible de a extrema derecha en Reino Unido. También hablaremos del golpe de estado en Guinea Bissau, del incendio en Hong Kong que deja más de 80 muertos y cientos de desaparecidos.Y estaremos con Johanna Cilano, investigadora de Amnistia internacional sobre un informe que denuncia violencia institucional contra las mujeres en Cuba.Escuchar audio

Russia went from a tsarist empire and the totalitarian USSR to the freedom of the 1990s, complete with hopes of becoming a European democracy. Unfortunately, multiple missteps and reckless foreign policy endeavors have resulted in Russia becoming a security threat to Europe and its own neighbors. Two Chechen wars, the invasion of Georgia, and annexation of Crimea paved the way for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. How did it end up this way? Were there signs? What is the current state of Russian society?

What’s Trending: A judge has dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James by saying that he appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim US Attorney for the Southern District of Virginia as invalid. The Muslim Brotherhood is back in the news as President Trump wants to designate it a foreign terrorist organization. Qatar is a home country for a lot of the members of the Muslim Brotherhood while they show like they are a semi-western nation. Can the US help Ukraine and Russia come to a peace agreement? The current plan involves Ukraine will give up some of their land like Crimea to the Russians. // Big Local: A shooting in Kent has the Kent police asking for tips after a late-night shooting resulted in one death at the Lincoln Park and Ride lot. A man was hospitalized after a brick was thrown into his car as he was driving on I-7-5 in Tacoma. A Bellevue man has created an AI bot to help his children understand what their grandfather was like as the grandfather had passed before they were born. // You Pick The News: A man in Seattle near the Duwamish Waterway was killed by a scissor lift that he as operating fell on top of him. An 80-year old man was beaten after a confrontation by teens graffiti tagging the Ballard Bridge in Seattle  

Send us a text This episode pulls back the curtain on a NATO headquarters usually seen only through press releases. Marine officer and Foreign Area Officer Andres Caceres explains how honest analysis on Afghanistan, ISIS's rise, and Russia's moves toward Crimea collided with a staff culture that valued appearances over results—and what happened when he refused to go along.  Andres contrasts early command lessons—where clear standards cut alcohol incidents to zero in Japan—with a Joint Operations Center focused on tracking numbers instead of real effects. He outlines overlooked signs of the Afghan Army's fragility, how Maliki's repression helped ISIS reemerge, why Mosul fell so quickly, and the pre-Crimea indicators many ignored. His point is stark: when institutions avoid hard truths, surprise becomes inevitable.  The conversation's second half tackles the personal cost of speaking up. After asking for a fair reassignment aligned with his FAO role, Andres faced a complaint, a limited investigation, and pressure to accept punishment without full access to evidence. He describes selective witness lists, a suspended clearance, a late allegation that swayed a board, and a later letter admitting coercion. We also discuss altered medical records, downgraded PTSD diagnoses, and why due process must be real, not rhetorical.  For those focused on NATO accountability, leadership, and whistleblower protections, this episode offers practical reforms—from enforcing perjury penalties at boards to safeguarding medical documentation—and a reminder that integrity still matters.  If this resonates, subscribe, share, and leave a review with the one reform you'd prioritize. Your ideas help push this conversation into the rooms where it needs to be heard. The stories and opinions shared on Stories of Service are told in each guest's own words. They reflect personal experiences, memories, and perspectives. While every effort is made to present these stories respectfully and authentically, Stories of Service does not verify the accuracy or completeness of every statement. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the host, producers, or affiliates.Support the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

PREVIEW — John Hardie — Unlikely non-negotiable points in the Ukraine 24/19-point plan. Hardie identifies two critical points Ukraine is unlikely to relinquish during peace negotiations, despite challenging battlefield conditions. These include ceding large swathes of Ukrainian territory and permitting Russia to dictate the size of Ukraine's military. Hardie contends that Russians will be unable to impose such extreme demands, noting that territorial concessions would present domestic political obstacles for Zelenskyy to manage. 1924 CRIMEA

In this Nash Holos exclusive interview from 2014, Pawlina speaks with Mirko Petriw, Vancouver-based author of two spy thrillers set in Ukraine and president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress Vancouver branch.Recorded during the Maidan Uprising, in the tense weeks leading up to Russia's annexation of Crimea, this conversation delves into the intersection of energy politics, propaganda, and democratic struggle in Ukraine.Listeners will hear about:• Ukraine's shale gas ambitions and what they could have meant for energy independence • How Russia and Gazprom sought to block Ukraine's EU association and undermine shale gas development • The propaganda battles around fracking and environmental fears, echoing debates in the West • The political crackdown on protesters, including restrictive laws and state-directed violence against demonstrators • The broader struggle for sovereignty, democracy, and Ukraine's future direction Petriw's insights reveal how hopes for energy independence collided with Russian influence, Gazprom's pressure, and authoritarian tactics during one of Ukraine's most pivotal moments.This interview originally aired on the Vancouver edition of Nash Holos on AM1320 CHMB on January 18, 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTINUED 6/8 Michael McFaul's book Autocrats Versus Democrats argues that Putinism is driven by anti-Western ideology, making Putin a risk-taker, and McFaul believes the US erred by lacking a robust response and failing to provide arms after the 2014 Crimea invasion, stressing that helping Ukraine win is essential to inspire Russian democrats. 1917

5/8  Michael McFaul's book Autocrats Versus Democrats argues that Putinism is driven by anti-Western ideology, making Putin a risk-taker, and McFaul believes the US erred by lacking a robust response and failing to provide arms after the 2014 Crimea invasion, stressing that helping Ukraine win is essential to inspire Russian democrats. He asserts that the appeal of autocracy is growing globally and advises that the US must align democracies against autocrats while advocating for human rights, citing the need to support imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai. Long-term strategy requires the US and its allies to unite, as they are collectively stronger economically and militarily than autocracies, and McFaulstrongly recommends attracting international talent by reversing restrictive immigration policies, calling it a great strength the US is currently losing. 1913

CONTINUED 7/8 Michael McFaul's book Autocrats Versus Democrats argues that Putinism is driven by anti-Western ideology, making Putin a risk-taker, and McFaul believes the US erred by lacking a robust response and failing to provide arms after the 2014 Crimea invasion, stressing that helping Ukraine win is essential to inspire Russian democrats.... 1920

CONTINUED 8/8 Michael McFaul's book Autocrats Versus Democrats argues that Putinism is driven by anti-Western ideology, making Putin a risk-taker, and McFaul believes the US erred by lacking a robust response and failing to provide arms after the 2014 Crimea invasion, stressing that helping Ukraine win is essential to inspire Russian democrats.... 1917

SHOW 11-21-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT UKRAINE FIRST HOUR 9-915 HEADLINE: Las Vegas Shifts Focus with Formula 1 and Lower-End Tourism; California Politics Hit by Indictments GUEST: Jeff Bliss Jeff Bliss reports that the Formula 1 race on the Las Vegas city circuit is attracting major spectacle and high-end tourism, though the city is also attempting recovery by catering to lower-income demographics, evidenced by positive activity at the Excalibur Casino, while facing major competition from a new Indian casino near Bakersfield, California, operated by the Tahone tribe and twice the size of Caesars Palace. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom's former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, and four others were indicted on 23 counts of fraud. Additionally, an investigation into the Palisades fire revealed that state workers ordered the LA Fire Department to back off a previously burned area that rekindled, allegedly to protect endangered plants. 915-930 HEADLINE: Industrial Policy and Tariffs Lack Coherence; Removal of Food Tariffs Implies Inflationary EffectGUEST: Veronique De Rugy Veronique De Rugy discusses US industrial policy, noting the trade deficit has increased despite tariffs, and the administration's decision to remove tariffs on food items—goods not produced domestically—is seen as an implicit admission that tariffs contribute to the "affordability crisis" because tariffs are a tax primarily borne by American consumers. The goals behind tariffs have shifted from fighting China to raising revenue, and the largest tariff exemption is for computer parts, indicating an understanding that tariffs could contradict other goals like energy abundance. De Rugyargues that US economic power stems from innovation and a willingness to invest, making industrial policy involving tariffs and seeking foreign investment largely unnecessary and potentially harmful. 930-945 HEADLINE: Mixed US Economic Signals: Strong GDP Contrasts Low Consumer Sentiment; AI Adoption Increases GUEST: Gene Marks Gene Marks discusses the US economy, noting that third-quarter GDP growth is estimated near 4%, contrasting sharply with record-low consumer sentiment in a "tale of two economies" where salaried workers receiving pay raises of 5–7% are outpacing 3% inflation and continuing to spend, while hourly workers struggle. Despite job growth in construction, leading indicators like the architectural billings index show contraction for 11 months. In technology, 88% of major companies are adopting artificial intelligence, though scaling remains limited, with AI already replacing low-level programmers and enhancing customer service. Agentic AI, capable of performing complex tasks, is predicted to impact fields like accounting and marketing by 2027–2028. However, Marks argues that most current major corporate layoffs stem from typical corporate bloat and mismanagement rather than AI, at least not yet. 945-10 SECOND HOUR 10-1015 HEADLINE: Lancaster County Economy Booms Despite Low Consumer Confidence; Local Entrepreneurs ThriveGUEST: Jim McTague Jim McTague reports that the economy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is strong, suggesting it mirrors the greater US economy despite reports of low consumer confidence, observing robust traffic at tourist destinations like Kitchen Kettle Village, a shopping locale established in 1954, with spending largely supported by well-off boomers. Local entrepreneurs are experiencing great success—a dealer selling eclectic electric lamps in Park City Mall is already earning $4,500 per week at the start of the holiday season, and high volume at Costco, where the Amish are major buyers, further indicates available disposable income. McTague concludes that the real economy on Main Street is strong and likely headed for a blockbuster Christmas season. 1015-1030 HEADLINE: Climate Change Threatens Iconic Italian Cheeses; Southern Drought Reduces Milk Production Quality GUEST: Lorenzo Fiori Lorenzo Fiori reports that climate change is threatening Italian food production, particularly cheese, due to drought and heat waves in the south, especially the Puglia region, where stressed cows are reducing milk production and impacting specialty cheeses like mozzarella and burrata. Milk cannot be shipped from the north because local water and hay are essential to the unique flavor of southern cheese. Fiori emphasizes that Italian food is a famous brand precisely because it belongs to its territory, criticizing pre-prepared sauces found in Brussels as inauthentic carbonara, which must be made fresh. In Milan, Christmas preparations are underway, with shop windows decorated festively and street lights scheduled to be switched on December 7th. 1030-1045 HEADLINE: Private Space Advances (Blue Origin, Rocket Lab) Challenge NASA SLS, EU Space Law CriticizedGUEST: Bob Zimmerman Bob Zimmerman reports that Blue Origin's New Glenn orbital rocket successfully completed its second launch, including landing the first stage and demonstrating reuse capability comparable to Falcon 9. New Glenn, larger than Falcon 9, is scheduled for upgrades with more powerful BE4 and BE3U engines, making it nearly comparable to NASA's costly and expendable SLS rocket. Rocket Lab set a new annual launch record with 15 successful orbital launches, surpassing Russia's frequency, and has conducted suborbital HASTE launches for military testing. India is upgrading its largest LVM rocket's upper stage for multiple restarts, essential for its space station and crewed missions. The US State Department opposes a proposed European Union space law seeking to impose EU regulations on companies from other nations, potentially discrediting the EU if passed. Finally, NASA has hired startup Catalyst to attempt a daring robotic rescue of the decaying Swift telescope. 1045-1100 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 HEADLINE: McFaul: Autocrats Are on the Rise; US Must Unite Allies and Attract Global Talent to CompeteGUEST: Michael McFaul Michael McFaul's book Autocrats Versus Democrats argues that Putinism is driven by anti-Western ideology, making Putin a risk-taker, and McFaul believes the US erred by lacking a robust response and failing to provide arms after the 2014 Crimea invasion, stressing that helping Ukraine win is essential to inspire Russian democrats. He asserts that the appeal of autocracy is growing globally and advises that the US must align democracies against autocrats while advocating for human rights, citing the need to support imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai. Long-term strategy requires the US and its allies to unite, as they are collectively stronger economically and militarily than autocracies, and McFaulstrongly recommends attracting international talent by reversing restrictive immigration policies, calling it a great strength the US is currently losing. 1115-1130 1130-1145 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 HEADLINE: US-Saudi Nuclear Deal Raises Proliferation Concerns; Military Micro-Reactors Retreat from Front Lines GUEST: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski states that Saudi Crown Prince MBS's goal is to obtain a bomb option, and while the new US-Saudi agreement does not include assistance with nuclear fuel production, a reactor still provides the necessary "cover" used by countries like Iran. MBS has made clear he will acquire a bomb if Iran does, regardless of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Sokolski also discusses the US military's Janus program for small reactors, initially conceived for vulnerable front-line bases but pushed back to remote areas like Alaska and the lower 48 due to concerns about drones and vulnerability. Finally, the US may be moving toward nuclear socialism—government ownership of commercial reactors, potentially funded by Japan—to encourage commercialization even without secured market contracts. 1215-1230 1230-1245 HEADLINE: Scenario: Russia Attacks NATO Member Estonia; Europe's "Kantian Dreams" and Lack of Readiness Prevent Article 5 Response GUEST: Jakub Grygiel Jakub Grygiel analyzes the German book If Russia Wins, which outlines a scenario where Russia attacks NATO member Estonia around 2028 following a stalled conflict in Ukraine, capturing Narva and an island before halting its advance and creating confusion within NATO. Europeans, living in "Kantian dreams of eternal peace," prioritize a quick end to the conflict and fear escalation, and the scenario posits that the US President decides a World War III over a "tiny piece of land" is not worthwhile, leading Estonia to forego invoking NATO's Article 5 out of fear of alliance rejection. Grygielnotes that decades of demilitarization leave Europe unprepared for war, highlighting that US reinforcements could take 45 days to move and societies lack the political will to fund necessary rearmament.

SHOW 11-20-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT PEACE IN EUROPE.. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg Quits After Plan for US Peace Leaked. Anatol Lieven discusses a leaked Ukraine peace plan involving potential US legal recognition of Russian annexation of Donbass and Crimea, which would pave the way for lifting US sanctions. The plan requires Ukraine to yield the remaining Donbass slice and accept limits on its army size, although Ukraine is not required to formally agree. Guest: Anatol Lieven. 915-930 continued 930-945 Professor George Is Right: Principle Sustains American Conservatism. Peter Berkowitz reviews Professor Robert George's assertion that American conservatism's core principle is the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of each human family member. George insisted that the movement must unequivocally reject white supremacists and anti-Semites, a rebuke directed at the Heritage Foundation president's defense of Tucker Carlson. This mirrors William F. Buckley's efforts to purge extremism from conservatism. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. 945-1000 US Adds 119,000 Jobs in September, but Unemployment Hits Four-Year Peak. Chris Regal discusses consumer liquidity challenges alongside the early impacts of AI on the workforce. AI is currently displacing white-collar jobs like consulting, but physical displacement via robotics is coming. He notes concerns about an AI investment bubble but affirms confidence in major companies like Amazon and Microsoft. Guest: Chris Regal. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Upcoming Election in Honduras. Mary Anastasia O'Grady discusses Honduran fears that the current left-wing party, allied with Venezuela and Cuba, will attempt to steal the upcoming election. This follows a playbook where elected leaders consolidate power by seizing control of institutions like the military and courts to avoid subsequent fair elections. The OAS and US State Department have issued warnings against election theft. Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady. 1015-1030 Russia's Slowing Wartime Economy Pushes Kremlin to Increase Taxes and Fees. Michael Bernstam analyzes Russia's economic stagnation due to war expenditure and shortages, leading the Kremlin to raise taxes, including the VAT, to close the budget gap. Sanctions are biting deep, forcing Russia to offer huge discounts—up to $38 per barrel—to its primary oil customers: India, China, and Turkey. Guest: Michael Bernstam. 1030-1045 Launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket. Eric Berger describes the successful second launch and booster landing of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket as thrilling and a huge step forward. New Glenn is the world's third largest rocket and is crucial for Amazon's LEO constellation and NASA's Artemis moon program. Berger also supports Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA. Guest: Eric Berger. 1045-1100 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Autocrats Versus Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. Michael McFaul analyzes the Cold War, noting that the Cuban Missile Crisis taught the need for crisis management mechanisms with adversaries. He argues that the US was too complacent, first when engaging China after Tiananmen Square without stressing values, and later when failing to invest politically and economically to consolidate democracy in post-Soviet Russia. Guest: Michael McFaul. 1115-1130 1130-1145 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1215-1230 1230-1245 1245-100 AM

Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg Quits After Plan for US Peace Leaked. Anatol Lieven discusses a leaked Ukraine peace plan involving potential US legal recognition of Russian annexation of Donbass and Crimea, which would pave the way for lifting US sanctions. The plan requires Ukraine to yield the remaining Donbass slice and accept limits on its army size, although Ukraine is not required to formally agree. Guest: Anatol Lieven. 1824

In this extremely enraged episode of Follow the Money, we ask the only question that actually matters in Trump's second crime spree through history: who is getting rich off of Trump chaos and the world's misery? Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of Trump Tyranny Tracker and Andrea Chalupa of Gaslit Nation together trace a financial pipeline of blood money that runs from the Kremlin, through Qatar, through crypto, straight into Trump World and its favorite oligarch bagmen.  While Ukrainian kids are protesting, begging the world not to look away as Russia bombs their playgrounds and kindergartens, Trump's MAGA lackeys, like Matt Gaetz protege Rep. Anna Luna, are in Florida huddling with Putin's money man and messenger, Kirill Dmitriev, sketching out yet another fake "peace plan" that is nothing but a genocide plan for Ukraine and a launchpad for a larger war with Europe. In a blatant crime of access journalism that would make Michael Wolff jealous, Axios published Kremlin/MAGA disinformation by calling it a "peace proposal." In reality, it's a Kremlin bribe: sell off Ukraine's land, launder the theft through "diplomacy," and cash out in crypto for Trump and his longtime real estate buddy-turned-Kremlin fixer Steve Witkoff, and their sons.  Their plan is for Ukraine to give up Donbas and Crimea, which suffers under Soviet-style repression, disarm Ukraine' military, and expect the world to recognize stolen land as Russian. In exchange, Trump, Witkoff, and their sons would allegedly get crypto via Qatar and a chance to turn genocide into an investment opportunity. All of this is happening while Russia openly kidnaps Ukrainian children, erases their identities, and feeds them into a military pipeline of Putin's forever war, while half of Europe anxiously prepares for war with Moscow.  Follow the money, and you see the gaslighting of Trump once again being bribed to call the Kremlin's foreign policy his own.  Be sure to follow us on our new YouTube channel to help us get the word out about Follow the Money! https://www.youtube.com/@FollowTheMoneyTrail Want to hear bonus shows and listen to Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for live events like our Monday 4pm ET salons over Zoom, bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: Trump Tyranny Tracker: https://trumptyrannytracker.substack.com/ Putin ally suggests Seychelles meeting with Erik Prince more than chance encounter over a beer https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/putin-ally-seychelles-meeting-erik-prince-chance-encounter/story?id=55408942 The Story Behind Jared Kushner's Curious Acceptance Into Harvard https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard Kushner got emails about WikiLeaks, Russia in 2016, lawmakers say https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/jared-kushner-wikileaks-emails-245197 Trump's Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff & Sons Blur Peace & Profit, from Real Estate to Crypto Deals https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/3/debra_kamin_steve_witkoff_real_estate Trump and special envoy Witkoff stand to reap rewards from official business https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/30/trump-steve-witkoff-envoy George Nader arrested on child pornography charges: Nader, a well-connected Middle East fixer, accused of having sexually explicit pictures of children on his mobile phone. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/6/4/george-nader-arrested-on-child-pornography-charges Former Trump lobbyist from Lake Norman charged with distribution of child porn https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-trump-lobbyist-lake-norman-193651678.html Maryland delegate for Trump charged with child pornography and possession of illegal gun and explosives https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/19/politics/trump-delegate-child-porn-gun-explosives Former Trump Commerce Department official and Turning Point USA ex-employee sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for child pornography possession https://www.businessinsider.com/former-trump-commerce-official-pleads-guilty-child-porn-charge-2022-10 Former GOP Hill aide pleads guilty in child porn case Ruben Verastigui, 27, faces 12 years or more in prison under a deal with prosecutors. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/09/former-hill-aide-pleads-guilty-child-porn-498937

In this week's episode of One Decision, hosts Kate McCann and Sir Ben Wallce, former UK Defence Secretary, sit down for a conversation with Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Ukraine Minister of Defence. Zagorodnyuk reveals how Russia is revolutionizing warfare with rapid weapons innovation and how Ukraine is adjusting to these changes to stay in the fight. They discuss Vladimir Putin's motives for continued aggression, including his vision for Crimea and how Ukraine's defense technology has changed the landscape of modern warfare. They also question whether NATO is prepared for a Russian attack and explore the ramifications of the war on the West and its allies. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stati Uniti e Russia starebbero lavorando a un piano articolato in 28 punti per porre fine alla guerra in Ucraina. Lo rivelano alcuni media statunitensi, citando fonti anonime interne all'amministrazione Trump. Il testo sottoposto a Volodymyr Zelensky prevederebbe cessioni territoriali (Crimea e l'intero Donbass in particolare) e un dimezzamento dell'esercito ucraino. Ne parliamo con Vittorio Emanuele Parsi, Direttore ASERI Università Cattolica, Antonella Scott, firma del Sole 24Ore, e con Beda Romano, corrispondente del Sole 24Ore a Bruxelles.

Ukraine Conflict: French Arms Deal, Sabotage, and the Perilous Battle for Pokrovsk. Guest: John Hardie. John Hardie reported that Ukraine signed a letter of intent with France to obtain 100 Rafale warplanes over 10 years, along with air defense systems. While this partnership is encouraging, Hardy expressed concern that Ukraine is excessively over-diversifying its future air fleet (including F-16, Grippen, Mirage, and Rafale) which complicates long-term sustainment and maintenance. Simultaneously, alarming reports surfaced that sabotage was blamed for an explosion on a major railway line in Poland used to supply Ukraine, fitting a pattern of suspected Russian covert operations against European infrastructure. On the battlefield, fighting continues in Pokrovsk (Picro). Hardy warned that if Ukrainian forces prioritize a politically motivated hold, they risk the encirclement and destruction of troops in nearby areas. Poor weather, such as fog, plays a significant role in the conflict, as Russians often time assaults during these conditions to impede Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance and FPV drones.1855 CRIMEA

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for November 17, 2025. 0:30 We dive into President Trump’s newly floated idea of a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for Americans earning under $100,000—and the heated debate it’s sparked. We break down the real numbers behind U.S. tariff revenues, the crushing weight of a $38 trillion national debt, and why handing out checks may feel good politically but won’t fix decades of fiscal irresponsibility. We explore who this proposal is aimed at, the working-class voters both parties are fighting to win back, and whether this is genuine relief or just another election-year strategy. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted all restrictions on flights, airlines and airports over the weekend that were put in place during the Government Lockdown. Interim Director of FEMA David Richardson resigned Monday morning. Democrat Senator John Fetterman released a picture of himself on social media over the weekend, showing the bruising and scarring on his face after he took a fall on Friday. 12:30 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:30 We break down President Trump’s call for a full, no-holds-barred congressional vote to release every remaining Epstein file—and why the timing matters. We discuss Democrats’ attempts to weaponize selectively released emails, the media’s eagerness to push a narrative, and why even those emails ultimately undercut the left’s accusations rather than support them. The hosts explore Trump’s reasoning for demanding total transparency, including his belief that dragging out the Epstein saga has become yet another political distraction—“Russia hoax 3.0”—aimed at diverting voters from Democratic failures on the border, inflation, and public safety. 16:30 American Mamas respond to a listener’s question: “Why are you enforcing your beauty standards on Black women and forcing them to straighten their hair?” The discussion centers on recent comments from former First Lady Michelle Obama, who suggested at a public event that Black women often straighten their hair to conform to white beauty standards. The Mamas question whether hair maintenance is a racial issue or something all women deal with. And they point out that Michelle Obama has the right and platform to wear her hair however she wants, noting that she's been highly praised by media and public audiences. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 Under Trump, the U.S. didn’t enter any new wars—unlike past administrations that oversaw conflicts in Iraq, Libya, and beyond. Trump’s foreign-policy wins, from the historic Abraham Accords to renewed regional cooperation in the Middle East, even citing Kazakhstan’s recent involvement as a sign of growing diplomatic momentum. 24:00 We sit down with three special guests from Ukraine—Alla Yatsentsuk, her son Daniello, and advocate Katya Pavlich—to share a firsthand account of Russia’s forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Alla recounts the terrifying moment Russian forces occupied her city and ordered children, including her 12-year-old son, to attend a so-called “rest camp” in Crimea. When the children weren’t returned, Alla learned the truth: the Russians had no intention of sending them home. With the help of the organization Save Ukraine, Alla embarked on a months-long, near-impossible journey to retrieve her child—navigating destroyed infrastructure, occupied territory, and deliberate obstruction from Russian forces. Daniello was one of the fortunate ones. Thousands of Ukrainian children are still missing, with fewer than 2,000 returned out of nearly 20,000 known abductions. Katya, representing Razom for Ukraine, explains how her organization is working to support hospitals, strengthen civil society, combat Russian disinformation, and advocate for abducted children on the world stage. She emphasizes a shared American and Ukrainian value: children are never bargaining chips. Visit razomforukraine.org to learn more. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 We break down fresh speculation surrounding Senator Ted Cruz and the possibility of a 2028 presidential run. Known for being anything but subtle, Cruz is doing little to quiet the rumors—allowing buzz about his intentions to build. We discuss Cruz’s political instincts, noting he has long kept one eye on his future ambitions. But whether he should run is another question. With JD Vance widely seen as the strongest Republican contender for 2028, we weigh whether Cruz would strengthen or divide the party. 36:00 Plus, Republican states stand by Biblical, pro-life values after the Dobbs decision, and that's a Bright Spot. We break down a new report from Americans United for Life ranking the most—and least—pro-life states in the country. With the Dobbs decision returning the issue to the states, the AUL assessment goes beyond abortion to examine each state's protections for life from conception to natural death, including bioethics, end-of-life care, conscience protections, and the legal status of the unborn. Their findings reveal a stark divide: the top 10 pro-life states—led by Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indiana—are overwhelmingly Republican, while the 10 least protective states, from Oregon to New Mexico, are all governed by Democrats. Stephen and Lewis argue this split highlights the deepest cultural divide in America today. 40:00 We unpack the escalating feud between Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and President Trump—a clash that finally erupted publicly over the weekend. Greene’s new slogan, “America First, America Only,” and her attacks on Trump over Israel policy and the Epstein files sparked a forceful response from the former president, who labeled her a “lightweight,” a “traitor,” and even a RINO. Right now Republuicans could be winning everything, but we're attacking one another instead. We've gotta say, "Whoa." 41:30 And we finish off with Michelle and Vaughn Pohl, a couple who decided who nearly doubled the size of their family when they decided to adopt four children in need. When the family's car broke down, and Secret Santa stepped in to help the family showing that the Christmas Spirit is alive and well. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: A Native Russian Speaker and the Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity. Professor Eugene Finkel notes that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has an unusual background: Jewish, a native Russian speaker, and a successful media entrepreneur and comedian. His election symbolizes Ukraine's evolving identity, moving from an ethnic definition to a national commitment to the state, regardless of language. Zelenskyy won as an outsider, hoping his background would enable him to negotiate a peaceful resolution regarding Donbas and Crimea directly with Vladimir Putin, bringing optimism to the new generation. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855

Putin's Revisionist History and the 2014 Invasion of Crimea and Donbas. Professor Eugene Finkel analyzes how, isolated during the pandemic, Vladimir Putin wrote a historical essay in 2021 based on myths, asserting that Ukraine has always been Russia and must be fully subordinated. This vision clarified his expansionist goals. The 2014 Euromaidan uprising, which deposed the pro-Russian president, convinced Putin he had to act. He seized Crimea and fostered uprisings in Donbas using Russian infiltrators. Though many locals spoke Russian, most considered themselves Ukrainians wanting independence, not Russian rule. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855

Khrushchev, Crimea, and Putin's Perception of Ukraine as "Soviet Florida". Professor Eugene Finkel discusses Khrushchev's 1954 transfer of Crimea to Ukraine, undertaken for purely economic and practical reasons, though it remains a point of contention today. During the Soviet "golden period," Ukraine became vital, providing coal, industrial manufacturing, and ballistic missiles. Vladimir Putin's image of Ukraine was formed during this time, seeing it as an unquestioned extension of Russia. Due to forced Russification and its popularity as the "Soviet Florida," Putin saw Ukraine as part of Russia, a perception that was not up for debate. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. 1855 CRIMEA

2025-11-17 | Silicon Wafers 058 | DAILY UPDATES | We're going straight to the heart of Putin's war machine: fuel. Overnight on 15 November 2025, Ukrainian drones hit one of Russia's biggest oil refineries in Ryazan, around 200 kilometres south-east of Moscow – and, as Kyiv's generals quietly noted, that wasn't the only target. This was part of a coordinated strike package that also hit a Nebo-U radar system in occupied Crimea, a military train near Tokmak, and Russian troop concentrations near the front. (The Kyiv Independent)You may think it's “just another drone attack.” But it's also one more turn of the screw in a campaign that is slowly transforming Russia into a petro-state that can't reliably refine its own petrol. Stikes like the one on Ryazan matters because they are reshaping both the Russian economy and the strategic map of the war.Ukraine's General Staff put out a terse statement on 15 November, saying: “Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in the Russian city of Ryazan and hit several other military targets.” (The Kyiv Independent) Those “other targets” included:- A Nebo-U long-range radar station in occupied Crimea,- A military train near Tokmak in occupied Zaporizhzhia,- And a concentration of Russian personnel near Vovchansk in Kharkiv region. (Ukrinform)----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent – “Ukraine strikes Ryazan oil refinery, hits multiple other Russian military targets, General Staff says” (15 Nov 2025)Ukrinform – “Ukraine's Defense Forces strike Ryazan Oil Refinery, military train, several clusters of Russian personnel” (15 Nov 2025)Kyiv Post – “Ukraine Strikes Deep: Ryazan Oil Refinery Ablaze, Nebo-U Radar Destroyed, Echelon Hit” (15 Nov 2025)The Guardian – “Ukraine war briefing: Drones hit Russia's Ryazan oil refinery” (16 Nov 2025)Reuters – “Ukrainian drones hit big Russian oil refinery at Ryazan, sources say” (24 Jan 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

2025-11-14 | Silicon Wafers 055 | Flamingo Over Novorossiysk: Ukraine's Long-Range Energy War. In the early hours of November 14, Russia's biggest Black Sea oil hub, Novorossiysk, went dark in a way that brings a thrill to pro-Ukraine activists on social media. Giant fireballs, and mobile phone footage of Russian's exclaiming and swearing in the entertaining we have become familiar with. But is the strike of strategic importance, and does it tell us anything about how Ukraine's deep strike capabilities are changing? Drones over the water, fire at the Sheskharis terminal, and something Moscow really hates to see, which is tankers not loading oil.The next night, hundreds of kilometres to the north, explosions roll across the Russian city of Oryol. Local Telegram channels film glowing debris raining into courtyards. And for the first time, Ukraine officially says it's using its new home-grown deep-strike weapon: the Flamingo cruise missile. Tonight, we're going to connect those two things — the burning oil terminal and the cute-sounding missile with a 3,000-kilometre reach — and ask: How is Ukraine's second front of the war unfolding — not the territorial war, but the one against Russian energy, logistics, and the regime's balance sheet?----------SOURCES: Kyiv Post – “Novorossiysk Oil Shipments Suspended After Ukraine Drone Strike Sets Key Terminal Ablaze” (Nov. 14, 2025)Kyiv Post – “Explosions Rock Russia's Oryol – Ukraine's Use of ‘Flamingo' Long-Range Missiles Confirmed” (Nov. 13, 2025)Kyiv Post – “ANALYSIS: Ukraine's Bombardment of Russia – Not Just Oil Refineries, Warships Any More” by Stefan Korshak (Nov. 5, 2025)The Kyiv Independent – “Ukraine confirms use of Flamingo missiles in strikes on Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, targets inside Russia” (Nov. 13, 2025)Reuters – “Storms, drone attacks and record oil exports pile pressure on Russian port of Novorossiisk” (Oct. 15, 2025)Reuters – coverage on Novorossiysk oil export suspension after attack (Nov. 14, 2025) AP News – “Ukraine's long-range strikes cut Russia's oil refining capacity by 20%, Zelenskyy says” (late Oct. 2025)Chatham House – “Ukraine's best defence against Putin's energy war is more attacks on Russia's oil refining sector” (2025)Foundation for Defense of Democracies – “Ukraine conducts strikes on Russian targets using domestically produced missiles and drones” (Nov. 2025)The Guardian – “Ukraine war briefing: Flamingo flies into battle, Zelenskyy defers to commanders over Pokrovsk” (Nov. 14, 2025) ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Ilya Ponomarev is a Russian-Ukrainian politician who was a member of the Russian State Duma from 2007 to 2016. After the 2022 Russian invasion, Ponomarev joined Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, and categorically denounced the invasion. While a member of the Russian State Duma, he was the only deputy not to vote in favour of the Russian gay propaganda law and to vote against Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014. He is now in exile in Ukraine and is a spokesman with insurgent Russian forces (National Republican Army) fighting on the side of Ukraine. ----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Ponomarev https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002113qhttps://www.fpri.org/contributor/ilya-ponomarev/BOOKS:Does Putin Have to Die? The Story of How Russia Becomes a Democracy after Losing to Ukraine (Hardcover – 19 Jan. 2023)ARTICLES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/19/ilya-ponomaryov-we-have-to-capture-the-kremlin-there-is-no-other-way-a83772 ----------David DeBatto is host of the ‘No Delusion Zone' podcast @NoDelusionZone is a retired U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, a geopolitical analyst, writer, and podcaster. David is an Iraq war veteran who served as Team Leader of a Tactical Human Intelligence Team (THT) in operations within Iraq and is also a former police officer. David is considered too conservative for the progressive left and too independent minded for the radical right and seeks to challenge political dogma and the naked self-interest of politicians. ----------LINKS:@NoDelusionZone https://www.protectingtherepublic.com/podcasthttps://x.com/ddebattohttps://www.kyivpost.com/authors/743----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------

1. The Roots of the Russo-Ukrainian War: Putin's Power and the Failure of the 2008 NATO Summit. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) analyzes the origins of the Russo-Ukrainian War, highlighting Vladimir Putin's authority, which is derived from Russia's super-presidential constitution. This power allowed him to move toward dictating who could align with the West. The 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest proved critical: the alliance split, with the US favoring membership for Ukraine and Georgia, and Germany leading opposition. This resulted in a failure to agree, leaving Ukraine and Georgia exposed to future Russian attacks without military guarantees. Putin responded by starting the war in Georgia later that year, effectively annexing territory and rendering Georgia ineligible for NATO. In Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, backed by Putin, lost the 2004 election due to the Orange Revolution, which Putin viewed as a serious threat to his authority in Russia. Yanukovych returned in 2010 and, pressured by Russia, refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union in 2013, triggering the Euromaidan Revolution. This protest against Moscow's influence was a direct prelude to the annexation of Crimea and the start of the 2014 war. 1855 TATARS CRIMEA

6. The Dictatorial Power of Putin and the Unification of Ukraine Post-2014. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) focuses on the unilateral nature of decision-making in the Kremlin regarding the 2014 invasion. The decision to annex Crimea and fragment Ukraine was made by Vladimir Putin and his security chiefs during an all-night meeting on February 23–24, 2014. This process confirmed that Russia operates as a dictatorship, transitioning from the hope of Russian democracy under Yeltsin to the current reality where Putin's power is rooted in the super-presidential constitution established in 1993. Putin initially gained public support through brutality in Chechnya. While Ukraine was traditionally viewed as split between Eastern and Western orientations, Russia actively exploited these linguistic, cultural, and religious divisions in 2014 to justify the takeover of Crimea and the initiation of hybrid warfare in Donbas. Crucially, the professor emphasizes that the shock of the 2014 conflict had the opposite effect desired by Moscow: it unified Ukrainian society far more than it had ever been before. Moscow's biggest error in planning the 2022 invasion was proceeding under the assumption that Ukraine was still the divided country it had been in 2014.

5. Western Appeasement of 2014: Crimea Annexation and the Flawed Minsk Accords. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) examines the Western reaction to the annexation of Crimea in February 2014, following the appearance of "little green men." Professor Plokhy asserts that had the West reacted to the Crimean annexation with the same severity as they did to the 2022 invasion, the major war might have been avoided. Instead, the collective West treated Crimea as an isolated exception, drawing a historical parallel to the 1930s Anschluss of Austria, and mistakenly believed that Putin would stop there. This flawed assumption led Germany to pursue economic ties like Nord Stream 2, hoping escalation would be less likely. Moreover, NATO's policy was to pacify Russia by not placing military units close to its borders, leaving the alliance with "very little to respond with" in 2014. Although the annexation was quickly followed by Russian-concocted violence in Donbas, leading to a massive Russian counterattack in summer 2014, the West pursued the Minsk II agreements. These agreements were often implemented according to Russia's interpretation: requiring elections first under Russian military control, intended to create a "Trojan horse" to destabilize Ukraine and preclude its movement toward the EU or NATO. This approach was closely related to the "policies of appeasement of the 1930s." 1840 KHIV

4. The 2014 Kremlin Decision and Ukrainian Unity Against Russian Imperialism. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) discusses the all-night Kremlin meeting on February 23–24, 2014, where Vladimir Putin and his state security chiefs unilaterally decided to annex Crimea and fragment Ukraine. This scene exemplifies modern Russia's nature as a dictatorship, where critical decisions are made by one man—Putin, a former FSB chekist—without democratic oversight. Putin's dictatorial powers are legally based on the super-presidential constitution approved in 1993, following Boris Yeltsin's actions against the parliament. Previously, Putin built credibility by being brutal during the conquest of Chechnya in 1999. A longstanding stereotype divided Ukraine between westward (often Roman Catholic/cosmopolitan) and eastward (Orthodox/Russian-speaking) orientations. While Russia exploited these existing linguistic, cultural, and religious tensions in 2014 to facilitate the seizure of Crimea and initiate hybrid warfare in Donbas, the ultimate effect of the 2014 aggression was the creation of a much more unified Ukrainian society than had ever existed before. Moscow's failure to recognize this post-2014 change was a fundamental miscalculation when invading in 2022.

8. The West's 2014 Appeasement: The Failure to Respond to Crimean Annexation. Serhii Plokhy (Professor of Ukrainian History at Harvard University) focuses on the annexation of Crimea in 2014 via "brute force" and the Western response. Professor Plokhy suggests that if NATO's reaction to Crimea had been commensurate with its response to the 2022 invasion, the current large-scale war might have been avoided. Instead, the West treated the annexation as an exception, comparing it to the 1930s Anschluss of Austria, believing Putin would cease aggression after securing the Russian-majority region. This thinking was a mistake; for example, Germany continued pursuing Nord Stream 2, based on the failed premise that economic ties guaranteed peace. NATO's overall policy was designed to pacify Russia and avoid placing military units near its borders, resulting in NATO having "very little to respond with" when the annexation occurred. Russia quickly moved beyond Crimea, concocting uprisings in Donbas, leading to a massive Russian counterattack against Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2014. This led to the Minsk II agreements, which NATO backed. However, Russia exploited Minsk II by insisting on holding elections first under its military control—a plan intended to insert a "Trojan horse" into Ukraine's political body to destabilize it and block its Euro-Atlantic integration. This resembled the policies of appeasement seen in the 1930s. 1855 BRITISH ARMY CRIMEA

6. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born in 1978, represents a modern, non-ethnic definition of Ukrainian identity. Zelenskyy is a Jewish, native Russian-speaking former comedian and successful media entrepreneur who spent a substantial part of his career in Moscow. His identity showcases that being Ukrainian is now primarily a national affiliation based on commitment to the state, transcending language or ethnic background. Zelenskyy entered politics as an outsider because the old guard had failed to bring prosperity or resolve the war in Donbas and the Crimea crisis. Russian propaganda attempts to label him as a neo-Nazi, but his background contradicts this. He initially believed that his native Russian language and past work in Moscow would enable him to successfully negotiate a peace treaty or resolution with Vladimir Putin.

5. Putin's 2021 Essay and the Road to Annexation: Myths Versus Reality Isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vladimir Putin read history and published an essay in 2021 that was revelatory of his expansionist, revisionist thinking. This document, based on historical myths, asserts that Ukrainians are essentially Russians, that Ukraine has always been Russia, and that its future must be fully subordinated to Moscow. Experts often misjudged Putin, seeing him as utterly cynical and rational, failing to recognize his ideological commitment to turning these myths into reality. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 was a reaction to the Euromaidan uprising, which deposed the pro-Russian president Yanukovych. Putin saw Ukraine's pivot to the West as an immediate threat, necessitating the seizure of Crimea and the Donbas industrial areas before it was "too late." In Donbas, initial local protests were quickly bolstered by Russian infiltrators, mercenaries, and funding, escalating the situation into a mix of local dissent and invasion.

4. Khrushchev, Putin's Perceptions, and the Soviet Golden Age in Ukraine The Soviet period saw Ukraine rise to crucial importance; leaders like Khrushchev and Brezhnev spent large parts of their careers in the Ukrainian Communist Party apparatus. In 1954, Khrushchev transferred Crimea from the Russian Federation to Ukraine for practical reasons, as Kyiv was better positioned to manage it than Moscow. During the 1960s, Ukraine became a critical industrial manufacturing center, producing coal, military ballistic missiles, and space-related equipment, reinforcing its centrality to the Soviet state. Vladimir Putin, born in 1953, formed his understanding of Ukraine during this relatively calm period. For his generation, it was implicit and taken for granted that Ukraine was merely an extension of Russia—a source of industry, grain, and the beloved vacation spot of Crimea, the "Soviet Florida." Russians became emotionally attached to Ukraine as "ours," making the idea of Ukrainian independence not even a question for debate in the Russian mindset. 1855 CRIMEA

1. Khmelnytsky and the Russian Imperial Project The discussion begins with the 1888 statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky in Kyiv, symbolizing the 200-year quest to dominate Ukraine. Khmelnytsky, a 17th-century Orthodox nobleman, led a rebellion against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to protect the Orthodox Church and create a proto-Ukrainian state. Unable to win against Poland, he swore allegiance to the Tsar of Moscow, leading Russians to celebrate him as the unifier of Ukraine and Russia. Khmelnytsky intended a military alliance, but the Tsars viewed it as Ukraine fully joining Russia, gradually dismantling Cossack freedoms. By 1783, coinciding with the US Peace of Paris, Catherine the Great formalized Russia's imperial project, expanding to the Black Sea and integrating Crimea. Russia treated Ukraine as a colonial project, calling it "New Russia" and inviting diverse European settlers, seeking to force these people to become Russian, which Ukrainians resisted, forming the core of ongoing conflict. 1859 ODESSA

Day 1,328.Today, as we learn the Donald Trump administration has been sharing intelligence enabling Kyiv to strike at Russian energy facilities, we reflect on the likelihood that Tomahawk missiles are incoming, and the fallout from the US President not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Then we hear live from the country of Georgia, where protests continue and tensions remain high, before Francis ends with an appeal on a neglected subject: animals in war.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Marika Mikia-shvili (Foreign affairs, Droa Party - Georgia). @Mikiashvili_M on X.MORE TICKETS JUST RELEASED FOR 'UKRAINE: THE LATEST' LIVE, IN-PERSON:Join us for an in-person discussion and Q&A at the distinguished Honourable Artillery Company in London on 22nd October starting at 7pm.Our panel includes General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of UK Joint Forces Command and latterly one of the authors of Britain's Strategic Defence Review, and Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank. Tickets are open to everybody and can be purchased at: https://www.squadup.com/events/ukrainelive SIGN UP TO THE ‘UKRAINE: THE LATEST' WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers.CONTENT REFERENCED:Learn more about the Dickin Medal - the animals' Victoria Cross:https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal Trump gave specific intelligence to Ukraine for strikes on Russian energy (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/12/trump-shares-intelligence-ukraine-strike-russian-energy/ Putin: Trump's too good for the Nobel Peace Prize (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/10/donald-trump-loses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-2025/ Melania Trump: I convinced Putin to send Ukrainian children home (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/10/10/melania-trump-putin-children-families/ Senate Passes Bipartisan $925 Billion Defense Policy Bill (New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/senate-passes-bipartisan-925-billion-defense-policy-bill.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.