Podcasts about donbas

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Late singer Oliver Trees body returned to US after Brazil helicopter crash Boy, 3, in stable condition after Cambridgeshire crocodile attack Injured ticket inspector a hero in fatal Bedford train crash Sir Keir Starmer Top lawyer whose Mr Rules approach failed to connect with the public Starmer is stepping down. What could happen next Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague Who is Andy Burnham Returning MP who wants to be prime minister Prime Minister Keir Starmers resignation speech in full Russia Ukraine war Troop build up threatens Kostyantynivka, key to seizing Donbas Schools close as more than half of France under red heat alerts

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Prime Minister Keir Starmers resignation speech in full Who is Andy Burnham Returning MP who wants to be prime minister Boy, 3, in stable condition after Cambridgeshire crocodile attack Injured ticket inspector a hero in fatal Bedford train crash Schools close as more than half of France under red heat alerts Starmer is stepping down. What could happen next Sir Keir Starmer Top lawyer whose Mr Rules approach failed to connect with the public Late singer Oliver Trees body returned to US after Brazil helicopter crash Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague Russia Ukraine war Troop build up threatens Kostyantynivka, key to seizing Donbas

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Who is Andy Burnham Returning MP who wants to be prime minister Boy, 3, in stable condition after Cambridgeshire crocodile attack Injured ticket inspector a hero in fatal Bedford train crash Russia Ukraine war Troop build up threatens Kostyantynivka, key to seizing Donbas Starmer is stepping down. What could happen next Sir Keir Starmer Top lawyer whose Mr Rules approach failed to connect with the public Schools close as more than half of France under red heat alerts Prime Minister Keir Starmers resignation speech in full Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague Late singer Oliver Trees body returned to US after Brazil helicopter crash

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Starmer is stepping down. What could happen next Russia Ukraine war Troop build up threatens Kostyantynivka, key to seizing Donbas Who is Andy Burnham Returning MP who wants to be prime minister Boy, 3, in stable condition after Cambridgeshire crocodile attack Late singer Oliver Trees body returned to US after Brazil helicopter crash Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague Injured ticket inspector a hero in fatal Bedford train crash Sir Keir Starmer Top lawyer whose Mr Rules approach failed to connect with the public Schools close as more than half of France under red heat alerts Prime Minister Keir Starmers resignation speech in full

​ @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.----------LINKS:YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ricktheukrainianhttps://www.myminiauction.com/rickrollersauctions#item-167128Buy Me a Coffee (or become a member): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ricktheukr/membership----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - 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/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

John Hardie notes that Jared Kushner and U.S. envoys have frequently visited Moscow to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Putin uses phone calls to flatter Trump and promote the idea that Russia is dominating the battlefield. The administration pressures Ukraine to concede Donbas, despite the military defense holding. (10)1892

SCHEDULE JBS, 6-15-20262006 MOLDOVABill Roggio discusses a rumored memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. Roggio expresses skepticism, noting that while the Strait of Hormuz may reopen, the deal fails to address Iran's nuclear program or its support for regional proxies like Hezbollah. (1)Bill Roggio highlights that the ceasefire is a return to the status quo from February. He argues that the military was restrained from finishing the job and doubts the Iranian people's willingness to overthrow the regime. Meanwhile, Hezbollah remains active in southern Lebanon. (2)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report that in Peru, Keiko Fujimori leads the presidential race, signaling a "blue wave" against narco-socialism. This shift reinforces regional efforts like the Shield of the Americas. Meanwhile, Bolivia faces a "slow-motion coup" by narco-terrorists, which Brazilian President Lula da Silva has largely ignored. (3)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa describe how U.S. forces killed drug lord "El Niño Guerrero" with a drone strike inside Venezuela, signaling a transition and military cooperation against the Tren de Aragua cartel. This action pressures regional leaders and criminal gangs, potentially leading to pro-democratic elections and increased American investment. (4)Bill Roggio warns that Sunni jihadists remain a background threat while the West focuses on Iran. Groups like al-Qaedaand ISIS are gaining ground in Africa and Afghanistan, aiming to establish emirates. Pakistan also faces instability as the Taliban provides safe havens for militants. (5)Ahmad Sharawi discusses President Trump's suggestion of using the Syrian army to conduct strikes against Hezbollahin eastern Lebanon. This "creative solution" aims to disarm the proxy without using the IDF. However, experts warn this could cause a "rally around the flag" effect and increase sectarian tensions. (6)Piero Tozzi and Gordon Chang discuss KMT official Jen Wen, who visited the U.S. to bolster her credentials but faced criticism for meeting individuals linked to the Communist Party. The visit highlighted debates over drone supply chains, as the U.S. encourages "non-red" technology to counter Chinese influence. (7)Fraser Howie and Gordon Chang describe the Iran deal as a "repackaging of failure" and a humiliation for America. Markets are experiencing a relief rally due to AI and stabilizing oil prices, but fail to price in geopolitical damage. Allies now view the U.S. as an unreliable partner. (8)John Hardie reports that Russia launched a massive barrage of 70 missiles and 600 drones against Kyiv, damaging a historic monastery. Simultaneously, Ukraine is conducting a "logistics lockdown" campaign to isolate Crimea by striking fuel convoys and bridges. Despite Russian gains near Kostiantynivka, Ukraine's manpower reforms are improving battlefield stability. (9)John Hardie notes that Jared Kushner and U.S. envoys have frequently visited Moscow to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Putin uses phone calls to flatter Trump and promote the idea that Russia is dominating the battlefield. The administration pressures Ukraine to concede Donbas, despite the military defense holding. (10)David Daoud explains that reports of an upcoming memo of understanding between the U.S. and Iran are contradicted by Israel's refusal to leave Lebanon. Iran aims to save Hezbollah, its most critical asset, while the U.S. seeks a modus vivendi with the regime at almost any cost. (11)David Daoud describes a ceasefire deal requiring Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River as "magical thinking" since the fighters are locals. While the IDF faces manpower limitations, Washington continues to pressure Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept a withdrawal regardless of Israeli security concerns. (12)Bridget Toomey notes that despite the U.S.-Iran memo of understanding, the Houthis remain a threat, recently firing a drone at Eilat. The group maintains autonomy and does not feel bound by ceasefires. They continue to ban Israelimaritime navigation in the Red Sea, aiming for economic and psychological damage. (13)Samuel Ben-Ur explains that the IDF controls 64% of Gaza, but Hamas remains in control of the remaining civilian population through torture and executions. The group refuses to disarm, as their existence is predicated on destroying Israel. Despite the elimination of top leaders, the organization's decentralized structure allows survival. (14)Edmund Fitton-Brown explains that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed in Geneva, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The deal includes a 60-day ceasefire but leaves critical issues like the nuclear file for later. Skeptics warn of secret annexes and deceptive Iranian propaganda. (15)Edmund Fitton-Brown notes that Russia and China view a ceasefire as beneficial for weakening U.S. influence and entrenching Iranian power. Experts argue the Islamic Republic will never negotiate away its revolutionary pillars, including its militias and nuclear shield. The deal provides a rest period for Iran to rearm for future assaults. (16)Three name corrections: John Hardy → John Hardie (9, 10) Bridget Tumi → Bridget Toomey (13) Samuel Bener → Samuel Ben-Ur (14)

Trump zwabbert verder met Iran | Oekraïne neemt de Krim onder vuur | Een Zwitserse Brexit HET ZIJN DE BOEKESTIJN EN DE WIJK OVERSTAPWEKEN! Word lid van Boekestijn en De Wijk Plus voor reclamevrij luisteren, vele extra's en straks ook voor de zaterdaguitzending (sorry). Ga naar Boekestijnendewijk.nl, met de kortingscode NAVO luistert u voor maar €25 een heel jaar op uw favoriete podcast-app. Trump dreigt Iran met aanvallen en schermt met een ‘geweldige deal’, maar zijn geloofwaardigheid brokkelt af terwijl Teheran meer risicobereid lijkt dan Washington. Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk duiden hoe Iraanse dreiging met escalatie in de Golf de Amerikaanse dwangdiplomatie uitholt en hoe Israël vreest buitenspel te raken. Ook de olieprijs, mogelijke oorlogsmisdaden rond waterinfrastructuur en de beperkte impact van scheepsbewegingen door de Straat van Hormuz komen langs. Oekraïne vergroot zijn drone-overwicht en legt met precisieaanvallen de Russische logistiek naar Donbas en Krim steeds verder lam. De Krim verandert in een logistieke nachtmerrie, met getroffen raffinaderijen, kwetsbare bruggen en benzine- en waterschaarste, terwijl Konstjantynivka strategisch wordt opgegeven om manschappen te sparen. Boekestijn en De Wijk bespreken hoe AI-gestuurde drones, oplopende Russische verliezen en wankele bevoorradingslijnen de oorlog een nieuwe fase in duwen. Europa kijkt ondertussen nerveus naar Trumps plannen om materieel uit Europa terug te trekken en naar een verhardende handelsoorlog met China. De twee bespreken hoe twijfels over artikel 5, Britse defensieruzies, de Zwitserse migratiestem en de Chinese overmacht op de wereldmarkt de Europese veiligheids- en economische positie onder druk zetten. De vraag hoeveel strategische autonomie Europa nog kan winnen, klinkt steeds dringender door. [Samenvatting geschreven door AI en gecontroleerd door mens] Over de Podcast Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk gaan onder leiding van Hugo Reitsma op zoek naar de nieuwe wereldorde. Wat betekenen oorlog, machtspolitiek en economische verschuivingen voor Europa en Nederland? In elke aflevering duiken zij in de geopolitieke actualiteit. Genomineerd voor de Zilveren Reissmicrofoon 2026, winnaar van de Dutch Podcast Awards 2022 in de categorie Nieuws & Politiek. Reageren? Op X: @ajboekestijn en @robdewijk Bluesky: @hugoreitsma.bsky.social Mail: boekestijnendewijk@bnr.nl Over de makers: Arend Jan Boekestijn is een Nederlands historicus en voormalig politicus. Hij studeerde geschiedenis en politieke wetenschappen aan de Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Boekestijn is voormalig Tweede Kamerlid (tot 2009). Sinds 1989 is hij verbonden aan de vakgroep geschiedenis van de Universiteit Utrecht en sinds 2016 lid van commissie Vrede en Veiligheid van AIV. Rob de Wijk studeerde eigentijdse geschiedenis en internationale betrekkingen, promoveerde op kernwapenstrategieën, werd hoogleraar in Leiden en richtte in 2007 het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies op. Hugo Reitsma studeerde rechten en politicologie. Hij werkte eerder als politiek verslaggever en vanuit verschillende conflictgebieden. Hij is auteur van het boek ‘Boekestijn en De Wijk voorspellen de toekomst’ (november 2023).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I dag har vi besøk av Tor Bukkvoll, sjeffforsker ved Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt. Sammen analyserer vi hvordan situasjonen har snudd betydelig siden september 2025, med Ukraina som nå demonstrerer at tallmessig underlegenhet kan kompenseres med overlegen teknologi og taktikk. Bukkvoll forklarer hvordan Ukrainas revolusjonerende dronebruk har transformert konflikten gjennom 2026. Spesielt framheves angrepene mot den strategisk viktige Novorossijaveien, som forbinder okkuperte områder med Krym-halvøya. Trafikken har ifølge Robert «Madyar» Brovdi falt med cirka 70 prosent, og bensinmangelen på Krym har skapt kilometerlange køer og desperate rasjoneringstiltak. Samtidig er Ukraina under sterkt press, spesielt rundt Kostjantynivka i Donbas. Episoden dekker også den prekære situasjonen for russisk rekruttering, hvor kvaliteten på nytt personell synker dramatisk. Russland holder tilbake erfarne styrker mens utrente rekrutter sendes direkte til fronten, noe som kan forklare den stagnerende russiske framgangen. En særlig mørk del av samtalen omhandler systematisk tortur av ukrainske krigsfanger, hvor tilnærmet hundre prosent rapporterer mishandling. Bukkvoll avdekker hvordan det russiske fengselssystemets spesialstyrker, opprinnelig designet for å slå ned fangeopprør, nå systematisk torturerer ukrainske soldater som del av et «omskoleringsprosjekt» for å overbevise dem om at de egentlig er russere. Teknologiske nyvinninger som bakkedroner og fjernstyrte våpensystemer diskuteres som potensielle game-changere, med prognoser om at infanteristyrker kan reduseres med 30 prosent. Samtidig analyseres Ukrainas strategiske angrep på russiske våpenfabrikker, inkludert det siste Flamingo-missilangrepet dypt inne i Russland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rassegna stampa economico-finanziaria del 7 Giugno 2026, strutturata per macro-temi e basata sulle principali testate giornalistiche nazionali.Mercati, tassi e consumi USATestate: New York Times / Washington Post / USA Today / The Times* L'economia americana resta forte, ma proprio questa forza spaventa i mercati. A maggio sono stati creati 172.000 posti di lavoro, più del doppio delle attese, con disoccupazione ferma al 4,3%. Il dato riduce le speranze di tagli Fed e riapre l'ipotesi di rialzi dei tassi.  * La reazione è stata immediata: S&P 500 -2,6%, Nasdaq -4,2%, Dow Jones -1,4%. I tecnologici hanno guidato le vendite: Nvidia -6,2%, Broadcom -7,9%, Meta -5,5%. Il rendimento del Treasury decennale è salito al 4,54%.  * Il consumatore americano continua a spendere, ma con più fatica: la spesa personale è cresciuta dello 0,5% ad aprile, mentre il tasso di risparmio è sceso al 2,6%, minimo da quasi quattro anni. La benzina è salita a 4,22 dollari al gallone, contro circa 3 dollari di dicembre.  * Indicazione positiva: l'economia USA non è in recessione. Il punto critico è che famiglie e mercati iniziano a pagare il prezzo di energia, inflazione e tassi più alti.Russia, guerra e pressione economicaTestate: Washington Post / The Times / Le Monde* La Russia appare sempre più sotto pressione. Secondo il Washington Post, le perdite militari russe stanno superando la capacità di sostituire truppe addestrate; l'avanzata nel Donbas procede ormai “in metri, non in miglia”. Le stime citate parlano di 350.000-500.000 soldati russi persi dall'inizio della guerra.  * L'Ucraina sta cambiando il rapporto di forza con tecnologia e droni: punta a produrre oltre 7 milioni di droni quest'anno, contro un piano USA di circa 300.000 entro il 2027. Questo consente colpi su raffinerie, depositi petroliferi, aeroporti e fabbriche militari dentro la Russia.  * Le Monde mostra anche la pressione russa sui Paesi ex sovietici: in Armenia, Mosca ha bloccato importazioni di fiori, acqua minerale, vino, brandy, pomodori, cetrioli, peperoni e fragole. L'azienda Vardeni esporta in Russia l'80% della produzione e ora è costretta a buttare o svendere le rose invendute.  * The Times collega la minaccia russa al rilancio della spesa militare europea: Londra valuta 15 miliardi £ aggiuntivi per la difesa, meno dei 28 miliardi £ richiesti dalle forze armate. Il messaggio economico è chiaro: la guerra continua a spostare risorse pubbliche verso sicurezza, difesa e industria militare.  * Indicazione positiva: l'Europa sta reagendo con maggiore autonomia. La crisi russa può accelerare investimenti in difesa, cybersecurity, energia e industria strategica.Intelligenza artificiale, Big Tech e produttivitàTestate: The Times / Süddeutsche Zeitung / Washington Post* L'AI resta il grande tema di mercato, ma non più senza dubbi. The Times racconta la possibile IPO di SpaceX-xAI-X: raccolta fino a 75 miliardi $, valutazione di 1.750 miliardi $, mercato potenziale dichiarato di 28.500 miliardi $, per circa l'80% legato all'AI enterprise.  * Dietro la narrazione ci sono però numeri molto diversi: Starlink ha generato 4,4 miliardi $ di utile nel 2025, la divisione lanci ha perso 657 milioni $, mentre l'AI ha accumulato un deficit di 6,4 miliardi $. Morningstar valuta il gruppo 780 miliardi $, molto meno della forchetta proposta.  * Süddeutsche Zeitung segnala il lato sociale della rivoluzione AI: oltre metà degli studenti USA ha ripensato il proprio percorso di studi, il 16% ha cambiato indirizzo, e il 42% dichiara ansia rispetto all'uso dell'AI.  * Indicazione positiva: l'AI può aumentare produttività e margini, ma le aziende dovranno gestire capitale umano, formazione e governance. Non basta comprare tecnologia: serve integrarla bene.Cina, consumi deboli e nuovi modelli low costTestate: Le Monde* La Cina resta un punto delicato per l'economia globale: i consumatori continuano a risparmiare molto e a spendere con prudenza. Il fenomeno favorisce catene discount e modelli a basso prezzo.* Le Monde cita Mixue, gruppo cinese del food low cost, che apre 38 nuovi negozi al giorno. È un segnale molto concreto: la domanda non è assente, ma si sposta verso convenienza, prezzo e consumo essenziale.* Pechino tenta di sostenere domanda interna e welfare, intervenendo anche sul mondo dei rider, stimati in 13 milioni.* Indicazione positiva: per le imprese occidentali la Cina resta enorme, ma meno “facile”. Chi vince deve offrire valore chiaro, prezzo corretto e distribuzione capillare.Energia, Medio Oriente e inflazioneTestate: USA Today / Washington Post / The Times* Il conflitto con l'Iran continua a pesare sull'economia. USA Today segnala che l'inflazione americana resta oltre il target Fed del 2% e potrebbe tornare all'obiettivo solo a fine 2027, secondo il FMI.  * Il canale di trasmissione è semplice: petrolio più caro, trasporti più cari, fertilizzanti, metalli e logistica più costosi. Le imprese scaricano parte degli aumenti sui consumatori.* Nel Regno Unito, The Times segnala che almeno metà delle imprese prevede rialzi dei prezzi a causa della guerra; il PIL britannico 2026 è stimato in crescita dello 0,9%, meglio dello 0,7% previsto a marzo, ma ancora debole.  * Indicazione positiva: energia e sicurezza tornano settori strategici. Per le aziende, efficienza energetica e contratti di fornitura diventano leve competitive.Europa, infrastrutture e competitivitàTestate: Süddeutsche Zeitung / Le Monde / The Times* La Germania offre un segnale simbolico delle difficoltà europee: Deutsche Bahn ha cancellato in media 107 treni al giorno tra gennaio e maggio 2026, contro 56 nello stesso periodo del 2025, su circa 937 corse giornaliere.  * Il dettaglio mensile conferma il peggioramento: gennaio 173 cancellazioni medie giornaliere, febbraio 113, marzo 95, aprile 74, maggio 81.  * Le Monde parla di “risveglio doloroso” dell'UE sul digitale: l'Europa consuma tecnologie che spesso non produce, conserva dati su server che non controlla e usa software di cui non detta le regole. Il tema non è solo economico, ma strategico.  * Indicazione positiva: l'Europa sta prendendo coscienza dei propri ritardi. Infrastrutture, digitale, cloud, difesa e semiconduttori possono diventare i nuovi cantieri della crescita. Turismo, mobilità e consumi globaliTestate: Le Monde / Washington Post / The Sun* Gli Stati Uniti stanno perdendo attrattività turistica. Nel 2025 i visitatori internazionali sono scesi a 68,3 milioni, in calo del 6% sull'anno e del 14% rispetto al 2019. La perdita stimata è di 8 miliardi $, pari a 6,9 miliardi €, di spesa turistica. I francesi sono stati 1,5 milioni, -7%.  * Negli USA il consumatore cerca sconti: Dollar General registra più clienti con redditi superiori a 100.000 $ l'anno, segnale che anche le fasce medio-alte diventano più prudenti.  * Nel Regno Unito emerge un segnale opposto, ma interessante per turismo ed eventi: all'Oaks di Epsom presenti 19.704 spettatori, contro 14.812 dell'anno precedente; obiettivo di 60.000 presenze nei due giorni.  * Indicazione positiva: la domanda di esperienze resta viva, ma cambia geografia. Vince chi offre sicurezza, prezzo e qualità percepita.Banche, credito e servizi finanziariTestate: The Times / The Sun* NatWest fermerà ulteriori chiusure di filiali almeno fino al 2029, pur chiudendo altri 9 sportelli a settembre. La rete scenderà a 336 filiali, contro 1.800 nel 2015. La banca investirà 50 milioni £ tra 2026 e 2027 per modernizzare la rete residua.  * Nationwide mantiene invece la più ampia rete britannica con 696 filiali, promettendo di tenerle aperte almeno fino all'inizio del 2030.  * The Sun segnala il caso Evoke-William Hill: offerta da 243 milioni £, dopo un primo approccio da 225 milioni £. Il gruppo ha debiti per quasi 1,9 miliardi £ e ha annunciato la chiusura di circa 270 punti vendita; pesa l'aumento della tassazione sul gioco online dal 21% al 40% e nuova tassa sportiva online del 25% dal 2027.  * Indicazione positiva: il settore finanziario sta riscoprendo il valore della relazione fisica con il cliente. Per wealth management e private banking è un segnale favorevole.

Terwijl Zelensky Poetin uitnodigt voor directe onderhandelingen, speelt zich dichtbij de frontlinie een stil drama af. De stad Kramatorsk, het laatste Oekraïense bolwerk in de Donbas, wordt dagelijks bestookt met drones en raketten. Bewoners trekken weg waardoor de stad langzaam verandert in een militaire vesting. Een reportage van Michiel Driebergen uit Kramatorsk. (15:57)Xi reist naar Pyongyang Maandag reist de Chinese president Xi Jinping af naar Noord-Korea voor een tweedaags staatsbezoek, zijn eerste buitenlandse reis van het jaar, en zijn eerste bezoek aan Noord-Korea sinds zeven jaar. De geopolitieke spanning in Noordoost-Azië loopt op. En gisteren onthulde Noord-Korea ook nog een nieuwe faciliteit voor kernbomproductie. Wat maakt deze ontmoeting zo urgent? We spreken met Remco Breuker, Noordoost-Azië expert aan de Universiteit Leiden. Presentatie door Nadia Moussaid

Ruský prezident Vladimir Putin řekl před začátkem petrohradského mezinárodního ekonomického fóra, že Rusko může ovládnout Donbas a zároveň dosáhnout mírové dohody s Ukrajinou. „Je to protimluv,“ reaguje bezpečnostní expert Vlastislav Bříza. „Tzv. ukrajinská armáda není ta, která by se měla vzdát. Ten sentiment se pomalu, ale jistě otáčí. To, co jsme viděli poslední dva roky, ten tvrdý, ostrý tlak na frontě vedený ruskou armádou ochabuje. Neříkám, že již není, ale ochabuje.“

I denne episoden av Ukrainapodden dykker vi dypt ned i de dramatiske omveltningene på slagmarken og de langtrekkende konsekvensene for norsk og internasjonal sikkerhetspolitikk. Leder av utenriks- og forsvarskomiteen på Stortinget, Peter Frølich, og spaltist Jørn Sund-Henriksen gir en knallskarp analyse av situasjonen. Mens frontlinjene i Donbas preges av et intenst og personellkrevende russisk press mot Kostantynivka, har ukrainske styrker klart å snu trenden og overta det taktiske initiativet gjennom vellykkede lokale motangrep i Lyman og på Zaporizjzja-fronten. Den virkelige krisen for Kreml utspiller seg imidlertid bak de synlige linjene. Russland opplever en lammende drivstoffkollaps og akutt logistikk-mareritt på Krym, der det rapporteres om 0 % bensin til frisalg på bensinstasjonene. Årsaken er de ujammebare, Starlink-styrte «Hornet»-dronene som opererer i et overveldende volum og massakrerer hundrevis av russiske tankbiler i døgnet. Ydmykelsen stopper ikke der; på selve åpningsdagen for Putins prestisjetunge internasjonale økonomiske forum i St. Petersburg, lyktes ukrainske droner i å totalvrake en russisk korvett i tørrdokk. For å underbygge den militære systemsvikten, publiserte president Volodymyr Zelenskyj et dristig åpent brev som avslører at hele 63 % av russiske slagmarkstap ender med døden på grunn av elendig sanitet. Avslutningsvis rettes søkelyset mot Norge. Gjennom et historisk enstemmig forlik på Stortinget tilføres Forsvaret 120 milliarder kroner ekstra. Det mest banebrytende grepet er fremskyndingen av antibalistisk luftvern gjennom et direkte industrisamarbeid med ukrainske aktører, som har utviklet unike «Franken-SAM»-løsninger og Prosjekt Freya. Dette haster ekstremt, ettersom store norske sykehus som Rikshospitalet og Ullevål er forhåndsdefinerte, garanterte russiske bombemål i en eventuell konflikt. Vi ser også nærmere på Putins skumle signaler og økonomiske krigføring mot Armenia før helgens skjebnevalg. Du kan lese brevet fra Zelenskyj her: https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vidkritij-list-prezidentu-rosijskoyi-federaciyi-vid-preziden-104769 Francis Farerells video ser du her: https://youtube.com/shorts/xDlGZSTE_1E?si=NGHbqrV6jGifUQvR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hlasujte pro Ptám se já v anketě Podcast roku.--Ukrajinský prezident Zelenskyj napsal ruskému vládci Putinovi otevřený dopis, aby ukončil válku a sešel se s ním. Podle amerického prezidenta Trumpa teď musí oba státníci udělat kompromisy. Blíží se konec konfliktu? Hostem Ptám se já byl bývalý generální konzul v Petrohradě a zahraničněpolitický analytik Pirátů Vladimír Votápek.V otevřeném dopisu ukrajinský prezident Volodymyr Zelenskyj včera ruskému protějšku Vladimiru Putinovi napsal, že Rusko letos neovládne ukrajinskou Doněckou oblast. Vyzval ho k ukončení pátým rokem trvající ruské invaze na Ukrajinu a navrhl, aby se spolu sešli.Zelenskyj ruskou invazi na Ukrajinu označil za Putinovu osobní volbu, válku bez skutečné příčiny. Uvedl, že Ukrajina je připravená během jednání dodržovat příměří, které by mohly monitorovat Spojené státy. „Pokud osobně nedospějete k závěru, že je načase ukončit válku, bude Ukrajina dále bojovat za svoji existenci,“ vzkázal také ukrajinský prezident.Podle Putina ovšem není nutné kvůli jednání zastavit boje. Šéf Kremlu v souvislosti s válkou na Ukrajině uvedl ve čtvrtek na Petrohradském mezinárodním ekonomickém fóru, že Rusko může ovládnout Donbas a zároveň dosáhnout mírové dohody s Ukrajinou. Americký prezident Donald Trump, který se snaží mírové řešení zprostředkovat, měl podle Putina požádat Moskvu o kompromis. Ta je k takovému kroku připravená, ale kompromis musí udělat i Kyjev. „Myslím si, že je to šikovný krok od prezidenta Zelenského, protože tím, jak se vyvíjí určitý tlak na Putina, říká vlastně: ‚Míč je na tvé straně‘,“ komentoval Zelenského dopis analytik Vladimír Votápek v Ptám se já.V rozhovoru také upozornil, v jakým problémech Rusko po pěti letech války je: „Ruská ekonomika dýchá. Sestupný krizový trend, který jsme viděli v posledních měsících minulého roku a začátkem tohoto roku, se zastavil. Nicméně špatně na tom je,“ řekl Votápek. „Dal jsem si tu práci a poslechl jsem si Putinovo setkání s novináři (na petrohradském fóru) a z mého pohledu klíčové bylo, že Putin říká: ‚Proboha, berte od nás plyn.‘. Rusko opravdu má problém s tím, že se Německo probudilo. Začíná budovat svoji obranu, to znamená i evropskou a ukrajinskou obranu. A (Rusko) má velký problém s tím, že Evropa nebere plyn a chtějí se do Evropy dostat přes Německo.“Jak vypadá válečná situace? Je Rusko v problémech? A je šance, že dojde k setkání nejvyšších představitelů obou zemí?--Podcast Ptám se já. Rozhovory s lidmi, kteří mají vliv, odpovědnost, informace.Sledujte na Seznam Zprávách, poslouchejte na Podcasty.cz a ve všech podcastových aplikacích.Archiv všech dílů najdete tady. Své postřehy, připomínky nebo tipy nám pište prostřednictvím sociálních sítí pod hashtagem #ptamseja nebo na e-mail: audio@sz.cz.

Conrad Franz of World War Now talks geopolitics, religion, and globalism analyzing current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine through the lens of Orthodox Christian prophecy. Turkey appears to be next on the chopping block. Both Western powers and revisionist states like Russia and China are implementing similar technocratic controls. North America will morph into the Technate. Franz shares firsthand observations from his time in Russia and the Donbas, detailing the human cost of the war. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Listen Ad-Free for $4.99 a Month or $49.99 a Year! Apple Subscriptions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/geopolitics-empire/id1003465597 Supercast https://geopoliticsandempire.supercast.com ***Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics American Gold Exchange https://www.amergold.com/geopolitics Escape The Technocracy (15% off w/ GEOPOLITICS!) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Expat Money (FREE “Plan B” Report!) https://expatmoney.com/geopolitics PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites World War Now https://worldwarnow.co YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WorldWarNow_ X https://x.com/WorldWarNow_ Conrad on X https://x.com/GnomeRad About Conrad Franz Conrad Franz is host of World War Now covering the Third World War through the lens of Orthodox Christian Tradition, Saintly prophecy, & worldwide re-enchantment. *Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

What happened at the Mariupol Drama Theater — and what does it reveal about the larger war between Russia and Ukraine?In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian Jason Herbert sits down with acclaimed journalist and author James Verini to discuss his powerful new book, The Theater, an intimate account of the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater during Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Together, they explore the siege of Mariupol, the human cost of modern warfare, and the terrifying role propaganda plays in shaping reality during conflict. The conversation moves beyond headlines into the deeper history of Russian imperialism, the contested identity of the Donbas, the rise of Ukrainian nationalism, and why Vladimir Putin's war may ultimately have forged a stronger Ukrainian nation than ever before.Jason and James also discuss:Why the bombing of the theater became a defining atrocity of the warRussian propaganda and the global information warThe historical roots of the conflict going back to the Crimean WarVolodymyr Zelensky's transformation during the invasionNATO, the United States, and the future of global democracyWhether Putin can survive politically if Russia loses the warWhy Ukraine's fight resonates far beyond Eastern EuropePart war reporting, part historical reckoning, and part meditation on democracy itself, this episode examines one of the most consequential conflicts of the twenty-first century — and the people trapped inside it.

Moskou voert de dreigementen op | Trump zoekt uitweg in Iran | Israël escaleert in Libanon HET ZIJN DE BOEKESTIJN EN DE WIJK OVERSTAPWEKEN! Word lid van Boekestijn en De Wijk Plus voor reclamevrij luisteren, vele extra's en straks ook voor de zaterdaguitzending (sorry). Ga naar Boekestijnendewijk.nl, met de kortingscode NAVO luistert u voor maar €25 een heel jaar op uw favoriete podcast-app. Oekraïne verlegt de oorlog steeds dieper Russisch gebied in met raketten en drones, terwijl Moskou reageert met nucleair getinte dreigtaal richting Kiev en westerse ambassades. Boekestijn en De Wijk duiden hoe Oekraïense Hornet-drones Russische logistiek in Donbas en Krim ontregelen, waarom Moskou zijn eigen banken dwingt tot luchtverdediging en hoe de sluiting van Kaliningrad en onrust rond Belarus passen in een patroon van gezochte voorwendsels voor verdere escalatie. De analisten bespreken hoe het Tsjechische munitie-initiatief de Europese productie op stoom houdt, terwijl goedkope first person view-drones klassieke artillerie deels vervangen. NAVO versterkt intussen zijn oostflank met een nieuw hoofdkwartier in Szczecin, waar Nederland en Duitsland een sleutelrol krijgen, en Ursula von der Leyen zoekt de Baltische staten op in een regio die leeft met Russische dreiging in cyber en aan de grens. In het Midden-Oosten verhogen Israël en Hezbollah de druk langs de Libanese grens en speelt Iran hoog spel rond de Straat van Hormuz, met Amerika dat tegelijk wil de-escaleren en wegkomen. In Den Haag blokkeert minister Willemijn Aerdts een strategische IT-overname, waarschuwen De Nederlandsche Bank en de Britse GCHQ voor gelijktijdige cybercrises en groeit in Europa de overtuiging dat het continent zich militair moet kunnen redden met aanzienlijk minder Amerikaanse steun, hoe ongemakkelijk die conclusie ook voelt. Over de Podcast Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk gaan onder leiding van Hugo Reitsma op zoek naar de nieuwe wereldorde. Wat betekenen oorlog, machtspolitiek en economische verschuivingen voor Europa en Nederland? In elke aflevering duiken zij in de geopolitieke actualiteit. In 2022 werd Boekestijn en De Wijk uitgeroepen tot winnaar in de categorie Nieuws & Politiek tijdens de Dutch Podcast Awards Reageren? Op X: @ajboekestijn en @robdewijk Bluesky: @hugoreitsma.bsky.social Mail: boekestijnendewijk@bnr.nl Over de makers: Arend Jan Boekestijn is een Nederlands historicus en voormalig politicus. Hij studeerde geschiedenis en politieke wetenschappen aan de Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Boekestijn is voormalig Tweede Kamerlid (tot 2009). Sinds 1989 is hij verbonden aan de vakgroep geschiedenis van de Universiteit Utrecht en sinds 2016 lid van commissie Vrede en Veiligheid van AIV. Rob de Wijk studeerde eigentijdse geschiedenis en internationale betrekkingen, promoveerde op kernwapenstrategieën, werd hoogleraar in Leiden en richtte in 2007 het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies op. Hugo Reitsma studeerde rechten en politicologie. Hij werkte eerder als politiek verslaggever en vanuit verschillende conflictgebieden. Hij is auteur van het boek ‘Boekestijn en De Wijk voorspellen de toekomst’ (november 2023).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moskou zet Oreshnik in | Poetin onder druk | Optimisme over deal met Iran HET ZIJN DE BOEKESTIJN EN DE WIJK OVERSTAPWEKEN! Word lid van Boekestijn en De Wijk Plus voor reclamevrij luisteren, vele extra's en straks ook voor de zaterdaguitzending (sorry). Ga naar Boekestijnendewijk.nl, met de kortingscode NAVO luistert u voor maar €25 een heel jaar op uw favoriete podcast-app. Rusland zet hypersonische Oreshnik-raketten in tegen Kyiv en schuift daarmee ongemakkelijk langs de grens tussen conventionele en nucleaire oorlog. Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk duiden waarom deze dual-capable wapens de NAVO zenuwachtig maken, maar militair gezien vooral een reactie zijn op Oekraïnes succesvolle aanvallen in de Russische diepte. De Oekraïense dronecampagne ondermijnt Russische logistiek en energievoorziening, terwijl een opmerkelijke doorbraak bij Vovchansk de kwetsbaarheid van de Russische verdediging blootlegt. Het Kremlin probeert ondertussen stoer te blijven, maar de spanningen in Moskou lopen op. Rob schetst hoe elite en bedrijfsleven mopperen over een oorlogseconomie waarin defensie-industrie wint en civiele sector en sociale voorzieningen verliezen. Poetin blijft echter wedden op de langste adem in de Donbas, terwijl Macron en de Finse president Alexander Stubb zich aanbieden als Europese gesprekspartners in een nog ongewis diplomatiek spel. In Washington raakt Donald Trump verstrikt in zijn eigen Iran-strategie, nu een mogelijk akkoord over de straat van Hormuz en het nucleaire dossier uiteenvalt. Boekestijn en De Wijk bespreken hoe Teheran harde voorwaarden stelt rond sancties en bevroren tegoeden, terwijl Republikeinse haviken de deal al afschieten als zwakker dan het Obama-akkoord. De vraag wie hier uiteindelijk met de slechtste deal blijft zitten, houdt beide fronten stevig in beweging. [Samenvatting geschreven door AI en gecontroleerd door mens] Over de Podcast Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk gaan onder leiding van Hugo Reitsma op zoek naar de nieuwe wereldorde. Wat betekenen oorlog, machtspolitiek en economische verschuivingen voor Europa en Nederland? In elke aflevering duiken zij in de geopolitieke actualiteit. In 2022 werd Boekestijn en De Wijk uitgeroepen tot winnaar in de categorie Nieuws & Politiek tijdens de Dutch Podcast Awards Reageren? Op X: @ajboekestijn en @robdewijk Bluesky: @hugoreitsma.bsky.social Mail: boekestijnendewijk@bnr.nl Over de makers: Arend Jan Boekestijn is een Nederlands historicus en voormalig politicus. Hij studeerde geschiedenis en politieke wetenschappen aan de Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Boekestijn is voormalig Tweede Kamerlid (tot 2009). Sinds 1989 is hij verbonden aan de vakgroep geschiedenis van de Universiteit Utrecht en sinds 2016 lid van commissie Vrede en Veiligheid van AIV. Rob de Wijk studeerde eigentijdse geschiedenis en internationale betrekkingen, promoveerde op kernwapenstrategieën, werd hoogleraar in Leiden en richtte in 2007 het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies op. Hugo Reitsma studeerde rechten en politicologie. Hij werkte eerder als politiek verslaggever en vanuit verschillende conflictgebieden. Hij is auteur van het boek ‘Boekestijn en De Wijk voorspellen de toekomst’ (november 2023).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Hardie examines the escalation of drone strikes between Ukraine and Russia, including attacks on Moscow'sinfrastructure. He notes the pressure on Russian air defenses and the stalemate in the Donbas region. Bill Roggio joins the conversation. (13/16)1953 UNDER ARREST

SCHEDULE JBS 5-18-26.1962 ALGERIA Pakistan deployed 8,000 troops and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to reassure its ally. Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggionote that while mediating the Iran war, Islamabad leverages this military presence to avoid direct involvement in the regional conflict. (1/16)Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio observe that Washington is currently distracted by domestic politics and upcoming midterms, pushing the Iran war to secondary headlines. Global leadership has eroded due to partisan squabbling over issues like high gas prices. (2/16)Bill Roggio and Samuel Bener report that Israeli strikes killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the last original planner of the October 7 massacre remaining in Gaza. His elimination signals a pressure campaign against Hamas as they refuse to disarm during the ceasefire. (3/16)Bill Roggio and Bridget Toomey report that Iraq's new government remains incomplete with nine ministries vacant due to sectarian disputes. Washington refuses to cooperate if these posts are filled by members of Iran-backed, US-designated terrorist militia groups. (4/16)Malcolm Hoenlein criticizes The New York Times for publishing an opinion piece echoing propaganda against Israelalongside a report on Hamas atrocities. Critics suggest this timing was intended to undermine Israeli investigative findings. (5/16)Malcolm Hoenlein reports that Iran launched a digital insurance platform to bypass maritime sanctions and generate revenue in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Hezbollah refuses to disarm in Lebanon despite ongoing diplomatic negotiations held in Washington. (6/16)Alan Tonelson argues the Beijing summit achieved little, noting no shifts in Taiwan policy or tariffs. Tonelson and Gordon Chang emphasize China's economic distress, manufacturing overcapacity, and strategic reliance on rare earth minerals. (8/16)Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo discuss Raul Castro's potential indictment and regional shifts toward the right. They highlight the extradition of Alex Saab as a significant blow to Maduro. (9/16)Alejandro Peña Esclusa attributes Bolivia's turmoil to Cuban influence and Evo Morales's ties to drug trafficking. Ernesto Araújo views Bolivia as a critical "bellwether" for the criminal socialist project in Latin America. (10/16)Edmund Fitton-Brown discusses the Strait of Hormuz closure and the potential for military escalation if negotiations fail. He critiques European passivity and notes China's interest in reopening the vital waterway. Bill Roggio joins the conversation. (11/16)Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques a New York Times report on Israeli violence as poorly sourced and timed to distract from Hamas's sexual violence. He warns about shifts in American media coverage. Bill Roggio joins the conversation. (12/16)John Hardie examines the escalation of drone strikes between Ukraine and Russia, including attacks on Moscow'sinfrastructure. He notes the pressure on Russian air defenses and the stalemate in the Donbas region. Bill Roggio joins the conversation. (13/16)Joe Truzman details how Iran and its proxy, Kata'ib Hezbollah, outsource low-tech attacks against Jewish targets in Europe. He also discusses Israel's ongoing pursuit of justice for October 7th victims. Bill Roggio joins the conversation. (14/16)Sophie McDowall explains how terrorist groups use music on platforms like SoundCloud to radicalize new listeners. She details how artists bypass content moderation using coded language and nasheeds featuring battlefield audio. (15/16)Sophie McDowall explores the complex difficulty of balancing free speech rights with moderating radicalist audio content. She identifies Islamic art bands with ties to Hamas that use music to oppose coexistence. (16/16)

Charles Beaumont spent years as an MI6 officer running human sources before turning to fiction—and his second novel, A Spy at War, carries the authority of someone who has actually done the work. Set against the early days of the Ukraine War in 2022, the book maps the architecture of Russian disinformation: corruption narratives seeded into sympathetic media, useful idiots at senior policy levels, and the Chechen enforcers whose own histories implicate Moscow in the violence that built Putin's state. His conversation with Matt covers the CIA-SIS pre-invasion intelligence coup, the fracturing transatlantic alliance, and the Global South's soft-power vacuum—arriving at a conclusion that is harder to dismiss with every passing month: that this war won't be decided in the Donbas, but in the battle for Western public opinion, a battle the West is still not sure it's fighting.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.Order A Spy at War and Charles's first novel, A Spy Alone: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/259672/charles-beaumont/Follow Charles on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aspyalone.bsky.socialPlease share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/41737aYouTube: https://youtu.be/rEgHpRKW_GASupport Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSubscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comConnect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.netSecrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/Music by Andrew R. BirdPhotos by CanvaSecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Greetings, comrades, and welcome to The Eastern Border. Today, we are taking a long, hard look into the rotting, schizophrenic core of the Russian imperial delusion.The Kremlin generals are promising Vladimir Putin the entire Donbas by autumn, but the guys in the trenches are looking up at a sky entirely owned by Ukrainian drone swarms. In this episode, we audit the absolute collapse of the Russian state's connection to physical reality. We dive into the "Drone Wall" paralyzing Russian logistics, the dystopian slaughter of the Kuzbass dairy cows by the "Sovereign Feudalism" elite, and the frantic mothers of the 138th Brigade revealing that the Rostov military morgues are physically overflowing.But the real fatal blow? The 12-trillion ruble black hole in the Russian budget. As real inflation crosses 20% and the public withdraws 600 billion rubles in a massive bank run, the Kremlin has completely run out of cash. Their response? A terminal hallucination where the FSB blames their own drug epidemic on Kyiv, and the censorship board literally bans 10th-grade physics textbooks because the "Gay-Lussac" gas law sounds too much like Western propaganda.The empire is overdosing on vranyo, and the withdrawal symptoms are terminal.Become our patron:https://www.patreon.com/theeasternborderMerch store + another option for memberships:https://theeasternborder-shop.fourthwall.com/Follow what's going on here in the very border of Eastern Europe:https://bsky.app/profile/theeasternborder.lvDonate to the Ukrainian army so that they can get the trucks that they neehttps://car4ukraine.com/YouTube Link:https://youtu.be/ttwDtp4skucSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, Russia made slow but steady gains on the front line in eastern Ukraine. But now, effective deployment of Ukrainian drones, along with a host of other factors, have slowed the progress of Russian troops. Also, Pakistan is in the middle of a solar power revolution, increasing electricity generation from 2% to 25% over the past five years. And, a new law passed in Ottawa will remove the one-generation limit on citizenship based on descent, setting off a scramble among people seeking a potential exit strategy from the US to Canada. Plus, this year's World Cup final will have the first-ever half-time show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

2026-05-13 | UPDATES #201 | Russian assets assemble – how four synchronised attacks on Zelenskyy landed in the same 72 hours — and why the coordination is the story. The Mendel interview, the Yermak charges, the Gabbard biolabs allegation revival, and Putin's first-ever use of the phrase 'Mr Zelensky' — all in the same week. What is going on? We try to find patterns in the apparent chaos. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: The Tucker Carlson Show — Mendel interview, "Zelensky's Press Secretary Reveals All: Cocaine, Cover-ups, and the Only Obstacle Preventing Peace" (11 May 2026)LIGA.net — "Zelensky's former spokeswoman mentions surrender of Donbas. The OP says the lady did not participate in the negotiations" (11 May 2026) RBC-Ukraine — "Former Ukrainian presidential aide Yermak under investigation by anti-corruption bodies" (11 May 2026) Censor.NET — "NABU has notified former Head of the Presidential Office Yermak of the charges" (11 May 2026)RT — "Tulsi Gabbard's Ukrainian biolab investigation: what you need to know" (12 May 2026) RT — "Gabbard launches probe into 120+ US-funded biolabs in Ukraine and beyond" (12 May 2026) Newsweek — "Tulsi Gabbard Labeled a 'Russian Asset' for Pushing U.S. Biolabs in Ukraine Claim" (31 March 2022)Wikipedia — "Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory" — Comprehensive documentation of 2022 disinformation rejection by NYT, NPR, Guardian, CBS, Bloomberg, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, UN, US government, Ukrainian government; Russian scientists' own rejection; Zignal Labs and Pyrra Technologies analysis of origin in pre-invasion English-language influencer ecosystemHead Post — "More than 40 US-funded biolabs in Ukraine, says intelligence chief as Washington orders full inquiry" (12 May 2026)NBC News — "Hegseth halted weapons for Ukraine despite military analysis that the aid wouldn't jeopardize U.S. readiness" (July 2025) CNN — "Ukraine aid: Hegseth did not inform the White House before he authorized a pause on weapon shipments" (July 2025) The Hill — "Hegseth says $400M in Ukraine support released after McConnell's angry op-ed" (late April 2026)NOTUS — "Hegseth Says the Pentagon Released Funds for Ukraine" (late April 2026) — Don Bacon (R-NE) on Colby's "1890s to 1930s foreign policy"; Republican concerns about isolationist currentKyiv Post — "Hegseth Says Pentagon Released $400M in Ukraine Aid After Lawmaker Pressure" (late April 2026)The Hill — "Pentagon's pause on Ukraine munitions raises alarm; Democrats see 'rogue actors'" (July 2025) ----------

Americký prezident Donald Trump v úterý 12. května prohlásil, že mezi USA a Ruskem neexistuje shoda na tom, že by Rusko mělo získat celý ukrajinský Donbas. Ten Moskva nárokuje včetně oblastí, jež dosud neovládá. Jednou z hlavních překážek pro trvalý klid zbraní jsou právě ruské požadavky na stažení Ukrajiny z celého Donbasu, což Kyjev odmítá.Všechny díly podcastu Názory a argumenty můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.

On today's podcast we welcome Ivan Katchanovski to discuss his most recent book The Russia-Ukraine War and its Origins: From the Maidan to the Ukraine War (2025) . Ivan Katchanovski specializes in researching comparative politics, conflicts, political communication, and policy in Ukraine, the US, and Canada. He teaches at the School of Political Studies and the Conflict Studies and Human Rights Program at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He previously held academic positions at Harvard University, the State University of New York at Potsdam, the University of Toronto, and the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.Open access to the book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-98724-3Book description:This open access book examines the Russia-Ukraine war and its origins. Based on analysis of a large number of primary and secondary sources, it provides a systematic analysis of this crucial war, its nature, outcome, possibility of peaceful settlement, violence against civilians, and origins. The book examines the role of such factors as the NATO accession of Ukraine, Russian imperialism, democracy, genocide, and the far-right in the start of the war and traces the conflict escalation ladder, which culminated in this war, to preceding violent conflicts in Ukraine, in particular, the Euromaidan, the Maidan massacre, the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the war in Donbas. The Russia-Ukraine war is the most significant armed conflict of the 21st century in the entire world and in Europe since World War Two in terms of countries involved, casualties inflicted, and actual and potential impact in the world. This book analyzes the involvement of different conflict parties, such as the Ukrainian, Russian, and Western governments, Donbas separatists, and the far right, in this crucial war and in the Euromaidan, the Maidan massacre, the Russian annexation of Crimea, and the war in Donbas, and the nature of these conflicts. This book also examines support for pro-Western/pro-nationalist and pro-Russian/pro-communist political parties and presidential candidates and attitudes towards separatism and joining the European Union, NATO, and the union with Russia in regions of Ukraine in parliamentary and presidential elections and surveys since the Euromaidan.

Silicon Bites Ep337 | 2026-05-12 | Assets or idiots? Delusional or disingenuous. Politics as usual, or treacherous behaviour? Do they work for the Kremlin or for themselves? Iuliia Mendel's 96 Minutes with Tucker Carlson and the question that decides what they are, and whose interests they work for. 11–12 May 2026 — The Day After Mendel's Interview Drops — and the Day Russia's Propaganda Machine Lights It Up. We now have Yermak's arrest, the Carlson interview and now some Ukrainian biolabs nonsense investigation being launched in the U.S. Are these things possibly connected? We'll explore that in another episode tomorrow. For now, let's turn to two figures that give a very convincing impression of acting as Russia assets.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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----------SOURCES:The Tucker Carlson Show — "Zelensky's Press Secretary Reveals All: Cocaine, Cover-ups, and the Only Obstacle Preventing Peace" (11 May 2026, 96 minutes) LIGA.net — "Zelensky's former spokeswoman mentions surrender of Donbas. The OP says the lady did not participate in the negotiations" (11 May 2026) TASS — "Ukraine's rich do not revolt against Zelensky for fear of sanctions — former secretary" (11 May 2026)Pravda EN (news-pravda.com) — Multiple stories within 12 hours: "Former press secretary Yulia Mendel gave a scathing interview to American journalist Tucker Carlson" (6 hours); "Zelensky demanded Goebbels-style propaganda" (8 hours); "Donbas during negotiations with Russia in Istanbul in 2022"; "Yulia Mendel said that she had spoken to people who have known the comedian for more than 20 years - everyone says that he is on cocaine"; "Nord Stream blast linked to corruption dispute with Zelensky" (11 May 2026)Pravda USA (usa.news-pravda.com) — "Former press secretary Yulia Mendel in an interview with Tucker Carlson: Zelensky is one of the biggest obstacles to peace today" (11 May 2026) The New American — "Putin Says Ukraine War Is Nearing End" / Paul Dragu coverage (11 May 2026) ----------

Georgijs Ivanovs started the Ukraine Matters channel in 2007, and it has garners 11.5 m views. He started the channel to explain the situation surrounding the war in Ukraine in simple terms. Like myself, he is not Ukrainian, nor is he a military expert. But he has been to Ukraine many times and seen it almost fully (except for Odesa region). He has a lot of good friends in Ukraine, and in fact his wife is Ukrainian, and so feels extremely connected to the invasion that scaled up in February 2022. ----------LINKS: @UkraineMatters ----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampires----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------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/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------DESCRIPTION:Russia's Offensive Stalls: Drone Warfare, Attrition Data & Why Europe Needs Ukraine's Lessons (Georgijs Ivanovs)Jonathan welcomes back Georgijs Ivanovs of “Ukraine Matters” while promoting a fundraiser to buy Vampire drones for Khartiya Brigade via Silicon Curtain, noting plans to meet the group in Kyiv and later Kharkiv. Georgijs Ivanovsargues data shows Russia is struggling to restart its spring/summer offensive: assaults are up but territorial gains fell, averaging about 4.5 km²/day versus about 20 km²/day during Russia's 2025 offensive, implying Donbas capture timelines stretch dramatically. He attributes Russia's problems to Ukraine's pressure—mid-range strikes on logistics, disrupted Russian communications (Starlink denial plus Russian blocks on Telegram and Discord), and sustained casualties exceeding recruitment (estimated 25–35k/month). They discuss drone warfare's defensive advantage, skepticism about coup rumors (especially involving Shoigu), Putin's pattern of waiting and doubling down, Europe's slow adaptation and procurement failures, and growing European recognition of vulnerability as US/NATO guarantees appear less reliable.----------

Putin's Revisionist History and the 2014 InvasionIn 2021, during pandemic isolation, Putin authored an essay claiming Russians and Ukrainians are "one people," a document Finkel describes as a collection of unhistorical myths. This ideology fueled the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the infiltration of the Donbas following the Euromaidan revolution, where Ukrainians rejected a corrupt, pro-Russian proxy. While Russian propaganda claimed the Donbas movements were indigenous, they were actually driven by Russian mercenaries and military officers. Putin's goal is not merely security against NATO, but the total subordination of Ukraine as a client state to restore the Russian Empire. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. (5/8)1882

James Verini is an American long-form journalist and author who writes for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic and other outlets. The Pulitzer Center describes him as a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic whose work has won both a National Magazine Award and a George Polk Award. He is also the author of They Will Have to Die Now: Mosul and the Fall of the Caliphate, about the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS.On Ukraine, Verini's major reporting arc includes “In the Trenches of Ukraine's Forever War” from January 2022, “Surviving the Siege of Kharkiv” from May 2022, “The Theater” / “Witness to the Massacre in Mariupol” from September 2022, “The Collaborators” from November 2023, and a 2025 New Yorker essay on Alexander Dugin and the ideological roots of Russia's war. His own site describes the Donbas before the full-scale invasion as a “deadlocked, time-warped conflict,” Kharkiv as a city Russia battered but failed to take, and the Mariupol theater bombing as “the defining atrocity of the Ukraine War.” (James Verini)----------LINKS:https://jamesverini.com/books/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theater-Courage-Survival-Defining-Atrocity/dp/1668062208/ref=sr_1_2https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Theater/James-Verini/9781668062203https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Verinihttps://www.newyorker.com/contributors/james-verinihttps://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/james-verinihttps://pulitzercenter.org/people/james-verini----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - 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/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

VAE weg uit OPEC | Aziatische landen zoeken energie bij Rusland | Oekraïense drones raken Russische olie Iran presenteert een driefasenplan voor een staakt-het-vuren, maar koppelt dat aan tolheffing in de Straat van Hormuz en het opheffen van de blokkade, waardoor Trump het voorstel direct afwijst. De economie in Iran stort intussen in: staal- en tapijtsector liggen grotendeels stil, de internetblokkade kost miljarden en de Nationale Veiligheidsraad bereidt zich voor op mogelijke opstanden. Trump raakt door zijn Iran-politiek in een uitputtingsslag verzeild, met hogere olieprijzen, dalende approval ratings en beperkte ruimte om verder te escaleren. In de regio schuiven de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten weg van OPEC en zoeken ze nieuwe bondgenoten, mogelijk in de Europese Unie, terwijl Hezbollah met geavanceerde FPV-drones Israëlische doelen aanvalt. Tegelijk groeit in Azië de energieafhankelijkheid van Rusland, wat de geopolitieke kloof tussen Oost en West verdiept. Oekraïne opent een nieuw front met massale drone-inzet, schiet tienduizenden vijandelijke drones neer en treft Russische olie-installaties en schepen tot diep in het achterland. Kyiv bouwt een wapenindustrie met honderden bedrijven op, produceert miljoenen drones per jaar en profileert zich als toekomstige leverancier voor Europese defensies. Terwijl Rusland zelfmoordachtige infiltratiemissies uitvoert in de Donbas en zijn overwinningsparade moet inkrimpen uit angst voor drones, zoeken landen als Finland en Estland de nauwe band met Oekraïne juist als garantie voor hun eigen veiligheid. [Samenvatting geschreven door AI en gecontroleerd door mens] Over de Podcast Arend Jan Boekestijn en Rob de Wijk gaan onder leiding van Hugo Reitsma op zoek naar de nieuwe wereldorde. Wat betekenen oorlog, machtspolitiek en economische verschuivingen voor Europa en Nederland? In elke aflevering duiken zij in de geopolitieke actualiteit. In 2022 werd Boekestijn en De Wijk uitgeroepen tot winnaar in de categorie Nieuws & Politiek tijdens de Dutch Podcast Awards Reageren? Op X: @ajboekestijn en @robdewijk Bluesky: @hugoreitsma.bsky.social Mail: boekestijnendewijk@bnr.nl Over de makers: Arend Jan Boekestijn is een Nederlands historicus en voormalig politicus. Hij studeerde geschiedenis en politieke wetenschappen aan de Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Boekestijn is voormalig Tweede Kamerlid (tot 2009). Sinds 1989 is hij verbonden aan de vakgroep geschiedenis van de Universiteit Utrecht en sinds 2016 lid van commissie Vrede en Veiligheid van AIV. Rob de Wijk studeerde eigentijdse geschiedenis en internationale betrekkingen, promoveerde op kernwapenstrategieën, werd hoogleraar in Leiden en richtte in 2007 het Den Haag Centrum voor Strategische Studies op. Hugo Reitsma studeerde rechten en politicologie. Hij werkte eerder als politiek verslaggever en vanuit verschillende conflictgebieden. Hij is auteur van het boek ‘Boekestijn en De Wijk voorspellen de toekomst’ (november 2023).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Una coreografía de exilios y retornos, que cruza décadas, continentes y géneros, alrededor de la melancolía íntima y del canto como memoria histórica.Tonada negra de Guatire (Estado Miranda) +El Café de Chinitas +El mal de l’amor (Olot) +Yaraví: Los imposibles (Bolivia) Samuel Diz; Gustavo Durán El mal de l'amor: The Songbook of Gustavo DuránAlgemas +Ausência em Valsa Lina; Marco Mezquida O FadoButterfly +Cailleach Aoife Ní Bhriain; Cormac McCarthy Cosán CastaLo Vas A Olvidar (with ROSALÍA) Billie Eilish; ROSALÍA Lo Vas A Olvidar (with ROSALÍA)Anunci al diari Magalí Sare; Cor Bruckner Barcelona DESCASADA, Vol. 1Île Du Ramier - L'enamorament Marc Vilajuana; Marcel Torres PanteismeTariq Matthieu Saglio; Camille Saglio Al AlbaRomerico, tú que vienes Juan del Encina; Taracea Desvíos a SantiagoContinuum Las Hermanas Caronni El espacio del tiempoForeign land +4.5.0. Daughters o Donbas y Marichka Songs of stolen childrenEscuchar audio

Chris Paul and Burning Bright settle into a new Thursday night 10:30 PM ET time slot with a deep dive into David Cronenberg's 2007 crime drama Eastern Promises, written by Steven Knight and starring Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. The guys unpack why this stoic, brutal character study is more than a mob movie. It's a meditation on moral relativism, the weapons of the enemy, and the blurry line between systems and sovereigns. Along the way, they argue that stories (not facts) are the real terrain of the info war, using Nikolai's undercover FSB operation as a lens for understanding narrative warfare, controlled opposition, and what it really means when you can't verify any of the "real" stories being fed through your screen. They also wander into the Russian Vory code, the Ukrainian oligarch pipeline, Putin's strange bureaucratic war on the criminal underworld, the Donbas trafficking pipeline, and why Nikolai's tattoo ceremony is really a ritual of dehumanization. Plus, a sneak peek at next week's pick: No Country for Old Men.

In episode 2046, Jack and guest co-host Jacquis Neal are joined by comedian, Alex Falcone, to discuss… Ukraine Is Proposing That Part Of The Donbas Region Be Named "Donnyland" To Appeal To Trump, People Who Used A Bear Suit For Insurance Fraud Are Sentenced To Jail In California. FBI To Lead Distraction-- Uh... "Investigation" Into Missing/Dead Scientists and more! ‘Donnyland’? Ukraine Proposes Naming Part of the Donbas in Trump’s Honor. Art of the praise: Why flattering Trump is now the go-to diplomatic move NATO's Rutte Likens Trump to a 'daddy' in Israel-Iran Conflict Japanese PM promises golden age in relations with US during Trump visit I don’t regret gifting Nobel prize to Trump: Venezuela’s Machado South Korea awards Trump gold crown amid deal to unlock $350bn trade talks Leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan Sign Peace Pledge at White House Humans Who Used a Bear Suit to Defraud Car Insurers Are Sentenced to Jail Department of Insurance - Operation Bear Claw Footage The ‘Missing-Scientist’ Story Is Unbelievably Dumb Evidence uncovered in New Mexico may help solve at least one disappearance linked to missing scientists At least 10 scientists tied to sensitive US research have died or disappeared in recent years, sparking federal investigation 11th dead scientist linked to UFOs emerges in recent string of disappearances, deaths: 'NOT NORMAL' 11 Scientists Are Dead or Missing. It Was Only a Matter of Time Before Conspiracy Theories Hit the White House. Watch: Rogan Encapsulates Why Missing Scientists Are No Conspiracy Theory... PSFC showcases technologies applicable to both fusion and geothermal energy during representative’s visit 11th scientist death emerges in string of missing, dead officials with access to US secrets Alabama anti-gravity researcher found dead; 11th scientist to die or vanish since 2023 Who Is Amy Eskridge? Scientist’s Death Queried Amid US Expert Mysteries Amy Eskridge’s father denies her death is suspicious amid scientist probe Shooter who killed Brown students and MIT professor planned attack for months, says DOJ Brown shooting suspect: gruelling academic climate may have taken mental toll, say ex-classmates LISTEN: Coffin Nails by MF DOOMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 81: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (3:00) SPECIAL COMMENT: "Donald Trump Is Losing His Mind." It's the headline on a column in perhaps the most prominent MAGA magazine headline. It's not me saying it this time. Not Jimmy Kimmel. Not George Conway. Not a psychiatrist. The Washington Examiner: “Donald Trump Is Losing His Mind.” Why? Just because he’s also losing IRAN? Just because he’s COMPARING Iran to Vietnam (which he dodged)? Just because he threatened to go General Sherman on Teheran? Just because he's just announced you are no longer ALLOWED to CRITICIZE him ABOUT Iran? “Donald Trump Is Losing His Mind” writes The Washington Examiner - guess that makes it unanimous (and there is now polling on this!) ALSO: House Democrats want Kash Patel to take an alcoholism screening test. His choices amount to: a) ARE you an alcoholic? b) Are you so FULL of alcohol you’re at risk of bursting into flames, or c) are you J. Edgar Boozer. AND about the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday. The Correspondents Association is obeying in advance to Trump, calling him an "honoree" and welcoming his rats like Brendan Carr and Stephen Miller. If you’re attending this dinner, and you are not planning to storm out or otherwise using this rare opportunity to protest Trump’s presence, you’re not only a traitor to JOURNALISM, you’re a traitor to America. B-Block (36:00) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Trump's "National Garden Of Heroes" with 250 statues of everybody from Elvis to Whittaker Chambers is dumb enough. What happens when they forget to order the statues? Interior Secretary Burgum wants Theodore Roosevelt in the pro football Hall of Fame even though there wasn't pro football while T.R. was alive. And new Congressman Clay Fuller says he was only joking when he said Georgia was named after George Washington. C-Block (45:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: Talking about dinner in DC Saturday (The White House Correspondents) led me to mention my disastrous dates last century with Laura Ingraham on social media and there was considerable disbelief so it's time to tell that story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1,518.Today, after months of back-room negotiations, delays and doubts, we go live to Brussels as the EU finally approves the €90 billion loan for Ukraine. How significant is this decision for Kyiv's war effort – and what happens now that the funding is secured? We also report on the proposal of “Donnyland”, a suggested name for territory in Donbas Ukraine may dedicate to Donald Trump. Then we round up the latest headlines from Russia and Central Asia.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Ukraine to launch EU-funded weapons spending spree after Orban defeat (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/21/ukraine-to-spend-90bn-eu-windfall-on-patriots-and-storm-sha/ The Ukrainian negotiator who can silence Russia's guns with one call (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/20/ukrainian-peacemaker-swapping-prisoners Ukraine proposes creating ‘Donnyland' to satisfy Trump (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/22/ukraine-proposes-creating-donnyland-to-satisfy-trump/ A banking crisis made in the Kremlin is gripping Russia (Melissa Lawford in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/22/a-banking-crisis-made-in-the-kremlin-is-gripping-russia/ Putin closes major oil pipeline to Germany (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/22/putin-stokes-european-fuel-crisis-cutting-off-oil-germany/ Russian economy is faltering despite oil windfall, Sweden warns (Financial Times):https://www.ft.com/content/04a9d05d-2502-44d4-b7e0-041aaa4f83cd?syn-25a6b1a6=1 ‘Donnyland'? Ukraine Proposes Naming Part of the Donbas in Trump's Honor (New York Times):https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/us/politics/donnyland-ukraine-donbas-trump.html Russia and North Korea Celebrate Joining of First Road Bridge (Moscow Times):https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/04/21/russia-and-north-korea-celebrate-joining-of-first-road-bridge-a92556 New biography on author Mikhail Bulgakov labeled under 'drug propaganda' law in Russia (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/amid-growing-censorship-laws-book-on-author-mikhail-bulgakov-labeled-drug-propaganda-in-russia/?mc_cid=9364e648a5&mc_eid=08d0680a95 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS: EU approves €90 billion loan for Ukraine.A territory in the Donbas region of Ukraine may be named ‘Donnyland' in tribute to Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Myra Junyk reviews Serhy Yekelchyk's Ukraine – What Everyone Needs to Know (2nd Edition), a comprehensive analysis of Ukraine's development as an independent state and the challenges it has faced since 1991. The book updates Yekelchyk's earlier work The Conflict in Ukraine and focuses on national identity, corruption, Russian aggression, and Ukraine's international relationships.Myra outlines the book's seven chapters, which address Ukraine's strategic importance, its land and people, the post‑communist transition, the Orange Revolution and EuroMaidan, Russia's annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, the 2022 full‑scale invasion, and Ukraine's role in global security. Yekelchyk highlights the failure of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum to protect Ukraine and examines how American policymakers came to understand Ukraine's significance in countering Russian ambitions.The episode also notes the author's treatment of controversial topics, including historical myths, Ukrainian nationalism, systemic corruption, and the early period of Zelensky's presidency. Yekelchyk provides readers with tools for further study, including a chronology, map, notes on sources, and an extensive reading list.Ukraine – What Everyone Needs to Know is available at Chapters/Indigo and Amazon (affiliate link). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silicon Bites Ep319 | 2026-04-17 | Russia's Donbas ultimatum, America's contradictions, and why JD Vance doesn't know what he's talking about. How do I know? On April 8th, from Budapest — standing alongside Viktor Orbán — JD Vance looked into a camera and said this: "We're talking about haggling at this point over a few square kilometres of territory in one direction or another. Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men?"A few square kilometres. That's the Vice President of the United States describing the fate of millions of Ukrainian citizens, a fortified defensive belt holding back a Russian army of 680,000, and territory that — if surrendered — would give Moscow a launchpad for the next phase of its invasion.Two days later, Zelenskyy responded. "The Vice President, with all due respect, does not take part in the negotiations. If he were involved, he would probably have a deeper understanding of what Ukrainian territory actually is."----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Kyiv Independent — "Russia sets yet another Donbas capture deadline while demanding Ukraine withdraw without fighting, HUR says" (April 17, 2026) Kyiv Post — "Moscow Gears Up for New Offensive, Eyes Total Donbas Control by September – HUR" (April 17, 2026)Rubryka — "Russia prepares spring-summer offensive and aims to seize Donbas by autumn – Ukraine's intelligence" (April 17, 2026) Ostro Info / Hromadske — "Russia intends to carry out a summer offensive and capture Donbas by September" (April 2026) UNITED24 Media — "Russia Gives Ukraine Two-Month Deadline to Leave Donbas, Zelenskyy Says" (March 31, 2026) Al Jazeera — "Russia claims to take full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region" (April 1, 2026) CFR Global Conflict Tracker — "War in Ukraine" (updated April 2026) RFE/RL — "Rubio Accuses Zelenskyy Of Lying About US Position On Bid To End Russia's War" (March 27, 2026) Kyiv Independent — "'That's a lie' — Rubio dismisses Zelensky's claims US security guarantees tied to withdrawal from Donbas" (March 27, 2026)Kyiv Independent — "Zelensky responds to Rubio's accusation of lying" (March 28, 2026)Euronews — "Rubio slams Zelenskyy's Donbas comments and says US may divert Ukraine arms to Iran" (March 27, 2026)The Irish Times — "'That's a lie': Rubio denies Zelenskiy claim US is demanding Kyiv give up eastern Donbas" (March 28, 2026) Kyiv Post — "Rubio Rejects Zelensky's Claim That US Linked Security Guarantees to Ukraine's Withdrawal From Donbas" (March 27, 2026) ----------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----------

2026-04-18 | UPDATES #177 | Putin has never been weaker — and he knows it. Everything is falling apart for the tyrant of the Kremlin. Putin has never been in a worse position than he is right now. Nothing is going his way — simultaneously, across every front — in the spring of 2026.The front is stalled. Losses are outpacing recruitment. The economy has contracted for the first time since the invasion. His approval rating is falling for the sixth straight week. Two-thirds of Russians want peace talks. His last remaining European ally was swept from power by his own voters. The oil windfall from the Iran war is evaporating. Ukrainian drones are systematically dismantling Russian refining capacity. And the propaganda machine — the machine that held the line through Kharkiv, through Prigozhin, through four years of attrition — is cracking. In 2022, when Putin lost Kharkiv and Kherson, he still had cards to play. Mobilisation. The war economy. Orbán. Trump. Iran as a partner. The threat of freezing Ukraine into submission. Every card has now been played. None of them worked. Ukraine has only got stronger despite the terrible suffering that Putin has inflicted on the country and its people. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv next month, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in April 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: UNITED24 Media — "Putin's Approval Rating Slides to 66.7% Amid Falling Trust and Declining Party Support" (April 17, 2026) UNITED24 Media — "Putin's Approval Rating Falls to Lowest Level Since 2022" (April 10, 2026)Kyiv Post — "Putin's 'Real' Approval Rating Falls Below 30% for First Time Since Start of War" (April 10, 2026) RBC Ukraine — "Putin's approval rating continues to fall" (April 17, 2026) RFE/RL — "In Russia, Putin Sees Something Not Seen In Years: A Notable Drop In Approval Ratings" (April 2026)Meduza — "Putin's approval rating falls below 70%" (April 10, 2026) Kyiv Independent — "Russia sets yet another Donbas capture deadline" (April 17, 2026) Kyiv Post — "Moscow Gears Up for New Offensive, Eyes Total Donbas Control by September" (April 17, 2026)ISW / Critical Threats — "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 13, 2026" ----------

2026-04-14 | UPDATES #172 | The ghost leaves the machine — Surkov's alleged flight and the unravelling of Putinism. The man who invented "managed reality" for the Kremlin has, reportedly, had to manage his own reality to remain out of prison. Disappeared. A fugitive. That's the rumour. The subject of a criminal case being — and I quote the phrasing from Russian sources — "being prepared." The ghost-writer of Putin's postmodern autocracy has been ghosted by the system he built.Vladislav Surkov. Putin's brain. That was never Dugin – but Surkov is a far more likely candidate for that title. The grey cardinal. The architect of sovereign democracy. The curator of the invasion of Ukraine. The man who ran the Donbas occupation like a stage production. And, according to multiple Russian and Ukrainian sources in the last few hours, a man who has just bolted from Russia — one step ahead, they say, of the FSB knock on the door.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv next month, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in April 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: EADaily, "What do you mean, 'left'? The Kremlin commented on Surkov's 'emergency departure'" (11 March 2026) — Peskov / RTVI quote, Yuri Kotenok Telegram sourcing. Informat (Romania), "Vladislav Surkov, former advisor to Putin, has fled Russia due to investigations related to the management of funds" (10 March 2026) — UAE / Latin America speculation, 2014–2020 funds investigation.Ukraine Today, "BREAKING NEWS: Vladislav Surkov has urgently fled Russia fearing immediate arrest" (10 March 2026) Stellar Reaches, "A Russian Puppetmaster Flees" (11 March 2026)PD Jukes / Trojan Horses Substack, "The Ghost Who Fled: Surkov's Fall and the Unravelling of Putinism" (Scout's Diary Entry #444, 9 March 2026) The L'Express interview (19 March 2025) and analysis:Kyiv Post, "'War in Ukraine Will Separate Sheep From Goats' – Vladislav Surkov" (24 March 2025) Ukrainska Pravda (English), "'Novorossiya' ideologist claims Russia has no borders and will expand in all directions – ISW" (23 March 2025)UNITED24 Media, "'Russian World Has No Borders': Putin's Ex-Advisor Lays Out Kremlin's Expansionist Vision" (23 March 2025) Institute for the Study of War (via X/Twitter), 22 March 2025 assessment American Foreign Policy Council / National Interest, Ilan I. Berman, "Russia's Imperial Mindset Hasn't Changed" (11 April 2025)----------

The provided sources detail a series of interviews with historian Serhii Plokhy regarding the deep-seated origins and escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. He argues that Vladimir Putin operates as a dictator driven by 19th-century imperial ideologies, viewing Ukrainians and Russians as a single people to justify his aggression. The discussion highlights how the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent conflict in the Donbas were met with a Western policy of appeasement similar to that of the 1930s. This lack of a forceful initial response, combined with NATO's military unreadiness and the failure of the Minsk agreements, allegedly emboldened the Kremlin to pursue a full-scale invasion in 2022. However, the sources note that Putin severely miscalculated by assuming Ukraine remained as divided as it was in 2014, failing to realize that his previous actions had actually unified the Ukrainian nation. Ultimately, the text explores how intelligence failures, historical delusions, and shifting political landscapes transformed a regional struggle into a global catastrophe.1855 CRIMEA

THIS WEEK's BIRDS: John Coltrane w. Quartet; Alberto Favero salutes Coltrane; new music from Pier Bruera Trio; fado from Alberto Alves; from Bolivia: Trio Nanduti; also from Bolivia: Canela Palacios; Doña Onete from Brazil; pianist Marta Sanchez w. Maria Grand; vintage rock/pop from Zimbabwe: Mawonera Superstars, Congolese soukous/rumba from Bozi Boziana & Anti-Choc, as well as Mayaula Mayoni & also M Le Nganshie Strervos Niarcos; new music from Kalia Vandever; new music from Simon Hanes; Daughters of Donbas (fr4om Ukraine); Scandinavian improvisation/experimental jazz from Johnny Wartel w. Henrik Wartel, Matthias Landaeus & Georgia Wartel Collins; bop from Harold Vick; Filipe Zau & Filipe Mukenga (from Angola); Diaba Koîta (from Guinea) & Néné Soumano (From Mali); and yes, as ever.....so much, much, much more.... Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/22187400/Conference-of-the-Birds and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/  Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR   NEW MAILING ADDRESS:  Stephen Cope  @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA. 

Silicon Bites Ep314 | 2026-04-08 | Putin's quiet mobilisation and the breaking of the economic volunteer model. 409,000. That's how many men Vladimir Putin needs to push into uniform in 2026 to keep his war running. It's the figure Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi put on the record in February — Russia intends to draft over 400,000 people this year and stand up at least eleven new divisions. Four hundred thousand bodies to feed into the Pokrovsk meat grinder, into the Kupyansk line, into the drone killing fields of Donetsk Oblast.Putin has created an outsourced Gulag – where any infringement of the law, any threat to the regime will get you sent to the front – a one-way ticket for anyone other than the convict class of Wagner. Where the poor and powerless, where ethnic and identity minorities, where opponents and zealots can be sent to the outsourced concentration camp of the Donbas. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Institute for the Study of War (ISW) — Analysis on Kremlin preparations for hidden draft, February 2026. Kyiv Independent — "Putin signs law allowing year-round conscription in Russia," November 4, 2025. Kyiv Post — "Putin Signs Decree to Call Up Reservists for 2026 Training," December 9, 2025. Kyiv Post — "Russian Regional Boss Orders Businesses to Find Army 'Volunteers' Among Employees" (Ryazan / Malkov decree), late March 2026. The Moscow Times — Reporting on Ryazan decree No. 17, March 2026. dagens.com / Obozrevatel — "Russia may turn to forced conscription, analysts warn" (recruitment dropping below losses), March 2026. Meduza — "Russia's conscription system will become year-round starting January 1," December 30, 2025. The Moscow Times — "Russia's New Military Recruits Dipped in 2025, Figures Show," January 16, 2026. The Moscow Times — "Regions Reintroduce Huge Sign-On Bonuses for Contract Soldiers After Lowering Payments in 2025," January 14, 2026. The Moscow Times — "Regions Calling: Governments Cut Back on Once-Lucrative Military Enlistment Payments," January 6, 2026.----------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----------

2026-04-08 | UPDATES #167 | The day Russia lost the war: four years on from the retreat from Kyiv. Not the grinding meat-grinder war in the Donbas – which is a front in the broad conflict. Not the war of attrition that is still burning through Russian soldiers and Russian armour at a rate Moscow cannot replace. The actual war – the long war. The war Putin thought he was launching on 24 February 2022 — a three-day lightning strike, a decapitation of Kyiv, a puppet government installed by the end of the week, a victory parade on Khreshchatyk by the tenth day. That war was by 8 April 2022. The Kremlin just refused to accept the verdict. And refuses to this day to acknowledge that there was no strategic win to be gained, only incremental failure towards long-term loss. Four years later, we are still living inside the consequences of a man who lost his war but decided to keep fighting it anyway or at least sacrificing his people and resources to perpetuate the delusion that Russia could still win.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv next month, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in April 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Wikipedia (consolidated) — "2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine" and "Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)." Accessed April 2026.Wikipedia — "Battle of Bucha." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_BuchaChronicleAI / Kyiv dispatch — "Four Years On: EU Diplomats Converge on Kyiv to Mark Bucha Massacre, Vow Justice," April 2026. Euronews — "Romanian foreign minister in Kyiv on Bucha anniversary to witness 'moment of resilience,'" April 3, 2026. RFE/RL — "'Sea Of Pain': Emotional Ceremonies Held Across Ukraine As Russia's Full-Scale Invasion Enters 5th Year," February 24, 2026. UN News — "Ukraine: Bucha and Irpin rise from the ashes of Russian military occupation," February 2024. NPR — "Ravaged by Russian troops, Ukraine's Bucha rises from the ashes," July 2023. EUvsDisinfo — "In April 2022 Russians withdrew from Kyiv to demonstrate their readiness for peace" (debunking). Russia Matters (Harvard Kennedy School) — "The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card," March 25, 2026. Russia Matters — "The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card," March 18, 2026. ----------

Power doesn't just seize territory. It seizes the story. I'm using a selection of 6 excellent new books to follow the narrative battlegrounds where modern Russia tries to control what people see as true, normal, and inevitable, and where society still finds ways to push back even when formal protest is risky, whether in framing Harry Potter, or surviving in the occupied Donbas.The books in question are:Alexis Lerner, Post-Soviet Graffiti. Free Speech in Authoritarian States (University of Toronto Press, 2025) - see also her Eurasian Knot podcast interview here.Michael Gorham, Networking Putinism. The rhetoric of power in the digital age (Cornell University Press, 2026)Eliot Borenstein,The Politics of Fantasy. Magic, Children's Literature and Fandom in Putin's Russia (University of Wisconsin Press, 2025). Greta Lynn Uehling, Everyday War: The Conflict Over Donbas, Ukraine  (Cornell University Press, 2023)David Lewis, Occupation. Russian Rule in Southeastern Ukraine (Hurst, 2025) Martin Laryš, Rebel Militias in Eastern Ukraine, from leaderless groups to proxy armies (Routledge, 2025). Details of the Times event on 7 May I mentioned are here.The podcast's corporate partner and sponsor is Conducttr, which provides software for innovative and immersive crisis exercises in hybrid warfare, counter-terrorism, civil affairs and similar situations.You can also follow my blog, In Moscow's Shadows, and become one of the podcast's supporting Patrons and gain question-asking rights and access to exclusive extra materials including the (almost-) weekly Govorit Moskva news briefing right here. Support the show

2026-04-01 | UPDATES #159 | Girkin's letter from prison on the Telegram Kill Switch, Shoigu Slipping, and the Iron Curtain Descending. Based on Igor Girkin's prison letter (March 22, 2026) and other reporting. Igor Girkin (Strelkov) was once untouchable — a former FSB colonel, a war criminal by any honest accounting, the man who by his own admission pulled the trigger that started the Donbas war in 2014, the commander sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a Dutch court for his role in shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and killing all 298 people aboard. A man who called Putin a "lowlife" and a "cowardly bum" on his Telegram channel — and was arrested the following day. He is now in a penal colony in the Kirov region of Russia. Strelkov — (the Shooter) is currently serving four years in a Russian penal colony on charges of inciting extremism. He is one of the most hawkish, most committed Russian nationalists in the country's entire political ecosystem. He is not a democrat, not a liberal, not a friend of Ukraine in any sense of that word.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv next month, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in April 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------

Trump Wants National Guard in NY and Chicago. Staffers Calling Hegseth: “Dumb McNamara” Baseball is Back. The Sweet 16 is Something Good. Independent Americans host and Iraq War veteran Paul Rieckhoff fires a solo fastball of an episode breaking down the fast-escalating Iran war, the growing danger to American troops from drones and missiles, and Trump's increasingly unhinged push to put U.S. troops in American cities. From Karg Island traps and “Dumb McNamara” at the Pentagon, to Congress getting rolled on War Powers and insiders cashing in on war and prediction markets, Rieckhoff connects the dots you're not getting anywhere else—and explains why this moment demands courage, accountability, and vigilance.​ Rieckhoff also spotlights the growing No Kings protests, the stakes in Ukraine as Trump tries to sell out Donbas to Putin, and a new bipartisan bill to stop political gambling by Members of Congress. In classic IA style, he brings the heat and the hope—shouting out Tina Turner, Opening Day, March Madness, and his upcoming conversation with Dropkick Murphys' Ken Casey—while previewing his hits on MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports, NewsNation with Connell McShane, and an upcoming appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories—and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the winter of 2013-14, protests erupted in Kyiv, Ukraine. Their goal was to oppose President Viktor Yanukovich's rejection of the EU Association Agreement. Many protesters saw the Agreement as a meaningful step for Ukraine to enter the European orbit. And the protests might have fizzled. But the massacre of over 120 people by police snipers on 20 February, 2014, inspired hundreds of thousands more to enter the streets, seize government buildings, and occupy city centers. The protests quickly spread throughout Ukraine. The Euromaidan proved a historical turning point. The Yanukovich regime fell, Russia seized Crimea, and pro-Russian forces seized Donbas city centers. What were the short and long term causes of this revolution? Was it a revolution? What were its participants' aspirations? And how did the euphoric desire for a democratic, European Ukraine devolve into a mad spiral short of civil war? Longtime friend of the pod, William Risch was in Kyiv in those initial days. Now he's combined his experiences with research to produce a new critical history of the Euromaidan. The Eurasian Knot spoke to Bill about the maidan, the chaos of those days, and its legacies in Ukraine and the region at large.Guest:William Jay Risch is Professor of History at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia. He's the author of The Ukrainian West: Culture and the Fate of Empire in Soviet Lviv. His new book is Ukraine's Euromaidan: From Revolutionary Euphoria to the Madness of War published by Bloomsbury Academic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The "Yunarmiya" or 'Youth army' is a movement that was founded in January 2016 by the Russian government. In total, more than 1.8 million children in Russia have joined the movement. As of May 2025, more than 120,000 Youth Army graduates served in the Russian army and other security forces. The Youth Army is also actively recruting Ukrainian children in occupied regions of the country. This began in parts of Ukraine even before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, in places like Crimea and Donbas. The children are taught to sing the Russian national anthem; kiss the Russian flag; dig trenches and handle guns. Zhanna Bezpiatchuk of BBC Ukrainian has been looking into how these Youth Armies operate in occupied regions of Ukraine. Simon Bolivar was a nineteenth century soldier and statesman who led six countries - Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama - to independence from the Spanish empire and earned himself the title of ‘El Libertador', the liberator. He left a huge legacy in South America and is still considered by many as a revolutionary hero. Growing up in Venezuela, Juan Alosno of BBC Mundo was very familiar with Bolivar's mythology, because it was taught to him in school. Even as a child, there were a couple of details that just didn't stack up for him.... so he set out to investigate. At the end of January this year, 6 people were caned in public for violating Sharia law in Aceh, Indonesia. Caning is a common punishment for breaking Islamic law in religiously conservative Aceh, although the practice has drawn criticism from rights groups who say it's cruel. Aceh has a unique identity within Indonesia, and is the only part of the country to practice Sharia. Astudestra Ajengrastri of BBC Indonesian explains Aceh's history and why it chooses to be different from the rest of Indonesia. This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. Presented by Faranak Amidi. Produced by Laura Thomas and Caroline Ferguson(Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich.)

This week, Scott sat down with Editor in Chief Benjamin Wittes, who recently returned from Ukraine, and Lawfare's Ukraine Fellow Anastasiia Lapatina, to go through the latest developments in that country, including:“Cold War.” Russia's ongoing winter campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure has created a humanitarian crisis in many parts of the country. In Kyiv, at least one major power plant has been completely destroyed, and many more energy sites have been damaged. Numerous other parts of the country are without power and heating during a season when temperatures regularly dip below zero degrees Fahrenheit. What do these attacks show about the dynamics of the conflict? And what can be done to curb their effects?“Stuck in the Sand.” U.S.-backed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine—which continued in Abu Dhabi this past week—remain at an impasse, without tangible progress other than a prisoner of war exchange that led to the release of 157 Ukrainians from Russian captivity. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine surrender a large swath of territory in its eastern Donbas region, which Kyiv says is a red line. Meanwhile, President Zelensky has suggested that the United States is pushing the sides to end the war by summer 2026 — perhaps because of the U.S. midterm elections set to take place shortly thereafter. What is the state of the negotiations at this point? Is this a reasonable expectation by the administration? Or are there any areas for potential agreement in the short or medium term?“(P)eye in the Sky?”: The war in Ukraine is arguably the first to be fought in substantial part through drones. Not only has the conflict helped showcase the capabilities of drones, but it's spurred rapid development in the technology behind them—and methods that might be used to defeat them. What did Ben learn about these technologies on his trip? And what can it tell us about the future of warfare?In object lessons, Ben departs from his signature dog shirts to shirts of a more subversive nature. Nastya pleads to the power of your inner light in helping the families of Kyiv who are suffering through the energy crisis. And Scott encourages you to keep reading and caring about the War in Ukraine.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.