Podcasts about Russian

Sputnik 1 (/ˈspʌtnɪk, ˈspʊtnɪk/, Russian: Спутник-1, Satellite 1), often referred to as simply Sputnik, was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted. Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958.

“Mr Nobody Against Putin” is an Oscar-nominated documentary that tells the story of Pavel “Pasha” Talankin, a primary school teacher and videographer who becomes an international whistleblower. After being reluctantly drawn into Putin's propaganda machine, he starts documenting how ordinary Russians are indoctrinated with pro-war messages and recruited for the war.

3-2-20261971 HAHNAZ SQUARE, TEHRANHusain Haqqani critiques inconsistent US leadership and the "fog of war," expressing skepticism that air strikes alone can achieve regime change without ground troops or planning. Guest: Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani. 1.Husain Haqqani examines Pakistan's military strikes against the Taliban in Kabul, occurring alongside the broader regional instability triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Guest: Husain Haqqani, Bill Roggio. 2.Bridget Toomey and Bill Roggio puzzle over Houthi restraint despite solidarity with Iran, questioning if capabilities are depleted or being held for strategic reasons. Guest: Bill Roggio, Bridget Toomey. 3.Bridget Toomey details Iraqi militia drone attacks and embassy protests, highlighting Iran's deep influence over Iraqisecurity forces and the potential for further regional chaos. Guest: Bill Roggio, Bridget Toomey. 4.Malcolm Hoenlein reports on the decapitation of Iran's leadership and explores potential coalition governments, including the possible return of the exiled Crown Prince. Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein. 5.Malcolm Hoenlein describes the fluid situation in Lebanon as Hezbollah reactivates, while discussing global economic adjustments and the potential for increased OPEC oil production. Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein. 6.Captain James Fanell assesses US Navy control over the Straits of Hormuz, addressing Iranian propaganda and the accidental loss of US aircraft over Kuwait. Guest: Gordon Chang, Captain James Fanell. 7.Rick Fisher warns of Chinese involvement in Iranian air defenses and the possible transfer of hypersonic missiles, which could escalate the conflict into a stalemate. Guest: Gordon Chang, Rick Fisher. 8.Jonathan Sayeh highlights the revolutionary mindset of young Iranians celebrating the Ayatollah's death, suggesting they are waiting for clear instructions to reclaim their country. Guest: Bill Roggio, Jonathan Sayeh. 9.Jonathan Sayeh details a four-to-five-week military campaign to deplete Iran's missile stockpiles and leadership, paving the way for a potential civilian-led revolutionary uprising. Guest: Bill Roggio, Jonathan Sayeh. 10.Edmond Fitton-Brown discusses Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf neighbors like Qatar and the UAE, noting the effectiveness of regional air defenses against Iranian drones. Guest: Bill Roggio, Edmond Fitton-Brown. 11.Experts explore the risks of regime change in Iran, citing historical failures and the country's ethnic complexities while considering the role of the exiled monarchy. Guest: Bill Roggio, Edmond Fitton-Brown. 12.John Hardie explains Russia's marginal influence in the Iran crisis, noting Putin's cautious attempt to balance ties with Trump while focusing resources on Ukraine. Guest: Bill Roggio, John Hardie. 13.Discussion focuses on how the Middle East conflict might divert US interceptor missiles from Ukraine, impacting the ongoing war of attrition against Russian forces. Guest: Bill Roggio, John Hardie. 14.Ahmad Sharawi analyzes Iran's strategy of targeting Gulf civilian infrastructure to pressure the US into de-escalation, despite regional air defenses intercepting many attacks. Guest: Bill Roggio, Ahmad Sharawi. 15.Ahmad Sharawi reports on prisoner exchanges between Damascus and the Druze, suggesting a path toward decentralized stability and minority rights in a war-torn Syria. Guest: Bill Roggio, Ahmad Sharawi. 16.

The assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was a jolt for Iran, but its political system is built to sustain abrupt change. Also, a look back at the Russian government's troubled history with high-profile poisonings. And, how Israelis are celebrating Purim underground this year. Plus, how the European Union is responding to the US and Israel's war with Iran. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Discussion focuses on how the Middle East conflict might divert US interceptor missiles from Ukraine, impacting the ongoing war of attrition against Russian forces. Guest: Bill Roggio, John Hardie. 14.1921 ALEPPO

Preview for later today: John Hardie discusses how conflict in Iran affects Ukraine, specifically concerning Russiandrone production and the potential diversion of critical Patriot missile interceptors.1880 UKRAINE

Sam and Dylan are back to break down: the hot Columbia student that ICE detained, CIA Operation Artichoke documents, early government mind control programs and the origins of MKUltra, behavior-modification research and chemical influence experiments, Whitey Bulger as an alleged test subject, claims about everyday products impacting empathy, the "Lyme disease isn't real" debate, Erica Kirk intelligence pipeline speculation and Romanian intelligence connections, Epstein cannibal talk, Ghislaine Maxwell family power structure talk and alleged institutional influence networks, viral Epstein file chaos and Operation Trust psyop parallels, everything is an ad, Russian nesting doll disinformation theory, Howard Lutnick's family making more moves on inside information, and Gavin Newsom is still the worst.   Purchase Sam's Tickets Here: https://samtripoli.com/events/   Las Vegas, NV (The Mutiny 30th Anniversary): Feb 28th Bakersfield, CA: Mar 6th Yuma, AZ: Mar 7th Hollywood, CA (Comedy Chaos at The Comedy Store): Mar 10th Batavia, IL: Mar 26th–28th Toronto, ON (Catacombs Cafe): Apr 17th–18th Dallas, TX (Hyenas): Apr 24th Fort Worth, TX (Hyenas): Apr 25th Huntington Beach (The Mamba Sports Bar & Grill): June 10th Albuquerque, NM (Hyenas): June 12th-13th 1000th Episode at The Mothership: June 18th Lawrence, Kansas: September 17th & 19th   Buy Our Merch or Sam Will Fight You: https://conspiracy-social-club-aka-deep-waters.myshopify.com/   Check out Dylan's instagram - @dylanpetewrenn   Check out Deep Waters Instagram: @akadeepwaters   Check out Bad Tv podcast: https://bit.ly/3RYuTG0   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:   MARS MEN For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com

Hour 1: Jim Carrey may or may not have a clone. Amanda Seyfried doesn't want to be recognized by her bottom, and it inspires the first game of the week. There is SO MUCH to look forward to in March. Vinnie took his kids to see ‘GOAT' - here's what he thought. Daylight Savings is coming. Good news for night owls and bad news for people who work on a morning show… Plus, some men don't mind their manly duties! Hour 2: The SAG awards have rebranded and moved to Netflix. We still didn't watch, but here are the big winners. The Bachelor Mansion show has begun, but Bob wants to talk to Sarah about ‘Traitors' instead. Connor Storrie of ‘Heated Rivalry' took the SNL stage, Harry Styles wiggled at the BRIT Awards, and slurs flew at the BAFTAs. What's the most annoying thing someone can do in your car? Nothing nearly as annoying as the teenage eye roll. Plus, this stuff suddenly becomes more attractive once you're a true adult. (52:37) Hour 3: Bill Gates admits to having affairs with two Russian women. What's up with the Mahjong craze? Pink is taking over for Kelly Clarkson this week, and we can't wait to see her version of Kellyoke. House hushing is the new Marie Kondo-ing. Sometimes the hard way can be really hard, and Vinnie's internet term of the day: Alpine Divorce. (1:36:57) Hour 4: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced this year's nominees. Sarah and Vinnie deep dive the list and share their thoughts on Jeff Buckley to Phil Collins to Pink. Speaking of Billy Idol, ‘Billy Idol Should Be Dead' hits theaters this week. 10 things that happened 10 years ago this week! Plus, a tight game of “When did that happen?” (2:16:50)

Bill Gates admits to having affairs with two Russian women. What's up with the Mahjong craze? Pink is taking over for Kelly Clarkson this week, and we can't wait to see her version of Kellyoke. House hushing is the new Marie Kondo-ing. Sometimes the hard way can be really hard, and Vinnie's internet term of the day: Alpine Divorce.

Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjones Sam Tripoli is a stand-up comedian and host of the Tin Foil Hat podcast that explores conspiracies, shadow agendas, and alternative theories with humor and intensity. He also co-hosts Cash Daddies, Broken Simulation & World War Debate. SPONSORS https://www.twc.health/danny - Use code DANNY for $30 Off + FREE Shipping. https://shopmando.com - Use code DANNY for 20% off. https://stopboxusa.com/danny - Use code DANNY for 10% off StopBox today. https://hexclad.com/dannyjones - Get 10% off your forever cook wear today. https://whiterabbitenergy.com/?ref=DJP - Use code DJP for 20% off EPISODE LINKS @TinFoilHatOfficial https://x.com/samtripoli https://www.instagram.com/samtripoli https://samtripoli.com FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones https://twitter.com/jonesdanny OUTLINE 00:00 - There's only 4 conspiracies left 02:54 - Greater Israel Project 05:19 - Games being played with the Epstein files 08:31 - Operation Trust 10:44 - Epstein's bank statements 13:39 - 98% of Epstein files still unreleased 16:45 - Best possible proof Trump is innocent in Epstein scandal 20:26 - Our entire culture is manufactured by intelligence 24:13 - Hyatt Hotels CEO in the Epstein files 26:47 - Why they picked Epstein 30:53 - The Epstein & Hitler connection 35:49 - FaceBook started as a Pentagon program 38:37 - Apollo Global + NBA + LifeTouch = Epstein 41:42 - The Bad Bunny halftime show 45:05 - 4 pillars of a functioning society 48:46 - The reason behind 73 MILLION annual abortions 51:39 - Baal worship through history 58:45 - Israel's population problem 01:00:12 - The "protected classes" theory 01:03:15 - The divide within the Jewish population 01:09:44 - Ghislaine Maxwell's prison body double 01:13:00 - The British Empire is behind everything 01:15:04 - Secret plan to destroy the Constitution 01:19:39 - The movements Peter Thiel is quietly funding 01:20:29 - Clavicular & looksmaxxing 01:25:42 - Child sacrifice in ancient Judaism 01:29:31 - How Dane Cook changed comedy 01:35:30 - Why comedians started podcasting 01:38:28 - The tombstone algorithms 01:39:28 - How democrats are funding their election campaigns 01:42:24 - Sam's dirty comedy 01:45:07 - The poopy pants family 01:47:40 - The French & Russians' role in the Civil War 01:50:27 - Flying ships in the Civil War 01:52:42 - Modern events foretold in the Bible 01:54:19 - Sam's theory behind Jesus & religion 01:56:42 - Epstein's interest in parapsychology 02:01:36 - Worshipping the God of Crap 02:03:11 - The origins of NASA 02:07:04 - Germany lost WW2 - not the Nazis 02:08:49 - Operation Highjump 02:09:16 - The deal "aliens" made with the U.S. Government 02:15:56 - Nuclear weapons may have been a psyop 02:20:06 - Why Pam Bondi won't released all the Epstein files 02:27:09 - The man who predicted 9/11 02:31:13 - The Challenger crew secretly survived 02:36:49 - The psyop behind alien contact 02:39:34 - The FBI's cult coverup 02:47:06 - How Charlie Kirk's death changed everything Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last time we spoke about General Zhukov's armor offensives at Nomohan. Following heavy Japanese losses in May and June, General Georgy Zhukov arrives in June, reorganizes the Soviet 1st Army Group, and bolsters it with tanks, artillery, and reinforcements. The July offensive sees General Komatsubara's forces cross the Halha River undetected, achieving initial surprise. However, General Yasuoka's tank assault falters due to muddy terrain, inadequate infantry support, and superior Soviet firepower, resulting in heavy losses. Japanese doctrine emphasizing spiritual superiority clashes with material realities, undermining morale as intelligence underestimates Soviet strength. Zhukov learns key lessons in armored warfare, adapting tactics despite high casualties. Reinforcements pour in via massive truck convoys. Japanese night attacks and artillery duels fail, exposing logistical weaknesses. Internal command tensions, including gekokujo defiance, hinder responses. By August, Stalin, buoyed by European diplomacy and Sorge's intel, greenlights a major offensive. Zhukov employs deception for surprise. Warnings of Soviet buildup are ignored, setting the stage for a climactic encirclement on August 20.   #191 Zhukov Steel Ring of Fire at Nomohan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. On the night of August 19–20, under cover of darkness, the bulk of the Soviet 1st Army Group crossed the Halha River into the expanded Soviet enclave on the east bank. Two weeks of nightly Soviet sound effects had paid off: Japanese perimeter troops failed to distinguish the real deployment from the frequently heard simulations. Zhukov's order of battle was as follows: "Northern force, commanded by Colonel Alekseenko—6th Mongolian Cavalry Division, 601st Infantry Regiment (82nd Division), 7th Armored Brigade, 2 battalions of the 11th Tank Brigade, 82nd Artillery Regiment, and 87th Anti-tank Brigade. Central force, where Zhukov was located, commanded by his deputy, Colonel Petrov—36th Motorized Infantry Division, 82nd Infantry Division (less one regiment), 5th Infantry Machine Gun Brigade. Southern force, commanded by Colonel Potapov—8th Mongolian Cavalry Division, 57th Infantry Division, 8th Armored Brigade, 6th Tank Brigade, 11th Tank Brigade (less two battalions), 185th Artillery Regiment, 37th Anti-tank Brigade, one independent tank company. A mobile strategic reserve built around the 212th Airborne Regiment, the 9th Mechanized Brigade, and a battalion of the 6th Tank Brigade was held west of the Halha River." The Soviet offensive was supported by massed artillery, a hallmark of Zhukov's operations in the war against Germany. In addition to nearly 300 antitank and rapid-fire guns, Zhukov deployed over 200 field and heavy artillery pieces on both sides of the Halha. Specific artillery batteries were assigned to provide supporting fire for each attacking infantry and armored unit at the battalion level and higher. In the early hours of August 20, the sky began to lighten over the semiarid plain, with the false promise of a quiet Sunday morning. The air was clear as the sun warmed the ground that had been chilled overnight. General Komatsubara's troops were in no special state of readiness when the first wave of more than 200 Soviet bombers crossed the Halha River at 5:45 a.m. and began pounding their positions. When the bombers withdrew, a thunderous artillery barrage began, continuing for 2 hours and 45 minutes. That was precisely the time needed for the bombers to refuel, rearm, and return for a second run over the Japanese positions. Finally, all the Soviet artillery unleashed an intensive 15-minute barrage at the forwardmost Japanese positions. Komatsubara's men huddled in their trenches under the heaviest bombardment to which they or any other Japanese force had ever been subjected. The devastation, both physical and psychological, was tremendous, especially in the forward positions. The shock and vibration of incoming bombs and artillery rounds also caused their radiotelegraph keys to chatter so uncontrollably that frontline troops could not communicate with the rear, compounding their confusion and helplessness. At 9:00 a.m., Soviet armor and infantry began to move out along the line while their cover fire continued. A dense morning fog near the river helped conceal their approach, bringing them in some sectors to within small-arms range before they were sighted by the enemy. The surprise and disarray on the Japanese side was so complete, and their communications so badly disrupted, that Japanese artillery did not begin firing in support of their frontline troops until about 10:15 a.m. By then, many forward positions were overrun. Japanese resistance stiffened at many points by midday, and fierce combat raged along the front, roughly 40 miles long. In the day's fighting, Colonel M. I. Potapov's southern force achieved the most striking success. The 8th MPR Cavalry Division routed the Manchukuoan cavalry holding Komatsubara's southern flank, and Potapov's armor and mechanized infantry bent the entire southern segment of the Japanese front inward by about 8 miles in a northwesterly direction. Zhukov's central force advanced only 500–1,500 yards in the face of furious resistance, but the frontal assault engaged the center of the Japanese line so heavily that Komatsubara could not reinforce his flanks. Two MPR cavalry regiments and supporting armor and mechanized infantry from Colonel Ilya Alekseenko's northern force easily overran two Manchukuoan cavalry units guarding the northern flank of the Japanese line, about 2 miles north of the Fui Heights. But the heights themselves formed a natural strong point, and Alekseenko's advance was halted at what became the northern anchor of the Japanese line. As the first phase of the Soviet offensive gathered momentum, General Ogisu, the 6th Army's new commander, assessed the situation. Still unaware of Zhukov's strength, he reassured KwAHQ that "the enemy intends to envelop us from our flanks, but his offensive effectiveness is weak… Our positions in other areas are being strengthened. Set your mind at ease." This optimistic report contributed to Kwantung Army's delay in reinforcing the 23rd Division. Some at KwAHQ suspected this might be another limited Soviet push, like Aug 7–8, that would soon end. Others worried it was a diversion prior to a larger offensive and were concerned but not alarmed about Komatsubara's position. On Aug 21–22, Potapov's southern force pierced the Japanese main defense line at several points, breaking the southern sector into segments that the attackers sealed off, encircled, and ground down. Soviet armor, mechanized infantry, and artillery moved swiftly and with deadly efficiency. Survivors described how each pocket of resistance experienced its own hellish period. After the Japanese heavy weapons in a pocket were neutralized, Soviet artillery and tanks gradually tightened the ring, firing at point-blank range over open sights. Flame-throwing tanks incinerated hastily constructed fortifications and underground shelters. Infantry mopped up with grenades, small arms, and bayonets. By the end of Aug 23, Potapov had dismembered the entire Japanese defensive position south of the Holsten River. Only one significant pocket of resistance remained. Meanwhile, Potapov's 8th Armored Brigade looped behind the Japanese, reaching southeast of Nomonhan, some 11 miles east of the river junction, on the boundary claimed by the MPR, and took up a blocking position there athwart the most likely line of retreat for Japanese units south of the Holsten. In those two days, the Japanese center yielded only a few yards, while the northern flank anchored at Fui Heights held firm. Air combat raged over the battlefield. Soviet air units provided tactical support for their armor and infantry, while Kwantung Army's 2nd Air Group strove to thwart that effort and hit the Soviet ground forces. Before Nomonhan, the Japanese air force had not faced a modern opponent. Japanese fliers had roamed largely unchallenged in Manchuria and China from 1931 to 1939. At Nomonhan, the Soviets enjoyed an advantage of roughly 2:1 in aircraft and pilots. This placed an increasingly heavy burden on Japanese air squadrons, which had to fly incessantly, often against heavy odds. Fatigue took its toll and losses mounted. Soviet and Japanese accounts give wildly different tallies of air victories and losses, but an official Japanese assessment after the battle stated, "Nomonhan brought out the bitter truths of the phenomenal rate at which war potential is sapped in the face of superior opposition." As with tank combat, the Soviet air superiority was qualitative as well as quantitative. In June–early July, the Soviet I-16 fighters did not fare well against the Japanese Type 97 fighter. However, in the lull before the August offensive, the Soviets introduced an improved I-16 with armor-plated fuselage and windshield, making it virtually impervious to the Type 97's light 7.7-mm guns. The Japanese countered by arming some planes with heavier 12.7-mm guns, which were somewhat more effective against the new I-16s. But the Soviet pilots discovered that the Type-97's unprotected fuel tank was an easy mark, and Japanese planes began to burn with horrendous regularity. On Aug 23, as Ribbentrop arrived in Moscow to seal the pact that would doom Poland and unleash war in Europe, the situation at Nomonhan was deemed serious enough by Kwantung Army to transfer the 7th Division to Hailar for support. Tsuji volunteered to fly to Nomonhan for a firsthand assessment. This move came too late, as Aug 23–24 proved the crucial phase of the battle. On Tue night, Aug 22, at Japanese 6th Army HQ, General Ogisu ordered a counterattack to push back the Soviet forces enveloping and crushing the Japanese southern flank. Komatsubara planned the counterattack in minute detail and entrusted its execution to his 71st and 72nd Regiments, led by General Kobayashi Koichi, and the 26th and 28th Regiments of the 7th Division, commanded by General Morita Norimasa. On paper this force looked like two infantry brigades. Only the 28th Regiment, however, was near full strength, though its troops were tired after marching about 25 miles to the front the day before. This regiment's peerless commander was Colonel Morita Toru (unrelated to General Morita). The chief kendo fencing master of the Imperial Army, Morita claimed to be invulnerable to bullets. The other three regiments were seriously understrength, partly due to combat attrition and partly because several of their battalions were deployed elsewhere on the front. The forces Kobayashi and Morita commanded that day totaled less than one regiment each. It was not until the night of Aug 23 that deployment and attack orders filtered down to the Japanese regiment, battalion, and company commanders. Due to insufficient truck transport and the trackless terrain, units were delayed reaching their assigned positions in the early morning of Aug 24, and some did not arrive at all. Two battalions of the 71st Regiment did not reach Kobayashi in time; his attack force that morning consisted of two battalions of the 72nd Regiment. Colonel Sumi's depleted 26th Regiment did not arrive in time, and General Morita's assault force consisted of two battalions of the 28th Regiment and a battalion-equivalent independent garrison unit newly arrived at the front. Because of these delays, the Japanese could not reconnoiter enemy positions adequately before the attack. What had been planned as a dawn assault would begin between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. in broad daylight. The light plane carrying Tsuji on the final leg of his flight from Hsinking-Hailar-Nomonhan was attacked by Soviet fighters and forced to land behind the 72nd Regiment's staging area. Tsuji managed to reach General Kobayashi's command post by truck and on foot, placing him closer to the fighting than he anticipated. Just before the counterattack began, a dense fog drifted across part of the battlefield, obscuring visibility and limiting artillery effectiveness. Using the fog to mask their movement, lead elements of the 72nd Regiment moved toward a distant stand of scrub pines. As they approached, the trees began to move away—the stand was a well-camouflaged Soviet tank force. The tanks then maneuvered to the south, jeopardizing further Japanese advance. As the fog cleared, the Japanese found themselves facing a much larger enemy force. A vastly heavier Soviet barrage answered their renewed artillery fire. Kobayashi and Morita discovered too late that their counterattack had walked into the teeth of far stronger Soviet forces. One account calls it "The Charge of Two Light Brigades."   Kobayashi's 72nd Regiment encountered the Soviet T-34, with its thick sloped armor and 76-mm gun—the most powerful tank in 1939. In addition, the improved Soviet BT-5/7 tanks, powered by diesel, were less prone to ignition. On gasoline-powered vehicles, the Soviets added wire netting over the ventilation grill and exhaust manifold, reducing the effectiveness of hand-thrown gasoline bombs. Japanese infantry regiments suffered near 50% casualties that day. Nearly every battalion and company commander was lost. Kobayashi was gravely wounded by a tank shell fragment and nearly trampled by fleeing troops. He survived the battle and the Pacific War but died in a Soviet POW camp in 1950. Morita's 28th Regiment fared little better. It was pinned down about 500 yards from the Soviet front lines by intense artillery. Unable to advance and not permitted to retreat, Morita's men dug into the loose sand and withstood the bombardment, but were cut to pieces. Shortly after sunset, the remnants were ordered to withdraw, but both regiments were shattered. Tsuji, a survivor, rejoined Komatsubara at his command post. Upon receiving combat reports from the 72nd and 28th Regiments, General Komatsubara "evinced deep anxiety." 6th Army chief of staff Major General Fujimoto Tetsukuma, at Komatsubara's command post, "appeared bewildered," and announced he was returning to headquarters, asking if Tsuji would accompany him. The major declined and later recalled that he and Komatsubara could barely conceal their astonishment at Fujimoto's abrupt departure at such a time. Meanwhile, at the northern end of the line, Colonel Alekseenko's force had been hammering at Fui Heights for 3 days without success. The position was held by about 800 defenders under Lieutenant Colonel Ioki Eiichiro, consisting of two infantry companies; one company each of cavalry, armored reconnaissance, and combat engineers; and three artillery batteries (37-mm and 75-mm guns). The defenders clung tenaciously to the strongpoint created by the heights and their bunkers, inflicting heavy losses on Alekseenko's force. The unexpectedly strong defense disrupted the timing of the entire Soviet offensive. By Aug 23, Zhukov was exasperated and losing patience with the pace in the north. Some of Zhukov's comrades recall a personable chief who played the accordion and urged singing during happier times. Under stress, his harshness and temper surfaced. Zhukov summoned Alekseenko to the telephone. When the northern commander expressed doubt about storming the heights immediately, Zhukov berated him, relieved him on the spot, and entrusted the attack to Alekseenko's chief of staff. After a few hours, Zhukov called again and, finding that the new commander was slow, fired him as well and sent a staff member to take charge. Accounts record that his tirades sometimes included the phrase "useless bag of shit," though others note harsher language was used toward generals who did not meet expectations. That night, reinforced by the 212th Airborne Regiment, heavier artillery, and a detachment of flame-throwing tanks, the northern force renewed its assault on Fui Heights. The battered Japanese defenders were thoroughly overmatched. Soviet artillery fired at two rounds per second. When the last Japanese artillery was knocked out, they no longer could defend against flame-throwing tanks. From several miles away, Colonel Sumi could see the heights shrouded in black smoke and red flames "spitting like the tongues of snakes."  After Aug 22, supply trucks could no longer reach Fui Heights. The next afternoon, Colonel Ioki's radio—the last link to the 23rd Division—was destroyed. His surviving men fought on with small arms and grenades, repelling Soviet infantry with bayonet charges that night. By the morning of Aug 24, Ioki had about 200 able-bodied men left of his original 800. Soviet tanks and infantry had penetrated defenses at several points, forcing him to constrict his perimeter. Red flags flew on the eastern edge of the heights. Ioki gathered his remaining officers to discuss last measures. With little ammunition and almost no food or water, their situation seemed hopeless. But Ioki insisted on holding Fui Heights to the last man, arguing that the defense should not be abandoned and that orders to break out should come only with reinforcements and supplies. Some subordinates urged retreat. Faced with two dire options, Ioki drew his pistol and attempted suicide, but a fellow officer restrained him. Rather than see his men blown to bits, Ioki decided to abandon Fui Heights and retreat east. Those unable to walk received hand grenades with the injunction to blow themselves up rather than be captured. On the night of Aug 24–25, after moonrise, the remaining resistance at the heights was quelled, and Soviet attention shifted south. Ioki's battered remnant slipped out and, the next morning, encountered a Manchukuoan cavalry patrol that summoned trucks to take them to Chaingchunmiao, forty miles away. Russians occupying Fui Heights on Aug 25 counted the corpses of over 600 Japanese officers and men. After securing Fui Heights, the Soviet northern force began to roll up the Japanese northern flank in a wide arc toward Nomonhan. A day after the fall of Fui Heights, elements of the northern force's 11th Tank Brigade linked up with the southern force's 8th Armored Brigade near Nomonhan. A steel ring had been forged around the Japanese 6th Army. As the Japanese northern and southern flanks dissolved under Zhukov's relentless assaults, Komatsubara's command ceased to exist as an integrated force. By Aug 25 the Japanese lines were completely cut, with resistance remaining only in three encircled pockets. The remnants of two battalions of General Morita's "brigade" attempted a renewed offensive on Aug 25, advancing about 150 yards before being hammered by Soviet artillery and tanks, suffering heavier casualties than the day before. The only hope for the surrounded Japanese troops lay in a relief force breaking through the Soviet encirclement from the outside. However, Kwantung Army was spread thin in Manchuria and, due to a truck shortage, could not transport the 7th Division from Hailar to the combat zone in time. By Aug 26 the encirclement had thickened, with three main pockets tightly invested, making a large-scale breakout nearly impossible. Potapov unleashed a two-pronged assault with his 6th Tank Brigade and 80th Infantry Regiment. Japanese artillery from the 28th Regiment temporarily checked the left wing of the armored attack, but the Soviet right wing overran elements of Sumi's 26th Regiment, forcing the Japanese to retreat into a tighter enclave. Morita, the fencing-master commander who claimed to be immune to bullets, was killed by machine-gun fire while standing atop a trench encouraging his men. The Japanese 120-mm howitzers overheated under the August sun; their breech mechanisms swelled and refused to eject spent casings. Gunners had to leap from behind shelter to ram wooden rods down the barrels, drastically reducing rate of fire and life expectancy. Komatsubara's artillery units suffered a bitter fate. Most were deployed well behind the front lines with their guns facing west toward the Halha. As the offensive developed, attackers often struck the batteries from the east, behind them. Even when crews could turn some guns to face east, they had not preregistered fields of fire there and were not very effective. Supporting infantry had already been drawn off for counterattacks and perimeter defense. One by one, Japanese batteries were smashed by Soviet artillery and tanks. Crews were expected to defend their guns to the last man; the guns themselves were treated as the unit's soul, to be destroyed if captured. In extremis, crews were to destroy sensitive parts like optics. Few survived. Among those who did was a PFC from an annihilated howitzer unit, ordered to drive one of the few surviving vehicles, a Dodge sedan loaded with seriously wounded men, eastward to safety during the night. Near a Holsten River bridge he encountered Soviet sentries. The driver hesitated, then honked his horn, and the guards saluted as the sedan sped past. With water supplies exhausted and unable to reach the Halha or Holsten Rivers, the commander of the easternmost enclave ordered his men to drain radiator water from their vehicles. Drinking the foul liquid, at the cost of immobilizing their remaining transport, signaled that the defenders believed their situation was hopeless. On Aug 27 the rest of the Japanese 7th Division, two fresh infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, and support units totaling barely 5,000 men—reached the northeastern segment of the ring around Komatsubara. One day of hard fighting revealed they lacked the strength to break the encirclement. General Ogisu ordered the 7th Division to pull back and redeploy near his own 6th Army headquarters, about 4 miles east of Nomonhan and the border claimed by the enemy. There would be no outside relief for Komatsubara's forces. Throughout Aug 27–28, Soviet aircraft, artillery, armor, and infantry pounded the three Japanese pockets, compressing them into ever-smaller pockets and grinding them down. The surrounded Japanese fought fiercely and inflicted heavy casualties, but the outcome was inevitable. After the remaining Japanese artillery batteries were silenced, Soviet tanks ruled the battlefield. One by one, major pockets were overrun. Some smaller groups managed to slip through Soviet lines and reach safety east of the border claimed by the MPR, where they were left unmolested by the Red Army. Elements of Potapov's 57th and 82nd Divisions eliminated the last remnants of resistance south of the Holsten by the evening of Aug 27. North of the Holsten, during the night of Aug 28–29, a group of about 400 Japanese tried to slip east through the Soviet lines along the riverbank. They were spotted by the 293rd Regiment (57th Division), which struck them. The fleeing Japanese refused to surrender and were wiped out attempting to recross the Holsten.   Japanese soldiers' refusal to surrender is well documented. Surrender was considered dishonorable; the Army Field Manual was silent on surrender. For officers, death was not merely preferable to surrender; it was expected, and in some cases required. The penal code (1908, not revised until 1942) stated that surrender was dereliction of duty; if a commander did his best to resist, imprisonment could follow; if not, death. Stemming from Bushido, regimental colors were treated as sacred. On the afternoon of Aug 28, with much of his 64th Regiment destroyed, Colonel Yamagata saw no alternative but to burn the regimental colors and then commit suicide. Part of the flagpole had been shattered; the chrysanthemum crest damaged. Yamagata, Colonel Ise (artillery regimental commander), an infantry captain, a medical lieutenant, and a foot soldier—the last survivors of the headquarters unit—faced east, shouted "banzai" for the emperor, drenched the pennant in gasoline, and lit it. Yamagata, Ise, and the captain then shot themselves. The flag and crest were not entirely consumed, and the unburned remnants were buried beneath Yamagata's unmarked body. The medical officer and the soldier escaped and reported these rites to 6th Army HQ, where the deaths of the two colonels were mourned, but there was concern over whether the regimental colors had been entirely destroyed. On Aug 29, Lieutenant Colonel Higashi Muneharu, who had taken command of the 71st Regiment, faced the same dilemma. The regimental standard was broken into four pieces and, with the flag and chrysanthemum crest, drenched with fuel and set on fire. The fire kept going out, and the tassels were especially hard to burn. It took 45 minutes to finish the job, all under enemy fire. Afterward, Higashi urged all able to join him in a suicide charge, and the severely wounded to "kill themselves bravely when the enemy approached." Soviet machine-gun fire and grenades felled Higashi and his followers within moments. When it became clear on Aug 29 that all hope was lost, Komatsubara resolved to share the fate of his 23rd Division. He prepared to commit suicide, entrusted his will to his aide, removed his epaulets, and burned his code books. General Ogisu ordered Komatsubara to save himself and lead as many of his men as possible out of the encirclement. Shortly before midnight on Aug 30, the bulk of the Soviet armor briefly pulled back to refuel and resupply. Some of the Soviet infantry also pulled back. Komatsubara and about 400 survivors of his command used the opportunity to slip through the Soviet lines, guiding wounded by starlight to safety at Chiangchunmiao on the morning of Aug 31. Tsuji was among the survivors. In transit, Komatsubara was so distraught he needed to be restrained from taking his own life. A fellow officer took his pistol, and two sturdy corporals helped to support him, preventing him from drawing his sword. On August 31, Zhukov declared the disputed territory between the Halha River and the boundary line through Nomonhan cleared of enemy troops. The Sixth Army had been annihilated, with between 18,000 and 23,000 men killed or wounded from May to September (not counting Manchukuoan losses). The casualty rate in Komatsubara's 23rd Division reached 76%, and Sumi's 26th Regiment (7th Division) suffered 91% casualties. Kwantung Army lost many of its tanks and heavy guns and nearly 150 aircraft. It was the worst military defeat in modern Japanese history up to that time. Soviet claims later put total Japanese casualties at over 50,000, though this figure is widely regarded as inflated. For years, Soviet-MPR authorities claimed 9,284 casualties, surely an underestimate. A detailed unit-by-unit accounting published in Moscow in 2002 put Soviet losses at 25,655 (9,703 killed, 15,952 wounded), plus 556 MPR casualties. While Soviet casualties may have exceeded Japanese losses, this reflects the fierceness of Japanese defense and questions Zhukov's expenditutre of blood. There was no denying, however, that the Red Army demonstrated substantial strength and that Kwantung Army suffered a serious defeat. Knowledgeable Japanese and Soviet sources agree that given the annihilation of Komatsubara's forces and the dominance of Soviet air power, if Zhukov had pressed beyond Nomonhan toward Hailar, local Japanese forces would have fallen into chaos, Hailar would have fallen, and western Manchuria would have been gravely threatened. But while that might have been militarily possible, Moscow did not intend it. Zhukov's First Army Group halted at the boundary line claimed by the MPR. A Japanese military historian notes that "Kwantung Army completely lost its head." KwAHQ was enraged by the battlefield developments. Beyond the mauling of the Sixth Army at Nomonhan, there was anxiety over regimental colors. It was feared that Colonel Yamagata might not have had time to destroy the imperial crest of the 64th Regiment's colors, which could have fallen into Soviet hands. Thousands of dead and wounded littered the field. To preserve "face" and regain leverage, a swift, decisive counterstroke was deemed necessary. At Hsinking, they decided on an all-out war against the USSR. They planned to throw the 7th, 2nd, 4th, and 8th Divisions into the Sixth Army, along with all heavy artillery in Manchukuo, to crush the enemy. Acknowledging shortages in armor, artillery, and air power, they drafted a plan for a series of successive night offenses beginning on September 10. This was viewed as ill-advised for several reasons: September 10 was an unrealistic target given Kwantung Army's limited logistical capacity; it was unclear what the Red Army would be doing by day, given its superiority in tanks, artillery, and air power; autumn would bring extreme cold that could immobilize forces; and Germany's alliance with the Soviet Union isolated Japan diplomatically. These factors were known at KwAHQ, yet the plan proceeded. Kwantung Army notified AGS to "utilize the winter months well," aiming to mobilize the entire Japanese Army for a decisive spring confrontation. However, the Nomonhan defeat coincided with the Hitler-Stalin pact's diplomatic fallout. The push for close military cooperation with Germany against the Soviet Union was discredited in a single week. Defeated and abandoned by Hitler, pro-German, anti-Soviet policy advocates in Tokyo were furious. Premier Hiranuma Kiichiro's government resigned on August 28. In response, more cautious voices in Tokyo asserted control. General Nakajima, deputy chief of AGS, went to Hsinking with Imperial Order 343, directing Kwantung Army to hold near the disputed frontier with "minimal strength" to enable a quick end to hostilities and a diplomatic settlement. But at KwAHQ, the staff pressed their case, and Nakajima eventually approved a general offensive to begin on September 10. The mood at KwAHQ was ebullient. Upon returning to Tokyo, Nakajima was sternly rebuked and ordered to stand down. General Ueda appealed to higher authority, requesting permission to clear the battlefield and recover the bodies of fallen soldiers. He was denied and later relieved of command on September 6. A reshuffle followed at KwAHQ, with several senior officers reassigned. The Japanese Foreign Ministry directed Ambassador Togo Shigenori to negotiate a settlement in Moscow. The Molotov-Togo agreement was reached on September 15–16, establishing a temporary frontier and a commission to redemarcate the boundary. The local cease-fire arrangements were formalized on September 18–19, and both sides agreed to exchange prisoners and corpses. In the aftermath, Kwantung Army leadership and the Red Army leadership maintained tight control over communications about the conflict. News of the defeat spread through Manchuria and Japan, but the scale of the battle was not fully suppressed. The Kwantung Army's reputation suffered further from subsequent punishments of officers deemed to have mishandled the Nomonhan engagement. Several officers were compelled to retire or commit suicide under pressure, and Ioki's fate became a particular symbol of the army's dishonor and the heavy costs of the campaign. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In August 1939, Soviet General Georgy Zhukov launched a decisive offensive against Japanese forces at Nomonhan. Under cover of darkness, Soviet troops crossed the Halha River, unleashing massive air and artillery barrages on August 20. Fierce fighting ensued, with failed Japanese counterattacks, the fall of Fui Heights, and annihilation of encircled pockets by Soviet tanks and infantry. 

Stijn Schmitz welcomes back Adrian Day to the show. Adrian Day is the CEO of Adrian Day Asset Management and Manager of the EuroPacific Gold Fund. The discussion centers on the current state of gold, silver, and global commodities markets, with Day providing deep insights into current investment trends and opportunities. Day remains bullish on gold, citing historical market cycles and key buyers like central banks and Tether. He notes that central banks are actively diversifying away from the US dollar due to concerns about government profligacy and potential asset weaponization. The trend of dollar reserve reduction has been ongoing for years, accelerated by events like the confiscation of Russian central bank assets. Regarding silver, Day sees potential but with more risks compared to gold. He highlights a genuine physical deficit in the silver market and increasing demand from sectors like solar panel manufacturing. However, he cautions that high prices might incentivize manufacturers to seek more efficient alternatives. In the broader commodity complex, Day finds significant value opportunities. He points out that commodities are trading near 100-year lows relative to financial assets, with underinvestment in sectors like oil, gas, and copper creating potential for price appreciation. He emphasizes the long lead times for new commodity projects and the challenges of rapidly increasing production. Day’s investment approach focuses on global markets, with a current preference for reducing US exposure and exploring opportunities in markets like Britain, Singapore, and Hong Kong. He remains particularly interested in gold mining stocks, especially mid-tier producers in stable jurisdictions. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:00:50 – Bullish Case for Gold 00:01:58 – Gold Market Cycles 00:04:04 – Central Bank Buying Reasons 00:10:27 – Tether Gold Stablecoin 00:14:10 – Dollar Reserve Decline 00:18:08 – Gold Settlement Potential 00:22:33 – Silver Market Insights 00:30:20 – Commodity Value Opportunities 00:38:20 – Gold Mining Investments 00:45:24 – Other Commodities Analysis 00:50:53 – Oil and Gas Plays 00:53:52 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://adrianday.com/ Adrian Day is considered a pioneer in promoting the benefits of global investing in the United Kingdom. A native of London, after graduating with honors from the London School of Economics, Mr. Day spent many years as a financial investment writer, where he gained a large following for his expertise in searching out unusual investment opportunities around the world. He has also authored two books on the subject of global investing: International Investment Opportunities: How and Where to Invest Overseas Successfully and Investing Without Borders. His latest book, widely praised by readers, is Investing in Resources: How to Profit from the Outsized Potential and Avoid the Risks (Wiley, 2010). Mr. Day is a recognized authority in both global and resource investing. He is frequently interviewed by the press, domestically and abroad. He is a popular speaker and is frequently invited to lecture at financial conferences and seminars around the world. His pleasures include fine dining, reading (especially history), and the opera.

Based on the final chapter of Prof Dr Ger Graus's book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education (Routledge), this conversation asks the most honest question of the entire series: So what?Ger examines what 40-plus years of educational work has truly changed — and what it hasn't.At the heart of the episode is a sobering reckoning: Wythenshawe, the deprived area of Manchester where Ger dedicated much of his career, remains in the bottom 25% of England's most disadvantaged communities — just as it was in 1999. Yet rather than despair, Ger finds meaning in the individual lives transformed, the schools that finally began collaborating, and the quiet but lasting legacy of the Education Action Zone that brought 29 schools together for the first time.Joining the conversation are educators, researchers, and colleagues who offer their own reflections on the book's significance — including insights from OECD Education Director Andreas Schleicher's afterword, and a passionate endorsement from Russian education researcher Dr. Sergey Kosaretsky.Key QuotesGer Graus on systemic change:"Certain dials are too big to shift by one person or by one small organisation. It's a concerted effort — and in order to see the big picture, all pieces of the jigsaw need to fall into place."Ger Graus on political impatience:"It's taken you since the 1944 Education Act to keep getting it wrong. Whatever made you think that in five years we would solve all your problems?"Andreas Schleicher (OECD), quoted from the book's Afterword:"The task is not to make the impossible possible, but to make the possible attainable."Dr. Sergey Kosaretsky on the book's message:"Education is not only schools. Education is not only universities. Education is a lot of things that children do every day — with their friends, their parents, with themselves."Mark Sylvester on Ger's philosophy:"One of the things he would say is that he wants to teach children, but also to teach humans how to learn."Key Takeaways1. Structural poverty is stubborn — but individual impact still matters. Despite decades of effort, the communities Ger worked in remain among England's most deprived. He doesn't shy away from this, but argues that transforming individual lives — like the girl from Wythenshawe who played Juliet in Italy and re-engaged with school entirely — is proof that the work was never wasted.2. Change in education takes generational patience. Politicians want results in five-year cycles. Ger argues that meaningful educational reform operates on a far longer timeline, and that unrealistic expectations are one of the biggest barriers to real progress.3. Lived and informal experience is education too. Multiple contributors highlight that education extends well beyond school walls — into homes, exchanges, community experiences, and play. Ger's career has been defined by championing this broader definition.4. The book is a call to action, not just a memoir. Colleagues urge policymakers — especially those working on England's forthcoming schools white paper — to read Through a Different Lens and draw from its hard-won lessons. It's described as "a textbook for all teachers, educators, and parents."5. Asking "so what?" is an act of courage, not defeat. Ger's willingness to interrogate his own legacy — particularly in the shadow of a cancer diagnosis — models the kind of honest, reflective leadership that education urgently needs.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to the Series02:54 - Reflecting on Impact and Change10:41 - Reflections on Education and Poverty15:40 - The Importance of Lived Experience in Education19:42 - The Importance of Education Beyond Schools24:27 - The Role of New Leaders in Educationhttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education

Silicon Bites Ep294 | 2026-03-01 | Russia is the best ally, until things get real, and a response is requested. Is Putin ‘ghosting' the Iranian regime, and reneging on mutual security commitments? What is the value of an alliances when one side weasels out in the moment of dire need? And are the U.S. and Russia vying to see who can be the very worst of allies within their circle of ‘partners'? Russia seeming to dump Iran also brings up the question of whether security guarantees mean anything at all in this post-truth, post-order world. Geopolitics is purely transactional, and it seems that all alliances are contingent – no commitments solid or binding. Ukraine should also take note – that agreements and treaties mean nothing to Russia, and perhaps the U.S. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SOURCES:Reuters on Putin's response and absence of mutual defence clause (March 1, 2026). Reuters on Hormuz / market risk and Russian warning (March 1, 2026). AP on Russia's condemnation, Lavrov–Araghchi call, UNSC push (Feb 28, 2026). Reuters on Russia suspending flights amid escalation (Feb 28, 2026). ISW assessment of Russia's “boilerplate” condemnation and strategic limits (Feb 28, 2026). AK&M on ratification law + treaty clause summary (Feb 28, 2026).Interfax treaty clause text (Apr 16, 2025) (background). Foreign Policy on treaty not being a mutual defence pact (Feb 27, 2026) (background framing). The Guardian reporting on the opening strikes and regional escalation (Feb 28, 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----------

I have an egg - uh - I have a Russian guy - uh - episode.Support the showStarting your own podcast? Use this link to receive a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account with Buzzsprout!https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1671664LinktreeBuy us a beer!Join us in Discord!DLUTI.comUndefined Graphics (Photography & Graphic Design)Ghoulish MortalsInquiries: dlutipod@gmail.com

This week: Tourette's vs the BAFTAS, Jim Carrey clones, Russian roulette skitters, Norovirus, New York blizzards, accidents in the kitchen, dicky tummy, bus driver banter, weird bus etiquette, big food corp, legendary Rosarios pizza, Louis CK, snow ball fights, the invention of smiles, Prince Andrew, Foo Fighters intimate gig, addictive personalities, Canadian culchies & much more.Sign up to Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for access to exclusive episodes out every Thursday.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBombSquadPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bombsquadpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow @TheBombSquadPod on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Hosted by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Colin Geddis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aaron McCann⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced & Edited by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Niall Fegan⁠

Mea Culpa welcomes back Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly the favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests and most recently he dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. A concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. Velshi has been a contributor at CNN, Al Jazeera America, NBC to name a few. Velshi is a prolific writer, has written books, articles, and columns for newspapers and monthly publications throughout the northern hemisphere. Michael and Ali talk about everything from the raid on Mar-a-Lardo to Liz Cheney to Ukraine.

Welcome to the Learn Polish Podcast – your immersive gateway to mastering Polish through real conversations, cultural insights, and practical everyday language. Each episode blends authentic Polish dialogue with clear English explanations, helping you build vocabulary naturally while exploring Polish traditions, holidays, and daily life. Whether you're a complete beginner or advancing your skills, join us as we make learning Polish engaging, practical, and fun. From New Year's Eve celebrations (Sylwester) to casual conversations, we cover the phrases you actually need. Find more episodes, lesson materials, and resources at www.learnpolishpodcast.com. You can also find us on YouTube, Spotify, and Rumble. Looking for virtual assistance? Visit va.world. Join our school groups on Brain Upgrade and Podcasting – links in the show notes. Need lessons in Polish or Spanish? Check the links in the description for both audio and video content.   | Polish        | English        | | ------------- | -------------- | | Sylwester     | New Year's Eve | | fajerwerki    | fireworks      | | plan          | plan           | | biblia        | bible          | | plaża         | beach          | | wycieczka     | trip/excursion | | zdrowie       | health (toast) | | szampan       | champagne      | | toast         | toast/cheers   | | nowy rok      | new year       | | cele          | goals          | | postanowienia | resolutions    |

The United States is now in open conflict with Iran after a joint U.S.–Israeli operation killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening hours of what the White House has dubbed Operation Epic Fury. The geopolitical aftershocks are already reshaping the Middle East, and could upend the fate of the midterms come November.Over the weekend, American and Israeli forces launched a coordinated campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure and senior leadership. The United States focused on equipment and strategic assets. Israel targeted personnel. Among the dead: Ali Khamenei, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and multiple layers of senior command.What we saw was the clearest expression yet of what I would describe as Trump's second-term regime change playbook. First, engage in extended negotiations, regardless of whether the other side is stalling. Second, quietly position overwhelming military force within striking distance. Third, execute a rapid, highly choreographed strike that immediately removes the head of state.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.It is ruthlessly efficient. It is high risk. And unlike Iraq in 2003, the primary target was eliminated in the opening salvo. There will be no years of grainy bunker videos from Tehran. The symbolic center of power is gone.But speed does not guarantee stability. The immediate question is not whether the operation succeeded militarily. It did. The question is what comes next.Regional Realignment and the Oil ChessboardOne of the most striking developments has been the reaction across the region. Missiles were fired from Iran into the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Both countries then moved rhetorically closer to the American position. Even the Palestinian Authority condemned the Iranian strikes.If Saudi Arabia was quietly supportive of regime change, as some reporting suggests, then the long arc of the Abraham Accords may be bending toward a new regional bloc: Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar acting as economic and security anchors. Iran, long positioned as the ideological counterweight, now faces a vacuum.Then there's China. Iran exports roughly 90 percent of its oil to Beijing at discounted rates. If a post-Khamenei Iran stabilizes and reenters broader markets, China's leverage shrinks. Add to that Venezuela's instability and potential changes to Russian oil flows, and Beijing's energy calculus becomes far more complicated.Energy is not just economics. It's military capacity. Constrain oil, and you constrain strategic freedom of movement. That dynamic remains very much in play.Washington DividesDomestically, the political fallout is already taking shape. Republicans argue the strike was legal and necessary, pointing to congressional briefings and framing the action as a decisive blow against a long-standing adversary. Democrats are coalescing around a familiar and potent message: anti-war restraint. Senators like Chris Murphy and Chris Coons have questioned both the legality and the long-term strategy, warning of destabilization and regional blowback.This is where the midterm implications become real. The MAGA coalition includes a significant anti-war faction shaped by Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of those voters supported Trump precisely because he promised to avoid prolonged Middle Eastern entanglements. A swift strike is one thing. A sustained conflict is another.Three American service members are already confirmed dead, with five seriously wounded. That fact alone changes the tone. Nothing shifts public opinion faster than a body count.Democrats are often most effective when opposing war. Republicans, meanwhile, are betting that decisive action will project strength. But without an appetite for prolonged conflict in the Middle East, any success in November for Trump very much remains up in the air.The Off-Ramp QuestionThe key variable to when this all wraps up is time. If the United States transitions operational control to regional partners quickly and avoids prolonged occupation, Trump can argue this was a targeted regime decapitation, not a nation-building project. If American forces remain engaged beyond a short window, the political calculus shifts dramatically.Iran is not Venezuela. There was no extraction of a leader for prosecution. There was a killing. What fills the vacuum matters enormously.I have said before that a regime collapse in Iran would be the most consequential geopolitical event since the fall of the Soviet Union. We may now be living through that moment. Whether it becomes a strategic triumph or a prolonged quagmire will depend on decisions made in the coming days, not the strikes already executed.For now, the clock is ticking. And both the Middle East and American voters are watching.Chapters00:00 - Intro02:26 - Justin's Thought on Iran14:52 - What's Happened So Far19:14 - Republican Response30:03 - Democrat Response35:59: Abandoned Diplomacy46:53: What Happens Next?53:45: Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Netflix is backing out of a bid to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery, clearing the way for Paramount to take over. On this week's On the Media, what happens to journalism and democracy when a tiny group of billionaires are calling the shots. Plus, four years since Russia's war on Ukraine began, a look at the legacy of the first American reporter who was killed there. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with  Victor Pickard, professor of media policy and political economy at the University of Pennsylvania, to discuss why what's happening at CBS, The Washington Post, and Paramount is simply the latest stage of a phenomena called "media capture," and what we can do to free ourselves from its binds. [17:58] Micah first sits down with Miriam Berger, a Pulitzer-finalist who spent two years reporting from Israel on the war in Gaza for The Washington Post, to talk about what we've lost with the termination of the paper's Middle East bureau, and then Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, on why her organization labeled 2025 the most deadly year for the press since it began collecting data–largely due to Israeli forces in Gaza.  [35:49] Micah talks to filmmaker Craig Renaud about his Oscar-nominated documentary, “Armed Only With a Camera,” which is part tribute to his brother, Brent Renaud, the first American journalist to be killed by Russian soldiers while covering the war in Ukraine, and part salute to war journalists who are still reporting and risking their lives.   Further reading / watching: “The American Media Polycrisis: Cascading Layers of Capture,” by Victor Pickard “Lack of tents, food and warm clothes leaves Gazans exposed ahead of winter,” by Miriam Berger “Record 129 press members killed in 2025; Israel responsible for 2/3 of deaths,” by CPJ Staff Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud, directed by Craig Renaud and Brent Renaud On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

Russia is responsible for the largest “systematic child abduction operation” since World War II, according to European Union Ambassador to the U.S. Jovita Neliupšienė.   “This is actually a civilization erasure, when you actually try to destroy the future of your neighboring country,” Neliupšienė says.   It is estimated that more than 20,000 children have been abducted from Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago, according to the ambassador. Some of the older children who were taken are now being trained to fight for the Russian army, she explains on this week's edition of “Problematic Women.”   “They will try to start to train them as little soldiers, in a way, to go through the brainwashing,” she said. First Lady Melania Trump has become an outspoken advocate for Ukraine's children and has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to return the abducted minors.   Neliupšienė joins the show to share the stories of Ukrainian children who have been abducted, and some who have been returned. She also explain why Russia is targeting a generation of young people.   Also on today's show, the ambassador addresses U.S. concerns that Europe is losing its culture amid a growing migrant population that struggles to, or chooses not to, assimilate into Western culture.   Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lt Col Rob “Z-Man” Zettel is the author of American MiG Pilot - Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles. He tells the Red Eagles story for the first time through the experiences of a pilot who flew Soviet MiGs to their maximum performance in simulated combat engagements, often several times a day, against some of the very best fighter pilots hand-picked from the ranks of the USAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps. With controls labelled in Russian and the only spare parts being the ones they could salvage, the pilots who climbed into the MiGs - the Red Eagles - accepted all of the risks associated with operating these aircraft. Rob's vivid accounts of training engagements put the reader right in the cockpit as he describes what it was like to be there day in and day out at one of the most access-restricted airfields in the entire USAF, flying MiGs. In part two of our story, we join him for his first interview for the Red Eagles. Buy the book here and support the podcast⁠ Episode extras here ⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/episode445 ⁠ Go to ⁠https://surfshark.com/coldwardeal⁠ or use code COLDWARDEAL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Help me preserve Cold War history via a simple monthly donation, You'll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and receive a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank-you, and you'll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coldwarconversations.com/store/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONTINUE  THE COLD WAR CONVERSATION BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/coldwarpod.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@coldwarconversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter/X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ian Bremmer sits down with Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for Peace to examine Iran's precarious position on the global stage and the forces shaping the country. At the heart of the discussion is the regime's internal fragility. Sadjadpour explains that many inside Iran, including elements of the Revolutionary Guards, are “waiting for Ayatollah Khamenei to die.”  The conversation also explores Iran's isolation in the international arena. While 90% of its oil goes to China at deep discounts, Sadjadpour points out that Chinese and Russian interests in Iran diverge sharply. Despite the pressures at home and abroad, Sadjadpour argues that many ordinary Iranians recognize that reconciliation with the United States is essential if the country is ever to realize its enormous potential. From leadership uncertainty to global isolation, Bremmer and Sadjadpour explore the delicate balance Iran faces today—and the choices that will determine its path forward. Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kate Adie introduces stories on Mexico's cartel war, President Trump's State of the Union address, the Russian soldiers escaping the front-line, and a slow boat journey in Benin.Mexico was rocked by a violent rampage this week, after the drug lord, El Mencho, died following a fire-fight between his bodyguards and Mexican military commandos. It's stark evidence of the challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum as she vows to take on the country's criminal gangs. Quentin Sommerville reports on the fallout following El Mencho's death and the disturbingly deadly rivalry between the cartels.'Our country is winning again,' was President Donald Trump's rallying cry at his State of the Union address this week in Washington DC, citing success in the jobs market and stopping illegal crossings at the southern border. But his sinking approval ratings suggest he's not necessarily convincing the public. Anthony Zurcher watched on in the House Chamber.The exact toll on Russian forces in Ukraine has been closely guarded by the Kremlin, but estimates suggest more than a million Russian troops have been killed or injured over the past four years. For those who refuse to fight the consequences can be severe. Ben Steele met Russian troops who have escaped the front-line, at great personal cost.The small West African nation of Benin is made up of around fifty different ethnic groups and languages. Most of the population is concentrated in the South - home to the country's main cities, such as the port of Cotonou. While Benin has only a handful of highways, its lush inter-connected lagoons provide a vital commercial artery. Sara Wheeler took a trip down the Black River.Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Years ago, while living in England, I saw some graffiti on an overpass that declared “War is Obsolete”. This was in the glory days of the “Ban the Bomb” movement. There were well-intentioned people who favored unilateral nuclear disarmament. The British could afford to think that way, because the American bombs could be counted on to keep the Russians in check.At the time, I wrote a magazine article that opined that war was far from obsolete—that history told us Man had never developed a weapon he did not eventually use. Time passed, and so did my opinion. In fact, it has been 60 years since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and no one has been killed by a nuclear weapon in all that time. No one could hope to win a nuclear war, and so there was no reason why any sane person or nation would start one. In all those intervening years, the only nations that had any nuclear weapons were allegedly sane.Well, more time has passed, and now we have to deal with powers that show very clear signs of not being very sane. And the insanity has allowed nuclear materials and technology to leak out of their tightly sealed boxes and into the hands of people who are certifiably insane. Mutually Assured Destruction was a reasonable doctrine in a world where we were dealing with reasonable people who loved life. Now we are dealing with unreasonable people who care nothing for life, not even their own. You could even say that they love death.I don't think we yet understand the religion or the psychology of the 9/11 hijackers who brought down the World Trade Center. But with the advent and spread of the suicide bomber, everyone is now thinking that we will ultimately have to deal with nuclear suicide bombers, and that is truly unimaginable.

This week marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It's a somber anniversary that many Ukrainians here in California are commemorating. In fact, Silicon Valley is home to a large Ukrainian diaspora – many immigrants from Ukraine have come to work in the tech industry as engineers. Some of them have been using their tech skills to bolster the effort to defend Ukraine, and this army of engineers, coders, hackers, and tinkerers has become a vital part of the country's resistance against Russian aggression. It's a story that Bay Area investigative journalist Erica Hellerstein stumbled upon when she took a trip to Kyiv to work on a project about her own family's Ukrainian roots. As she discovered, some believe Ukraine's tech sector and its connection to Silicon Valley is part of the reason Ukraine is still standing today. This week, we're sharing an excerpt of an episode Hellerstein reported for the KQED podcast Close All Tabs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2026-02-28 | UPDATES #141 | War Without the Vote: US–Israel strikes on Iran, the law they skipped, and the Ukraine knock-on effects. It's Saturday 28 February 2026 and the U.S. is at war with Iran. It finally happened. The United States has launched strikes on Iran alongside Israel — and the White House is calling this “major combat operations.” Is this an unambiguous declaration of war, or something more akin to the Russian phrase SVO “special military operation?”Here's the issue: this is an act that looks and feels like war — without the constitutional process and indeed ritual that's supposed to precede war. No vote. No mandate. No consultation with lawmakers even – which would usually be the minimal possible bar to meet before any such operation. No coalition of allies you can point to and say, “this is collective security.” Just jets, missiles, and the drama of one criminal regime attacking another.----------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 this week, 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 January 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: Reuters (Feb 28, 2026): Israel “pre-emptive” strike; US strikes underway The Guardian (Feb 28, 2026): US–Israel joint attack; legality concerns; live updates Washington Post live updates (Feb 28, 2026): airspace closure reporting Axios (Feb 28, 2026): Jeffries / Davidson reactions Statement from Sen. Adam Schiff War Powers Resolution (48-hour report requirement; 60-day limit) (Justia Law)2001 AUMF; 2002 Iraq AUMF (Congress.gov) (United Nations)UN Charter Article 51 (self-defence) (Congress.gov)Legal analysis: TIME explainer; EJIL:Talk! critique (Congress.gov)Newsweek (Feb 25, 2026): regional partners denying basing/launchpad accessKyiv Independent (Feb 28, 2026): Zelensky reaction; Iran–Russia support monitoring (Foreign Policy Research Institute)Reuters (Feb 25–26, 2026): Russia budget stress / oil revenues context CSIS: missile defence inventory constraints (background)Financial Times / Washington Post: US munitions & stockpile concerns (background)----------

Punch Mountain is rigging up the hardware store Home Alone style with THE EQUALIZER. Mac and David discuss Denzel Washington's ghostly arm clock, inoffensive Russian slang, and the financial insecurity of faking your own death before revealing THE EQUALIZER's place on the definitive ranking of action movies.

On February 27, 2026, Ghost steps back from the Iran-heavy focus of recent episodes to unpack a fast-moving geopolitical landscape that feels anything but stable. The show opens with the deadly speedboat incident off Cuba's coast, raising uncomfortable questions about exile politics, regime change narratives, and whether propaganda can push desperate men toward reckless action. From there, Ghost connects the dots between Rubio's backchannel talks, Trump's “friendly takeover” comments, and the volatile Cuban-American political machine in South Florida. The second half escalates dramatically: Ukraine's strike on a major Russian missile plant, Moscow's warnings about nuclear escalation, and explosive claims that Britain and France may be enabling nuclear capabilities for Kyiv. Add pipeline sabotage plots, rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a surprising economic angle in U.S.–Iran negotiations, and the global chessboard looks more unstable than ever. Through it all, Ghost challenges the culture of political deception, asks who really benefits from perpetual war, and makes the case for America First over revenge geopolitics.

Making War Safe for Capitalism: The World Bank, IMF, and the Conflict in Ukraine (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Elliot Dolan-Evans examines the impact of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic restructuring programmes during active conflicts. Using a critical political economy perspective, the book explores how these restructuring efforts affect vulnerable communities' survival amid violence. Chapters provide a detailed case study of Ukraine during the War in Donbas, analysing the controversial reforms in agriculture, gas and pension sectors. The resulting analysis offers valuable insights into how these reforms have influenced Ukraine's political economy and the survival of conflict-affected populations since the 2022 Russian invasion. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Making War Safe for Capitalism: The World Bank, IMF, and the Conflict in Ukraine (Bristol UP, 2025) by Dr. Elliot Dolan-Evans examines the impact of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic restructuring programmes during active conflicts. Using a critical political economy perspective, the book explores how these restructuring efforts affect vulnerable communities' survival amid violence. Chapters provide a detailed case study of Ukraine during the War in Donbas, analysing the controversial reforms in agriculture, gas and pension sectors. The resulting analysis offers valuable insights into how these reforms have influenced Ukraine's political economy and the survival of conflict-affected populations since the 2022 Russian invasion. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Preview for later today: Max Hastings discusses Sword Beach's slow progress toward Caen and the presence of captured Poles and Russians fighting within German ranks.

Day 1,464.Today, we bring you live dispatches from the north, east, and south of Ukraine following fresh Russian attacks overnight, as a United States delegation meets Ukrainian officials to prepare the next round of trilateral peace talks with Russia in Geneva. We also provide the latest updates on resistance activities in the occupied territories, and take a broader look at the state of Russian society after four years of Putin's full-scale war – including the impact of sanctions, suppression, economic strain and, yes, updates on skyrocketing cucumber prices.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.Dr Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn 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://youtu.be/oBdgGjJYVt0CONTENT REFERENCED:Russians load up on antidepressants after four years of war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/15/russians-antidepressants-war-ukraine-prozac-putin/ Traumatised and unable to speak: The Ukrainian children haunted by war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/27/traumatised-ukrainian-children-haunted-by-war/ Paratroopers prepare for possible Ukraine peacekeeping mission (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/26/paratroopers-prepare-for-possible-ukraine-peacekeeping/ Is the Trump-Starmer bromance over? (The Spectator):https://spectator.com/article/has-it-all-gone-wrong-between-trump-and-starmer/?edition=us WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter 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.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite earlier denials, the world economic chief steps down and Bill Gates admits to part of the email about Russian women. Meanwhile, the Miami Herald exposes Epstein's infiltration of the justice system. Dina Doll reports. Qualia: Take control of your cellular health today. Go to https://qualialife.com/misstrial and save 15% to experience the science of feeling younger. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O'Connell discuss the announcement of several new papal trips, as well as the Society of St. Pius X's rejection of a Vatican offer for dialogue and what could happen next. In the second part of the show, the hosts look at the situation of Ukrainian Catholics and the Vatican's efforts to help end the war on its fourth anniversary. 0:00 Intro 0:47 Papal trips for spring announced 7:30 SSPX rejects Vatican proposal 12:33 The extra letter to SSPX that Gerry saw 17:30 Cardinals Muller and Sarahs's warnings 19:24 What's next for SSPX? 24:14 Fourth anniversary of war in Ukraine 26:59 Vatican response to Ukraine peace talks 31:02 Vatican's humanitarian aid to Ukraine 34:02 Situation of Ukrainian Catholics 38:32 Outro and Credits Links: Pope Leo XIV to embark on 10-day Africa tour and trips to Spain and Monaco SSPX rejects Vatican dialogue, plans to consecrate bishops without papal mandate Cardinals Müller, Sarah urge SSPX to submit to papal authority Pope Leo calls for ‘an immediate ceasefire' to the war in Ukraine Four years of war: ‘The Ukrainian Catholic Church is wiped out every time there is Russian aggression.' Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome  Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle  Support Inside the Vatican by becoming a subscriber to America Magazine! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We stand and fight for survival. We are an independent state. We will definitely not lose this war”Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's International Editor, speaks to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview marking the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine war. Official figures put the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed at 55,000 since the full-scale Russian invasion began, but that is believed to be an underestimate, with many more missing. The number of Russian soldiers killed is believed to be much higher. The civilian death toll in Ukraine stands at more then 14,000. Repeated attempts at a peace deal have failed. In the face of ongoing Russian aggression, President Zelensky remains defiant. Russia has started the Third World War, he says, and must not be allowed to win. Thank you to Imogen Anderson and Jeremy Bowen for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producers: Imogen Anderson and Lucy Sheppard Editors: Justine Lang and Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Volodymyr Zelensky Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Another week of chipping away at the iceberg. Today we're diving into the Gislaine sighting in Canada, Bill Gates admitting to affairs with two Russian women, Trump releasing the alien files (anything but release the Epstein files we guess), Epstein's FedEx account being used after his death, and apparently Epstein's autopsy findings (apparently the dude can grow new body parts?). Tin foil hats ON.

Russia exports billions of dollars worth of fish a year across the world. But after the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. banned imports of Russian fish. It turns out those bans are only so effective. Today on the show, how Russia has dodged import bans to keep selling billions of dollars worth of seafood every year, and how the U.S. has struggled to stop it.  FYI, we are going on a book tour! Planet Money's first ever book comes out in April. We'll be celebrating in about a dozen cities. There's a limited edition tote bag included with your ticket, while supplies last. Details, dates and how to get your ticket at planetmoneybook.com.Related episodes: What's propping up Russian oil?How Russia's shadow fleet is sailing around oil sanctionsFor sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Vito Emanuel. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Three guests in one show: TJ Miller, Lita Ford, and Corey Feldman v. The World director Marcie Hume. Plus- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations, Bill Gates admits his affairs, Rosie O'Donnell's daughter in trouble, and Akaash Singh remains a simp. Chelsea O'Donnell was getting handsy with a dude while she was driving. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees are out. U2 has a new piece of crap EP out. Lita Ford is in the building (or on the phone). Check out the The Dick Wagner "Remember the Child" Memorial Concert at The Token Lounge. The end of the line may be near for Brendan Schaub (According to Yew Neek Entertainment). Former MTV VJ Kennedy ripped the celebrity GoFundMe craze. Bill Gates is in hot water! He FINALLY admitted to two affairs with Russian women. Melinda wins! Larry Summers FINALLY stepped down. Take your time. More Epstein fallout: Former Norway Prime Minister reported attempted suicide. Hoda Kotb is growing more roots in the Today Show chair after Savannah Guthrie's mom's kidnapping. Ron Duguay has a GoFundMe now. Marc Maron allegedly buried the hatchet with Joe Rogan. TJ Miller joins us on Zoom. He's on his way to the emergency room for his baby toe. But he took time with us. Now take your time and go see him at Ridley's this weekend. Corey Feldman vs The World Director Marcie Hume tells us all about the challenges of making a documentary on Corey. Christina Genarri brings you a brand new Bonerline! Akaash's wife, Jasleen, is back to being a skank. Merch is still available. Buy it before it's gone. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon)

Episode 1904 - brought to you by our incredible sponsors: BRUNT WORKWEAR: Get $10 Off boots and clothing at BRUNT with code HARDFACTOR at https://www.bruntworkwear.com/ LUCY -  100% pure nicotine. Always tobacco-free. LUCY's the only pouch that gives you long-lasting flavor, whenever you need it. Get 20% off your first order when you buy online with code (HARDFACTOR).   00:00:00 Timestamps 00:05:19 Racist bird on Germany's bobsled 00:09:00 The Mormon drink sweeping the nation “Dirty Soda” 00:25:55 Bill Gates apologizes  for his Russian girls' affair  00:27:00 Hilarious AI Bloopers 00:33:35 What happened with the Cuban military killing Americans on a boat?! And much more Thank you for listening and supporting the pod! Go to patreon.com/HardFactor to join our community, get access to Discord chat, bonus pods, and much more - but Most importantly: HAGFD!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Bernstam describes Europe's liberation from Russian energy, replaced by cheap American and Qatari LNG, leaving Russia with abandoned gas fields and flaring wells. 10.1876 BAKU

Simon Constable reports that the UK government faces investigations for allegedly threatening media personalities and smearing critics as pro-Russian, while struggling with housing shortages and high taxes. 6.1670

1900 BAKUGordon Chang and Steve Yates discuss Japan deploying missiles near Taiwan and concerns regarding a potential Chinese biological weapons facility discovered in Las Vegas. 1.Rebecca Grant and Gordon Chang detail the US Navy's massive deployment around Iran to counter Chinese-supported missile threats and prepare for possible sustained offensive strike options. 2.Charles Burton and Gordon Chang analyze Mark Carney's shift toward Beijing, seeking trade concessions like visa-free access while Canadians harbor resentment over Trump's proposed tariffs and economic policies. 3.Charles Burton and Gordon Chang debate the dangers of Canada's "strategic partnership" with China, focusing on espionage operations, the potential expulsion from Five Eyes, and theft of aerospace technology. 4.Simon Constable reports on skyrocketing copper and silver prices alongside the arrest of Lord Mandelson for allegedly passing privileged state information to Jeffrey Epstein. 5.Simon Constable reports that the UK government faces investigations for allegedly threatening media personalities and smearing critics as pro-Russian, while struggling with housing shortages and high taxes. 6.Jonathan Adler explains the Supreme Court ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the president unilateral power to impose taxes or tariffs. 7.Jonathan Adler reports that following the tariff decision, the administration must now use specific statutes with procedural strings, limiting the president's ability to adjust trade penalties on a whim. 8.Andrea Stricker discusses reports that the Iranian regime used illicit chemicals and pharmaceutical-based agents to debilitate protesters during recent, highly lethal national unrest. 9.Michael Bernstam describes Europe's liberation from Russian energy, replaced by cheap American and Qatari LNG, leaving Russia with abandoned gas fields and flaring wells. 10.Bob Zimmerman details a helium flow problem that cancelled the Artemis March launch, while SpaceX continues breaking records for booster reuse and commercial efficiency. 11.Bob Zimmerman reports that astronomers are using infrared capabilities to identify a supernova's origin and detect the first heliosphere around a distant star, advancing our understanding of stellar deaths. 12.Craig Unger explores how Trump's licensing model in Panama and elsewhere allowed the Russian mob to wash hundreds of millions through luxury real estate. 13.Craig Unger reports that the Trump brand served as a status symbol for Russian oligarchs, facilitating money laundering in failed developments while FBI counterintelligence efforts reportedly failed to intervene. 14.Craig Unger reports that the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow served as a platform for Trump to court Putin and oligarchs, marking a turning point as Russia transitioned into a mafia state. 15.Craig Unger traces Trump's political ascent back to his 1987 Moscow trip, suggesting Russian connections and talking points have influenced his foreign policy for forty years. 16.

Craig Unger traces Trump's political ascent back to his 1987 Moscow trip, suggesting Russian connections and talking points have influenced his foreign policy for forty years. 16.1917 KREMLIN

Craig Unger reports that the Trump brand served as a status symbol for Russian oligarchs, facilitating money laundering in failed developments while FBI counterintelligence efforts reportedly failed to intervene. 14.1914

Craig Unger explores how Trump's licensing model in Panama and elsewhere allowed the Russian mob to wash hundreds of millions through luxury real estate. 13.1866 PANAMA CITY

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up — new reporting reveals how a five-minute phone call between President Trump and Nicolás Maduro may have sealed the Venezuelan strongman's fate, as misread intentions helped turn diplomacy into military action and, ultimately, a prison cell. Later in the show — amid mounting pressure on Tehran, the CIA launches a rare recruitment push aimed directly at Iranians. Plus — the United Kingdom slaps sanctions on nearly 300 Russian-linked entities after an email blunder exposed a network of illicit oil traders tied to Moscow's energy and military sectors. And in today's Back of the Brief — Russia accuses Ukraine of seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon with help from the UK and France, a claim Kyiv and Western officials dismiss as baseless disinformation.  To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB  Ultra Pouches: Don't sleep on @ultrapouches. New customers get 15% Off with code PDB at https://takeultra.com! #UltraPouches #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ‘feel' a diet coke, you've never smoked crack. Lazlo's son is ‘cats in the cradling,' him. The Kansas Men's Basketball team (probably) knows where Baby Lisa is. Whores are people! SlimFast begs for a car. What is ghostlighting, and why does Lazlo and Slim love it? In Headlines, Lazlo and SlimFast discuss Bill Gates hooking up with Russian whores, CRAZY D4vd news, a guy poisoning his roommates with bug spray, and much much more! Stream The Church of Lazlo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Day 1,463.Today, after a mass Russian aerial bombardment struck multiple regions across Ukraine, we report from Kyiv and eastern Ukraine on what it was like on the ground during the latest wave of drone and missile attacks. We then hear about Dom's visit to a Ukrainian HUR military intelligence base in Zaporizhzhia, and examine reports that Vladimir Putin has been forced to curb the recruitment of foreign fighters to avoid diplomatic fallout with key allies. We also discuss the battlefield “kill ratio” that could undermine Russia's war effort, and new air defence systems being developed that claim the capability to intercept nuclear missiles.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Rozina Sabur (National Security Editor, The Telegraph).Svitlana Morenets (Freelance Ukrainian Journalist).NOW AVAILABLE IN 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://youtu.be/1fIYPjtdNa8?si=B7tHxw3CxQGAy3OGCONTENT REFERENCED:How Ukraine turned hobby drones into precision killing machines (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/ukraine-fpv-drones-evolution-precision-killing-machines/ Russia's air defences could shoot down Britain's nuclear missiles (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/russia-air-defences-could-shoot-down-britain-missiles/ First Ukrainian drone factory opens in Britain (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/26/first-ukrainian-drone-factory-opens-in-britain/ The kill ratio that can sink Putin's war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/the-kill-ratio-that-can-sink-putin-war/ Putin bans recruitment of foreign soldiers to placate African allies (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/25/putin-bans-foreign-soldiers-to-placate-african-allies/ Allies bow to Putin over Ukraine peace troops (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/allies-bow-to-putin-over-ukraine-peace-troops/WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter 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.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby talked about how his order from Franklin’s BBQ in Austin, TX finally arrived at his house yesterday. He talked about the experience of ordering a $300 brisket and why it wasn’t what he was expecting. We talked about how a woman in Ohio bought a scratch-off lottery ticket selected for her by a store clerk and won a prize of $40,000 a year for 25 years. A listener has a complaint about something she heard about our podcast. Lunchbox is upset about other details on our cruise. We talked about a celebrity who admitted to having 2 affairs with Russian women. Bobby shares how he feels he can see the future at times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.