Podcasts about news sources

Michael Smerconish sits down with Pew Research Center's Elisa Shearer to unpack new data on media trust in America. Why do Republicans overwhelmingly trust only Fox News and Joe Rogan, while Democrats rely on a much broader mix of outlets? What does this growing media divide mean for political discourse—and democracy itself? A revealing conversation on the trust crisis shaping the nation's news diet. It is summarized in the piece she co-authored, "The Political Gap in Americans' News Sources." Original air date 12 June 2025.

Timestamps: 0:00 honestly i still don't know 0:09 SteamOS update for 3rd party devices! 1:29 OpenAI buys Jony Ive's company 2:46 Veo 3 goes viral, Claude 4 4:07 Scentbird! 5:24 QUICK BITS INTRO 5:31 Xiaomi Xring O1 6:14 Intel Arc B770 lives 7:08 Mozilla kills Pocket, Fakespot 7:48 Wacky Computex stuff! NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/SSldf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Timestamps: 0:00 eyes on the prize 0:12 Wii Homebrew Channel 'shuts down' 1:21 Spain, Portugal power outage 2:42 Two wacky AI studies 4:34 Ground News! 5:40 QUICK BITS INTRO 5:46 Nest Thermostat argument 6:26 Meta's chatbots are inappropriate 7:18 RTX 5080 Super, 5070 Super 7:53 Should we send seniors to space? NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/cQHdc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Headline Highlights, today's episode dives into everything happening this week in true crime with @ _annieelise. From new cases to updates on existing ones and more.

Timestamps: 0:00 get out of your comfort zone 0:13 Weird Mobile World Congress products 3:25 Chrome blocks uBlock Origin 5:32 QUICK BITS INTRO 5:43 Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 6:20 TSMC $100B investment in U.S. chips 6:52 YouTube to better host other services 7:32 Blue Ghost, first private spacecraft on moon NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/X3KbG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Timestamps: 0:00 everybody get pumped 0:09 RX 9070, RX 9070 XT unveiled 2:30 GPT-4.5 is huge, vibes-based 4:13 Firefox Terms of Use scandal 6:29 QUICK BITS INTRO 6:39 Meta apologizes for Reels 'error' 7:10 Microsoft shutting down Skype 7:20 Meta glasses prototype, Sesame AI 7:57 WB locks Nemesis system behind patent 8:35 e-taste for games NEWS SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/cHQCr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a must-listen for those looking to navigate today's complex media landscape with clarity and confidence. In this episode of Leading in Color, host Sarah Morgan continues the BlackBlogsMatter / BlackPodsMatter challenge with a critical discussion on “Trusting News Sources.” With growing censorship, misinformation, and biased reporting, Sarah emphasizes the importance of evaluating news sources with discernment. She shares four key questions to help listeners determine whether a source is credible Sarah also discusses how overexposure to negative news can impact mental health, stressing the need for intentional media consumption. She encourages listeners to seek reliable, fact-based journalism while protecting their well-being from media-induced stress and fear. Follow Leading in Color on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn, and don't forget to leave a 5-star review. Join the conversation using #BlackBlogsMatter. Visit BuzzARooneyLLC for Sarah's list of news sources to follow as mentioned in the episode. 

Edition No97 | 15-02-2025 - Europe's new Munich moment happened on the eve of the Munich Security Conference. And it was at this event in 2007, 18 years ago, that Vladimir Putin announced his intention to create a new security architecture for Europe – a new world order in fact. He was ignored, and Europe was presumed to be secure. The aggressor was appeased, and his lawless aggression normalised. We carried on growing fat, rich and ignoring the echoes from history. ----------Here we are. A seamless path towards democratic transition was assumed for countries of the former Soviet Bloc, and not nearly enough thought and effort were given to nurturing it. We just forgot our own histories and paths to democracy which were stained with blood, tears sacrifices and nobility. In fact, the opposite happened – a headlong rush to disarm Ukraine, reassert Russia as prime voice of the region, and abandonment to financial self-interest through the creation of money laundering efforts such as Londongrad. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind, as the phrase goes. Ukraine has shown that the path to democracy is hard, and involves trauma, violence, radical thinking and bold action. It's not easy – and never was. But before we dive into the maelstrom of news engulfing the world. Let's take a moment of calm to understand what Ukraine has achieved and reflect on the fact that it is not conquered, despite the lies and delusions coming from Tucker Carlson, Viktor Orban, Fico, Gabbard and any number of other appeasing puppets of tyrannical regimes. Here is a calm image, and a reminder of what Ukraine is capable of, born of strength, will and ingenuity: Russia's Black Sea fleet destroyed. Now more grain is exported through the Black Sea route that Russia tried to blockade than before Putin's full-scale war. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------NEWS SOURCES:https://www.channel4.com/news/trump-shocks-europe-with-avalanche-of-concessions-to-putin-over-ukraine https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/12/politics/video/john-bolton-trump-putin-ukraine-russia-negotiations-digvid https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/13/7498050/ https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-stun-europe-peace-plan-ukraine-nato/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8ed3nk3n6ro https://news.sky.com/video/ceasefire-talks-not-a-betrayal-of-ukrainian-forces-says-us-defence-secretary-pete-hegseth-13308348----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 10 Events in 10 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv 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 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No96 | 14-02-2025 - Last night Russia struck the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, causing serious damage to the protective shielding. There is an almost zero possibility this was an accident, or not explicitly ordered by Vladimir Putin. It's a signal. It's a show of force and contempt for Western ‘peace-making', or what he sees as weakness and capitulation. ----------We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasBut it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------There are never any accidents in target or timing when Russia wants to send a signal. Bombing the kid's cancer hospital in Kyiv was one such moment, and this is another. Russia deliberately chose the day of the Munich Security Conference to send a message.Yesterday, Putin spoke with Trump about a potential ceasefire, and through various mechanisms and actions that are not yet fully exposed, encourage Trump to say a bunch of alarming, misinformed, appeasing and flattering statements – flattering that is for Putin. Hinting that Ukraine is not fully party to negotiations, that it is partially culpable for the war, and that Russia has some rights over stolen lands because it ‘lost people' there. Make no mistake, this is a PR and psychological victory for Putin. So how does he react? ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------NEWS SOURCES:https://kyivindependent.com/chornobyl-nuclear-plant-shelter-damaged-in-russian-drone-strike/https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/russia-targets-chernobyl-high-explosive-drone-significant-damage/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-chernobyl-trump-live-news-b2698249.htmlhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/14/europe/russia-ukraine-drones-chernobyl-intl-hnk/index.htmlhttps://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/ukraine-munich-trump-russia-appeasement/https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-warns-of-russian-military-buildup-potential-nato-threat-in-2026/https://kyivindependent.com/russia-to-rejoin-global-economy-europes-energy-system-after-russia-ukraine-peace-deal-orban-says/ ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

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Edition No95 | 10-02-2025 - Careless smokers have apparently caused extensive damage to Russian strategic infrastructure, fuel refineries and military complexes. Those damned smokers. If this was a real issue, then Russia would ban all smoking in public, and maybe even the sale of tobacco. Are we seeing a new manifestation of the careless smoker epidemic? ----------We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasBut it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------An explosion Sunday forced the crew of a Russian oil tanker to evacuate. The incident which occurred at a port in northwest Russia is apparently being investigated, and there is no hint being made by the authorities of sabotage. But would they really admit to this, as it would be hugely embarrassing for Russia's leadership to acknowledge this. Russia's Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport wrote on Telegram that "an explosion took place in the engine room" of the Koala ship in Ust-Luga port west of St. Petersburg on Sunday morning. Other reports suggest three separate explosions. The ship was allegedly carrying 130,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, but it is not thought that the explosions and partial sinking of the vessel, had resulted in "a spill of the cargo or a leak of oil products." The ship is also not thought to be in imminent danger of fully sinking either, though may well be out of action for a considerable period. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------NEWS SOURCES:https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/02/09/russia-probes-explosion-on-oil-tanker-a87921https://yle.fi/a/74-20142552https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/explosions-hit-fuel-tanker-in-russian-port-1739108219.html----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No94 | 09-02-2025 - Ukraine has demonstrated there is only one class of sanctions that it can reply upon; exercise some control over and does not have to beg allies to enforce. A class of sanctions that has no loopholes, and no get-out clauses. Which allies will not find some route to circumvent, no and where no third country that can intercede as a middleman for the Kremlin. That sanction is the destruction of Russia's energy infrastructure, including gas processing as supply routes as well as oil refineries and storage facilities. ----------We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasBut it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------Because of its perceived effectiveness, it's becoming clear that Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries and expand geography of attacks in 2025. This view is supported by foreign policy analysts such as Hlib Ostapenko, which claims that data shows that “the systematic campaign of strikes on Russian refineries and oil depots, which began in September 2023, is gaining new momentum.”In a recent article "Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries: strategy for 2025", he points to the successful strikes on key facilities, including the terminal in Ust-Luga and the Astrakhan gas processing plant. They come amidst strikes that are particularly resonant, in comparison to the pre-election period in the US, where Ukraine refrained from such attacks for a few months, but now have hit the Kstovo refinery and Volgograd "Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka", which was damaged twice in the first days of February. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------NEWS SOURCES:https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3957651-ukrainian-strikes-destroy-46-of-russias-oil-refining-capacity-intercept.htmlhttps://ukranews.com/en/news/1062774-in-2025-ukraine-will-intensify-strikes-on-russian-oil-refineries-and-expand-geography-of-attackshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/01/29/ukrainian-drones-flew-500-miles-and-in-a-single-strike-damaged-5-of-russias-oil-refining-capacity/https://kyivindependent.com/4-out-of-4-russian-lukoil-oil-refinery-struck-by-multiple-ukrainian-drones-military-intelligence-source-claims/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-drone-attack-sparks-fire-forces-flight-suspensions-several-russian-2025-02-03/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Edition No92 | 06-02-2025 - North Koreans may have pulled out of front line. At least this is the claim coming from officials in Ukraine. Ukrainian special forces fighting in the Kursk region, which is where Koreans are thought to be concentrated, told the BBC they have not seen any North Korean troops there for the past three weeks. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) spokesperson, Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, said it was likely they had pulled out after suffering heavy losses. So just how upset is Jim Jong Un with Putin at this humiliating blow? ---------- We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Neither Russia nor North Korea release casualty figures or even admit openly that those troops are fighting on Russian soil, but estimates suggest that out of some 11,000 troops sent to fight, 1,000 had been killed in just three months. Possibly far more are killed and injured. If the speculation is true, it suggests significant North Korean casualties, because of which they have been pulled off the front lines. The concern among Ukrainian experts and Western officials is that the withdrawal may not be permanent. There is a possibility of course, that North Korean soldiers could return after receiving additional training, and in far greater numbers. But the Russians would have to come up with new ways of deploying them to avoid a repeat of such heavy casualties. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/north-korean-troops-not-seen-for-3-weeks-in-parts-of-kursk-oblast-ukraines-special-forces-say/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjder8zgk48o https://www.politico.eu/article/north-korea-troops-removed-from-russia-ukraine-combat-seoul-spy-agency-nis-says/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraines-strike-on-russian-command-post-kills-key-russian-north-korean-officers/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/01/15/north-korea-deployed-12000-troops-to-kursk-in-october-three-months-later-a-third-are-dead-or-wounded/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNkh5I_ZKQ4&t=472s ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No91 | 05-02-2025 - About 8 months ago I spotted an uptick in allusions to a certain narrative – the illegitimacy of Ukraine's president. His elected term formally ended in May 2024, but under the country's martial law no election can be held. Let's make this clear, it would be unconstitutional and unlawful for Zelenskyy to call an election. We'll examine the impracticality of this later. ---------- We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- More than five years have now passed since May 20, 2019, when Zelensky was sworn in to the Verkhovna Rada, and boldly stated: "Each of us is president." He was elected with 73.2% of ballots cast by voters who dreamt of change. Among his many promises of transformation was a key one to negotiate an end to the war in the Donbas. He also committed to end corruption, improve pensions, raise wages, and many other enticing promises. Instead, what he and Ukraine got was war – full-scale, brutal and destructive, imperial, genocidal, relentless. The former comedian turned war leader has changed beyond recognition. Physically of course the impact of war has been obvious. But he has also matured into a great speaker, persuader and one of the most iconic war leaders of history. His words have matured, his face has hardened, his beard has grown. Zelensky now only appears in combat fatigues, an outfit that has remained unchanged since the invasion of February 24, 2022. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-ukraine-peace-elections/33303303.html https://kyivindependent.com/us-urges-ukraine-to-hold-elections-after-ceasefire-trumps-envoy-tells-reuters/ https://unherd.com/newsroom/america-should-not-pressure-ukraine-into-elections/ https://news.sky.com/story/us-wants-ukraine-to-hold-elections-following-potential-ceasefire-trump-envoy-says-13301316 https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-freak-out-us-russia-push-election/ https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/05/23/volodymyr-zelensky-a-president-with-no-term-end_6672475_4.html ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No90 | 04-02-2025 - Under the guise of bringing efficiency and transparency to governance in the US is a coup under way? An administrative takeover, a crypto coup by the leading luminary of the tech brotherhood, Elon Musk? A nihilistic revolution eviscerating US government institutions. Some are starting to see patterns that indicate a hijack of the Federal Government is in progress and being conducted virtually unchallenged. You perhaps thought that Trump 1, after 2016 was chaotic, then buckle up, because 2025 will be far wilder and stranger. ---------- We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- The newly created “Department of Government Efficiency” under Elon Musk, is increasingly starting to look like an Orwellian choice of names. For efficiency, read demolition of the basic functions of government, and a paralysis in the process of governance. Barely has the inauguration passed and attempts to decimate the federal civil service are well in hand. But the consequences are being felt on a global scale, as we just saw with the suspension of USAID that will affect many hundreds of millions of people outside of the US. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://substack.com/home/post/p-156341494 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/02/elon-musk-doge-access-federal-payment-system https://news.sky.com/story/senior-usaid-pair-suspended-after-refusing-elon-musks-doge-staff-access-to-secure-systems-13302165 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/02/politics/usaid-officials-leave-musk-doge/index.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/02/02/this-needs-to-stop-now-elon-musk-confirms-radical-doge-us-treasury-plan/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/18/tech-bros-trump-inauguration-silicon-valley-nation-state https://news.sky.com/story/senior-usaid-pair-suspended-after-refusing-elon-musks-doge-staff-access-to-secure-systems-13302165 https://www.businessinsider.com/union-groups-sue-accuse-treasury-giving-doge-access-data-2025-2 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No89 | 03-02-2025 - This episode is all about energy – especially gas supply to Europe. Rumours abound that the EU is considering renewing gas purchases from Russia as part of a Ukraine peace deal. Where do we even start with this unbelievably misguided, opportunistic, immoral and strategically brain-dead idea? Dependence on Russian gas is what led Putin to believe he could invade a sovereign European nation in the first place and coerce all the others to just tolerate that. ---------- We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Allegedly, EU officials are discussing the potential resumption of gas purchases via a Russian pipeline as part of a potential settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war. This was reported by the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30, citing undisclosed sources. The proposal's advocates, including Hungarian and German officials (of course), argue the move could give both Russia and Europe incentives to maintain a peace deal while stabilizing the continent's energy market, the outlet wrote. And this based on the theory that Russia was so trustworthy the first time round, through the Budapest Memorandum and Minsk Accords, that we should have another go at surrendering our security to the tyrant in the Kremlin? Such logic also assumes that the Russian leadership are economically and politically rational and ignore the clear imperialistic and genocidal motivations behind the war of aggression. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/eu-denies-any-ties-between-russian-gas-purchases-and-peace-talks-over-war-in-ukraine/ https://kyivindependent.com/eu-mulls-restarting-russian-gas-purchases-as-part-of-ukraine-peace-deal-ft-reports/ https://www.ft.com/content/a19aa690-fb54-41ea-9885-10972b11ab24 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-block-eu-russia-sanctions-next-time-unless-ukraine-gas-transit-resumes-2025-01-31/ https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lets-russian-gas-slip-again-in-new-sanctions-package/ https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-europe-gas-transit-ukraine-replace-cyprus/ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/20/donald-trump-tells-eu-buy-more-us-oil-gas-tariffs ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No87 | 31-01-2025 - There is Chaos and confusion after Trump halts US foreign aid. ‘It will kill people', claim NGOs, charities and recipients of US aid. The new directive mat put some aid organizations at risk of bankruptcy and has caused genuine panic among NGOs fighting Russian aggression in Ukraine and Georgia. There are organization across many areas of activity threatened, with funding ranging from a few percent of total funds and income for staff right up to 90% of costs. ---------- We ran two events in Ukraine in the last two weeks. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- The sudden announcement of the pause in US foreign aid came out of the blue it seems for most NGOs and organizations. And panic quickly set in. My Ukrainian colleague's phone was buzzing continuously when the news dropped with people in tears and trying to understand the evolving situation. The pause in aid is causing chaos inside groups ranging from health providers to landmine removers — interrupting lifesaving programs as officials struggle to understand the scope, scale and impact of the directive. Many in the aid space said they couldn't remember any such sudden halt to funding in the past. They also didn't understand why programs had to be stopped so that the new administration could log and review them. What we are seeing here are not conservative values at play, but a kind of revolutionary nihilism towards good governance. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ft.com/content/e122fb95-ae23-4c82-80c8-c8904724131e https://www.newsmax.com/us/trump-funding-healthcare/2025/01/29/id/1196988/ https://kyivindependent.com/trump-suspends-aid-to-ukraine-vital-ngos-dont-know-if-theyll-survive/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/28/ukraine-war-briefing-shock-as-trump-aid-freeze-hits-ukrainian-causes https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/27/chaos-confusion-trump-u-s-foreign-aid-00200771 https://www.euronews.com/2025/01/29/us-freeze-on-foreign-aid-funding-is-a-death-sentence-for-people-in-need-ngos-warn https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-freeze-us-aid-rings-alarm-bells-thailand-ukraine-2025-01-28/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

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Edition No84 | 21-01-2025 - Today's episode is recorded with the notorious NAZI death camp of Auschwitz in the background. It seems relevant to be here, where levels of anxiety build around the world, following the inauguration of Trump, and the impromptu fascistic style salute given by Elon Musk yesterday. Combined with growing support for the aFD in Germany and a boisterous Tommy Robinson in the UK. Along with a resurgence of extreme populist politicians around the world and increasing adoption of intolerant and belligerent language. We are leaving an era of historically atypical stability (though it rarely felt like that) and moving into an era of potential chaos and turmoil, which is unfortunately far more typical of human history. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Everyone will have their own reasons to feel anxiety. For me, it's because I have relatives who ended up in a place like this, also extermination camps located in Poland. And since 2012, I've been tracking the rising authoritarian tendencies in Russia, with a feeling of dread about where this would end up. History does not repeat exactly, and it can be dangerous to assume patterns that happened then are exactly thew same as patterns now, but the number of historical parallels between the 1930s and today are too numerous to ignore. This is a warning from history. There will always be bad people, intent on malice and mischief, self-enrichment to the detriment of the majority. But it's when good people turn a blind eye, and fail to organise to counter the bad, that evil people and their evil acts triumph. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ft.com/content/ac39b604-ef6d-41cb-bb8c-0eb76e002176 https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/12/03/well-tell-kellogg-to-screw-himself-putins-crony-on-peace-talks/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-over-50-000-russians-seek-mia-through-ukraines-project/ https://www.csis.org/analysis/putin-thinks-he-can-win-why-would-he-negotiate https://kyivindependent.com/trump-says-putin-wants-to-meet-arrangements-already-underway/ https://kyivindependent.com/garry-kasparov-on-modern-russian-empire/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhwukP-TvLM&t=3s ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ ----------

Edition No82 | 17-01-2025 - Russia is a terrorist state. We've been saying this for three years on the channel. But Russia constantly reminds of this fact. The latest is an allegation that Russia plotted terror attacks on airlines around the world. According to Polish PM, Donald Tusk this bombshell news has come from US intelligence sources. "I can only confirm that Russia planned acts of air terror, not just against Poland but against airlines across the globe," said Tusk during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- U.S. intelligence warned the White House that Russia was planning to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes heading to the US. This sounds very similar to the devices apparently planted on DHL delivery places, that are alleged to have caused two warehouse fires. According to The New York Times report The White House, warned the Kremlin to stop the operation. Tusk did not provide details to underpin the allegation, but it was felt serious enough to put his reputation on the line by stating it emphatically, in public, and in the full glare of the world's press, given that he was with Zelenskyy at the time. "All I can say, and I will not go into details, but I can confirm the validity of these fears," said Tusk. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-planned-terror-attacks-airlines-around-world-donald-tusk-says/ https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/russia-planned-acts-of-terror-in-the-air-polands-tusk-says/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4717j21kko https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/azerbaijan-airlines-flight-was-downed-by-russian-air-defence-system-four-sources-2024-12-26/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/paris-olympics-train-vandalism-cause-b2586422.html https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13675809/French-train-arson-Putins-new-terror-tactic.html ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No81 | 15-01-2025 - Ukraine has steadily been increasing its strikes against targets deep within Russia since the conclusion of the US election. But before we get into the details of the latest strikes over the weekend, let's review how this started last week with the huge, 'multi-day' targeting of Russia's Engels airbase infrastructure. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Ukraine has targeted Russia's Engels airbase and associated infrastructure in 'multi-day, comprehensive operation'. This was reported by Kyiv's 14th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Regiment reported on Jan. 14. This unit is part of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces; they claimed the attacks were intended to "reduce the enemy's strategic aviation capabilities". It's also been reported, and footage on social media seems to attest to this, that they struck aviation fuel tanks at the Kristal oil plant used to supply Russian long-range bomber aircraft. "We are doing our best to ensure that Engels fire crews, who have just put out the flames after the previous attack, are not left without work in the face of the increasingly difficult economic situation in Russia." The Ukrainian unit is quoted as saying. The attack had also seemed to have targeted ammunition warehouses at the airbase which store cruise missiles and glide bombs. Several explosions were heard in the area, according to local reports from Russian Telegram channels. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-targets-russias-engels-airbase-in-multi-day-comprehensive-operation-drone-forces-report/ https://kyivindependent.com/drones-reportedly-attack-russian-chemical-plant-in-tatarstan/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-chemical-plants-refineries-warehouses-in-russia/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-ukraine-targets-russian-industrial-plants-ammunition-depots-in-overnight-strike/ https://kyivindependent.com/drone-attack-damages-industrial-facility-in-russias-saratov-region/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No80 | 13-01-2025 - We cannot say when the Russian economy will ‘collapse', or even if it's cave in single a dramatic moment. But what's not under doubt is that pressure on Putin's economy is building – it was even terms a ‘house of cards' in a recent article in the Financial Times. All this pressure makes Putin's war economy less sustainable, his regime more brittle, and the outcome of events far less certain or indeed predictable. And if you're a tyrant, then things you cannot control, unpredictability in fact, is the last thing you want to see in your realm. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/09/russias-economic-gamble-the-hidden-costs-of-war-driven-growth-a87548 https://navigatingrussia.substack.com/ https://www.ft.com/content/61adaed4-ac9a-4891-afb6-b3ad648c58ad https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-ukraine-war-recession-outlook-inflation-sanctions-banks-rates-2025-1 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/09/russias-economic-gamble-the-hidden-costs-of-war-driven-growth-a87548 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No79 | 11-01-2025 - This channel has been warning for over a year of the threats to marine ecologies from Russia's rust-bucket fleet of clapped-out illegal tankers, transporting its blood oil to unscrupulous buyers around the world to fuel Putin's genocidal war. And now another one of them is threatening disaster, as a shadow fleet vessel carrying 100,000 tonnes of oil breaks down and is adrift in heavy seas off Germany's northern coast. The Eventin was sailing from Russia to Egypt with 100,000 tonnes of oil when its engine failed and it lost ability to manoeuvre. Three tugs are now attempting to steer it away from the coast and towards a safer area. Though if the vessel breaks up, there is no safe area for 100,000 tonnes of oil to dissipate. As the vessel drifted in coastal waters Friday, the foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, criticised Russia's use of “dilapidated oil tankers” to avoid sanctions on its oil exports, calling it a threat to European security. Russia has used murky ships for oil exports to circumvent sanctions imposed by Western nations for waging its brutal war against Ukraine. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/11/germany-battles-to-secure-russian-shadow-fleet-oil-tanker-adrift-off-northern-coast https://kyivindependent.com/germany-towing-shadow-fleet-tanker/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/11/germany-races-to-secure-stricken-russian-shadow-fleet-oil-tanker-2-a87574 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/11/germany-races-to-secure-stricken-russian-shadow-fleet-oil-tanker-2-a87574 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/10/nato-to-send-2-ships-to-guard-baltic-sea-infrastructure-finland-says-a87563 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No78 | 09-01-2025 - Musk and Trump are shaking things up, and the inauguration of Trump 2.0 has not even begun. The four years following Trump's election in 2016 felt like drinking from a fire hydrant of toxic nonsense. Somehow, though, the madness was largely contained to US domestic issues and pollution of the informational sphere – Trump did not instigate any major wars. It's quite possible Putin delayed launching a full-scale war in Ukraine because Trump was in office and then COVID kicked in. But now, it seems the gloves of insanity are well and truly off. ---------- At relatively short notice, we're organising two events in Ukraine in the last week of January. Lviv (part 2) and Kyiv. The event we ran in August 2023 was a huge success, and had a great impact. Now our aim is even more ambitious. Two cities. Two events. Multiple panels consisting of the best experts, and all filmed in high definition for the channel. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras But it costs. Last time the overall cost was £3,500 for Live in Lviv, and we covered 80% of this through ticket sales. This time the costs are higher, and there's less opportunity to sell tickets at the available venues and studios, so I'm creating a campaign to raise £5,000 to make this trip a reality. We also have a much more ambitious programme to film interviews around Kyiv and Lviv for the channel. This project will have an impact, so please help if you can. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Reach for the impossible and get something for nothing - Moscow rules. Negotiation rather than hot war. Fear bargaining. People under pressure tend to make mistakes and default to appeasement of a bully - Again, a negotiating tactic designed to get more than you would otherwise. - Also force people to pick sides, alliances, impose exclusivity. Smoke and mirrors. Sleight of hand. - Musk – the same role played by Steele report and Guiliani in Trump 1.0. - Is Musk just saying mad things or being briefed and encourages by Trump circle. - Is he just tolerated, or are they extending his leash, goading him to do this? - Because it suits their purposes. Again, it's the ‘insanity' strategy that has worked so well for Putin, forcing western powers to self-deter. And even to snooze. He's mad and is going to do it. - Accelerate the world to Vladimir Putin conception of geopolitics. - A dog-eat-dog world, or competition between sovereign imperial blocks. - All other countries are resources, assets, pawns, but do not have agency. Buckle up. Trump has had time to prepare for his 2.0 administration, and its going to be a bumpy ride. This is WWIII if we are lucky, which may have a finite beginning and end. If we're unlucky this is the new global disorder, and it will become a permanent feature of life. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-horsfall-52243220/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No77 | 08-01-2025 - When preparing this second part episode, I was going to go through the interview chronologically and respond to each part. But many YouTubers have already done this, and many of you will have seen the interview in its entirety already. So, this likely won't be of great value. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Zelenskyy's answers are for the most part superb and push back strongly against Russian disinformation narratives far better than I can. This is perhaps one of Zelenskyy's most forceful and accessible interviews. In some ways it's the naivety, and what could be described as ignorance of context on the part of Fridman, that triggers Zelenskyy into providing some of the most compelling answers ever given to Russian narratives and talking points, many of which have been adopted by the MAGA bubble as well as some in conservative political circles. Also, it must be said by the far Left, and those who have traditionally seen the Soviet Union as a template for an alternative society to capitalism and as an antidote to American imperialism. Both are deeply misguided, as Russia is a classic imperialist entity, perhaps one of the most brutal imperial powers in history, and not a template for any kind of civilisation that a reasonable person should aspire to live in or help build. ~/ /~/ /~/ /~/ /~ So, in this episode, I'm going to examine the Russian myths and propagandistic narratives that are the source for what seems to be much of Lex Fridman's research. He claims at the end of the interview to have consumed many books on the history of Ukraine and Russia, it's imperial domination of the region and the more recent history that led up to the full-scale war. But unfortunately, his choice of themes and the construction of his questions, suggest to me that his sources of information are weighted towards podcasts, memes and conversations within a bubble, rather than solid journalism and the writings of professional historians. There is a strong bias in Lex's framing of topics and questions towards Russian inspired historical mythology and intentionally manufactured national myths, which seem to be a more potent source of inspiration for Lex in his choices, priorities and phraseology, than reliable sources. Here is a breakdown of nearly all Lex's questions that spanned the three-hour interview, and how each correlate to a greater or lesser extent to common Russian narratives. Some of the topics of course are perfectly valid to bring up, and Russian propaganda rarely manufacturers issues from scratch. It leverages existing problems, pours petrol on the flames of real conflicts, and seeks to widen and weaponize existing divisions. But propaganda utilises these issues, and Lex has scored an almost complete bingo card of them. Again, I suspect that his intention is not to be propagandistic, but the framing of his questions, the language he uses, betrays a lack of depth and seriousness to his research, as well as a remarkable level of naivety about real-world politics. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Timestamps: 0:00 ha ha CES 2025 0:16 Nvidia unveils RTX 50 series 2:22 AMD - RX 9070, Ryzen 9 9950X3D 5:07 Intel Core Ultra 200 (again) 6:48 QUICK BITS 6:56 Dell Pro Max rebrand 7:38 Snapdragon X, the CPU 8:19 HDMI 2.2 9:00 Bing tricks Google searchers 9:35 Switch 2 joy-con is a mouse? News Sources: https://lmg.gg/muCJY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edition No76 | 07-01-2025 - An anchor belonging to the oil tanker Eagle S, suspected of being used to damage undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland, has been located and retrieved from the seabed. This follows the seizure by police in Finland of the Russian-linked dark fleet tanker Eagle S. This is the first time a ship suspected of sabotaging undersea infrastructure has been taken into custody by authorities, according to Estonia Prime Minister Kristen Michal. Estonia Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the damage to undersea infrastructure was not a coincidence. “They have become systematic, and we must consider them an attack on our infrastructure,” he said. The Finnish customs service believes the Eagle S is part of a shadow fleet of ageing tankers being used to evade sanctions on the sale of Russian oil. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Trucks under Christmas Tree https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. ---------- Here are some interesting points about the seizure of the vessel, made by expert Robin Häggblom on Twitter last week. 1) Finnish Defence Forces involvement seems to have been limited. It was the Finnish Border Guard's flagship that shadowed the tanker and caught it in the act, According to Robin this was largely handled by the ministry of the Interior and Law Enforcement, rather than obvious military forces units. 2) The Police told a reporter they don't plan on contacting the Russian authorities. This was a strong and correct gesture of contempt for Russia and its actions. But Robin notes that it may also mark an end to the process of soft appeasement of Russia known as Finlandization, where the USSR and Russia was given special consideration compared to other states. 3) If the Russians have been foolish enough to use shadow fleet vessels as SIGINT platforms, for monitoring and intelligence operations, then we may expect must closer tracking of their grey fleet by NATO powers, and potentially more interventions. The shadow fleet-concept, notes Robin, rests on the right of innocent passage, while intelligence gathering specifically is mentioned as *not* being part of that under UNCLOS Article 19, 2. If there is reason to suspect innocent passage isn't adhered to, it can up new legal actions, which the Western allies have been loath to adopt until now. 4) The operation is typical for how Finland handles hybrid operations. Everything is done according to the book and within a clear legal framework. But the signalling around this operation appears to be unusually strong, which may be intended as a clear message to Russia. More of a show of force than was necessary may indicate that Finland and other countries' patience with Russia's illegal, aggressive and risky actions does have limits. More on this story in forthcoming episodes with experts Elizabeth Braw and Jerry Hendrix. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://yle.fi/a/74-20135216 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-court-rejects-owners-request-release-oil-tanker-2025-01-03/ https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1151950/Finland-police-seize-Russian-linked-dark-fleet-tanker-Eagle-S-in-cable-cutting-investigation ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No75 | 06-01-2025 - Lex Fridman is in the enviable position to interview some of the world's leading writers, thinkers, scientists and politicians. Some have accused him of peddling ‘low quality' and superficial content, but that cannot be true of all his video, given the calibre of some of his guests. And this interview with Zelenskyy that has just come out is one of his best. And it's not because of the quality of Fridman's questions. His precision, erudition and wit. Sometimes it's the reverse, when the simplistic or naïve assumptions behind his questions irked or irritated Zelenskyy, it elicited some of the President's clearest and best responses. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Trucks under Christmas Tree https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. ---------- This is important, because the interview was not for Ukrainians, for activists or the pro-Ukraine bubble. It was meant for people that may have no regard for Zelenskyy or Ukraine, may be indifferent to its plight, or who may even have been influenced by Russian talking points, and have an active antipathy towards Ukraine's leadership. If the interview reached these people, and broke down some myths and preconceptions then it will have been worth it. If the interview succeeds in humanising Zelensky and Ukraine for people, then it can be considered a success. If the interview undermines the propagandistic narrative that Putin really wants peace, but is being obstructed by Ukraine, then it will have strategic importance ahead of Trump's inauguration, and the negotiation process that he clearly wants to initiate. If Trump's supporters move away from the idea of peace through capitulation, to peace through strength, then this interview will have served a very important purpose. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u321m25rKXc ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No74 | 05-01-2025 - Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Early reports on its success are incomplete and mixed. Much of the detail is coming from the Russian Z-blogger community and therefore needs to be view as potentially unreliable. This has not stopped the first media headlines reporting on Ukraine's surprise counterattack in Kursk today from leading with the reactions of the Russian voices and incorporating their phraseology into article headlines. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Trucks under Christmas Tree https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. ---------- ‘Last ditch attempt' to catch Russia off guard, and ‘last chance' to take back land, scream the headlines, directly reflecting quotes from Z-bloggers. But both statements involve massive assumptions, and indeed reflect Russian interests, rather than reality. There's no way to tell how many new offensives or counter-offensives Ukraine has the resources for, or will have in 3 months' time, 6 months' time, etc. Throughout the war, it's served the interests of Russia to reinforce the myth that it cannot be beaten, that a Russian victory is inevitable, that ever setback for Ukraine is de facto a catastrophe, and every catastrophe for Russia is of no consequence. And many in the media have duly complied, in their use of both explicit and implicit language, to add to this strategic mythology of Russian invincibility, their capacity to apparently tolerate any hardship, and their infinite resources. None of this is of course true. Phrases such as ‘bold' and ‘surprising' could equally be applied to the situation, but it seems there is a reflexive bias in the minds of some journalists and policymakers, to automatically position Ukraine as a victim, incapable of achieving victories, and underplay their successes. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/05/ukraine-launches-surprise-operation-in-kursk-region-according-to-reports https://www.vietnam.vn/en/tong-thong-ukraine-thong-bao-ton-that-nang-ne-cua-quan-doi-nga-va-trieu-tien-o-kursk/ https://www.politico.eu/article/hundreds-north-korea-troops-dead-kursk-ukraine-war/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14250611/Putins-forces-slaughtered-attack-Kursk-village.html https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-kursk-losses-2008486 https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/01/05/ukrainian-forces-launch-attacks-in-multiple-directions-in-russias-kursk-oblast-officials-say/ https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-2/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No73 | 04-01-2025 - Is the stopping of gas transit via Ukraine 'One of Moscow's biggest defeats'? That is what Zelensky is claiming, as Ukraine terminated Russian natural gas transit on 1st Jan. 2025. Kyiv has repeatedly warned it would not extend the agreement to allow Russian natural gas to transit through its territory to Europe, and indeed the expiry of that agreement was a natural point for Ukraine to make good on its threats. It's remarkable in fact that this gas transit has continues for 3 years of the full-scale war, given how important gas has been in the financing of Russia's war. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Trucks under Christmas Tree https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. ---------- "When Putin was handed power in Russia over 25 years ago, the annual gas pumping through Ukraine to Europe stood at over 130 billion cubic meters. Today, the transit of Russian gas is 0. This is one of Moscow's biggest defeats," Zelensky said. "Turning energy into a weapon and cynical energy blackmail of partners is what deprived Russia of its most attractive and geographically accessible market." Zelensky has suggested that three years is a long enough period for European countries to adapt to the termination of Russian gas supplies. For some countries it's been easier than others, and some have been more proactive in weaning themselves off Russia gas. Zelensky also suggested that having a greater diversity of suppliers and partners could increase competition in the market and help to drive down prices. "The more gas from Europe's true partners is available on the market, the sooner the last negative consequences of European energy dependence on Russia will be overcome," Zelensky said. With a degree of sarcasm, he added “it will be necessary to withstand the hysteria of some European politicians who prefer mafia schemes with Moscow to transparent energy policy." Two examples of leaders that prefer to maintain so-called ‘mafia relations' with Russia, are Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, and Slovak counterpart Robert Fico. As the most vocal opponents of Ukraine's decision to stop Russian gas transit, they have also shown a willingness to also pay homage at the court of the killer Tsar in the Kremlin, despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine and are the main promoters of pro-Russian narratives in Europe. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/01/breakaway-moldovan-region-cuts-heating-and-hot-water-as-russia-stops-gas-flow https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-gas-pipeline-ukraine-gazprom-b2673631.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/02/moldovan-region-transnistria-shuts-down-its-industries-after-loss-of-russian-gas https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-state-energy-company-to-continue-to-supply-electricity-to-ukraine-despite-ficos-threats/ https://kyivindependent.com/one-of-moscows-biggest-defeats-zelensky-on-stopping-russian-gas-transit-via-ukraine/ https://kyivindependent.com/transnistria-rejects-offer-to-buy-gas-from-europe-expects-russia-to-resume-supplies/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

NONE OF THESE NEWS SOURCES TAKES ADVERTISING. INDEPENDENT REAL NEWS researched and verified.  No paid advertisers!     Belle of the Ranch YouTube channel https://youtu.be/-YU7rv7aKrw?si=4EkjPKnsFtk6Mab9     Glenn Kirschner FORMER PROSECUTOR thirty years.  Focuses on DJT LEGAL ISSUES.  JUSTICE MATTERS YouTube channel https://youtu.be/5OCN-OvYsW0?si=PGpVWCJ91uD09afe   DEMOCRACY DOCKET MARC ELIAS is a voter rights attorney and constantly sues and WINS ON OUR BEHALF to PROTECT OUR VOTING RIGHTS https://youtu.be/MyPCBn4ZiQU?si=SqRWi7xQhUHrmNQ9     Brian Tyler Cohen Focuses on many topics that clarify issues that mainstream media won't discuss  https://youtu.be/at8g4XyIbOs?si=gwzdzTPDJXkWlyYu          KUNDALINI YOGA https://youtu.be/HboowUqCidk?feature=shared Criss cross heart ( dump the past) Valerie Hail www.allinourminds.comvalerie@allinourminds.com Yoga feel your abundance- this is a cool yoga class for ABUNDANCE.. you must have an orange!! https://youtu.be/jRegtSKAZDI?si=mbASBNtFRB8fLBO0   Wine and food pairings As a lifelong vegetarian, it's time for me to show my real LIFESTYLE:  Vegetarian dishes with all kinds of wines!  Being in the Fine Wine and Spirits industry for twenty six years, I never had to eat meat! European countries delight in vegetable dishes: A classic pairing for winter and colder months: GRILLED PORTOBELLA MUSHROOMS with a malbec or syrah.  I would choose a malbec from the ARGENTINA UCO VALLEY region: Finca Abril, $13- $15   Syrah from the Rone Valley France- Guigal Cotes du Rhone $16 - $18   Valerie Hail www.allinourminds.com valerie@allinourminds.com            

Edition No72 | 02-01-2025 - Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the year and answered questions from journalists and the people of Russia in a live broadcast. December 19, 2024 "We have already received over 2.2 million questions, including 1.2 million via telephone, about 43,000 via SMS messages, and over 140,000 via the website. We can see that the number of questions is increasing in real time." ---------- Trucks under Christmas Tree https://donorbox.org/trucks-under-christmas-tree/fundraiser/silicon-curtain The Goal of the Campaign for Silicon Curtain: € 10,000 to purchase 1 truck to save Ukrainian lives. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Anna Suvorova: Before we start taking questions from our people and our colleagues, journalists, I would like to ask the first general question. In recent time, everyone has been feeling a disturbing sense that the world is going crazy, or already has, because the potential for conflict is off the charts in every part of the world, and the global economy is struggling. How does Russia manage not only to stay afloat, but also to continue growing in this situation? Vladimir Putin: You know, when all is calm and life is measured and stable, we get bored. This amounts to stagnation, so we crave action. When action begins, time starts whistling by – or bullets do, for that matter. Unfortunately, bullets are what is zipping past our heads these days. We are scared, yes – but not as “all get out” kind of scared. Our economics are the ultimate measure of things. As is traditional, I will start with the economy. Although your question was a bit provocative, I will turn to the economy anyway. The economy is number one; it is the cornerstone. It has an impact on living standards, general stability, and the country's defence capability. The economy is everything. The economic situation in Russia is generally positive and stable. We are growing in spite of everything, in spite of any external threats or attempts at outside influence. What this means is that our economy will have grown by eight percent over the past two years. After all, the tenths and hundredths of a percent make for a negligeable difference. This is what experts have been telling me – we exchanged views this very morning. About eight percent over the past two years, compared to a growth rate between five and six percent for the United States, one percent for the Eurozone, and zero for Germany, the EU's leading economy. It seems that next year that country will also have zero growth. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: http://www.en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/75909 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No71 | 01-01-2025 - As the slide toward dictatorship in Georgia accelerates, this episode will review the mechanics of law that mark an increasingly repressive and desperate regime. As we've examined in previous episodes, the Georgia Dream party has now ripped off the mask and shed any last vestige of ambiguity they are a Kremlin proxy party that is intent on deconstructing Georgia's fragile democracy and subverting institutions that have been evolving since independence to bring rule of law and civic liberties to society. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Here is a summary of the laws brough in, posted on X by the excellent Anna Gvarishvili, who has been a recent guest on this channel. The following restrictions have bene rushed into law, and will take effect on Dec. 30: 1. Drivers joining protests with processions: If police determine such actions obstruct traffic, drivers will be fined 1,000 Lari and have driving license suspended for a year. 2. Unauthorized protest stencils/signs/posters: Fines for damaging the city's appearance have been increased from 50 Lari to up to 1,000 Lari. 3. Blocking roads during protests: can lead to a fine on each person of 5,000 Lari (a 10-fold increase in the fine for this offence). Those deemed to be organizers, can face fines of 15,000 Lari. This rule also applies to violations under Georgia's “Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations,” including blocking building entrances. Instead of a fine, administrative detention of up to 15 days can also be imposed. 4. Presence of pyrotechnics at protests: Regardless of whether they are used, individuals will be fined 5,000 Lari. If this is deemed an organized act, the organizer may face a fine of 15,000 Lari. Administrative detention of up to 15 days may also be applied instead of a fine. 5. Possession of laser or bright light-emitting devices: 2,000 Lari fine. 6. Covering one's face with masks or other means: This will result in a 2,000 Lari fine. 7. Minors at protests: If a minor is deemed to have violated Article 173 (disobedience to lawful police demands), their parents will be fined for improper upbringing, with fines ranging from 100 to 300 Lari. This is the one that triggered the title of this episode, and it has sinister connotations of the pre-crime detection unit in the Sci-Fi book, Minority Report. 8. Preventive detention: Police can now detain individuals preventively, assuming they may commit an offense based on prior violations. 9. Detention for court appearance: Police can detain individuals solely to ensure their appearance in court, even if they do not refuse to attend voluntarily. This provision allows police to detain someone even if no case has yet been filed in court. 10. Expanded grounds for personal and property searches: Personal searches, inspections of items, and confiscation of belongings and documents are now permitted under these same grounds. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://oc-media.org/from-fireworks-to-the-public-sector-georgian-dream-introduces-new-legislation-amid-protests/ https://oc-media.org/us-sanctions-bidzina-ivanishvili/ https://eurasianet.org/georgia-government-set-to-pass-laws-bolstering-police-state https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sanctions-georgian-officials-responsible-for-brutal-crackdown-on-media-and-protestors https://civil.ge/archives/645520 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crk01xyd22eo https://oc-media.org/when-we-get-in-the-minibus-the-fun-will-start-how-georgian-police-torture-detained-protesters/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/lets-see-who-will-be-leaving-georgias-presidential-standoff-nears-crunch-point ----------

Edition No70 | 27-12-2024 - It's a tragedy that politicians can't seem to act on warnings alone, and the public can't be moved to outrage, passion or action by an impending disaster or crime. Last week we had a case in point where it's the images of thick, viscous oil washing up on the Black Sea coast. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Stricken oil tankers show the risks of Russia's ageing 'shadow fleet', which it uses to bypass sanctions. Although the vessel that split apart was covered by Russian insurer VSK, it's doubtful whether the costs of the cleanup operations will be covered. The full scale of the various incidents, as well as their long-term impact on the environment are so far unknown. One crew member was killed after the Volgoneft 212 split in half, with 12 rescued, while authorities said all 14 crew aboard the Volgoneft 239, which ran aground 80 metres from the shore near the port of Taman, were also rescued. Russian authorities sought to limit the damage from oil spilled into the Kerch Strait by two ageing tankers that were damaged during a heavy weekend storm – though part of the campaign was informational, seeking to deny the seriousness, and not only focused on the physical clean-up. The ships are on average more than 50-year-old, and were carrying some 9,200 metric tons (62,000 barrels) of oil products in total. Volgoneft 212 was constructed in 1969 and Volgoneft 239 in 1973. The spill is likely to become one of the largest environmental disasters to affect the region in recent years. The Kerch Strait, which separates mainland Russia from the Moscow-annexed Crimea region, is a key route for exports of its grain and fuel products. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3939182-estonian-pm-names-two-options-facing-russian-shadow-fleet-vessels-caught-without-insurance.html https://www.ft.com/content/8a485a6b-477e-4087-83f4-eca357082d71 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-tankers-damaged-kerch-strait-were-carrying-62000-barrels-oil-products-2024-12-16/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/ukraine-calls-for-sanctions-against-russia-oil-tankers-over-black-sea-spill https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/16/russian-tankers-caught-in-storm-may-have-leaked-3k-tons-of-oil-products-state-media-a87359 https://kyivindependent.com/sinking-of-two-russian-oil-tankers-may-cause-significant-environmental-impacts-greenpeace-warns/ https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-shadow-dark-oil-tankers-sanctions-navy-warships-escort-2024-12 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No69 | 26-12-2024 - What is Christmas like, when your neighbour is a terrorist state, run without challenge or hindrance by a delusional imperialist and pervert, hooked on aggression and suffering? Russia launched a massive Christmas day attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and civilian residential targets in numerous cities, leaving more than half a million people without heating, water and electricity. Temperatures across Ukraine are around freezing point. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Zelenskyy, President of Ukrainian spoke with direct moral clarity when he condemned the attack as ‘inhuman'. This was the 13th large-scale assault in 2024, on the energy grid of Ukraine, in what Zelenskyy said was a deliberate series of strikes. “This was not a coincidence. What could be more inhuman?” He wrote on X. But it's also entirely predictable. Putin always lashes out after press conferences, or visits to his court by foreign dignitaries, and of course, special dates such as Christmas hold a special fascination for his perverse mind. Attacks at Christmas and New Year as well as on significant anniversaries are entirely predictable, as is Russia's raging desire to instil fear in its enemies, and those it seeks to control and plunder. About 50 of the 70 missiles fired were intercepted, as well as a ‘significant' number of more than 100 attack drones launched by Russia, on this, the celebration of Christ's birth. Oleh Syniehubov, governor of Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, explained that the attack had left more than 500,000 people without heating, water and electricity at Christmas. Russia is not just a terrorist state, but also, it's claims to be Christian one is barely plausible, given its actions of the last three years, and the genocidal character of its regime, which is enthusiastically supported and sanctified by the Moscow Patriarch, and former KGB agent. President Joe Biden said in a statement “The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia's aggression.” Biden also reaffirmed his instruction to the Department of Defence “to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine”. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ft.com/content/b7b2c8d9-8eed-4620-adfe-a99e696a1dd4 https://kyivindependent.com/russia-terrorizes-ukraine-with-mass-missile-drone-attack-on-christmas-morning/ https://kyivindependent.com/the-west-is-pushing-ukraine-toward-concessions-that-will-backfire/ https://kyivindependent.com/kellogg-condemns-russias-mass-attack-against-ukraine-on-christmas-day/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

The 2024 election is now receding quickly in the rear-view mirror, but that doesn't mean it's not still interesting and important to understand what voters were and are thinking and, here in North Carolina, that's where public opinion surveys like the Meredith College Poll come in. In the most recent iteration of the poll, we […]

Edition No68 | 08-12-2024 - Assad is falling – in fact the total capitulation of his regime may be confirmed by the time this episode comes out. The mainstream media are paying attention and giving these events prominence fitting with their historical importance. The rapid collapse of the Assad clan's 50-year reign of tyranny is a major blow to Russia and Iran in the region and will send out shockwaves to autocratic regimes around the world. Colour revolutions are back. It's doubtful Putin will see these as organic manifestations of people power, or reactions to the brutal repressions of dictators. For him, autocracy is the natural order of the world, so he is likely to see plots and conspiracies by his enemies behind the unfolding events. The walls are closing in on Putin, as one-by-one his schemes to project Russian power, control and influence fail. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Hezbollah and Hamas are decimated, and their power much reduced. The Islamic Republic of Iran is greatly weakened and humiliated. The attempt at state capture in Romania through one of the Kremlin's puppet populist politicians has failed decisively. The reaction of the Romains security services, and electoral commission provides a template for how sovereign democracies should fight back hard against Kremlin influence and operations. The decades-long attempt at state capture in Georgia is faltering, fast descending into brutal repression and violence. The mask of Kremlin intentions has been ripped off. The hybrid approach is no longer effective, and they are resorting to brutish violence in their desperation. Lenin's quote comes to mind, there are decades when nothing happens and then weeks when decades happen. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/08/assad-suspected-fleeing-russia-flight-disappears-off-radar/ https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-update-110-ukraine-and-the https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/syria-war-live-updates-syrian-rebels-advance-on-damascus-homs-hezbollah-withdraws-forces-president-bashar-al-assad-7198116 timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/mohammed-al-jolani-the-rebel-leader-who-toppled-assads-rule-in-syria/articleshow/116099586.cms ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No67 | 06-12-2024 - Love him or loath him, Tucker Carlson has a knack for sucking the oxygen out of the information space. He creates friction, he generates headlines, he grabs attention. “Nothing is what it seems” is the apparent philosophy behind his media persona. He is just asking the ‘difficult questions' that nobody else wants to ask. Looking for alternative ideas and uncovering the deep state conspiracies that manipulate us and ruin our lives. The trouble is the overall framing of his work is deeply imbued with highly partisan and propagandistic narratives. He has a purpose, and it is itself deeply manipulative and aligned with oligarchic money interests. No wonder the Kremlin and Russian state TV love him. No wonder he has been called back to Moscow when they find themselves in a real pickle. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- His persona perfectly matches the strategic purpose of networks like RT, whose strapline is “question everything”. The underlying message behind much of Russian propagandistic media is – "все не так однозначно" – or “It's really not so simple”. Stoke division, yes. Divide and conquer – of course. But fundamentally, Russian propaganda is about denying your agency. Preventing you from uniting, collaborating and organising to resist the forceful expansion of its influence and interests. It does this by eroding trust, sowing division and enmity, and fostering the nihilistic idea of informational ambiguity. There is no truth or morality – it's all relative. My opinion is just as valid as your facts. It's complicated. Politics makes no difference. There are always two sides of each story, and both are lies in their own ways. But lies can be equated with truth. The aggressor with the victim. It's cynical. It's corrosive. It's effective. Think Doublespeak from Orwell's 1984. Black is white. Up is down. And Russia always lies. It shouldn't work, but it does, and increasingly this approach has power in the era of weaponised social media algorithms, fragmented media, weak institutions, disenchantment with party politics and the decline of class identities. It's the outer clothing of a regime that does not pursue ideology or morality of any kind, but a pure projection of power and material demands. Because those material demands are in the service of a small parasitic elite, with an extraction mentality; the result is always going to be negative. They are not grasping for power as an extension of their country's or people's interests, but for their own benefit. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-russia-moscow-interview-sergei-lavrov-putin-b2658625.html https://www.politico.eu/article/tucker-carlson-sergey-lavrov-vladimir-putin/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/04/tucker-carlson-interviews-russian-fm-lavrov-in-moscow-a87222 https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/tucker-carlson-warns-of-wwiii-but-russias-nuclear-threats-ring-hollow/ https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1985783/ https://stevenmoore.substack.com/p/tucker-carlsons-tourism-in-russia https://uacrisis.org/en/tucker-carlson-in-moscow-again https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tymofiy-mylovanov-1a13112_lavrov-through-tucker-carlson-delivers-activity-7270765240839979009-3w1c?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No66 | 01-12-2024 - It is an illusion that Putin wants the war to end. In fact, he needs the war not to end, to perpetuate his regime. There are no limits to how many Russians he will sacrifice to save his own neck, how much blood he will spill to save the 10.5 pints in his own body. He is quite prepared to burn all of Russia's economy and resources, for as long as that keep him in power. So, the determination of President-elect Donald Trump to achieve a settlement of the war, any deal in fact, so he can boast to his supporters that he delivered on campaign promises. As we've suggested in a recent episode, it would seem Putin and Trump are on a collision course. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3932396-zelensky-putin-seeks-to-escalate-so-that-trump-cant-end-war.html https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1982490/Trump-Putin-MI6-Europe-Ukraine-war https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/vladimir-putin-russian-president-donald-trump-us-president-elect-ukraine-assassination-threats-2642092-2024-11-29 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-map-live-uk-putin-nuclear-threat-b2656716.html https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/putin-sends-chilling-warning-to-trump-over-his-safety-as-he-threatens-kyiv-with-oreshnik-missile-strike-101732841021860.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdj3kmel349t https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1982318/ww3-fears-russia-ukraine-war-latest-vladimir-putin https://kyivindependent.com/putin-threatens-to-target-decision-making-centers-in-kyiv-with-oreshnik-missile/ https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-nikolai-patrushev-donald-trump-russia-1984360 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/05/22/how-patrushevs-paranoia-consumed-the-kremlin-a85198 https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-putin-ditched-security-chief-nikolai-patrushev-conspiracy/ ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No65 | 24-11-2024 - We've been predicting that the Russian economy would implode for going on two years, but also pointing out that Russian Central bankers may be able to preserve an impression of stability and normalcy for some considerable time. And so, it's proved. Russia has been more adept at creating an alternative economy to replace Western exports, and indeed not all the revenue from Western markets dried up despite three nearly years of full-sale war. Grey markets, grey fleets and the fundamental shift to running a brazenly dark economy have helped Russia hugely recover from the initial economic shock of Feb-22. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- Indeed, it's the willingness of many countries, especially China and India to benefit from discounted Russian exports of hydrocarbons and raw material that has kept the cash flowing into Russia's war machine. Many western countries have been entirely hypocritical on this, paying lip service to sanctions, but turning a blind eye as their manufactured goods continues to flow into Russia via intermediary countries neighbouring Putin's empire. It turns out there are three key levers that can trigger crisis and even collapse in the Russian economy. And to an extent, these could have been triggered at any time over the last 3 years. - Reduce Russia's sovereign wealth funds that maintain the war economy and currency - Work to reduce the global price of oil, hitting Russia's grey fleet exports hard - Tighten sanction to stop the flow of goods and revenue into Kremlin war machine Russia amassed a huge sovereign wealth fund over many years of relatively frugal financial management amid soaring oil prices. It's mind boggling to think what could have been done to improve standards of living in Russia if you combine the revenues wasted on war with the mountains of cash stolen by the kleptocratic classes. Anyway, that wealth fund – the fighting war chest – is running out. The flows of money into it from the external economy are lessening or are held in non-conventical currencies such as Rupees or Yuan. The domestic economy is flagging (and the income it generates in taxes) as is moves to more of a nationalised, militarised economy. So, the money lake is draining down. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/27/russias-rouble-plunges-to-lowest-rate-since-early-weeks-of-ukraine-war https://www.ft.com/content/6189fdb4-d1ef-4e0b-a7f1-e7f9a7286df5 https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/27/7486548/ https://timothyash.substack.com/p/the-rouble-is-melting-finally?r=ynli4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/11/27/russian-central-bank-halts-currency-buying-until-2025-as-ruble-slides-a87147 ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No64 | 24-11-2024 - Russia stands accused of firing the first intercontinental ballistic missile to be used against an adversary at war. The horror is even starker, as the missile was not used against military objectives, but fired indiscriminately into an urban centre. Dnipro in Ukraine. When we strip way all the fluff of geopolitical jargon, we can see Russia as a nuclear armed, terroristic entity that learned its statecraft of trauma and threat from the Mongol Horde and not Europe. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- - Russia's deployment of an ICBM armed with conventional warheads against Ukraine marks a significant and alarming escalation. - This unprecedented action suggests Russia may have depleted a substantial portion of its conventional missile arsenal, compelling it to resort to strategic reserves. - The use of such an expensive and complex weapon, typically reserved for long-range nuclear deterrence, underscores the challenges Russia faces in sustaining its military campaign. But also suggests that the informational and psychological benefits far exceed the military impact, to justify the use of such a munition. - This type of ICBM is known for its lack of precision in conventional warfare – underscoring Moscow's role as terrorist, willing to cause indiscriminate trauma. - This appears to be a desperate attempt to project strength yet highlights Russia's difficulties in subduing a smaller nation committed to defending its sovereignty. - It's bizarre Russia compromises some of its most guarded technology to Ukraine and partners, just for brinkmanship and signalling. - The strike was an elaborately staged attempt to demonstrate escalatory dominance — the ability to outbid the west in the retaliatory ladder all the way to nuclear war. But again, this may be another Potemkin façade of a strategy. All teeth and no bite. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/what-is-russias-oreshnik-missile-and-what-happens-next/ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/vladimir-putin-war-ukraine-russia-intercontinental-missile-us-b1195343.html https://mickryan.substack.com/p/russias-oreshnik-missile-attack-on https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-launches-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-at-ukraine/ https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/russias-rumoured-icbm-launch-is-raising-the-stakes-in-ukraine/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/22/what-is-ballistic-missile-russia-ukraine-war-irbm-icbm https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-launched-icbm-ukraine-war-putin-rcna181131 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/russia-fired-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-at-dnipro-says-ukraine ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ----------

Edition No63 | 23-11-2024 - Documents from the first weeks of Putin's invasion have been obtained by Russian investigative unit Systema. They reveal aspects of the plan to render post-war Ukraine powerless. Russia seems to have embarked on its war, with a ‘pre-baked' “peace agreement” to impose upon a defeated Ukraine. One also presumes with the Ukrainian government decapitated and its leaders either captured or killed. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- The document contains a list of conditions for a ceasefire and peace agreement. It was presented to Ukraine's delegation during the third round of talks in Belarus on March 7, 2022. Systema received the document from a Ukrainian source familiar with the course of the negotiations and a source from the Russian side verified its authenticity. I have no way to corroborate this but share the contents while advising people to remain healthily sceptical. The document consists of six pages containing a draft agreement of 18 articles that touch on a wide range of issues. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Verkhovna Rada deputy Davyd Arakhamia, met with a Russian team led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky. The proposal includes requirements for Ukraine's neutrality, border placement, and humanitarian concerns such as language, religion, and history. The proposal was written before Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions in September 2022 and doesn't include the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The initial version of the “peace agreement,” includes terms that would be impossible for any free Ukrainian government to accept. Only politicians with a gun to their heads might be inclined to agree to such terms, which in effect, amount to the dissolution of the Ukrainian state, and to rendering it completely vulnerable to subsequent attack or demands by Russia. - Near-total disarmament of Ukraine under Moscow's supervision - Isolation from Western assistance and participation in bodies such as NATO and EU - Long-term stationing of Russian troops on territories captured in war's first weeks Some of these demands remained unchanged throughout the entire negotiations process. From what we know, the Ukrainian delegation only tentatively agreed to one of Russia's key demands, to become a “permanently neutral state” that would never join NATO or allow foreign troops to be stationed on its territory. ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2024/11/04/journalists-obtain-russia-s-initial-proposals-from-march-2022-negotiations-revealing-putin-s-plans-for-post-war-ukraine ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No62 | 19-11-2024 - Scholz's call with Putin risks opening a 'Pandora's Box,' warns Zelensky. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's has been calling Putin again, and it risks opening a "Pandora's box," says Zelensky. He's not the only one. Manby leaders both publicly and privately have pointed out how unilateral and misguided are Scholz's actions. ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- This could potentially be leading to "other conversations and other calls," Zelensky warned, running the risk of normalising Russia as a country and Putin as a statesman. This is the first time Scholz has spoken in nearly two years. The German chancellor condemned Russia's war in Ukraine, urged Putin to withdraw his troops, and discussed potential talks with Kyiv. The response was swift, as Russia launched one of its largest strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities of the war. More on that in a minute. Scholz had informed Zelensky in advance of his intention to call Putin. Zelensky reportedly responded, "This will just make Putin feel that the isolation is decreasing.” Zelensky criticized any negotiations that could ease Russia's isolation without meaningful outcomes. "It is extremely important for Putin to loosen his isolation, Russia's isolation, and to conduct ordinary negotiations that will not result in anything — as he has been doing for decades," Zelensky said. See Minsk 1 and 2 – attempts to trick the international community, gaslight the media and grind Ukraine down. Zelensky reiterated there would be no "Minsk-3.” ---------- NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/scholzs-call-with-putin-risks-opening-a-pandoras-box-zelensky-warns/ https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-russia-launches-one-of-the-largest-aerial-strikes-on-ukraine-energy-grid-damage-eu-has-convincing-evidence-of-reported-chinese-attack-drone-production-for-russia/ https://kyivindependent.com/north-korean-delivers-70-missile-launchers-artillery-systems-to-russias-kursk-oblast/ https://kyivindependent.com/russia-producing-thermobaric-drones-capable-of-causing-simply-terrifying-damage-to-civilians-ap-reports/ https://kyivindependent.com/nyt-biden-authorizes-ukraine-to-target-russia-with-us-long-range-missiles/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/17/7484975/ https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/france-and-britain-greenlight-ukraine-s-use-1731872568.html https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1858395630520930466.html ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyśl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ---------- PLATFORMS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSilicon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ----------

Edition No60 | 07-11-2024 - This is a piece I had planned on writing as a rebuke to Biden administration, in the event of a Kamala Harris victory. Perhaps the topic becomes even more urgent now, as the US government enters a transition phase to a second Trump term of office. With the US apparently supplying only 10% of the promised and approved aid to Ukraine that was mandated in the April aid bill, we must ask, can Trump really be much worse than this? It's a point Ukrainians have been making for some time – that delusions and weakness under the Democrats may be more dangerous than facing the stark reality of a Trump presidency. ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ~~~~~ At the start of November Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's allies to stop just ‘watching' amid the threat from North Korea, and before the troops sent to Russia by Pyongyang reached the battlefields of Kursk and Donbas. The geopolitical rubbernecking continued, and little seems to have been done of any impact. No new supplies to address the significantly escalatory threat and no lifting of existing of red lines. Pathetically John Kirby announced that ‘no new red lines' would be imposed in response to Russia's successful attempts to drag North Korea into the war, a statement that has the deterrence power of brandishing a limp lettuce to deter a charging bull. ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/02/volodymyr-zelenskyy-urges-allies-to-stop-just-watching-amid-north-korea-threat https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-ukraine-russia-kyiv-vladimir-putin-b2640107.html https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/10/31/ukraine-has-received-only-10-of-latest-us-aid-package-zelenskyy-reveals/ https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/zelenskyy-criticises-poland-for-failing-on-military-aid-and-defence-front/ https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-confirms-tomahawk-missiles-victory-plan-blasts-us-for-giving-away-secrets-ukraine-white-house-russia-war-leak/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~

Today, Alanah and Tim discuss the secretive and dangerous institutions and individuals who influence JD Vance, the man who may become Vice President of The United States of America. News Sources - https://bit.ly/4fighLnSocial LinksTikTok - @americathepo dcastShow IG - @AmericaThePodcastAll songs in this episode were procured through Pixabay.com.Music heard in this episode was - News Presentation Backgroumd by Paul YudinClinging To Time by ArtArea_Studio"I Do Not Trust This Person " was created by Tim Phillippe and is a production of Shway Media and America! The Podcast Presents. For more, visit www.ShwayMedia.com!

Edition No59 | 21-10-2024 - Ukraine needs more weapons and seeks security guarantees, are the central points made by Zelensky in his recent visit to Berlin. Additionally, Zelensky is stressing the need to show Moscow that it can't win the war. ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ~~~~~ With the upcoming election in the US, there is a race to get support for a concept of victory and initiate a negotiation for ending the war on favourable terms for Ukraine. But this is also happening at a time when Russian forces are making slow but steady progress along the front lines, and future support for Ukraine is in doubt. Zelenskyy presented his so-called victory plan to the Ukrainian parliament last week and aims to seek a just peace to the war with Russia thanks to military aid and guarantees from its allies. The plan consists of five main points and three secret annexes. “Ukraine's victory plan is a blueprint to strengthen our state and strengthen our positions. To be strong enough to end the war,” Zelenskyy said, adding: "If we start moving with this concrete plan of victory now, we may manage to end the war no later than next year.” The idea is to ensure Ukraine gets iron-clad security guarantees from allies and becomes well armed to prevent Russia from using any pause in the fighting to rearm and then attack again. Linked to this discussion is the urgent request to join NATO, a step that seems to be gaining some traction in the corridors of power within Brussels. But the inherent weaknesses and failures of previous initiatives such as the Minsk Accords and Budapest Memorandums hang over these initiatives like a geopolitical memento mori, a memorial to optimism and delusion. ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/special-event/conversation-valerii-zaluzhnyi-ukrainian-ambassador-uk https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/10/16/zelenskyy-unveils-5-point-victory-plan-to-ukrainian-parliament/ https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-presents-his-victory-plan-to-ukraine-parliament-war-vladimir-putin/ https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-nukes-volodymyr-zelenskyy-war-ukraine-aid-russia/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~

Edition No58 | 19-10-2024 - Zelensky has a plan for victory, but the reception of it has been lukewarm to put it mildly. Unimaginative, scathing and myopic is how I would characterise some of the reactions. ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ~~~~~ It's as if our democratically elected official and institutions do not have the will or capacity to deal with hard, complex and slow problems. Problems that require imaginative leadership, commitment and risk are shunned, in favour of quick fixes, sound bites and pretence. Politics is a kind of puppet show, when politicians pretend to be solving problems, and we pretend that the problems are solved, or else were not so important after all. It's a sort of self-gaslighting mechanism where trust in politics and an individual's sense of agency progressively erodes with each electoral cycle. This is fine until real, intractable and existential problems arise, and concrete solutions are required. We are at such an inflection point and are collectively failing to recognise that. Zelensky's peace plan is a challenge to us, to snap out of our catatonic societal stupor, and recognise that real problems are existential for Ukraine's survival, and ultimately for ours too. His challenge is to make us realise that there are no easy choices left. Ukraine survives or it does not. Both scenarios have far-reaching implications and foist responsibilities on the West. Ukraine's survival requires a clear victory, followed by two options. NATO membership immediately, or adoption of nuclear weapons. It's clear, stark and imminent. There is no third option. He does not want to make us uncomfortable but wants to make us think and act. It's not working though, judging by the reaction to his victory and security proposals. Our democratic institutions are weak and capacity to solve hard problems that require leadership responses (rather than managerially weighted ones) is much reduced compared to the 1940s. ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/special-event/conversation-valerii-zaluzhnyi-ukrainian-ambassador-uk https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/10/16/zelenskyy-unveils-5-point-victory-plan-to-ukrainian-parliament/ https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-presents-his-victory-plan-to-ukraine-parliament-war-vladimir-putin/ https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-nukes-volodymyr-zelenskyy-war-ukraine-aid-russia/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~

Edition No57 | 16-10-2024 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused North Korea of sending military personnel to Russia. And judging by the media coverage, this is not seen as a big deal. It may be worth spelling that out. Iranian drones batter Ukrainian cities, killing civilians daily. Approximately half the three million artillery shells Russia uses annually come from North Korea. And now North Korea is sending its own troops to invade European territory. This is not hyperbole, or clickbait. North Korea is literally involved in the invasion of a sovereign European democracy, involved in the slaughter of innocent European civilians, and apparently neither the media nor our esteemed leaders seem to give a rat's arse about it. Is this the moment where history will judge that Western democracy faltered and failed? ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ~~~~~ Russia has said it signed a treaty with North Korea that provides “strategic cooperation” in all areas. Further it adds for the avoidance of doubt, that the deal with North Korea is ‘unambiguous'. The treaty includes a mutual assistance clause, in which each side committed to help resist external aggression. That's an interesting commitment, when Russia is struggling to retake its own territories in the Kursk oblast. Putin signed the treaty with North Korea earlier this year but did not explain how it might be put into practice. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether the treaty obliged Russia to back North Korea in a conflict and he said the wording of the agreement was “quite unambiguous.” And involves “truly strategic deep cooperation in all areas, including security. ~~~~~ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://kyivindependent.com/russia-plans-to-involve-north-korea-in-war-in-ukraine-this-fall-zelensky-says/ https://kyivindependent.com/north-korea-has-sent-10-000-soldiers-to-russia-western-source-says/ https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/10/15/us-official-north-korean-troops-in-ukraine-would-show-russian-desperation/ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-concerned-by-reports-north-korean-soldiers-fighting-russia-2024-10-15/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-updates-map-putin-north-korea-soldiers-b2629954.html https://kyivindependent.com/thaad/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~

Edition No55 | 06-10-2024 - Ukrainian officials in Chernihiv have told residents not to swim in the Desna River after a toxic spill last month. This video is based on the excellent reporting of Luke Harding and Artem Mazhulin in Slabyn, Ukraine, from the UK's Guardian newspaper. ~~~~~ ‘Everything is dead' – reports come in of a major ecocide event, after rivers are poisoned. Ukrainian officials in Chernihiv have told residents not to swim in the Desna River after a toxic spill last month. This video is based on the excellent reporting of Luke Harding and Artem Mazhulin in Slabyn, Ukraine, from the UK's Guardian newspaper. It won't come as a surprise to anyone who's paying attention, that Russia is suspected of deliberately leaking chemical waste into rivers. This has had deadly consequences already for wildlife within the waters and surrounding ecosystems. Hundreds of fish, including roach, pike, carp and other species, have washed up on the Desna River's willow-fringed banks. “Everything is dead, starting from the tiniest minnow to the biggest catfish,” explains Serhiy Kraskov, mayor of the village of Slabyn, located in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region. ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/01/ukraine-seim-river-poisoning-chernihiv-ecocide- https://svidomi.in.ua/en/page/this-is-an-environmental-disaster-how-russia-poisoned-the-seim-river-in-the-north-of-ukraine https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/12/7474751/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~

Edition No55 | 06-10-2024 - Ukrainian officials in Chernihiv have told residents not to swim in the Desna River after a toxic spill last month. This video is based on the excellent reporting of Luke Harding and Artem Mazhulin in Slabyn, Ukraine, from the UK's Guardian newspaper. ~~~~~ ‘Everything is dead' – reports come in of a major ecocide event, after rivers are poisoned. Ukrainian officials in Chernihiv have told residents not to swim in the Desna River after a toxic spill last month. This video is based on the excellent reporting of Luke Harding and Artem Mazhulin in Slabyn, Ukraine, from the UK's Guardian newspaper. It won't come as a surprise to anyone who's paying attention, that Russia is suspected of deliberately leaking chemical waste into rivers. This has had deadly consequences already for wildlife within the waters and surrounding ecosystems. Hundreds of fish, including roach, pike, carp and other species, have washed up on the Desna River's willow-fringed banks. “Everything is dead, starting from the tiniest minnow to the biggest catfish,” explains Serhiy Kraskov, mayor of the village of Slabyn, located in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region. ~~~~~ SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's frontline towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ~~~~~ NEWS SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/01/ukraine-seim-river-poisoning-chernihiv-ecocide- https://svidomi.in.ua/en/page/this-is-an-environmental-disaster-how-russia-poisoned-the-seim-river-in-the-north-of-ukraine https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/12/7474751/ ~~~~~ USEFUL LINKS: Vatnik Soup https://twitter.com/P_Kallioniemi http://www.medbat.org.ua/en/ Real World News https://kyivindependent.com/ https://www.kyivpost.com/ https://english.nv.ua/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ https://meduza.io/en https://meduza.io/ https://novayagazeta.eu/ https://www.newsweek.com/topic/russia... Analysis https://www.ft.com/russia https://www.economist.com/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ https://cepa.org/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ https://www.theatlantic.com/search/?s... ~~~~~ TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine Ukrainian Freedom News https://www.ukrainianfreedomnews.com/donation/ UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ ~~~~~