Podcasts about rfe rl

Před 30 lety se přičiněním tehdejšího ředitele Rádia Svobodná Evropa Pavla Pecháčka přestěhovala stanice z Mnichova do Prahy. My jsme si o tom, jak RFE/RL v Praze působila a působí povídali přímo v jejím sídle na pražském Hagiboru s Jeremym Branstenem, regionálním ředitelem provýchodní Evropu v Rádiu Svobodná Evropa/Rádio Svoboda, vedoucím ruského vysílání Andrejem Šarijem, Maryanou Drach, která vede ukrajinské vysílání, zastihli jsme také Ainuru Asankojoevu z kyrgyzské redakce. Z archivní nahrávky jsme kvyprávění přizvali i Pavla Pecháčka, s nímž jsme se na Hagiboru setkali už po roce 2000, kdy jsme o Přepište dějiny neměli ještě ani tušení.

O Rádiu Svobodná Evropa/Rádiu Svoboda se v posledníchměsících mluví ve dříve nečekaných souvislostech - Trumpova administrativa se snaží zastavit financování rádia, které sama pomohla vytvořit na počátku 50. let minulého století. V malém seriálu věnovaném RFE/RL se v první části ohlédneme s historikem Prokopem Tomkem za minulostí této stanice a za jejími počátky.

Конституционный суд Чехии проверит правомочность решения о заморозке выдачи чешского гражданства россиянам. Освобождения Пльзеня. Русские голоса Пражского восстания. Акция протеста против присутствия RFE/RL в Чехии.

Конституционный суд Чехии проверит правомочность решения о заморозке выдачи чешского гражданства россиянам. Освобождения Пльзеня. Русские голоса Пражского восстания. Акция протеста против присутствия RFE/RL в Чехии.

On today's episode, we break down how Radio Free Europe just might be the key to preserving the separation of powers in America. We talk the Tucker Act and all of the pretextual, vapid, and/or just plain wrong arguments coming out of Trump's Department of Justice. Perkins Coie wins their case in front of Our Favorite Beryl, a dingus is trying to sue Chief Justice John Roberts, and Maine's Governor Janet Mills promised the President she'd see him in court. Four days later, the administration caved, meaning Maine kids will get to eat their school lunches after all.    Links: Trump Admin Unveils Exciting Plan To Magic Away Impoundment Lawsuits https://www.lawandchaospod.com/p/trump-admin-unveils-exciting-plan   RFE/RL v. Lake (USAGM) D.D.C. docket [via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69752936/rferl-inc-v-lake/   US Agency for Global Media DC Circuit docket [via Court Listener] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.42001/   America First Legal Foundation v. Chief Justice Roberts [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69924761/america-first-legal-foundation-v-roberts/   Perkins Coie LLP v. Dept. of Justice [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69725919/perkins-coie-llp-v-us-department-of-justice/ US v. Kirk [Docket via Court Listener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580642/united-states-v-kirk/   US v. Smirnov https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68254959/united-states-v-smirnov   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

In this episode of Fellowship Takeaways we hear from two journalists whose work and lives has been shaped by displacement. In this episode of Fellowship Takeaways we hear from two journalists whose work and lives has been shaped by displacement. They discuss the challenges of building trust, maintaining sources' anonymity, the emotional toll of their work and what newsrooms can do better to support journalists in exile. Speakers: Asmaa Al-Omar is a Syrian journalist who has reported on human rights violations, migration, and conflict in the Middle East for publications such as The New York Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian. Her investigative work focuses on refugee issues and regional corruption. Maria Kiseleva is a journalist and video producer from Russia, who relocated to Riga, Latvia, after the invasion of Ukraine to escape military censorship laws. Before the invasion, Maria was working for the BBC's Russian Service in Moscow. She currently works for Current Time TV station, part of RFE/RL. Our host Caithlin Mercer is the Associate Director of the Journalist Fellowship Programme at the Reuters Institute. Previously she was Managing Editor at Yahoo UK where spearheaded their move into audio. Resources: Transcript of the podcast: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/our-podcast-challenges-covering-russia-and-syria-exile Thomson Reuters Foundation report on Strengthening Exiled Media https://www.trust.org/initiative/supporting-media-in-exile/ Thomson Reuters Foundation report on Supporting Media in Exile https://www.trust.org/initiative/supporting-media-in-exile/

In this episode...00:03:35 - Combat Update: Ukrainian withdrawal in Kusk, current Russian offensive over00:14:05 - Weeks-long Russian missile and drone barrage hits close to home00:21:15 - Every ceasefire talk you have been hearing about has been complete bunk00:37:58 - Russia plans expulsion of Ukrainians from occupied territory00:43:07 - Trump ends RFE/RL, we talk about its background and impact00:56:17 - Trump cancels programs investigating Russian war crimes, including finding kidnapped children01:04:00 - Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute loses grant to fund translations of Ukrainian literature01:06:00 - Protests against autocracy and corruption in Serbia, Georgia, Turkey, and Hungary.TwitterAnthony: @BartawayRomeo: @VagrantJournoUkraine Without Hype: @HypeUkraineOther Social Mediahttp://youtube.com/@UkraineWithoutHypehttp://tiktok.com/@ukrainewithouthypehttp://instagram.com/ukrainewithouthype/Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/UkraineWithoutHypeResources and Charitieshttps://linktr.ee/ukrainewithouthypeMusicHey Sokoli (Traditional)

The U.S. government has announced it will stop funding Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—a station that once played a vital role in Czechoslovakia's fight for freedom. In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes, journalist and historian Petr Brod shares personal memories of working at RFE/RL in Munich and later in Prague. From newsroom "tribalism" to the station's mission during the Cold War, Brod offers a rare inside look at one of the most influential broadcasters of the 20th century.

The U.S. government has announced it will stop funding Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—a station that once played a vital role in Czechoslovakia's fight for freedom. In the weekend edition of Czechia in 30 minutes, journalist and historian Petr Brod shares personal memories of working at RFE/RL in Munich and later in Prague. From newsroom "tribalism" to the station's mission during the Cold War, Brod offers a rare inside look at one of the most influential broadcasters of the 20th century.

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

Could Apple be ramping up its efforts to bolster itself in the smart home market? Apple released Final Cut Pro 11 with new features. The M4 MacBook Pro quietly got a quantum dot display over an LCD display. And Apple releases updates to iOS 18 and macOS that you should update to if you haven't yet! Apple's next device is an AI wall tablet for home control, Siri and video calls. Apple's fiscal 2024 in charts. Apple releases updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad. Apple quietly gave the M4 MacBook Pro a quantum dot display. Apple faces UK 'iCloud monopoly' compensation claim worth $3.8 billion. Apple removes another RFE/RL app at request of Russian regulator. Apple releases iOS 18.1.1 with 'important security fixes' for iPhone. PSA: iPhone users receiving AppleCare+ refunds multiple years after Apple trade-in. Top execs explain Apple's chip philosophy: 'We are not a merchant silicon company, trying to leave nothing on the table'. Apple offers $100M to undo Indonesia iPhone 16 ban. Trump's tariff proposal could add $240 to the cost of an iPhone. Here's the math. Discriminatory job ads for iPhone workers ended after Reuters report; Apple didn't comment. Apple now sells its own Apple News ads for the first time. Apple shares the most popular podcasts of 2024. Apple debuts The Weeknd: Open Hearts, the first-of-its-kind immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro. Porch pirates appear to be accessing AT&T data to track iPhone deliveries. Apple seemingly discontinuing lightning to headphone jack adapter introduced alongside iPhone 7. Picks of the Week: Alex's Pick: Kondor Blue USB-C Mobile Andy's Picks: Charlie Brown Thanksgiving & Feedbin Jason's Picks: ReadKit & Unread Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to MacBreak Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/macbreak zocdoc.com/macbreak

What is the role of civil society training and engagement in a country where institutions are captured by anti-democratic and anti-liberal governments? In the latest episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks with Amb. Nino Kalandadze, founder and executive director of the Chavchavadze Center, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia who led the EU-Georgia Talks in 2008. This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum is responsible for the content or for any use that is made of. Show notes This podcast, as well as previous episodes, is available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify. You can learn more about Nino here and follow her on LinkedIn. Get to know the work done by the Chavchavadze Center, the first civil society organisation in Georgia modelled after European political foundations, here. You can also follow them on X/Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. -- You can learn more about the Black Sea Security Conference here and here. You can follow the work done by our colleagues at The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, South Caucasus, here, the Europe-Georgia Institute here, and The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Regional Programme Political Dialogue South Caucasus, here. Also, a big thank you to our friends at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty which provides uncensored, trusted news to audiences in 23 countries where a free press is under threat, and with a number of award-winning journalists in its team, the Georgian service of RFE/RL, Tavisupleba [meanin "Freedom" in Georgian], provides politically and financially independent journalism.

Mark Pomar served as assistant director of the Russian Service at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, director of the USSR Division at the Voice of America, executive director of the Board for International Broadcasting. He joined David Priess to talk about the origins of US government-funded international broadcasting, differences between RFE/RL and VOA, tensions between strategists and purists over the radios' content, the impacts of detente and of Reagan's more hawkish approach, KGB infiltrations of RFE/RL, changes to the radios toward the end of the Cold War, the role of RL in August 1991's failed coup against Gorbachev, perceptions of the radios after the Cold War, Mark's book Cold War Radio and his current research into Radio Liberty, the relevance of this history for today, and more.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Pomar served as assistant director of the Russian Service at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, director of the USSR Division at the Voice of America, executive director of the Board for International Broadcasting. He joined David Priess to talk about the origins of US government-funded international broadcasting, differences between RFE/RL and VOA, tensions between strategists and purists over the radios' content, the impacts of detente and of Reagan's more hawkish approach, KGB infiltrations of RFE/RL, changes to the radios toward the end of the Cold War, the role of RL in August 1991's failed coup against Gorbachev, perceptions of the radios after the Cold War, Mark's book Cold War Radio and his current research into Radio Liberty, the relevance of this history for today, and more.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kazakhs will vote on October 6 in a national referendum to authorize construction of a nuclear power plant. In recent winters, Kazakhstan has experienced severe power shortages, and Kazakh officials assert that nuclear power could help fill the gap. People remember, however, that 456 nuclear weapons were detonated in northeastern Kazakhstan between 1949 and 1989 as part of the Soviet Union's testing program. The byproducts of these tests continue to affect public health in the region, and many people in Kazakhstan are not pleased with the prospect of nuclear power. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss the pros, cons, and controversy of Kazakhstan's proposed nuclear power plant are guests Togzhan Kassenova, author of the widely acclaimed book Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up The Bomb; Aya Renaud, an editor at RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyq; and Darkhan Umirbekov, digital editor at Azattyq, who is based in Astana.

Last month, the FBI raided the homes of Scott Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector and critic of American foreign policy, and Dimitri Simes, a former think tank executive and an adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In late August, The New York Times reported that these searches were part of the U.S. Justice Department's “broad criminal investigation into Americans who have worked with Russia's state television networks.” In the past two weeks, U.S. officials have taken numerous measures against Russia Today and its affiliates and accelerated police actions against Russia-based individuals and entities accused of covert influence operations, including money laundering, sanctions violations, and unregistered foreign agent work. For example, the Justice Department announced the seizure of 32 Internet domains used in Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns (colloquially referred to as “Doppelganger”), alleging that Russian companies used online domains to impersonate legitimate news entities and unique media brands to spread Russian government propaganda covertly, violating U.S. laws against money laundering and trademarks.  That same day, the Justice Department indicted two Russia-based employees of RT for conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act in a $10-million scheme to fund and direct a Tennessee-based company to publish and disseminate information “with hidden Russian-government messaging.” A day later, officials charged Dmitri Simes and his wife with participating in a plot to violate U.S. sanctions and launder money obtained from Russian state television. About a week later, the U.S. State Department issued a special “alert to the world,” declaring that new information obtained over the past year reveals that Russia Today has “moved beyond being simply a media outlet” and has become “an entity with cyber capabilities” that's “also engaged in information operations, covert influence, and military procurement.” Washington claims that the Russian government embedded within RT in Spring 2023 an entity “with cyber operational capabilities and ties to Russian intelligence.” Based on these allegations, Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — soon announced that it had banned Russia Today and its affiliates from all its platforms.  A day before that big announcement from the State Department, a jury in Tampa, Florida, convicted four American citizens of conspiracy to act as agents of the Russian government. Case evidence first reported by RFE/RL shows that the activists on trial secretly coordinated their activities and received funding from “Anti-Globalization Movement” head Alexander Ionov, who acted on orders from Russia's Federal Security Service. To discuss this recent explosion of American police and diplomatic activity targeting RT and Russian covert influence operations in the U.S., The Naked Pravda spoke to RFE/RL journalist Mike Eckel, who coauthored the September 6 report on how Ionov and his FSB handlers “chatted and plotted to sow discord in the United States.” Timestamps for this episode: (5:54) The U.S. government's coordinated campaign against Russian covert influence operations (7:18) Legal strategies when prosecuting Moscow's malign activities (8:37) Alexander Ionov and the FSB (15:11) American activists and Russian covert operations (18:52) “Foreign agency” in the U.S. vs. in Russia (32:12) Dmitri Simes and Channel One (36:18) Scott Ritter and Russia TodayКак поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно

Racialization is the process of viewing a specific people with preconceived notions about them. In Russia, non-Russians -- particularly people from Asia or the South Caucasus -- have long been targets of racialization. The problem is especially acute in today's Russia, where many Russians openly express negative or derogatory views of these peoples, making life extremely difficult for Central Asians who live or work in the country. Joining host Bruce Pannier to look at the impact of racialization and ethnic discrimination on Central Asians in Russia are guests Nodira Abdulloeva, an advocate for the rights of migrant workers in Russia; sociologist and University of Amsterdam postdoctoral researcher Nodira Kholmatova; and Tolkun Umaraliev, chief editor for RFE/RL's Migrant Unit and Ferghana Valley Bureau.

Patru râuri din România au secat, câte mai sunt în pericol? Climatolog: Trebuie să fim conștienți cât de prețioasă a devenit apa (Europa Liberă) - Comisia Europeană avertizează din nou România cu privire la gaura bugetară: „Situația fiscală s-a deteriorat brusc”. Economist: nu mai este de ajuns majorarea TVA (Libertatea) - Prin ce trec bolnavii de Alzheimer și îngrijitorii din România, țara unde te bazezi pe sfaturi de la cunoștințe (PressOne) „Am ajuns să ne furăm apa unul de la altul” - Seceta a băgat satul românesc în sapă de lemn, iar țăranii sunt pe culmile disperării (Adevărul)Seceta a făcut ravagii, în această vară, în România. Conform datelor oficiale alimentarea cu apă este asigurată cu restricții în peste 658 de localități. Cele mai afectate de lipsa apei sunt județele Botoșani, Vaslui, Iași și Vrancea. Județul Botoșani a fost timp de secole un adevărat grânar al Moldovei, cu pământuri fertile și soiuri unicat de grâu. Comunități întregi trăiesc exclusiv din ceea ce le oferă pământul și animalelor domestice. Seceta de anul acesta a fost un adevărat cataclism pentru ”Bărăganul Moldovei„. Sate întregi sunt cuprinse efectiv de cea mai cruntă disperare. Soarele a pârjolit totul, începând din luna mai, pășuni, ogoare, totul. În cele mai multe sate, fântânile au secat cu totul.„Din 40 de fântâni bune, mai sunt două. Mă uit cum iese mâlul din găleată și plâng câte o oră. Mă trezesc noaptea și visez că a venit apa în fântână. Familia mea trăiește numai din laptele pe care-l dau la colectare. Murim cu zile dacă nu avem cu ce adăpa animalele”, spune un sătean din comuna Blândești, una dintre cele mai afectate de secetă. Un altul, din Gorbănești, venit cu o căruță plină cu butoaie, se oprește în fața unui puț din mijlocul câmpului efectiv ars de soare. „Nu are apă”, spune disperat. Se uită apoi către pășuni. Aproape izbucnește în lacrimi. „Este pârjolit totul, îi moarte, gata”.Situația apei este atât de gravă încât oamenii au ajuns să umble nopțile, kilometrii întregi, cu căruțele, căutând să ”fure” apă de la fântânile din alte comune.Reportajul integral în Adevărul. Patru râuri din România au secat, câte mai sunt în pericol? Climatolog: Trebuie să fim conștienți cât de prețioasă a devenit apa (Europa Liberă)Patru râuri importante din România au secat într-un interval de aproximativ o zi. Un raport al Apelor Române obținut de Europa Liberă arată că alte 37 de râuri sunt în pericol să sece. Nu este exclus ca și alte ape curgătoare, care nu sunt monitorizate, să fie secate deja. O cauză este vara anului 2024, care ar putea fi declarată cea mai caldă din înregistrări.Cercetătoarea Roxana Bojariu, coordonatoarea Secției de climatologie de la Administrația Națională de Meteorologie (ANM), spune că secarea celor patru râuri vine pe fondul unei „reduceri cronice de resurse de apă din sol”, la care se adaugă „o exploatare a pânzei de apă freatică mai intensă”.„Oamenii au încercat să suplinească lipsa de precipitații și au mers cu extragerea apei din pânza freatică într-un ritm mult mai intens. Toate lucrurile astea au contribuit la acest fenomen”, afirmă ea.Probleme cu seceta au și țările vecine României, după cum relatează birourile RFE/RL din Republica Moldova și Bulgaria.Cascada Saharna, una dintre atracțiile turistice din Moldova, s-a oprit din cauza secetei, în timp ce debitul cascadei Țipova a scăzut considerabil. Apa va reveni la toamnă, când va ploua, spun specialiștii de la Chișinău. Comisia Europeană avertizează din nou România cu privire la gaura bugetară: „Situația fiscală s-a deteriorat brusc”. Economist: nu mai este de ajuns majorarea TVA (Libertatea)Situația fiscală a României „s-a deteriorat brusc în 2023”, iar în acest an, Comisia Europeană estimează o nouă creștere a deficitului bugetar, astfel că Executivul european intenționează să propună o „intensificare a procedurii de deficit excesiv”, arată Comisia Europeană, pentru Libertatea.Economiștii consultați de ziar avertizează că România riscă amenzi, suspendarea acordării de fonduri europene, iar situația poate merge până la forțarea Guvernului de a majora două taxe majore, respectiv TVA și impozitul pe venit.Deficitul bugetar reprezintă diferența între veniturile și cheltuielile statului. România se află în procedură de deficit excesiv, iar până în data de 20 septembrie trebuie să trimită la Bruxelles un plan de măsuri pentru echilibrarea situației bugetare. Prin ce trec bolnavii de Alzheimer și îngrijitorii din România, țara unde te bazezi pe sfaturi de la cunoștințe (PressOne)Nu știu care e frigiderul. Nu știu cu ce să mă îmbrac. Nu știu unde e baia. Nu știu ce mă doare exact. Uneori nu știu ce nu știu.Conform celor mai recente estimări ale Alzheimer Europe, în 2018, 1,43% din populația României (peste 279 de mii de persoane) suferea de Alzheimer, iar evaluările arată că numărul bolnavilor s-ar putea dubla, în preajma anului 2050. Potrivit Societății Române de Alzheimer, în 2021, numărul global de ore de îngrijire informală oferită pacienților care locuiesc acasă a fost echivalent cu munca a peste 67 de milioane de lucrători cu normă întreagă.70% dintre îngrijitori sunt femei. OMS a lansat un plan global de acțiune pentru 2017-2025, care recomandă statelor să dezvolte strategii naționale coordonate pentru abordarea problemei și sisteme de susținere pentru persoanele care se ocupă de asta: programe  de instruire, resurse accesibile, prevenirea burnout-ului, crearea unor grupuri care să îi ajute și cu care să se consulte și integrarea pacienților în comunitate pentru a-i menține activi.În ciuda directivelor OMS, România încă nu are o strategie națională specifică de prevenție implementată corespunzător, scrie PressOne.

It's been almost two weeks since the Ukrainian Armed Forces smashed through Russia's border defenses in the Kursk region and began a surprise offensive that has advanced about 17 miles at its deepest point, according to Meduza's estimates. Regional officials in Kursk have evacuated towns along the Ukrainian border, and more than 120,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. Vladimir Putin has met several times with top national security officials, but Russia's president hasn't yet bothered to make a national address, even though part of the country — a real part of the country, not just Ukrainian lands that Moscow claims — is now under foreign occupation. At the same time, Russian troops are still attacking Ukrainian defenses in the Donbas, where Kyiv remains vulnerable after months of slow Russian advances. The world is watching to see if the Kursk incursion can force the Kremlin to pull soldiers from eastern Ukraine. One of the most sensitive issues inside Russia related to Ukraine's Kursk offensive is the use of conscript soldiers. To discuss the course of the Kursk incursion and to understand why sending conscripts into Russia's new conflict zone is so tricky, The Naked Pravda spoke to RFE/RL journalists Mark Krutov and Sergey Dobrynin, who have tracked the war closely and recently wrote an article addressing how the Russian military plans to use conscripts amid Kyiv's offensive in Kursk. Timestamps for this episode: (3:04) How Ukraine penetrated Russia's border so easily (9:10) Comparisons to previous incursions and Ukraine's Kharkiv counteroffensive (16:10) The role and impact of conscripts (29:00) Political sensitivity and Russian public reactionsКак поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно

Alsu Kurmasheva, periodista de RFE/RL y madre de dos hijos, se reunió con su familia cerca de Washington, D.C., después de ser liberada en un histórico intercambio de prisioneros tras nueve meses de detención en Rusia.

TNS Manchin nói ông sẽ không tranh cử tổng thống Mỹ; Chính quyền Biden công bố 4,3 tỷ USD tài trợ khí hậu, Ông Netanyahu tuyên bố Israel sẽ vẫn là đồng minh chủ chốt của Mỹ bất kể ai thay thế TT Biden; Nga tuyên án nhà báo Kurmasheva của RFE/RL 6,5 năm tù

When we talk about ‘hostage diplomacy', it's almost like we're normalizing and legitimizing hostage-taking and admitting that American policy is not to deter hostage-taking or punish hostage-takers but simply to manage the criminals' demands for ransom and the release of their terrorists and other rewards – and to do it with respect and civility.Vladimir Putin is among the autocratic world leaders who understand how much benefit – and how little risk – is involved in taking hostages from countries that respect international law and then offering to trade them for something or someone he wants. Since March of last year, his regime has incarcerated and just sentenced to 16 years in prison Evan Gershkovich, a fully accredited foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, on what are obviously baseless and bogus charges.But Putin also is holding another American journalist: Alsu Kurmasheva with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Her husband, Pavel Butorin, also an RFE/RL journalist, joins host Cliff May and his FDD colleague Rich Goldberg to tell her — and his — story.

When we talk about ‘hostage diplomacy', it's almost like we're normalizing and legitimizing hostage-taking and admitting that American policy is not to deter hostage-taking or punish hostage-takers but simply to manage the criminals' demands for ransom and the release of their terrorists and other rewards – and to do it with respect and civility.Vladimir Putin is among the autocratic world leaders who understand how much benefit – and how little risk – is involved in taking hostages from countries that respect international law and then offering to trade them for something or someone he wants. Since March of last year, his regime has incarcerated and just sentenced to 16 years in prison Evan Gershkovich, a fully accredited foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, on what are obviously baseless and bogus charges.But Putin also is holding another American journalist: Alsu Kurmasheva with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Her husband, Pavel Butorin, also an RFE/RL journalist, joins host Cliff May and his FDD colleague Rich Goldberg to tell her — and his — story.

The Borat movies were a fun but far fetched parody right? Think again. The Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan is currently ruled by the clownish Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow and his son Serdar. He has styled himself as an action hero. Unfortunately he isn't very good at racing, handling horses, firing guns, singing, dancing, weight lifting, rapping or any of the other "talents" he likes to demonstrate.  He is also a tyrant, presiding over an oppressive system of government that has seen untold numbers of political opponents thrown into horrific dungeons. How did he get the job? Well because he was the dentist of his predecessor the equally bizarre Saparmurat Niyazov. Makes sense right? Of course it doesn't but it is true and my guest today -- revered journalist Bruce Pannier a fellow of the Foreign Policy Institute was in Central Asia when the USSR ended and this peculiar new system of government arose from its ashes. We discuss Bruce's firsthand insights into the hermit-like nation. He shares amusing anecdotes about the seemingly insane rulers, and shares his thoughts on more serious topics including life for the Turkmen people, terrorism, and international relations.  Guest: Bruce Pannier is a Central Asia Fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a longtime journalist and correspondent covering Central Asia. He currently writes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's blog, Qishloq Ovozi, and appears regularly on the Majlis podcast for RFE/RL. Prior to joining RFE/RL in 1997, Bruce worked at the Open Media Research Institute in Prague. In 1992, he led a sociological project in Central Asia sponsored by the University of Manchester and the Soros Cultural Initiative Foundation. During that time he lived in villages in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Bruce studied at Tashkent State University in the summer of 1990 and studied at Columbia University under Professor Edward Allworth. Bruce has also written for The Economist, Janes Intelligence, Oxford Analytica, Freedom House, The Cairo Review, the FSU Oil & Gas Monitor, and Energo Weekly.   Music: Performed by Gurbanghuly and Serdar Berdimuhamedow -- yes the "rap" song is actually written and performed by the President and his son. This episode is sponsored by World History Encyclopedia, one of the top history websites on the internet. I love the fact that they're not a Wiki: Every article they publish is reviewed by their editorial team, not only for being accurate but also for being interesting to read. The website is run as a non-profit organization, so you won't be bombarded by annoying ads and it's completely free. It's a great site, and don't just take my word for it they've been recommended by many academic institutions including Oxford University. Go check them out at WorldHistory.org or follow this link: World History Encyclopedia. Фильмы о Борате были забавной, но надуманной пародией, верно? Подумайте еще раз. Центральноазиатским государством Туркменистаном в настоящее время правят шут Гурбангулыевич Бердымухамедов и его сын Сердар. Он назвал себя героем боевиков. К сожалению, он не очень хорош в скачках, обращении с лошадьми, стрельбе из оружия, пении, танцах, поднятии тяжестей, рэпе и других «талантах», которые он любит демонстрировать.  Он также является тираном, возглавляющим репрессивную систему правления, которая видела бесчисленное количество политических оппонентов, брошенных в ужасающие темницы. Как он получил эту работу? Ну, потому что он был дантистом своего предшественника, столь же эксцентричного Сапармурата Ниязова. Имеет смысл, не так ли? Конечно, это не так, но это правда, и мой сегодняшний гость - уважаемый журналист Брюс Паннье, сотрудник Института внешней политики, был в Центральной Азии, когда СССР распался и из его пепла возникла эта своеобразная новая система правления.  

In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Alexandra kick off this episode with a rundown of some of the recent developments in the region, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, recent local elections in Serbia, the upcoming European parliamentary elections and developments in Hungary and Poland.Later, Adam is joined by Vazha Tavberidze, a Georgian journalist and staff writer with RFE/RL's Georgian Service. They discuss the situation in the country surrounding the recently passed “foreign agent” law and its consequences. They also take a look at what's next politically in the context of the upcoming elections in October.For further reading via New Eastern Europe:“Why the “Russian law” is so dangerous for Georgia” by Grigol Julukhidze and Mariam Gubievi: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/05/05/why-the-russian-law-is-so-dangerous-for-georgia/“Georgia has now reached a crucial moment” by Jakub Bornio: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/05/20/georgia-has-now-reached-a-crucial-moment/“Georgians want a better future” by Mark Temnycky: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2024/05/15/georgians-want-a-better-future/  Support us! Become a TEE patron: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneurope  

Russian security forces arrested several Tajik citizens in the wake of the March 22 attack on the Crocus City Hall outside Moscow that left more than 140 dead, claiming they were the perpetrators of the massacre. The news touched off a wave of xenophobia against Central Asian migrant laborers in Russia, with most of the suspicion and hostility directed toward ethnic Tajiks. This overt racism is also spilling over into Tajik-Russian relations. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss these matters and more are Edward Lemon, a professor at Texas A&M University and president of the Oxus Society for Central Asia; and Salimjon Aioubov, director of RFE/RL's Tajik Service.

Today's guest is Gulnoza Said, Europe and Central Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists. She is a journalist and press freedom advocate, and at CPJ, she has conducted several missions to Europe and Central Asia, and advocated for greater press freedom and the release of jailed journalists. In this episode, we discuss the state of press freedom across the world in 2023, what work CPJ does to protect journalists and advocate for press freedom, and the impact that global conflicts such as in Ukraine and Gaza have had on journalists operating on the ground. Full bio Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, is a journalist and press freedom advocate with over 20 years of experience in New York, Prague, Bratislava, and Tashkent. At CPJ, she has conducted several missions to countries in Europe and Central Asia, and advocated for greater press freedom and the release of jailed journalists at forums including the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and the OSCE. Before joining CPJ in 2016, she was a journalist and covered issues including elections, politics, media, religion, and human rights with a focus on Central Asia, Russia, and Turkey. She also worked in communications for the United Nations Secretariat and the UNDP. Her op-eds, reports, and comments have appeared in CNN, the BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, PBS, NBC, Voice of America, RFE/RL, Fergana, Eurasianet, and other outlets, and she authored the Uzbekistan chapter in a book on the study of social entrepreneurship.

@TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post) Sean Diller @SeanDillerCO   (Twitter and Post)https://heartlandpod.com/JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Belin found her love of politics growing up with parents and siblings who discussed current events at the dinner table. She has followed Iowa elections closely since the 1980 caucuses, when she took on the role of liberal Republican candidate John Anderson for a classroom debate. She first participated in an Iowa Democratic caucus as a Paul Simon supporter in 1988.She found her love of writing about politics as an analyst for the Prague-based Open Media Research Institute and later for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She covered Russian campaigns and elections, parliamentary politics, and media issues full time from 1995 to 1998 and on a freelance basis for RFE/RL from 1999 to 2005, spanning most of Boris Yeltsin's presidency and the early Vladimir Putin years.As Bleeding Heartland's lead author, Belin continued to use the handle desmoinesdem through 2018 and now writes about Iowa politics under her own byline.

@TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post) Sean Diller @SeanDillerCO   (Twitter and Post)https://heartlandpod.com/JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Belin found her love of politics growing up with parents and siblings who discussed current events at the dinner table. She has followed Iowa elections closely since the 1980 caucuses, when she took on the role of liberal Republican candidate John Anderson for a classroom debate. She first participated in an Iowa Democratic caucus as a Paul Simon supporter in 1988.She found her love of writing about politics as an analyst for the Prague-based Open Media Research Institute and later for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She covered Russian campaigns and elections, parliamentary politics, and media issues full time from 1995 to 1998 and on a freelance basis for RFE/RL from 1999 to 2005, spanning most of Boris Yeltsin's presidency and the early Vladimir Putin years.As Bleeding Heartland's lead author, Belin continued to use the handle desmoinesdem through 2018 and now writes about Iowa politics under her own byline.

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks to Golnaz Esfandiari of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty regarding the growing disaffection visible on the Iranian "street," official regime censorship and repression, and what the future holds for the Islamic Republic. Bio: Golnaz Esfandiari is the managing editor of RFE/RL's Radio Farda. She also serves as an Iran analyst for Freedom House, authoring the Iran chapter of their annual Freedom in the World annual reports. Her work has been published and cited by the New Yorker, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, the Atlantic, and elsewhere. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, BBC, and other international media outlets. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @GEsfandiari.

In May 2023, Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), traveled to Russia to visit her ailing mother. While awaiting her flight back to the US in June, she was detained by Russian authorities and subsequently charged for failing to register as a “foreign agent.” If convicted, she faces up to five years in a Russian prison. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Jeffrey Gedmin, acting president of RFE/RL, and Pavel Butorin, Kurmasheva's husband and director of Current Time TV at RFE/RL. Gedmin and Butorin provide an update on Kurmasheva's situation, discuss their ongoing collaboration with the US State Department to bring her home, and shed light on the growing threats that journalists face in Russia and other authoritarian nations.Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front‘s bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on X here.

El esposo de Alsu Kurmasheva, detenida en Rusia el 18 de octubre, afirma que es una "presa política". Ella tiene la nacionalidad rusa y la estadounidense. Su esposo, Pavel Butorin, labora en RFE/RL en Praga, donde dirige Tiempo Real, cadena de TV digital en lengua rusa.

Geographically, Central Asia is located a comfortable distance away from the wars in the Caucasus, Ukraine, and the Middle East, but these conflicts affect Central Asia's governments, as well as the region's people. For different reasons, the fighting in those three areas is causing rifts and bringing new challenges. How are the region's governments reacting to the conflicts? How do Central Asia's residents feel about the wars -- and their leaders' responses to them? Which combatants can Central Asians openly support, and how? Joining host Bruce Pannier to look at these questions are Joseph Epstein, a legislative fellow at the Endowment for Middle East Truth who focuses on the post-Soviet Space and the Middle East; Mukhtar Senggirbay, managing editor at RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyq; and Salimjon Aioubov, director of RFERL's Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi. (Editor's Note: Some of the claims made by podcast participants about the fighting between Israel and Hamas have not been confirmed.)

Armenian News & Media | Azatutyun | Fake News | Press Freedom | Armenia | Artsakh | Global ConflictsConversations on GroongTopics:    - Armenian News & Media Space        -RFE/RL Azatutyun in the Armenian Media Space        - Fake News        - Freedom of Press    - Politics and Geopolitics of Armenia    - Artsakh    - Global Conflicts - Israel, UkraineGuest:    - Aghasi YenokyanHosts:    - Hovik Manucharyan - TW/@HovikYerevan    - Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriqEpisode 289| Recorded: October 27, 2023Subscribe and follow us everywhere you are: linktr.ee/groong

A purported private military company called Redut is in reality a recruitment system for combat units that is coordinated and funded by Russia's armed forces and their intelligence agency, the GRU, RFE/RL investigative units Schemes and Systema have found. Investigative reporters Valeria Yehoshyna and Yelizaveta Surnacheva join the host to discuss the remarkable investigation and the revelations it produced.

Christopher Miller, Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times and author of The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine, speaks to RFE/RL about his book, his experiences covering the country and the war, and where things stand after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to the United States.

Since late October 2022, when more than two dozen opposition politicians, activists, and journalists were detained, the Kyrgyz government has been going after perceived opponents and critics. Investigative journalist Bolot Temirov was deported in November; the government blocked RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service websites and froze its bank account from late October 2022 until July this year; and the campaign continues. Between August 28 and September 7, Kyrgyz authorities moved to shut down an independent media outlet, detained a leading opposition member of parliament, and prepared to strip the Constitutional Court of its powers over a previous ruling that supported women's rights. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss these recent moves by the Kyrgyz government to tighten its grip over the country are Erica Marat, an associate professor at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.; and Syinat Sultanalieva, Central Asia researcher for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at Human Rights Watch.

The recent appointment of Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar, as Ukraine's new defense minister has brought to the fore the role of Tatars in Ukraine's fight against Russia. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Rim Gilfanov, director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Tatar Bakhshir service, to shed light on Tatars: Where do they come from and what is the history of their relationship to Russia? To what extent can we think of Tatars as a coherent group with a shared identity? What has been the specific experience of Crimean Tatars under Moscow's rule as one of the largest non-Russian ethnic communities? Gilfanov also shares the work RFE/RL's Tatar Bakhshir service is doing to combat the spread of disinformation by the Russian regime.Show notes: Sign up for The Eastern Front's bi-weekly newsletter here and follow us on Twitter here. RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service.

Analyst and author Mark Galeotti joins RFE/RL to discuss Moscow's war on Ukraine, its reverberations in Russia, and how it's related to the invasion of Georgia in 2008. Also on the agenda: the continuing aftermath of the Wagner mutiny.

Resource scarcity has severely disrupted daily life across Central Asia this summer. Electricity failures have compelled Kyrgyzstan to declare a three-year energy emergency, starting on August 1. Additionally, much of the region is grappling with water shortages, which scientists say is the latest sign that Central Asia will be one of the regions hardest hit by climate change. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss the water and power situation in Central Asia this summer are guests Nurzat Abdyrasulova, president and CEO of Bishkek-based strategic advisory firm Unison Group; Alisher Sidikov, the director of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik; and Farruh Yusupov, the director of RFE/RL's Turkmen service, known locally as Azatlyk.

More than a year into its war on Ukraine, Russia holds a military parade on Red Square as part of ceremonies marking the defeat of Nazi Germany 78 years ago. Allyson Edwards, a lecturer at Bath Spa University and an expert on Russian militarism, youth, memory, and patriotic education, joins RFE/RL to discuss.

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, which some governments in Central Asia expected to complicate relations with their southern neighbor. Four Central Asian countries opened a dialogue with the Taliban, but the Tajik government did not. While there have been tensions, a Taliban delegation visited Tajikistan recently. Elsewhere, an Afghan water canal project threatens to sour the Taliban's ties with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss these developments are Salimjon Aioubov, director of RFE/RL's Tajik Service; Farruh Yusupov, director of RFE/RL's Turkmen Service; and Alisher Sidikov, director of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service.

When in 1991 Boris Yeltsin invited Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to open a news bureau in Russia, the move was hailed as the clearest sign yet that the Cold War was ending. Last year, Vladimir Putin's regime forced RFE/RL to shut down its operations, causing staff to leave the country along with other Russian independent journalists, dissidents, and human rights defenders. With the current exodus from Russia reaching levels comparable to those following the 1917 revolution, the experience of “Cold War radio” has suddenly become relevant again. What lessons does American international broadcasting, widely acknowledged as one of the United States' Cold War triumphs, hold for the current moment? What practices could today's political exiles from Russia emulate to connect to their compatriots inside the country? Izabella Tabarovsky explores these questions in her conversation with Mark Pomar, author of Cold War Radio: The Russian Broadcasts of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. For show notes, please visit: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/audio/lessons-cold-war-radio-conversation-mark-pomar

Jamie Fly is the president of RFE/RL, that combination of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. RFE/RL is especially critical these days, when the Kremlin is waging its war on Ukraine, and its usual disinformation war. Questioned by Jay, Jamie Fly goes through some of the basics. A very important arena, we’re talking about. Source

Jamie Fly is the president of RFE/RL, that combination of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. RFE/RL is especially critical these days, when the Kremlin is waging its war on Ukraine, and its usual disinformation war. Questioned by Jay, Jamie Fly goes through some of the basics. A very important arena, we're talking about. Source

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Congress has signed four laws that send enormous amounts of money and weapons to Ukraine, attempting to punish Russia for President Putin's invasion. In this episode, we examine these laws to find out where our money will actually go and attempt to understand the shifting goals of the Biden administration. The big picture, as it's being explained to Congress, differs from what we're being sold. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Content Ukraine and Russia CD249: A Few Good Laws CD248: Understanding the Enemy CD244: Keeping Ukraine CD229: Target Belarus CD167: Combating Russia (NDAA 2018) LIVE CD068: Ukraine Aid Bill CD067: What Do We Want In Ukraine? Syria CD172: The Illegal Bombing of Syria CD108: Regime Change CD041: Why Attack Syria? World Trade System What Is the World Trade System? CD230: Pacific Deterrence Initiative CD102: The World Trade Organization: COOL? Russian Blockade Shane Harris. May 24, 2022. “U.S. intelligence document shows Russian naval blockade of Ukraine.” The Washington Post. NATO Expansion Jim Garamone. Jun 1, 2022. “Russia Forcing Changes to NATO Strategic Concepts.” U.S. Department of Defense News. Matthew Lee. May 27, 2022. “US: Turkey's NATO issues with Sweden, Finland will be fixed.” AP News. Ted Kemp. May 19, 2022. “Two maps show NATO's growth — and Russia's isolation — since 1990.” CNBC. U.S. Involvement in Ukraine Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and Julian E. Barnes. May 5, 2022. “U.S. Intelligence Helped Ukraine Strike Russian Flagship, Officials Say.” The New York Times. Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt. May 4, 2022. “U.S. Intelligence Is Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals, Officials Say.” The New York Times. Private Security Contractors Christopher Caldwell. May 31, 2022. “The War in Ukraine May Be Impossible to Stop. And the U.S. Deserves Much of the Blame.” The New York Times. Joaquin Sapien and Joshua Kaplan. May 27, 2022. “How the U.S. Has Struggled to Stop the Growth of a Shadowy Russian Private Army.” ProPublica. H.R. 7691 Background How It Passed Glenn Greenwald. May 13, 2022. “The Bizarre, Unanimous Dem Support for the $40b War Package to Raytheon and CIA: ‘For Ukraine.'” Glenn Greenwald on Substack. Catie Edmondson and Emily Cochrane. May 10, 2022. “House Passes $40 Billion More in Ukraine Aid, With Few Questions Asked.” The New York Times. Republican Holdouts Glenn Greenwald and Anthony Tobin. May 24, 2022. “Twenty-Two House Republicans Demand Accountability on Biden's $40b War Spending.” Glenn Greenwald on Substack. Amy Cheng and Eugene Scott. May 13, 2022. “Rand Paul, lone Senate holdout, delays vote on Ukraine aid to next week.” The Washington Post. Morgan Watkins. May 13, 2022. “Sen. Rand Paul stalls $40 billion in aid for Ukraine, breaking with Mitch McConnell USA Today. Stephen Semler. May 26, 2022. “The Ukraine Aid Bill Is a Massive Windfall for US Military Contractors.” Jacobin. Biden Signs in South Korea Biden signs Ukraine Bill and Access to Baby Formula Act in South Korea. Reddit. Kate Sullivan. May 20, 2022. “Flying the Ukraine aid bill to South Korea for Biden's signature isn't unheard of. It also may not be totally necessary.” CNN. How Much Money, and Where Will It Go? Stephen Semler. May 23, 2022. “A breakdown of the Ukraine aid bill.” Speaking Security on Substack. “CBO Estimate for H.R. 7691, Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, as Passed by the House of Representatives on May 10, 2022.” May 11 2022. Congressional Budget Office. Christina Arabia, Andrew Bowen, and Cory Welt. Updated Apr 29, 2022. “U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine.” [IF12040] Congressional Research Service. “22 U.S. Code § 2346 - Authority.” Legal Information Institute, Cornell School of Law. Representatives' Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Stocks Kimberly Leonard. May 19, 2022. “20 members of Congress personally invest in top weapons contractors that'll profit from the just-passed $40 billion Ukraine aid package.” Insider. Kimberly Leonard. Mar 21, 2022. “GOP Rep. John Rutherford of Florida bought Raytheon stock the same day Russia invaded Ukraine.” Insider. Marjorie Taylor Green [@RepMTG]. Feb 24, 2022. “War is big business to our leaders.” Twitter. “Florida's 4th Congressional District.” GovTrack. “Rules Based Order” Anthony Dworkin. Sep 8, 2020. “Why America is facing off against the International Criminal Court.” “History of the multilateral trading system.” *The World Trade Organization “Facts: Global Inequality” Inequality.org “Timeline: Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.” Apr 23, 2007. NPR. Crimea Kenneth Rapoza. Mar 20, 2015. One Year After Russia Annexed Crimea, Locals Prefer Moscow To Kiev Forbes. “Crimea exit poll: About 93% back Russia union. March 16, 2014. BBC. Shifting Strategies Economic War Larry Elliott. Jun 2, 2022. “Russia is winning the economic war - and Putin is no closer to withdrawing troops. The Guardian. Nigel Gould-Davies. May 12, 2022. “We Must Make Sure Russia Finishes This War in a Worse Position Than Before” The New York Times. Weapons Escalation Jake Johnson. Jun 1, 2022. “'Slippery Slope... Just Got a Lot Steeper': US to Send Ukraine Advanced Missiles as Russia Holds Nuke Drills.” Common Dreams. C. Todd Lopez. Jun 1, 2022. “Advanced Rocket Launcher System Heads to Ukraine.” U.S. Department of Defense News. Greg Norman. Jun 1, 2022. “Russia stages nuclear drills after US announces rockets to Ukraine.” Fox News. Christian Esch et al. May 30, 2022. “What's Next for Ukraine? The West Tries to Figure Out What Peace Might Look Like.” Spiegel International. See Image. Alastair Gale. May 24, 2022. “China and Russia Sent Bombers Near Japan as Biden Visited Tokyo.” The Wall Street Journal. Mike Stone. Mar 11, 2022. “Exclusive: Pentagon revives team to speed arms to Ukraine and allies, sources say.” Reuters. Secretary Austin and the Pentagon Jim Garamone. May 20, 2022. “Austin to Host Second Ukraine Contact Group Meeting Monday.” U.S. Department of Defense News. Natasha Bertrand et al. Apr 26, 2022. “Austin's assertion that US wants to ‘weaken' Russia underlines Biden strategy shift.” CNN. David Sanger. Apr 25, 2022. “Behind Austin's Call for a ‘Weakened' Russia, Hints of a Shift.” The New York Times. Mike Stone. Apr 12, 2022. “Pentagon asks top 8 U.S. weapons makers to meet on Ukraine -sources.” Reuters. Glenn Greenwald. Dec 8, 2020. “Biden's Choice For Pentagon Chief Further Erodes a Key U.S. Norm: Civilian Control.” Glenn Greenwald on Substack. Democrats Still All In Marc Santora. May 1, 2022. “Pelosi and Democratic lawmakers vow the U.S. will stand with Ukraine. The New York Times. RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. May 1, 2022. “Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol; U.S. House Speaker Pelosi Visits Kyiv.” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “Ukraine war: Joe Biden calls for removal of Vladimir Putin in angry speech.” Mar 26, 2022. Sky News. The Laws H.R. 7691: Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 House Vote: 368-57 Senate Vote: 86-11 Transcript of House Debate S.3522: Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 Passed by Voice Vote in the Senate House Vote 417-10 House "Debate" H.R.6968 - Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act Senate Vote: 100-0 House Vote: 413-9 House Debate H.R.7108: Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act Senate Vote: 100-0 (amended the original House bill) Final House Vote: 424-8 House debate 1 (on original version) House debate 2 (final version) Audio Sources Joe Manchin at the World Economic Forum's meeting in Davos May 23, 2022 Clips Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): Speaking about Ukraine, first what Putin, Putin's war on Ukraine and Ukraine's determination, resolving the sacrifices they've made for the cause of freedom has united the whole world, that it's united, US Senate and Congress, I think like nothing I've seen in my lifetime. I think we're totally committed to supporting Ukraine, in every way possible, as long as we have the rest of NATO and the free world helping. I think we're all in this together. And I am totally committed as one person to seeing Ukraine to the end with a win, not basically resolving in some type of a treaty. I don't think that is where we are and where we should be. Reporter: Can I just follow up and ask you what you mean by a win for Ukraine? ** Sen. Joe Manchin:** I mean, basically moving Putin back to Russia and hopefully getting rid of Putin. The Ukraine Crisis: Implications for U.S. Policy in the Indo-Pacific May 19, 2022 Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Witnesses: Charles Edel, Ph.D., Australia Chair and Senior Adviser, Center for Strategic and International Studies Bonny Lin, Ph.D., Director, China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies Tanvi Madan, Ph.D.Director, The India Project, Brookings Institution Dan Blumenthal, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of Asian Studies, American Enterprise Institute Clips 6:57 Tanvi Madan: One implication that is already evident, most visibly in Sri Lanka, is the adverse economic impact. The rise in commodity prices in particular has led to fiscal food and energy security concerns and these, in turn, could have political implications and could create a strategic vacuum. 7:15 Tanvi Madan: A separate and longer term economic impact of the crisis could be renewed goals, perhaps especially in India, for self reliance and building resilience not just against Chinese pressure, but also against Western sanctions. 7:28 Tanvi Madan: The second potential implication of the Russia-Ukraine war could be that Beijing might seek to take advantage in the Indo-Pacific while the world's focus is on Europe, between the Taiwan or the East or South China Sea contingencies. The contingency that would have the most direct impact in South Asia would be further action by the PLA at the China-India boundary, or at the Bhutan-China boundary that could draw in India. This potential for Sino-Indian crisis escalation has indeed shaped Delhi's response to the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite its recent diversification efforts, the Indian military continues to be dependent, if not over dependent, on Russia for supplies and spare parts for crucial frontline equipment. India has also been concerned about moving Moscow away from neutrality towards taking China's side. Nonetheless, there is simultaneously concern that Russia's war with Ukraine might, in any case, make Moscow more beholden to Beijing and also less able to supply India, and that will have implications for India's military readiness. 10:10 Tanvi Madan: The fourth implication in South Asia could flow from the war's effect on the Russia-China relationship flows. The Sino-Russian ties in recent years have benefited Pakistan. However, they have been of great concern to India. If China-Russia relations deepened further, it could lead to increased Indian concern about Russian reliability. And a Dheli that is concerned about Moscow's ability and willingness to supply India militarily or supported in international forums will seek alternative partners and suppliers a potential opportunity for the US as well as its allies and partners. 18:15 Bonny Lin: China has shifted its position on the Ukraine conflict to be less fully pro Russia. Xi Jinping has expressed that he is deeply grieved by the outbreak of war. China has engaged in diplomacy, called for a ceasefire, proposed a six point humanitarian initiative, and provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine. China's position on Ukraine, however, is far from neutral. China has not condemned Russia or called its aggression an evasion. Xi has yet to speak to President Zelenskyy. There is no evidence that China has sought to pressure Russia in any way or form. China has amplified Russian disinformation and pushed back against Western sanctions. To date, Beijing has not provided direct military support to Russia and has not engaged in systemic efforts to help Russia evade sanctions. However, China's ambassador to Russia has encouraged Chinese companies to quote "fill the void in the Russian market." 19:14 Bonny Lin: The Ukraine crisis has reinforced China's view that US military expansion could provoke conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese interlocutors have voiced concern that the United States and NATO are fighting Russia today, but might fight China next. China views NATO expansion as one of the key causes of the Korean conflict and sees parallels between NATO activities in Europe and US efforts in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing is worried that increasing US and ally support for Taiwan and other regional allies and partners elevates the risk of US-China military confrontation. This pessimistic assessment is why Beijing will continue to stand by Russia as a close strategic partner. 19:56 Bonny Lin: The Ukraine crisis has reinforced and strengthened China's desire to be more self reliant. China is investing more to ensure the security of food, energy, and raw materials. Beijing is also seeking more resilient industrial supply chains, as well as PRC-led systems, including alternatives to Swift. At the same time, Beijing is likely to further cultivate dependencies on China, such that any potential Western led sanctions on China or international-community-led sanctions on China in the future will be painful to the West and difficult to sustain. 21:15 Bonny Lin: China has observed that Russia put its nuclear and strategic forces on high alert and NATO did not send conventional forces to Ukraine. This is leading China to question its nuclear policy and posture. 21:57 Bonny Lin: As Beijing watches the Western and particularly G7-led unity among advanced democracies, it is also seeing that a number of countries in the developing world are not joining in on the sanctions. As a result, Beijing has tried to increase its influence and in many ways building on Russian influence in developing regions. And Beijing is likely to try to get all that influence moving forward. 24:24 Dan Blumenthal: China took the opportunity of Russia's invasion on February 4 to lay out a document that criticizes, very specifically, almost all aspects of United States global policy. Very specifically, including Oculus for NATO enlargement to Oculus to the Indo Pacific strategy. It got Russia to sign up to Xi Jinping's theory that we're in a new era of geopolitics that will replace US leadership, that US leadership is faulty and it's dividing the world into blocks such as NATO, that NATO expansion is the problem, that Indo-Pacific strategy is the same thing as NATO expansion. 25:45 Dan Blumenthal: We should take very seriously what they say, particularly in Chinese, and what they're saying is very clearly pro-Russia and very clear, specific, searing critiques of the US-led world order. 26:47 Dan Blumenthal: And frankly, while the West is unified, and the US and the West and some of our Asian allies are unified, most of the rest of the world is not with us on this issue of China and Russia being these authoritarian, revisionist great powers, and that's a real problem. Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism May 18, 2022 House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Witnesses: Dr. Hanna Notte, Senior Research Associate, Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Dr. Frederic Wehrey, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Caitlin Welsh, Director of the Global Food Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies Grant Rumley, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Clips 12:55 Hanna Notte: First, Moscow's military presence in Syria has given it a buffer zone on its southern flank to counter perceived threats from within the region, but also to deter NATO outside the European theater. And second, Russia has turned to the region to diversify its economic relations with a focus on arms sales, civilian nuclear exports and wheat supplies. And in building influence, Russia has largely followed what I call a low cost high disruption approach, also using hybrid tactics such as private military companies and disinformation. Now, these Russian interests in the region will not fundamentally change with the invasion of Ukraine. Today, Russia's regional diplomacy remains highly active, aimed at offsetting the impact of Western sanctions and demonstrating that Moscow is not isolated internationally. 14:09 Hanna Notte: Starting with arms control and Non-Proliferation, though Moscow seemed intent on spoiling negotiations to restore the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] in early March. It subsequently dropped demands for written guarantees that its cooperation with Iran would not be hindered by sanctions imposed over Ukraine. But still, I think the geopolitical situation might make Moscow less willing to help finalize a nuclear deal. As in the past, Russia is also unlikely to support any US efforts to curb Iran's use of missiles and proxies in the region, because essentially, Iran's regional strategy pins down us resources while elevating Russia as a regional mediator, which serves Russian interests well. 15:17 Hanna Notte: Just a few words on Syria. Security Council resolution 2585 on the provision of humanitarian aid to northwest Syria is up for renewal in July. Now, Rationally speaking, the Kremlin should cooperate to avoid a worsening of serious food crisis, especially if an end game in Ukraine remains out of reach. But considering the current level of tensions between Russia and the West, I think the United States should be prepared for a Russian Security Council veto regardless, alongside continued Russian stalling on the Syrian constitutional committee. Moscow has no serious interest in seeing the committee advance. It will instead try to foster a Gulf Arab counterweight to Iran in Syria through normalization, especially for the contingency that Russia may need to scale back its own presence in Syria due to Ukraine. 16:14 Hanna Notte: First, unfortunately I think there's a widespread perception that the Ukraine war is not their war, that it's a Great Power NATO-Russia war, partially fueled by NATO and US actions visa vis Russia. 16:27 Hanna Notte: Second, there are accusations of Western double standards. The military support to Kyiv, the reception of Ukrainian refugees, these are rightly or wrongly viewed as proof that the West cares significantly more about conflict in Europe's neighborhood than those in the Middle East. 16:42 Hanna Notte: Third, regional elites worry about US conventional security guarantees. They fear that the threats posed by Russia and China will accelerate a decline in US power in the Middle East. And they also fear that the US will have limited bandwidth to confront Iran's missile and proxy activities. And with those fears, they feel they cannot afford to put all their eggs into the US basket. 17:07 Hanna Notte: And then finally, each regional state has very distinct business and security interests with Russia. As a result, and I'll end here, I think us opportunities to get regional states to turn against Russia are circumscribed. loosening these ties that states have been building with Russia will require a heavy lift. 18:57 Frederic Wehrey: This engagement is largely opportunistic and ad hoc. It seizes on instability and power vacuums and exploits the insecurities of US partners in the region about the reliability of US support, and their displeasure with the conditionality that the US sometimes attaches to its arms sales. Russian arms deliveries, in contrast, are faster and free from restrictions related to human rights. But Russia cannot provide the security guarantees that many Arab states have depended on from the United States. 19:29 Frederic Wehrey: Now, in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is trying to reap dividends from its investment in the region, call in favors, and capitalize on local ambivalence and hostility to the United States, both from states and from Arab publics. America's Arab security partners have differed on joining the Western condemnation of Russian aggression, and some of refuse to join efforts to isolate Russia economically. 20:31 Frederic Wehrey: Russia's disastrous war in Ukraine is tarnishing its reputation as an arms supplier in the Middle East. Russian weapons have been shown to be flawed in combat and often fatally. So, Battlefield expenditures and attrition have whittled away Russia's inventory, especially precision munitions, and sanctions have eroded its defense industrial base, especially electronic components. As a result, Russia won't be able to fulfill its existing commitments, and potential buyers will be increasingly dissuaded from turning to Russia. This shortfall could be modestly exploited by China, which possesses large quantities of Russian made arms and spare parts, which you could use to keep existing inventories in the region up and running. It could also intensify its efforts to sell its own advanced weaponry like drones. 23:50 Caitlin Welsh: The war has reduced supplies and increased prices of foods exported from Ukraine and Russia, namely wheat, maize and sunflower oil, driven up demand for substitute products and reduced fertilizer exports from the Black Sea. Today's high cost of energy puts further pressure on food and fertilizer prices. Most vulnerable to the impact of these price spikes are countries for whom wheat is a major source of calories that rely on imports to meet their food security needs, and that source a significant proportion of their imports from Ukraine and Russia. 24:38 Caitlin Welsh: Egypt is the world's largest importer of wheat, sourcing over 70% of its wheat from the Black Sea. 25:42 Caitlin Welsh: The Russian Ukraine war is limiting access to wheat for Lebanon, already in one of the worst economic crises in the world. Lebanon has not recorded economic growth since 2017 and food price inflation inflation reached 400% in December 2021. Lebanon procures approximately 75% of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine. 28:48 Grant Rumley: Russia is one of the few countries in the world to maintain a relatively positive diplomatic standing with nearly every country in the Middle East. It does so through a combination of an active military presence, high level diplomatic engagement, and a concerted effort to position itself as a viable source of arms, should countries seek non-US material. 29:08 Grant Rumley: Russia's military presence in the region is well documented by Russian MOD statements. Russia has deployed over 60,000 troops to Syria since intervening in 2015. From its two bases in Syria, Hmeimim and Tartous, Russia is able to project power into the eastern Mediterranean, influence the course of the Syrian civil war, and intervene in countries like Libya. 29:47 Grant Rumley: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, however, threatens Russia standing in the region. Already reports indicate Russia has begun withdrawing some troops and mercenaries from the region to support its invasion of Ukraine. While we can expect these reports to continue if the war continues to go poorly for Russia, I'm skeptical of a full Russian withdrawal, and instead expect Russia to continue to consolidate its forces until it's left with a skeleton presence at Hmeimim and Tartous, its most strategic assets in the region. 30:26 Grant Rumley: On arms sales, the Russian defense industry, which has struggled to produce key platforms following sanctions initially placed after its 2014 invasion of Ukraine, will likely have to prioritize replenishing the Russian military over exporting. Further, customers of Russian arms may struggle with the resources to maintain and sustain the material in their inventory. Still, so long as Russia is able to make platforms, there will likely always be potential customers of Russian arms. 41:25 Grant Rumley: I definitely think customers of Russian arms are going to have several hurdles going forward, not only with simply maintaining and sustaining what they've already purchased, but in some of the basic logistics, even the payment process. Russian bank complained last month that it wasn't able to process close to a billion dollars in payments from India and Egypt over arms sales. I think countries that purchase Russian arms will also now have to consider the potential that they may incur secondary sanctions, in addition to running afoul of CAATSA [Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act-Related Sanctions]. I think from from our standpoint, there are many ways that we can amend our security cooperation approach. The Middle East, I think is a key theater for the future of great power competition, not only have we been competing with Russia in terms of arms sales there, but China increasingly has sold armed drones to the region. They've sold it to traditional partners, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE. And what they're doing is is oftentimes what we're not willing to do, our partners in the region seek co-production, they seek technology sharing. China and Russia are willing to work together to build these advanced platforms, Russia and the UAE inked an agreement several years ago to produce a fifth generation fighter. Nothing's come of that yet. China and Saudi Arabia, however, signed an agreement a couple of months ago to jointly produce armed drones in Saudi Arabia. And so I think the US may want to think creatively in terms of both what we sell, how we sell it, and what we're doing to make this more of a relationship and something beyond a strict transaction. 43:39 Grant Rumley: Their presence in Syria has evolved from a modest airstrip in 2015, to a base at Hmeimim that by open source reporting can serve as a logistics hub, a medical hub, it has the runways to host Russia's most advanced bombers. There was reports before Ukraine that Russia was deploying two 22 bombers there and hypersonic missiles. Their facility at Tartous, likewise. Their ability to stage naval assets there has expanded to they can now stage up to 11 ships there. So it has grown from from a rather modest beginning to something much more challenging from a US standpoint. In terms of what we can we can do, I think we can continue to support Ukraine and the defense of Ukraine, and the longer that Russia is bogged down in Ukraine, the harder it will be for Russia's military to extend and maintain its presence in the Middle East. 1:01:45 Grant Rumley: I think the US has several partners in the middle of major Russian arms purchases that we can, like Turkey and the S 400, that has requested the F 16, or Egypt and Sukhoi Su-35, that has requested the F 15. I'm not saying we have to make a deal right now for that, but I think it's clear that these countries are going to have gaps in their capabilities where they had planned on having Russian platforms to complement, and we can work with our partners and work with our own defense industry and see if there's ways in which we can provide off ramps for them to gradually disinvest these Russian platforms. 1:03:00 Frederic Wehrey: When countries in the in the region buy US arms, they believe they're buying much more than the capability, the hardware, that they're purchasing an insurance policy. I think especially for states in the Gulf, there's a fundamental sense of insecurity. These are states that face Iran, but they're also autocrats. They're insecure because of their political systems. They face dissent from within. We saw that with Egypt. So they're purchasing a whole stream of US assurances -- they believe they are. 1:06:00 Grant Rumley: The issue of of co-production is one means to address a common complaint, which is buying from America takes too long. That its too complicated, that if we get in line to buy something from the US, we're going to have to wait years to get it. A good example is the F 16. There are over 20 countries in the world that fly the F 16. We currently -- Lockheed Martin builds it out of one facility. That facility, if you get in line today, you're probably not getting the F 16 for five years from when you sign on the dotted line for it. In the 70s and 80s, we co-produced the F 16 with three other European countries and we were able to get them off the line faster. The initial order at those facilities was for 1000 F 16s. The initial order for the F 16 plant in South Carolina was for 90 F 16s for Taiwan and Morocco. And so from an industry standpoint, it's a question of scale. And so they're not able to ramp up the production because while the demand may get closer to 1000 over time, it's at 128. Last I checked, it's not there yet. And so I think we can use foreign military financing, longer security cooperation planning, working with our partners on multi-year acquisition timetables to then also communicate and send a signal to the defense industry that these are orders for upgrades, for new kits that are going to come down the road. You can start to plan around that and potentially address some of these production lags. 1:17:52 Grant Rumley: China has a lot of legacy Russian platforms, and will likely be a leading candidate to transfer some of these platforms to countries that had purchased Russian arms in the past and may be seeking maintenance and sustainment for them. I think China's already active in the Middle East, it's already flooding the market with armed drones. It's already looking to market other platforms as well. It's sold air defense systems to Serbia. It's looking to advance its arm sales. And so if if we aren't going to be the supplier, China is going to step in. 1:18:57 Caitlin Welsh: USDA has projected that 35% of the current wheat crop from Ukraine will not be harvested this year. So their exports are curtailed, at the same time Russia's exports are continuing. Russia has been exempted. Russia's agricultural exports and fertilizer has been exempted from sanctions for the United States, EU and other countries. So Russia continues to export. In fact, USDA is estimating that Russia's exports are increasing at this time. And I'm also seeing open source reporting of Russia stealing grain from Ukraine, relabeling it, and exporting it at a premium to countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Sen. Rand Paul: ‘We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy' May 12, 2022 NBC News Clips Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): My oath of office is to the US Constitution, not to any foreign nation. And no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America. We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the US economy. This bill under consideration would spend $40 billion. This is the second spending bill for Ukraine in two months. And this bill is three times larger than the first. Our military aid to Ukraine is nothing new, though. Since 2014, the United States has provided more than $6 billion dollars in security assistance to Ukraine, in addition to the $14 billion Congress authorized just a month ago. If this bill passes, the US will have authorized roughly $60 billion in total spending for Ukraine Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): The cost of this package we are voting on today is more than the US spent during the first year of the US conflict in Afghanistan. Congress authorized force, and the President sent troops into the conflict. The same cannot be said of Ukraine. This proposal towers over domestic priorities as well. The massive package of $60 billion to Ukraine dwarfs the $6 million spent on cancer research annually. $60 billion is more than the amount that government collects in gas taxes each year to build roads and bridges. The $60 billion to Ukraine could fund substantial portions or entire large Cabinet departments. The $60 billion nearly equals the entire State Department budget. The 60 billion exceeds the budget for the Department of Homeland Security and for the Department of Energy. And Congress just wants to keep on spending and spending. U.S. Efforts to Support Ukraine May 12, 2022 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Witnesses: Jessica Lewis, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Erin McKee, Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Agency for International Development Karen Donfried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State Clips Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA): Are we making it very clear to Russia that we do not want to pose an existential threat to them, that our only goal is to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine? Karen Donfried: We are making it very clear to Russia that this is not a conflict between Russia and the United States. We are not going to engage directly in this war. President Biden has been explicit in saying we are not sending US troops to fight in this war. So I do believe we have made that clear. Our goal here is to end a war not to enlarge it. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): As you all are waking up every morning, I know with the thought in mind that America's role here is to help Ukraine win and I want to talk a little about how we define victory. When Secretary Austin said after meeting with President Zelenskyy, that we can win this war against Russia -- this happened a few weeks ago -- I thought that was positive. On Monday, the foreign minister of Ukraine, who all of us have had a chance to visit with said, of course, the victory for us in this war will be a liberation of the rest of the territory. So Assistant Secretary Donfried, first, just a yes or no. Do you believe Ukraine can win this war? Karen Donfried: Yes. Sen. Rob Portman: And how would you define victory? Would you define victory as requiring the return of all Ukraine sovereign territory, including that that the Russians seized in 2014? Karen Donfried: Well, Senator Portman, thank you for that question. And thank you for your engagement on these issues. Your question very much relates to where Chairman Menendez began, which is, are we in a position of believing that it is Ukraine that should be defining what winning means? And I agreed with Chairman Menendez's statement on that, and that is where the administration is. We believe Ukraine should define what victory means. And our policy is trying to ensure Ukraine success, both by — Sen. Rob Portman: So the administration's official position on victory is getting Crimea back and getting the Donetsk and Luhansk region back as well. Karen Donfried: Again, I believe that is for the Ukrainians to define. Karen Donfried: Against this threat to regional security, global stability, and our shared values, we are supporting freedom, democracy, and the rules based order that make our own security and prosperity and that of the world possible. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ): I believe we must also think about reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, the tools and ongoing governance and economic reforms, specifically in the judicial space, that will facilitate rebuilding critical Ukrainian sectors and attracting foreign investment. The Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine in the Middle East and North Africa May 11, 2022 House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense held a budget hearing on the Department of Defense. Witnesses: Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense Michael J. McCord, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer General Mark A. Milley, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Clips 21:40 General Mark Milley: Alongside our allies and partners, at any given time approximately 400,000 of us are currently standing watch in 155 countries and conducting operations every day to keep Americans safe. 21:56 General Mark Milley: Currently we are supporting our European allies and guarding NATO's eastern flank, in the face of the unnecessary war of aggression by Russia, against the people of Ukraine, and the assault on the democratic institutions and the rules based international order that have prevented great power war for the last 78 years since the end of World War Two. We are now facing two global powers, China and Russia, each with significant military capabilities, both who intend to fundamentally change the current rules based order. Lindsey Graham declares, "let's take out Putin" and says there is "no off-ramp in this war" May 9, 2022 Clips Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC): If Putin still standing after all this then the world is going to be a very dark place China's going to get the wrong signal and we'll have a mess on our hands in Europe for decades to come so let's take out Putin by helping Ukraine Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary ofDefense Lloyd J. Austin III Remarks to Traveling Press April 25, 2022 Jen's Highlighted PDF Remarks by President Biden on the United Efforts of the Free World to Support the People of Ukraine March 26, 2022 Jen's Highlighted PDF U.S. Policy and Russian Involvement in Syria November 4, 2015 House Foreign Affairs Committee Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)