Podcasts about russian ukrainian

This week we are delighted to welcome Betty Jiang, Managing Director of U.S. Integrateds and E&P Equity Research at Barclays. Betty joined Barclays in 2023 after leading the U.S. ESG Research team at Credit Suisse and has more than 15 years of equity research experience, with prior roles at UBS, Illuminate Capital Group, and Bank of America. We were thrilled to hear Betty's insights on what's top of mind for investors, key themes from earnings, and a preview of Barclays' upcoming 39th Annual Energy-Power Conference, taking place next week from September 2-4 in New York. In our conversation, Betty shares why she finds energy research compelling and reflects on the interesting timing of her career, beginning in 2007 during the shale boom years. She explains how her experience in ESG and sustainability broadened her analytical skills and highlighted the complexity of the energy transition. We discuss the value of cross-sector research collaboration and Betty outlines key takeaways from Q2 earnings, including significant increases in free cash flow, shale resilience, a long-term bullish gas production outlook, and a market focus on efficiency and free cash flow discipline. We explore the intersection of gas and power demand and how factors like regional grid dynamics and AI are shaping the sector, the continuing need for baseload power, reluctance in adopting low-carbon gas, the importance of strategic positioning and capability for companies seeking exposure in power markets, and gas price and production outlook. Betty provides an insider perspective on how she navigates earnings season, noting how AI and research tools are increasingly shaping how research is consumed and analyzed, while emphasizing that AI cannot replace deep analysis essential for understanding nuance, context, and cross-company trends. We discuss the tension between short-term shareholder expectations and long-term strategic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of a clear “North Star” and consistent communication. Betty notes that energy sector investors vary widely, and while the E&P sector is generally out of favor with generalists, sustained capital discipline, cash returns, and demonstrated resilience are attracting renewed interest. We touch on the challenge of differentiation in energy companies and how thoughtful execution and innovative approaches can create competitive advantages, the key themes for Barclays' upcoming conference with over 170 companies currently registered to attend, how efficiency gains and current free cash flow could influence 2026 outlooks, and more. It was a fantastic discussion and we greatly appreciate Betty for sharing her time and insights. To start the show, Mike Bradley noted that last week's COBT theme was investor “anticipation” of the Jackson Hole meeting, while this week it's investor “expectations” around NVIDIA's Q2 results/forward guidance. On the broader equity front, the S&P 500 hit another high last week but traded sideways this week ahead of NVIDIA's Q2 results. NVIDIA expectations are pretty bullish, with most expecting a beat-and-raise quarter, and the only real question at this point is whether NVIDIA's forward outlook will be bullish enough to satisfy investors. At a $4.4 trillion market cap, larger than all but three countries' GDP, NVIDIA's AI commentary and forward guidance will be a market mover. On the crude oil market front, WTI price continues to trade sideways (low-mid $60s) amid continued 2H25 global oil surplus concerns that are being somewhat offset by lack of headway in Russian/Ukrainian peace (leading to possible stiff oil sanctions). On the natural gas front, U.S. natural gas price (prompt & 12mo strip) were trading at ~$2.70/MMBtu & ~$3.50/MMBtu (YTD lows). Investor sentiment is still more bullish for natural gas E&Ps, even though prompt natural gas price has significantly underperformed prompt WTI price this year. Mike also highlighted a

It's Thursday, August 21st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Muslims beat Christian convert and take his wife and six kids An Islamic teacher in Uganda, who converted to Christianity, suffered persecution from his own family recently. Thirty-nine-year old Wambuzi Maka Uthman was at a mosque earlier this month when he received a vision about repentance. On his way home, he met a pastor and learned about Jesus.  Uthman told Morning Star News, “I then understood that it was [Jesus] Who had sent me to my fellow Muslims to repent. … I was so happy beyond expectations as I developed a deeper love for Jesus.”  Uthman began telling his family and neighbors about the Gospel.  In response, his extended family beat him and destroyed his house.  While he received treatment at the hospital, his wife took their six children with her to live with relatives. Such persecution is common for Muslims who turn to Christ in Uganda.  In Luke 18:29-30, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” State Department: Human rights in United Kingdom have worsened Last Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released its “2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.” The report noted that the human rights situation in the United Kingdom worsened last year. For example, the U.K. restricts free speech near abortion mills. Citizens have faced arrest simply for silent prayer inside such “buffer zones.” = Lorcan Price with Alliance Defending Freedom International said, “It's plain to see that the censorship crisis is worsening in the UK – from citizens being arrested and prosecuted just for praying in their heads, to the Online Safety Act clamping down on free expression online.” Surge of young Brits trusting in God Speaking of England, the country is witnessing a surge in the number of young adults who believe in God.  A new YouGov poll found 37% of Brits, between the ages of 18 and 24, believe in God. That's up from 22% in 2019, and it's higher than any other age group.  A YouGov study from earlier this year found that young adults are also attending church more. Sixteen percent attend at least once per month now, up from 4% in 2018. 5 VA schools lose federal funding over pro-transgender policies In the United States, the Trump administration is cutting federal funding to five northern Virginia school districts over their transgender bathroom policies, reports the Associated Press.  U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon  said the districts are “choosing to abide by woke gender ideology in place of federal law. … Today's accountability measures are necessary because they have stubbornly refused to provide a safe environment for young women in their schools.” Shockingly,  Life News reports that one of the school districts even arranged and bankrolled abortions for girls without their parents' knowledge.  Trump hopes to get in Heaven by saving Russian/Ukrainian lives President Donald Trump gave a phone interview to “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday. Trump said he wants to save thousands of lives by helping to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He even said he hopes that will help him get to Heaven.  Listen.   TRUMP: “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that's a pretty, I want to try and get to Heaven, if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I'm really at the bottom of the totem pole. If I can get to Heaven, this will be one of the reasons.” While some initially concluded that President Trump was revealing a physical health crisis when he said, “I hear I'm not doing well.”  It becomes clear that he is referring to his spiritual health Evangelist Franklin Graham responded on Facebook. He wrote, “We do get to Heaven by good works—not by our own good works, but by the perfect work of God's Son, Jesus Christ. … That's how one gets to Heaven—not by our good works, but by His.” In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In other words, no matter how many lives President Trump might save by helping to end the Russian-Ukrainian War, his lifesaving action will not save him from Hell.   He can only be assured of an eternal address in Heaven if he confesses his sins and trusts Jesus Christ as Savior. (Romans 10:9) Texas House passes Trump redistricting plan On Wednesday, the Texas House passed a new congressional map  that stands to boost Republicans' power in Congress, overcoming weeks of protests from Texas House Democrats who fled the state to stall a vote on the mid-cycle redistricting, reports the San Antonio Express-News. The new map, ordered up by President Donald Trump and endorsed by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, would wipe out five Democratic-held congressional districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston and South Texas. It passed the chamber, 88-52, along party lines. Texas State Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican and the bill's author, said, “The Supreme Court says we can use political partisanship to do congressional redistricting. We will push forward." The vote came after Republicans took extraordinary steps to push the bill over the finish line. On Monday, when dozens of quorum-busting Democrats returned to the Capitol in Austin, Republican House leadership refused to let them leave without state trooper escorts who would “ensure their return” for Wednesday's votes. On Wednesday, Democrats offered up a dozen amendments seeking to kill or amend the bill, all of which were unsuccessful. The map now heads to the Texas Senate, which is expected to quickly pass it, and then to Texas Governor Greg Abbott who will sign it.  Bible-based character education comes to 34 states And finally, a record number of students will receive Bible-based character education during public school hours this coming year. LifeWise Academy is providing the Bible programs under religious release time laws in 34 states. The ministry estimates it will serve nearly 100,000 students in the 2025-26 school year. Joel Penton is the CEO of LifeWise Academy. He said, “Demand for LifeWise is surging, and we couldn't be more excited to see families taking advantage of our programming, from urban areas to remote towns.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, August 21st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Museum of the Bible presents an evolutionary construct concerning the development of monotheism in the world. But this is because they are attempting to be non-sectarian, and non-evangelical. Is it possible to be religiously neutral, and to present the evidence, without first filtering the evidence through a preconceived worldview? This program includes: 1. The World View in 5 Minutes with Adam McManus (Trump hopes to get in Heaven by saving Russian/Ukrainian lives; Surge of young Brits trusting in God; 5 VA schools lose federal funding over pro-transgender policies) 2. Generations with Kevin Swanson

Ian Hoch drops the 2 O'clock News Bomb. How are the Russian/Ukrainian peace talks going so far?

The world's attention has turned the US in recent days after back-to-back peace summits separately involving Russia's and Ukraine's presidents. But in the absence of a ceasefire deal, drone attacks have taken on a new intensity, continuing to claim civilian lives and knocking out critical infrastructure. In the past week alone, Russia has sustained damage to at least five major oil refineries, as well as its main crude pipeline link into Central Europe. Meanwhile, its own attacks risk straining fragile ties with neighbors like Azerbaijan. Join London oil news reporters Kelly Norways and Nick Coleman to unpack the impact of a new destructive chapter in the region's drone warfare, with insights from Platts refining expert Elza Turner. Links:Russia restores oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia after Druzhba pipeline damage Russia strikes Ukraine's damaged oil refinery again in major drone strike (subscriber content) Ukraine hits fifth Russian refinery in week ahead of Trump-Putin talks (subscriber content) Russia targets Ukrainian gas grid facility in latest drone attacks: ministry (subscriber content)

It's Tuesday, August 19th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson 1,500 Christians hiding in Somalia, Africa International Christian Concern reports that there are still at least 1,500 Christian believers hiding in Somalia, Africa. This country is the second most dangerous place on earth for Christians, according to the World Watch List.  Somali Christians are often killed, on the spot, when their faith is discovered – murdered either by Islamic militants or even their own family. Somalia is also the sixth poorest nation in Africa, and the highest percentage of Muslims of any nation in the world with 99.8% of the population identifying as Muslim. The only possible exception is the population on the island of Maldives, located 470 miles off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean. Citizens there are required to nominally follow Sunni Islam. So, technically it is 100% Muslim.  However, a 2020 census revealed that 0.29% identify as Christian. Socialists lost in Bolivian election The socialists lost ground big time in Bolivia's election over the weekend.  The socialist candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, only took 3% of the vote. The more conservative candidate, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, took 30.4%. And the more centrist candidate, Paz Pereira, captured 30.7% of the vote, at last count. A run-off will be in the works. Psalm 75:6-7 is clear that God is sovereign over the nations. “Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south.  But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” Brazilian Supreme Court put Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest The Brazilian Supreme Court has resumed its campaign to silence Jair Bolsonaro, the previous president and conservative leader of the South American country. The court ordered his house arrest, after Bolsonaro addressed a crowd by cell phone.  His alleged crime was that he said, “Good afternoon, Copacabana. Good afternoon, my Brazil, a hug to everyone. This is for our freedom.” U.S. State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau lambasted Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.  Landau called the court's actions “unbridled Orwellian impulses … dragging his Court and his country into the uncharted territory of a judicial dictatorship.” Putin wants 20% of Ukrainian territory under Russian control President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday at the White House, in hopes of working a peace deal in the Russian-Ukrainian war, reports The Epoch Times. Zelenskyy was quite reverential, unlike his last visit to the White House, where he angered Vice President Vance and President Trump alike. ZELENSKYY: “Thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you.” President Trump seemed hopeful, referencing a trilateral agreement between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. TRUMP: “If everything works out well today, we'll have a trilat. And I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.” At issue is Russian President Vladimir Putin's insistence that Russia retain 20% of Ukrainian territory now under Russian dominance. Trump has signaled on Truth Social that “Ukraine must be willing to lose some territory to Russia.” Also, Trump is pressing Ukraine to abandon any commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO.  Last week, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not be giving up land to the “occupier.”  Isaiah 2:3-4 reminds us “[The God of Jacob] will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Newsmax ordered to pay $67 million to Dominion voting machines The conservative news organization, Newsmax, has agreed to pay Dominion voting machines $67 million for suggesting the company had rigged the 2020 election in which President Donald Trump lost to then Democrat candidate Joe Biden. Newsmax issued a statement complaining that the Delaware judge presiding over the case had not offered a fair trial. And Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy noted that “The actions taken against Newsmax, and earlier against Fox News, represent a direct attack on free speech and a free press.” He also encouraged all businesses to leave Delaware, a liberal bastion in the U.S.   Back in 2023, Fox News was saddled with a $790 million payout in a similar lawsuit.  The almost $1 billion was quite a take for Dominion, a company earning less than $100 million a year, per an estimate from CBS News.  Stock valuation through the roof Stock valuation is way, way high on the S&P stock index.  Price-to-earnings ratios are scraping 30 at 29.88, the highest since 2020 and the 2009 recession. The price-to-earnings ratio is the ratio of a company's share or stock price to the company's earnings per share.  Price-to-earnings ratios averaged about 15 for a hundred years, prior to the stock market craziness of the 2010s and 2020s. The NASDAQ 100 price-to-earnings ratio is 42, the highest in recorded history. Another index, known as the Buffett Indicator, comparing the valuation of the 5,000 largest companies to the Gross Domestic Product is 210.11%, the highest in history. Before the 2009 recession, the Buffett Indicator  hit a high of 109%, and before the dot-com crash, the indicator hit an unprecedented 135%.  270 million babies killed by in vitro fertilization And finally, Life Site News reports that 270 million babies have been aborted by the in vitro fertilization procedure since the idea was conceived in 1978. The calculation is based on the estimation of 16 embryonic children killed for every live child born.  About 17 million children have been produced by the IVF procedure. Those 270 million IVF abortions add to about 65 million legalized abortions since 1973, and millions more by the abortifacient intrauterine device or IUD, and other abortifacients. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 19th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In 2021, Ukraine celebrates its thirty-year independence anniversary. During this relatively short period of time—when considered in historical terms—Ukraine underwent a number of drastic changes that have so far shaped the country's domestic and international environments. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine: A Contemporary History, 1991-2021 (Ibidem Press, 2021), edited by Georgiy Kasianov, Matthew Rojansky, and Mykhailo Minakov, guides its readers through the labyrinthine developments that provide a wide spectrum of views and approaches that help receive a better understanding of the contemporary history of Ukraine. While detailing how independent Ukraine was taking shape locally, the editors and contributors of the volume simultaneously position Ukraine in the international environment that arouse after the fall of the USSR. Ukraine is thus inscribed into the international political map, which further complicates and advances the surveys presented in the volume. After the collapse of the USSR, the country faced a number of challenges: in addition to learning how to construct and narrate its own history, the new independent state also had to find a way to present itself to the global community. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine outlines trajectories that illustrate a gradual process of the country's political awareness, ambitions, and maturity. Thirty years may seem like an inconsiderable amount of time for a new independent state. The material presented in the book proves otherwise. In a concise and yet acute way, the contributors touch upon the most challenging and sensitive issues which have shaped the recent history of Ukraine: ranging from the enthusiastic support of independence to the current Russian-Ukrainian war, the volume constructs a multilayered historical scene which at the same time invites further surveys and elaborations. Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is a PhD student in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

In this gripping Talking Lead Podcast episode, Lefty sits down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Kyle Mills to discuss his explosive new thriller, Fade In. Dive into the high-stakes world of ex-Navy SEAL Salam "Fade" al-Fayed as he tackles a global threat. Kyle shares insights on his move to Granada, Spain, and reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic, eerily predicted in his 2019 novel Lethal Agent. We also explore how his books Red War and Enemy of the State foreshadowed the Russian-Ukrainian and Israel-Palestine conflicts. Plus, hear how Kyle crafts authentic characters inspired by real-life figures, including his FBI-agent father and family acquaintances. Whether you're a die-hard thriller fan, history buff, or follower of global affairs, this episode packs inspiration, intrigue, and unfiltered opinions. Tune in now on Spotify, Rumble, or Apple Podcasts—subscribe, rate, and review to join the Talking Lead community!

In 2021, Ukraine celebrates its thirty-year independence anniversary. During this relatively short period of time—when considered in historical terms—Ukraine underwent a number of drastic changes that have so far shaped the country's domestic and international environments. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine: A Contemporary History, 1991-2021 (Ibidem Press, 2021), edited by Georgiy Kasianov, Matthew Rojansky, and Mykhailo Minakov, guides its readers through the labyrinthine developments that provide a wide spectrum of views and approaches that help receive a better understanding of the contemporary history of Ukraine. While detailing how independent Ukraine was taking shape locally, the editors and contributors of the volume simultaneously position Ukraine in the international environment that arouse after the fall of the USSR. Ukraine is thus inscribed into the international political map, which further complicates and advances the surveys presented in the volume. After the collapse of the USSR, the country faced a number of challenges: in addition to learning how to construct and narrate its own history, the new independent state also had to find a way to present itself to the global community. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine outlines trajectories that illustrate a gradual process of the country's political awareness, ambitions, and maturity. Thirty years may seem like an inconsiderable amount of time for a new independent state. The material presented in the book proves otherwise. In a concise and yet acute way, the contributors touch upon the most challenging and sensitive issues which have shaped the recent history of Ukraine: ranging from the enthusiastic support of independence to the current Russian-Ukrainian war, the volume constructs a multilayered historical scene which at the same time invites further surveys and elaborations. Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is a PhD student in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In 2021, Ukraine celebrates its thirty-year independence anniversary. During this relatively short period of time—when considered in historical terms—Ukraine underwent a number of drastic changes that have so far shaped the country's domestic and international environments. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine: A Contemporary History, 1991-2021 (Ibidem Press, 2021), edited by Georgiy Kasianov, Matthew Rojansky, and Mykhailo Minakov, guides its readers through the labyrinthine developments that provide a wide spectrum of views and approaches that help receive a better understanding of the contemporary history of Ukraine. While detailing how independent Ukraine was taking shape locally, the editors and contributors of the volume simultaneously position Ukraine in the international environment that arouse after the fall of the USSR. Ukraine is thus inscribed into the international political map, which further complicates and advances the surveys presented in the volume. After the collapse of the USSR, the country faced a number of challenges: in addition to learning how to construct and narrate its own history, the new independent state also had to find a way to present itself to the global community. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine outlines trajectories that illustrate a gradual process of the country's political awareness, ambitions, and maturity. Thirty years may seem like an inconsiderable amount of time for a new independent state. The material presented in the book proves otherwise. In a concise and yet acute way, the contributors touch upon the most challenging and sensitive issues which have shaped the recent history of Ukraine: ranging from the enthusiastic support of independence to the current Russian-Ukrainian war, the volume constructs a multilayered historical scene which at the same time invites further surveys and elaborations. Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is a PhD student in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Sunday, 17 August 2025   He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Matthew 12:30   “The ‘not being with Me,' he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,' he scatters” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of binding the strong man before his goods can be plundered. With that thought complete, He now poignantly states, “The ‘not being with Me,' he is against me.”   There is a great deal of dissension about who Jesus is speaking of in this verse. Some say it is a word against the Pharisees, others say it is referring to Satan, others that it is anyone at any time as they interact with the cause of Christ, etc. Checking the surrounding verses gives us the answer.   A man who was demon possessed, blind and mute, was brought to Him. He healed the man (vs. 23). The people asked if He could be the Son of David (vs. 24). He was accused by the Pharisees of casting out by Beelzebul (vs. 24). From there, Jesus gave His words on kingdom division, authority to cast out demons, and binding a strong man (vss. 25-29).   In verses 31 & 32, He will speak of blasphemy against the Spirit, stating that speaking a word against the Son of Man is forgivable, but speaking against the Holy Spirit is not. But Jesus has said in verse 28 that if He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has come upon them.   He is clearly stating that He and what He does are in accord with the Spirit. Therefore, when someone speaks against His actions, they are speaking against the work of the Spirit. As anyone opposed to the Spirit is under the authority of the devil, those opposed to Christ's works are not in accord with the Spirit.   The general words, “the not being with Me,” indicate the devil and those who are his. There is “what God is doing,” and “what the devil is doing.” That is the totality of what is happening in the universe around us. Understanding this, He next says, “And the ‘not gathering with Me,' he scatters.”   A new word, skorpizó, to dissipate, is introduced. It is derived from skorpios, a scorpion. A scorpion penetrates its prey, causing a dissipating effect. One can think of a grenade being tossed into a room, and those in the room scatter, causing a dissipating effect.   When the Spirit of God is present, there will be one effect. When the presence of the devil is present, there will be another. Bengel rightly ties the thought of gathering to the word qoheleth, Teacher or Preacher, found seven times in Ecclesiastes. The word is derived from qahal, to convoke or assemble.   Through the teaching of the Teacher, there is a gathering effect that takes place in the kingdom of God. Through opposition to it, there is a scattering effect. God is teaching us through the work of the Spirit. As Jesus is filled with the Spirit of God in the fullest sense, what He does is the ultimate gathering for the kingdom that can be realized.   Life application: Jesus' words are not speaking of the general state of any of us on a given day. One day, we may be on fire for Jesus and out telling all about Him and His goodness, handing out tracts and blaring Christian music from our car stereo. The next day, we may be in a grumpy mood and completely ineffective in our witness.   This is the normal way of life. Being a Christian does not change that. We are physical, chemical, and biological beings. Variations in those aspects of us can change our whole attitude. But this does not change our state in Christ. If we have accepted the gospel, we are sealed with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13, 14).   Those who have not believed the gospel are incapable of being “with” Christ because they do not have the Spirit of God. It is the Spirit that testifies to Jesus Christ. He inspired Scripture, and all Scripture points to Jesus. Jesus' life is documented in Scripture. We can either accept that He is who Scripture claims or reject that. The gospel is given in the word, and it can be explained by man (Romans 10:14-18).   To reject the gospel is to reject what God is doing in redemptive history in and through His Son. The issue Jesus is referring to is being a part of one kingdom or another. If one moves from the devil to Jesus, he is with Jesus, and he gathers with Him because he has the Spirit of God.   If Jesus is rejected, the person who rejects Him is not with Him. Therefore, his being, his existence, stands in opposition to the work of the Spirit. This is an all-encompassing thought. It is not a Jew/Gentile issue. It is not a Russian/Ukrainian issue. It is not an “I support Israel” or “I don't support Israel” issue, nor a democrat/republican issue. And so forth.   We have our own divisions for various things we want or desire. At times, what we do may or may not align with God's plans as they are being worked out in human history. This may be because of stubborn rebellion, poor doctrine, etc. However, the main division of all things comes down to Christ.   Are we in Christ because of our acceptance of the Spirit's working in Him, or are we of the devil, having never been converted to accepting the Spirit's marking Him as God's chosen Servant to bring us back to Him?   “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8, 9   O God, help us to clearly identify the battle that is raging in the world. The devil has his kingdom, and Christ Jesus has His. Help us to effectively communicate the gospel for others to see this and to call out to You through Jesus. May You strengthen us for this at all times. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

In 2021, Ukraine celebrates its thirty-year independence anniversary. During this relatively short period of time—when considered in historical terms—Ukraine underwent a number of drastic changes that have so far shaped the country's domestic and international environments. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine: A Contemporary History, 1991-2021 (Ibidem Press, 2021), edited by Georgiy Kasianov, Matthew Rojansky, and Mykhailo Minakov, guides its readers through the labyrinthine developments that provide a wide spectrum of views and approaches that help receive a better understanding of the contemporary history of Ukraine. While detailing how independent Ukraine was taking shape locally, the editors and contributors of the volume simultaneously position Ukraine in the international environment that arouse after the fall of the USSR. Ukraine is thus inscribed into the international political map, which further complicates and advances the surveys presented in the volume. After the collapse of the USSR, the country faced a number of challenges: in addition to learning how to construct and narrate its own history, the new independent state also had to find a way to present itself to the global community. From “the Ukraine” to Ukraine outlines trajectories that illustrate a gradual process of the country's political awareness, ambitions, and maturity. Thirty years may seem like an inconsiderable amount of time for a new independent state. The material presented in the book proves otherwise. In a concise and yet acute way, the contributors touch upon the most challenging and sensitive issues which have shaped the recent history of Ukraine: ranging from the enthusiastic support of independence to the current Russian-Ukrainian war, the volume constructs a multilayered historical scene which at the same time invites further surveys and elaborations. Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is a PhD student in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Ankara is aiming to dodge President Donald Trump's threat of sanctions against countries that trade with Russia. While Turkey is the third largest importer of Russian goods, it has largely escaped international sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. However, with Trump vowing to get tough with Moscow if it fails to make peace with Kyiv, that could change. “I am going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today," Trump declared at a press conference on 28 July during his visit to Scotland. "There is no reason to wait 50 days. I wanted to be generous, but we don't see any progress being made.”  The American president admitted his efforts to end the Ukraine war had failed and that his patience with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was at an end. Turkish President Erdogan ready to rekindle friendship with Trump   Trump later confirmed 8 August as the date for the new measures. With US-Russian trade down 90 percent since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trump warned that other countries importing Russian goods would also be hit by secondary sanctions. “If you take his [Trump] promises at face value, then he should look at all countries that import any Russian commodities that is of primary importance to the Russian budget - this includes, of course, crude oil, and here you have China and India mostly,” explained George Voloshin of Acams, a global organisation dedicated to anti-financial crime, training and education. Voloshin also claims that Turkey could be a target as well. “In terms of petroleum products, Turkey is one of the big importers. It also refines Russian petroleum in its own refineries," Voloshin added. "Turkey imports lots of Russian gas through the TurkStream pipeline. Turkey is very much dependent on Russian gas and Russian petroleum products." Turkey's rivalry with Iran shifts as US threats create unlikely common ground   Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ankara insists it is only bound by United Nations sanctions. Last year, Turkey was Russia's third-largest export market, with Russian natural gas accounting for more than  40 percent of its energy needs. Putin has used Turkey's lack of meaningful domestic energy reserves and dependence on Russian gas to develop a close relationship with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “Putin knows that no matter what Trump wants, Turkey is not going to act in any military or sanctions capacity against Russia and Iran. You know, these are Turkey's red lines. We can't do it,” said analyst Atilla Yeşilada of Global Source Partners. “Trump is 10,000 miles away. These people are our neighbours,” added Yeşilada. “So Putin doesn't think of Turkey as a threat, but as an economic opportunity, and perhaps as a way to do things with the West that he doesn't want to do directly.” Ankara is performing a delicate balancing act. While maintaining trading ties with Russia, Erdoğan remains a strong supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Turkey is a major arms seller to Ukraine, while at the same time, Erdoğan continues to try and broker peace between the warring parties. Last month, Istanbul was the venue for Russian–Ukrainian talks for the second time in as many months. Such efforts drew the praise of Trump. Trump and Erdogan grow closer as cooperation on Syria deepens Trump's pressure mounts on energy and trade The American president has made no secret of his liking for Erdoğan, even calling him a friend. Such close ties, along with Turkey's regional importance to Washington, analysts say, is a factor in Ankara's Western allies turning a blind eye to its ongoing trade with Russia. “I think Turkey has got a pass on several levels from Russian sanctions,” observed regional expert Sinan Ciddi of the Washington-based think tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. However, Ciddi cautions that Trump remains unpredictable and that previous actions are no guarantee for the future. “Past experience is not an indicator of future happenings. We just don't know what Trump will demand. This is not a fully predictive administration in Washington,” Ciddi said. “We do know right now that he [Trump] is very unhappy with Putin. He blames Putin for prolonging the Ukraine war,” added Ciddi. Change of stance "And if he feels sufficiently upset, there is a possibility that no waivers will be granted to any country. Turkey will be up against a very, very unappetising and unenviable set of choices to make.” Trump has successfully lobbied the European Union to increase its purchases of American liquefied natural gas (LNG), replacing Russian imports. Similar demands could put Ankara in a difficult position. “If Trump pressures Turkey not to buy Russian natural gas, that would definitely be a huge shock,” warned Yeşilada. “Trump might say, for instance: 'Buy energy from me or whatever.' But I don't think we're there yet. There is no way Turkey can replace Russian gas.” However, Trump could point to Turkey's recent expansion of its LNG facilities, which now include five terminals and have excess capacity to cover Russian imports, although storage facilities remain a challenge. Turkey's energy infrastructure is also built around receiving Russian energy, and any shift to American energy would likely be hugely disruptive and expensive, at a time when the Turkish economy is in crisis. Putin retains another energy card over Erdoğan. A Russian company is building a huge nuclear power plant in Turkey, which could account for 20 percent of the country's energy needs. Ciddi argues Erdoğan is now paying the price of over-relying on Russia. Turkey's Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity “There is no need to have resorted to making Ankara this dependent on natural gas, nuclear energy, or for that matter bilateral trade. This was a choice by Erdoğan,” said Ciddi. “The fact it is so dependent on so many levels in an almost unique way is something that Turkey will have to rethink.” But for now, Erdoğan will likely be relying on his expertise in diplomatic balancing acts, along with his close ties to Trump and Turkey's importance to Washington's regional goals, to once again escape the worst of any sanctions over Russian trade – although Trump may yet extract a price for such a concession.

On today's show, Ian Hoch has on Matthew in Ukraine to give a boots-on-the-ground update of the Russian/Ukrainian conflict, Susham Modi, a Houston-based immigration attorney & founder of the Modi Law Firm, to discuss how the Trump administration's draconian immigration policies have piled pressure on industries across the US economy, including the food, hospitality, construction, transportation, and care sectors, and Katherine Loflin, an internationally award-winning city consultant and founder of The City Doctor Productions, to discuss the dangers of civic ignorance.

Azerbaijan is increasingly engaging in tit-for-tat actions towards powerful neighbour Russia amid escalating tensions in the South Caucasus region. This comes as Baku deepens its military cooperation with long-standing ally Turkey. In a highly publicised move, Azerbaijani security forces in Baku recently paraded seven arrested Russian journalists – working for the Russian state-funded Sputnik news agency – in front of the media. Their detentions followed the deaths last month of two Azerbaijani nationals in Russian custody, which sparked public outrage in Baku. "That was quite shocking for Baku, for Azerbaijani society – the cruelty of the behaviour and the large-scale violence," Zaur Gasimov of the German Academic Exchange Service, a professor and expert on Azerbaijani-Russian relations told RFI. "And the Russian-wide persecution of the leaders of Azerbaijani diasporic organisations took place (this month)," he added. Tit-for-tat tactics Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have been simmering since December, when Russian air defences accidentally downed an Azerbaijani passenger aircraft. Baku strongly condemned Moscow's lack of an official apology. The deaths in custody, which Moscow insisted were from natural causes, and the broader crackdown on Azerbaijan's diaspora are being interpreted in Baku as deliberate signals. "This kind of news had to frighten Azerbaijani society, which is aware of the fact that around two million ethnic Azeris with Azerbaijani and Russian passports are living in the Russian Federation," explained Gasimov. "So the signal is that we can oust them, and they would come to Azerbaijan. That should be an economic threat." Gasimov noted that while Baku may have previously backed down in the face of Russian pressure, this time appears different. "The reaction of Azerbaijan was just to react, with tit-for-tat tactics," he said. Shifting power in Caucasus Baku's self-confidence is partly attributed to its military success in 2020, when it regained control over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region and adjacent territories from Armenian forces after a six-week war. "The South Caucasus is changing," noted Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Baku-based Centre for Analysis of International Relations. Shafiyev argues that the era of Moscow treating the region as its backyard is over. "Russia cannot just grasp and accept this change because of its imperial arrogance; it demands subordination, and that has changed for a number of reasons. First of all, due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and second, due to the trajectory of events following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The third very important factor is Turkey," added Shafiyev. Turkey, a long-standing ally of Azerbaijan, has significantly increased military cooperation and arms sales in recent years. Turkish-made drones played a key role in Azerbaijan's 2020 military campaign. In 2021, the Shusha Declaration was signed, committing both nations to mutual military support in the event of aggression. Turkey also plans to establish one of its largest overseas military bases in Azerbaijan. "A very strong relationship with Ankara, marked by strong cooperation in the economic and military fields for decades, as also outlined in the Shusha Declaration several years ago, is an asset and one of the elements of Azerbaijan's growing self-confidence," said Gasimov. Azerbaijan and Turkey build bridges amid declining influence of Iran Strategic rivalries  Turkey's expanding influence in the South Caucasus – at Russia's expense – is the latest in a series of regional rivalries between the two powers. Turkish-backed forces countered a Russian-aligned warlord in Libya, and Turkey-supported factions have contested Russian influence in Syria. These confrontations have strained the once-close ties between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "No doubt that the Putin-Erdogan relationship is not as good as it used to be because we've either instigated or become participants in events in the South Caucasus and Syria," said analyst Atilla Yeşilada of Global Source Partners. Growing military buildup in Azerbaijan and Armenia a concern for peace talks Nevertheless, Yesilada believes pragmatism will prevail – for now – given Turkey's dependence on Russian energy and trade. "The economic interests are so huge, there is a huge chasm between not being too friendly and being antagonistic. I don't think we've got to that point. If we did, there would be serious provocations in Turkey," he warned. Until now, Turkish and Russian leaders have largely managed to compartmentalise their differences. However, that approach may soon face its toughest test yet, as Azerbaijan remains a strategic priority for Turkey, while Russia has long considered the Caucasus to be within its traditional sphere of influence. "We don't know what will be Russia's next target. We cannot exclude that Russia might be quite assertive in the South Caucasus in the future," warned Shafiyev. "I think the easiest way is to build friendly relationships and economic partnerships with the countries of the South Caucasus. Unfortunately, Moscow looks like it's not ready for a partnership. But if it's ready, we would welcome it," he added.

Tonight on the Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Elena Davlikanova and Sargent Yevheniy Malik about the war in Ukraine. Yevheniy, a veteran of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Elena Davlikanova, Senior Fellow with Sahaidachnyi Security Centre in Ukraine and Centre for European Policy Analysis in DC, discuss Ukraine's resilience in the face of the Russian invasion.Yevheniy shares his experiences fighting in Russian regions and being held as a prisoner of war, describing it as the worst period of his life. He shared his experiences during the battle of Mariupol, where his unit, alongside the Azov Regiment, held off Russian forces despite being surrounded. He explains that the city was eventually destroyed by Russian airstrikes, and the remaining defenders were captured. Yevheniy notes that the Ukrainian military's resilience and strategic actions, including creating a new front line, have hindered Russian advances, leading to a stalemate.Elena explains that Russia's intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians aim to break Ukrainian spirit and force a government compromise on Russian peace terms, which would threaten Ukraine's existence. She emphasizes that despite the attacks, Ukrainian forces are holding firm on the front lines, and the country is developing anti-drone defenses like the Clear Sky project in Kiev. Together Elena and Yevheniy discuss the historical context of Russian-Ukrainian relations, highlighting how Russian propaganda has fueled anti-Ukrainian sentiment, and Elena stressed that Ukrainians are determined to resist Russian occupation and maintain their way of life.

Propaganda has long been a powerful tool for shaping public opinion, influencing international discourse, and justifying military actions. In Russia's war against Ukraine, propaganda has been a central instrument for creating narratives that legitimize aggression, undermine democracy, and manipulate perceptions both domestically and internationally. This episode is a recording of a public event held by Central European University in Vienna. The speakers of the event were: - Teresa Marques, a philosopher of language, Associate Professor at the Philosophy Department of the University of Barcelona - Juliane Fürst, a historian, professor at the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University. - Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, president of PEN Ukraine and chief editor of UkraineWorld. The event was moderated by Fabio Lampert, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Vienna. It was organized by the Knowledge in Crisis, a Cluster of Excellence supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). *** UkraineWorld is run by Internews Ukraine, one of the country's leading media NGOs. You can support our work at patreon.com/ukraineworld. Your support is crucial, as we increasingly rely on crowdfunding. Even a small monthly contribution can make a meaningful difference. You can also help fund our regular volunteer missions to Ukraine's front-line areas, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians—primarily by providing vehicles for the military and books for local communities. To support these efforts, donations can be made via PayPal at ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** Contents: 00:00 Intro 01:59 The story from Bucha 07:02 How can philosophers define propaganda? 13:31 How crucial was propaganda for the Soviet Union? 18:58 How does Russia frame information? 24:01 How does virtuality become reality? 33:34 Weaponization of the language 40:09 Putin's rhetoric in the Russian-Ukrainian war 49:54 What role does the information play in the Russian-Ukrainian war? 01:00 How do we counter propaganda? 01:14 Q&A 01:18 How does Russian propaganda name this war: the tactic of blaming the victim 01:22 Skeptical view: Is propaganda ineffective? 01:36 How does propaganda shape the war perceptions of Russia's National Republics? 01:44 Isolationism as a new narrative 01:56 Outro

Have you ever wondered how to turn a lifelong passion for food into a celebrated career? In this episode, I sit down with the wonderfully creative food photographer, stylist, and cookbook author, Murielle Banackissa. Murielle shares the story of her creative journey, from her childhood memories in the Republic of Congo to her family's move to Montreal.   Join us as we explore how Murielle masterfully blends her Congolese and Russian-Ukrainian heritage into mouth-watering vegan recipes that might just have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about vegan food. We'll dig into how she organically merged her love for cooking and photography, turning a social media trend into a thriving business and eventually, a beautiful cookbook. This conversation is a heartfelt exploration of identity, the courage to follow your own path, and the magic that happens when you slow down and savor the process.   Chapters   00:00 - From Pointe Noire to Montreal: A Creative Childhood 02:49 - Early Food Memories and Creative Pursuits 06:02 - Merging Passion for Food and Photography 09:38 - The Comfort Foods of Home: A Taste of Heritage 11:30 - The Art and Science of Recipe Development 13:59 - A Cookbook Dream Come True 16:34 - Conceptualizing "Savoring": Memories on a Plate 19:19 - The Four-Year Journey to "Savoring" 21:15 - Finding Joy in Slowing Down the Cooking Process 25:06 - Cultivating an Authentic and Unfussy Style 27:24 - Trusting the Process: Advice to Her Younger Self Connect With Murielle: Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muriellebanackissa/?hl=en Murielle's Website: https://muriellebanackissa.com/ Buy Murielle's Cookbook: https://muriellebanackissa.com/savoring/   Support the Show Website: www.martineseverin.com Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Santiago Cardona and Daniel Espinosa.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives  

Mitzi Perdue: A Woman of Action! Mitzi Perdue is the daughter of the man who started the Sheraton Hotel Chain and she married Frank Perdue of Perdue Chicken. While you might think that this woman wouldn't ever need to work, she is a powerhouse of action. In this episode, she talks about amazing lessons she learned from her dad that can help you in your business. She also talks about how, in her 80's, she is traveling back and forth to the Ukraine, assisting with fighting human trafficking and helping to develop AI to give mental health advice in an area where there are not enough mental health professionals to meet the overwhelming demand. Learn how they are using technology to help people in a way that is low on judgment and delivers amazing words of wisdom to help victims of crimes, including those who watched family members be killed or that suffered from rape. This may be the future of worldwide help for people's mental health! You can read her articles about the human side of the Russian-Ukrainian war at MitziPerdue.com and can help donate to the mental health efforts in Ukraine by going to MentalHelp.Global. Learn how she is making the world a better place and you can too! www.MitziPerdue.com www.MentalHelp.Global Sponsors: American Gold Exchange Our dealer for precious metals & the exclusive dealer of Real Power Family silver rounds (which we finally got in!!!). Get your first, or next bullion order from American Gold Exchange like we do. Tell them the Real Power Family sent you! Click on this link to get a FREE Starters Guide. Advanta IRA Our family has our IRA's & HSA at Advanta IRA. Set up a truly Self-Directed Roth or Traditional IRA, HSA, 401k or other accounts with Advanta IRA & you can invest in hard assets like we do. We own Real Estate, Gold, Silver, Bitcoin, Notes & even private placements in our retirement accounts. With Advanta IRA you can too! They will waive the application fee on new accounts when you mention the Real Power Family.

Newt talks with Anatol Lieven, Director of the Eurasia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, about the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting recent drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian aircraft and Russia's subsequent retaliatory strikes. Lieven provides insights into the historical and current dynamics of Russian Ukrainian relations. They discuss the stability of Putin's regime, the impact of military technology on warfare, and the strategic implications for the United States and Europe. They also touch on the potential consequences for neighboring countries and the geopolitical complexities involving China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks. This is the second round of direct talks in recent weeks under the mediation of Turkiye.

The civil defence agency in Gaza says the Israeli military has killed almost one-hundred people in the past twelve hours in another intense wave of strikes in the north. The Israeli military said it had hit scores of "terror targets" and was trying to dismantle their infrastructure. We will hear why the medical charity MSF rejects a new plan to deliver some aid to Gaza by the US-backed organisation the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.Also in the programme: the first direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in more than three years have led to an agreement to swap 1,000 prisoners of war, and the American composer, Charles Strouse, who wrote the hit Broadway musical Annie has died aged 96.(Picture: Displaced Palestinians flee their homes in the town of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza City. Credit: HAITHAM IMAD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

AP Washington correspondent reports on direct Russian-Ukrainian peace talks ending quickly in Turkey.

Today on Upstream, we're sharing Erik Torenberg conversation with Samo Burja where they discuss the Bronze Age collapse, technological advancements in ancient civilizations, and the nuanced history of the Roman Empire, along with a detailed analysis of contemporary geopolitical dynamics, particularly focusing on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its implications for global power structures. —

Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, is a native of Kyiv. In this conversation, we discuss two books. Our Enemies Will Vanish (Penguin Press, 2024), is a nonfiction narrative chronicling Putin's invasion of Ukraine through the reporter Trofimov's eyes. No Country for Love (Abacus Books, 2024), is his novel tracing the path of a young woman, the character based on his grandmother, on an arduous journey starting in 1930s Soviet Ukraine. Both books, as different as they are, cast a revealing light on the oppressions visited on the diverse peoples of Ukraine. In our talk, Trofimov offers insights into the books and also a guide as to how the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war might be concluded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, is a native of Kyiv. In this conversation, we discuss two books. Our Enemies Will Vanish (Penguin Press, 2024), is a nonfiction narrative chronicling Putin's invasion of Ukraine through the reporter Trofimov's eyes. No Country for Love (Abacus Books, 2024), is his novel tracing the path of a young woman, the character based on his grandmother, on an arduous journey starting in 1930s Soviet Ukraine. Both books, as different as they are, cast a revealing light on the oppressions visited on the diverse peoples of Ukraine. In our talk, Trofimov offers insights into the books and also a guide as to how the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war might be concluded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, is a native of Kyiv. In this conversation, we discuss two books. Our Enemies Will Vanish (Penguin Press, 2024), is a nonfiction narrative chronicling Putin's invasion of Ukraine through the reporter Trofimov's eyes. No Country for Love (Abacus Books, 2024), is his novel tracing the path of a young woman, the character based on his grandmother, on an arduous journey starting in 1930s Soviet Ukraine. Both books, as different as they are, cast a revealing light on the oppressions visited on the diverse peoples of Ukraine. In our talk, Trofimov offers insights into the books and also a guide as to how the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war might be concluded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign affairs correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, is a native of Kyiv. In this conversation, we discuss two books. Our Enemies Will Vanish (Penguin Press, 2024), is a nonfiction narrative chronicling Putin's invasion of Ukraine through the reporter Trofimov's eyes. No Country for Love (Abacus Books, 2024), is his novel tracing the path of a young woman, the character based on his grandmother, on an arduous journey starting in 1930s Soviet Ukraine. Both books, as different as they are, cast a revealing light on the oppressions visited on the diverse peoples of Ukraine. In our talk, Trofimov offers insights into the books and also a guide as to how the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war might be concluded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do separatist conflicts arise and spread? When does separatism become a cover for a foreign aggression? How do local communities respond when state institutions collapse, and militants take over? The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, which started eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion, contains unique evidence to address each of these questions. In Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine (Oxford UP, 2015), Serhiy Kudelia offers an authoritative study of the conflict at its initial stage--2013-14--based on a meticulous comparison of mobilization dynamics in over dozen towns of Donbas as well as in two major cities outside of it: Kharkiv and Odesa. Through his extensive travels and numerous interviews with conflict witnesses and participants, Kudelia explains how a small group of Russian agents and local militants succeeded in eliminating state control over the largest and most densely urbanized region of Ukraine but failed to do it elsewhere. Kudelia challenges the conventional accounts of the armed conflict in Donbas, which portray it either as an interstate conflict entirely manufactured by Moscow or as a civil war that broke out without any external influence. Instead, he argues that local actors prepared ideological and organizational basis for the uprising, but the successful spread of separatist control resulted from the covert intervention of Russian agents and widespread collaboration with them of town administrators and community activists. His findings also show that when enough members of local communities organized to resist militant takeovers, the separatist challenges there quickly dissipated. A fine-grained and highly original on-the-ground analysis of the origins of the wider Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in 2022, this book offers broader insights into the conditions under which external intervention may trigger the rise of an armed insurgency in a society torn apart by political and ideological disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on America in the Morning   Trump & Bukele Talk Crime Saying that President Trump has 350 million Americans to “liberate” by ending crime, the president of El Salvador became the latest head of state to visit the White House. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the president continues to float the idea that American citizens could also find their way into El Salvador's notorious prison, the same facility housing a Maryland man recently deported.    California Earthquake The Earth moved under the feet of millions in Southern California which was rocked by a strong earthquake centered near San Diego on Monday. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.    Harvard Funding Cut After Harvard University challenged President Trump by saying they would reject the administration's demands for changes to admissions and DEI policy, within hours the Department of Education froze more than $2 billion in school funding. America in the Morning's Jeff McKay has details.    Changes At The Border The Trump Administration is considering using a stretch of land along the U-S - Mexico border to detain illegal immigrants. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.     Pepsi & Sharpton A major company has agreed to meet with the Reverend Al Sharpton, and it has to do with DEI rules and a potential boycott. Lisa Dwyer reports.    It's Tax Day It's Tax Day, and most taxpayers are staring down a deadline today for filing their taxes, unless they ask for an extension or reside in one of 13 states where the IRS has extended the filing cutoff date due to natural disasters in those areas.          Arrest Details Of Arson At Pennsylvania Governor's Home We're learning more about the scope of the damage, and the suspect, in the weekend arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Latest On Russia-Ukraine There's international condemnation of a Russian military strike in Ukraine just east of the Russian-Ukrainian border that killed or wounded over 140 people. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the attack comes as Volodymyr Zelensky invited President Trump to visit Kyiv before any deal is struck with Vladimir Putin.    Latest On NYC Helicopter Crash Federal investigators appear to be closer to finding the cause of last week's deadly helicopter crash in the Hudson River in New York City. Bob Brown has details from New York.    Arrest In Tulsi Gabbard Threat Police arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly sending threatening messages to director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her husband.    Latest US Attack On Houthis In Yemen, members of the Iranian-backed Houthis say a suspected U.S. airstrike has killed at least 6 people. Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports.   Judge Blocks Trump Immigration Order A federal judge on Monday night blocked the Trump administration from revoking the legal status and work permits of the more than 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who flew into the United States during former President Joe Biden's time in office.     Tech News In a bold move, NVIDIA has decided to move its chip and A-I supercomputer manufacturing to the United States. Here's Chuck Palm with today's tech news. Finally   A historic private launch by Blue Origin sent an all-female celebrity crew on their first space journey.  Correspondent Julie Walker has the recap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Los Angeles has only issue 4 permits to rebuild homes after the devastating wildfires, what is taking so long? Putin refuses to engage in peace talks in the Russian Ukrainian war.

Grain futures varied with soybeans up slightly, wheat and corn down amid uncertain Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire impacts. Ethanol data affected corn markets; soybeans rose due to soybean oil gains.

Ilya Ponomarev is a Russian-Ukrainian politician who was a member of the Russian State Duma from 2007 to 2016. After the 2022 Russian invasion, Ponomarev joined Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, and categorically denounced the invasion. While a member of the Russian State Duma, he was the only deputy not to vote in favour of the Russian gay propaganda law and to vote against Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014. He is now in exile in Ukraine and is a spokesman with insurgent Russian forces (National Republican Army) fighting on the side of Ukraine. ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Ponomarev https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002113qhttps://www.fpri.org/contributor/ilya-ponomarev/BOOKS:Does Putin Have to Die? The Story of How Russia Becomes a Democracy after Losing to Ukraine (Hardcover – 19 Jan. 2023)ARTICLES: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/01/19/ilya-ponomaryov-we-have-to-capture-the-kremlin-there-is-no-other-way-a83772 ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------PLATFORMS:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------Welcome to the Silicon Curtain podcast. Please like and subscribe if you like the content we produce. It will really help to increase the popularity of our content in YouTube's algorithm. Our material is now being made available on popular podcasting platforms as well, such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

“The Nose” may be Nikolai Gogol’s most famous short story. It’s a surrealist — and self-consciously, self-awarely surrealist — story about a man whose nose disappears from his face and reappears in another man’s biscuits. And other places. There’s a moment toward the end of Susanne Fusso’s translation when the narrator says, “The strangest and most incomprehensible thing of all — is that writers can choose such plots.” Well, yes. Nikolai Gogol was a 19th-century Russian/Ukrainian novelist and playwright. One of his best-known plays, The Inspector, opens this week at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven. And that short story, “The Nose,” might well be intertwined with the mythology of our little public radio show. This hour, a look at the writer Nikolai Gogol. GUESTS: Susanne Fusso: Professor of Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies at Wesleyan University and the author of a number of books, including Designing Dead Souls: An Anatomy of Disorder in Gogol and a recent translation, The Nose and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol Yura Kordonsky: The adaptor and director of the Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of The Inspector Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're talking about the latest in the Russian/Ukrainian war, the official cause of death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, updates from the Trump Administration, and other top news for Monday, March 10th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! Parenting with Ginger Hubbard: https://links.thepourover.org/ParentingwithGingerHubbard The Bulletin: MoreCT.com/BulletinPodcast Upside: https://links.thepourover.org/Upside Cru: give.cru.org/pour LMNT: https://links.thepourover.org/LMNT_Podcast HelloFresh: hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast One Year Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/OneYearBible_Pod World Relief: https://links.thepourover.org/WorldRelief_Pod The Chronological Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/LASB_0215 Student Life Application Study Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/SLASB_Pod

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America’s stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration’s role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine’s corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America's stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration's role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine's corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

When President Donald Trump was elected, he promised to clean up the foreign affairs mess left by his predecessor - specifically the Russian-Ukrainian war. Professor at Regent University, Dr. A.J. Nolte, joins Joseph Backholm to explore America’s stance on Ukraine, the Biden administration’s role, and whether the U.S. should engage with Putin. Why is Trump the only president who seems willing to talk to Russia? What mistakes has Zelensky made, and is Ukraine’s corruption a barrier to peace? They break down the challenges of a deal, military risks, and the future of power in the region.

Today on AirTalk, LA County, the city of Pasadena and Sierra Madre have announced lawsuits against SoCal Edison over the responsibility for the devastating Eaton Fire. Former National Security Council European Affairs director, Alexander Vindman, on his new book about the U.S. role in Russian-Ukrainian relations. A psychologist is here to talk about validation and why we crave it. What roles do animals play for humans in difficult times? We're talking about the Big Bear eaglets and what it is about stories like theirs that draw us in. Call in and share which shows you just couldn't bring yourself to watch. For TV Talk we're covering Deli Boys, Will Trent, and the future of ceremonies on live TV. Today on AirTalk: LA County sues SoCal Edison over Eaton Fire (0:15) New book on the U.S. role in Russian-Ukrainian relations (16:14) Why do we crave validation? (34:10) What draws humans to animals in hard times? (51:49) TV Shows you couldn't finish (1:08:03) TV Talk: Deli Boys and more! (1:29:19)

Given the shameful American sacrifice of Ukraine, there will be few timelier movies than Anna Kryvenko's upcoming “This House is Undamaged”,. It will be an Orwellian documentary examining the Russian destruction of Mariupol, the Ukrainian city devastated by Putin's invasion in 2022. Krivenko, a Fellow at the Artist in Residence program, Institute for Advanced Studies at CEU, explains how Russian authorities are rapidly rebuilding and selling properties there while erasing Ukrainian history and creating the big lie of Mariupol as a historically Russian city. Kryvenko, originally from Kyiv, also discusses the parallels between Putin's and Trump's lies about Ukraine, summarizing their fundamental misrepresentation of the truth as a "carnival of hypocrisy."Here are the five KEEN ON takeaways from our conversation with Kryvenko:* The Russians are engaged in a systematic erasure of Mariupol's Ukrainian identity, not just through physical reconstruction but through an aggressive propaganda campaign that claims the city was "always Russian." This reconstruction effort began shortly after the city's destruction in 2022.* Pre-war Mariupol was not characterized by deep Russian-Ukrainian divisions as Russian propaganda claims. According to Kryvenko, language differences weren't a source of conflict before political forces deliberately weaponized them.* The rebuilding of Mariupol has a dark commercial aspect - Russians are selling apartments in reconstructed buildings, sometimes in properties where the original Ukrainian owners were killed, and marketing them as vacation properties while ignoring the city's tragic recent history.* There's a humanitarian crisis unfolding as some Ukrainians are being forced to return to occupied Mariupol because they have nowhere else to live, with Kryvenko citing statistics that around 150,000 people returned to occupied territories by the end of 2024.* The filmmaker is using a unique methodology of gathering evidence through social media content, vlogs, and propaganda materials to document both the physical transformation of the city and the narrative being constructed around it, rather than traditional documentary filming techniques.Transcript of Anna Kryvenko InterviewAndrew Keen: Hello, everybody. As the situation in Ukraine becomes more absurd, it seems as if the lies of Donald Trump and the lies of Vladimir Putin are becoming increasingly similar. Trump has been talking about Zelensky and Ukraine, what is described as a barrage of lies. As CNN reports, Trump falsely called Zelensky a dictator. It's becoming more and more absurd. It's almost as if the whole script was written by some Central European or East Central European absurdist. Meanwhile, the Russians continue to lie as well. There was an interesting piece recently in the Wall Street Journal about Russia wanting to erase Ukraine's future and its past. My guest today, Anna Kryvenko, is a filmmaker. She's the director of an important new movie in the process of being made called "This House Is Undamaged." She's a visual fellow at the Central European University, and she's joining us from Budapest today. Congratulations on "This House is Undamaged." Before we talk specifically about the film, do you agree with my observations that there seems to be an increasingly eerie synergy between the lies coming out of Washington, D.C. and Moscow, between Trump and Putin?Anna Kryvenko: I think the situation is becoming more crazy and absurd. That's a better word to use in this situation. For me, all of this looks like some carnival of hypocrisy. It's unbelievable that someone can use the word "dictator" in comparison with Vladimir Putin or speaking about this 4% of the people who support Zelensky when he says it's only four persons. It looks completely absurd. And this information comes from Moscow, not from actual Ukrainian statistics.Andrew Keen: The phrase you use "carnival of hypocrisy" I think is a good description. I might even use that in the title of this conversation. It's almost as if Trump in particular is parodying himself, but he seems so separated from reality that it seems as if he's actually being serious, at least from my position in California. How does it look from your perspective in Budapest? You're originally from Ukraine, so obviously you have a particular interest in this situation.Anna Kryvenko: I don't even know what to think because it's changing so fast into absurd situations. Every day when I open the news, I'm speaking with people and it looks like some kind of farce. You're expecting that the next day someone will tell you that this is a joke or something, but it's not. It's really hard to believe that this is reality now, but unfortunately it is.Andrew Keen: Kundera wrote his famous novel "The Joke" as a parody of the previous authoritarian regime in Central Europe. Your new movie, "This House is Undamaged" - I know you are an artist in residence at the Institute for Advanced Study at Central European University - is very much in that vein. Tell us about the project.Anna Kryvenko: We're in work in progress. I was doing research in the archives and internet archives. This documentary film will explore the transformation of Mariupol, a Ukrainian city that was destroyed by the Russian invasion in 2022. I will use only archives and found footage materials from people who are in Mariupol now, or who were in Mariupol at the time of invasion, who were actually trying to film what's going on. Sometimes I'll also use propaganda images from Russia, from Russian authorities. In May 2022, Mariupol, after intense fighting, was almost completely destroyed.Andrew Keen: Tell us the story of Mariupol, this town on the old border of Russia and Ukraine. It's in the southeast of Ukraine.Anna Kryvenko: It's on the shore of the Azov Sea. It's part of Donetsk region. It was always an industrial city, most known for the Azovstal factory. In 2022, after incredible brutality of Russian war against Ukraine, this strategically important city was almost completely destroyed in May 2022 and was occupied by Russian government. About 90% of buildings were destroyed or demolished in some way.Andrew Keen: The Russians have essentially leveled the town, perhaps in the same way as the Israelis have essentially destroyed Gaza.Anna Kryvenko: Exactly. For a lot of people, we have this image of destroyed Mariupol until today. But after these terrible events, the Russians started this big campaign to rebuild the city. Of course, we know it was done just to erase all the scars of war, to erase it from the city's history. They started the reconstruction. Some people who stayed in Mariupol thought they would have new housing since they had no place to live. But business is business - Russian authorities started to sell these apartments to Russian citizens.Andrew Keen: I'm surprised Trump hasn't got involved. Given his real estate background and his cozy relationship with Putin, maybe Trump real estate will start selling real estate in Mariupol.Anna Kryvenko: I was thinking the same thing this last week. It was looking like such an absurd situation with Mariupol. But now we are in this business mode again with Ukraine and all the minerals. It's only the economical part of war they look at.Andrew Keen: He probably would come up with some argument why he really owns Mariupol.Anna Kryvenko: Yes.Andrew Keen: Coming back to the Wall Street Journal piece about Russia wanting to erase Ukraine's future and its past - you're originally from Kyiv. Is it the old East Central European business of destroying history and creating a new narrative that somehow conforms to how you want history to have been made?Anna Kryvenko: I was really shocked at how fast this idea of Russian Mariupol is repeating after two years in Russian media, official and semi-professional blogs, YouTube, and so forth. As a person working with this type of material, watching videos every day to find what I need, I'm listening to these people doing propaganda from Mariupol, saying "we are citizens of the city and it's always been Russian." They're repeating this all the time. Even when I'm hearing this - of course it was always a Ukrainian city, it's completely absurd, it's 100% disinformation. But when you're hearing this repeated in different contexts all the time, you start to think about it.Andrew Keen: It's the same tactics as Trump. If you keep saying something, however absurd it sounds or is, if you keep saying it enough times, some people at least start believing it. You're not a historian or political scientist, but Mariupol is in the part of Ukraine which had a significant population of Russian-speaking people. Some of the people that you're filming and featuring in your movie - are they Russians who have moved into Mariupol from some other part of Russia, or are they people originally from Mariupol who are somehow embracing their new Russian overlords?Anna Kryvenko: The people I'm watching on social media, most of them say they're from Mariupol. But you can find journalistic articles showing they're actually paid by the Russian government. It's paid propaganda and they're repeating the same narrative. It's important that they're always repeating "we were born in Mariupol" and "we want the city to be Russian." But of course, you can see it's from the same propaganda book as 2014 with Crimea. They're repeating the same narrative from Soviet times - they just changed "Soviet Union" to "Russia" and "the West" to "European Union."Andrew Keen: You grew up in Kyiv, so you're familiar with all these current and historical controversies. What's your take on Mariupol before 2020, before it was flattened by the Russians? Was it a town where Russian-speaking and Ukrainian people were neighbors and friends? Were there always deep divisions between the Russian and Ukrainian speaking populations there?Anna Kryvenko: It's hard to explain because you need to dig deeper to explain the Russian-speaking and Ukrainian-speaking parts of Ukraine. But it was never a problem before Yanukovych became prime minister and then president. It was his strategy to create this polarization of Ukraine - that the western part wants to be part of the European Union and the eastern part wants to be part of Russia because of language, and they cannot live together. But it's not true. For me as a person from Kyiv, from the center of the country, with friends from different parts of Ukraine, it was never a problem. I'm from a Russian-speaking family and have many friends from Ukrainian-speaking families. It was never a question. We were in a kind of symbiotic connection. All schools were in Ukrainian, universities in Ukrainian. We were bilingual. It was not a problem to communicate.Some of this division came from Yanukovych's connections to Putin and his propaganda. It was important for them to say "we are Russian-speaking people, and because we are Russian-speaking, we want to be part of Russia." But I have friends from Mariupol, and after 2014, when war in eastern Ukraine started and Mariupol was bombed a few times, it became a really good city to live in. There were many cultural activities. I know friends who were originally from Mariupol, studied in Kyiv in theater or visual art, and went back to Mariupol because it was a good place for their art practice. Ukraine is still a bit centralized, with most activity in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, and the big cities, but Mariupol wasn't a city with internal conflict. It's weird that so fast after 2022, people started saying it was always problematic in wanting to be part of Russia. It was never like that.Andrew Keen: It's as if I lived for a year in Bosnia before the civil war, and it was almost as if ethnicity was invented by the nationalist Serbian regime. It seems as if the Putin regime is doing or has done the same thing in the eastern part of Ukraine.Anna Kryvenko: Yes.Andrew Keen: You talk to lots of friends still and you're from Kyiv originally, and obviously your professional life remains focused on the situation. In late February 2025, what's your sense of how Ukrainians are feeling given what Trump is now saying?Anna Kryvenko: I think a lot of people in Ukraine or Ukrainians abroad are feeling lonely, that they don't have support. Again we are in this situation where you have big deals about Ukraine without Ukraine. You feel like nothing, just an empty space on a map with minerals or sea access. We're just sitting there waiting while they're agreeing on deals. That's the negative layer. But it's important for all Ukrainians to be together and speak about the situation. After Trump's words about the 4% support for Zelensky, there were statistics from last year showing 57-55% support for Zelensky. Today, after these few days, new statistics show 65% support.Andrew Keen: Zelensky started his political career as a satirical comedian, and it's as if he's participating in his own comedy - as if he's almost paid Trump to promote him. What about the broader take on the US? Obviously Trump isn't all America, but he was just elected a couple of months ago. Are your Ukrainian friends and associates, as well as many people at the Central European University in Budapest, taking this as a message from America itself, or are people able to separate Trump and America?Anna Kryvenko: This is a hard question because we always know that you have a president or representative figure, but that's not the whole state. I spoke with someone from our university who was in Pennsylvania before the election, and he said all the people were pro-Trump. The logic was really simple - "he's good" and "he will stop this war" - though people sometimes don't even know which war or which country. They're just repeating the same talking points.Andrew Keen: It's sort of Orwellian in the sense that it's just war and it doesn't really matter who's involved - he's just going to stop it.Anna Kryvenko: It reminded me of how everyone was repeating about Lukashenko from Belarus that "he's a good manager" and can manage things, and that's why he's still president - not that he's a dictator killing his opponents. They use this to explain why he's good and people choose him. Now with Trump, they say "he's a good businessman," but we can see how this business works. Today, someone from Trump's administration said Zelensky needs to stop being arrogant because Trump is in a bad mood. In what world are we living where this is used as an argument?Andrew Keen: Coming back to real estate, he probably sees Mariupol as a nice strip on the Black Sea, like Gaza, which he sees as a valuable strip on the Mediterranean for real estate development. I found an interesting piece online about the Russian invasion, "When Buildings Can Talk: The Real Face of Civilian Infrastructure Ruined by Russian Invaders." In a way, your project "This House is Undamaged" is your way of making buildings talk. Is that fair?Anna Kryvenko: I think it's the best description you can use.Andrew Keen: Perhaps you might explain how and why.Anna Kryvenko: This name "This House is Undamaged" might or might not be the final name. For me, it's important because after the first months when it started to be a Russian city, some people were trying to sell apartments just to have some money. The reconstruction started a bit later. They were using video websites like Craigslist. It immediately became Russian, part of Russian territory. People from different Russian regions who saw this opportunity were trying to buy something because prices were so cheap. People needed money to buy a ticket and go to other cities or to relatives. In every advertisement, there was this phrase "this house has no damages" or "this house is undamaged." You had to put it there even if it wasn't true - you could see pictures where one building had a hole, but they were still saying "this house is undamaged."Andrew Keen: It's just again coming back to the carnival of hypocrisy or the carnival of absurd hypocrisy - you see these completely destroyed homes, and then you have the signs from the Russians saying this house is undamaged.Anna Kryvenko: It was also interesting why some people from Russia want to buy apartments in Mariupol, in these reconstructed buildings with weird pro-Russian murals - it's like Stalinism. They don't even know where Mariupol is - they think it's somewhere near Crimea, but it's not the Black Sea, it's the Azov Sea, an industrial region. It's not the best place to live. But they think it will be some kind of resort. They're living somewhere in Russia and think they can buy a cheap apartment and use it as a resort for a few months. This is absurd because the city was completely destroyed. You still have mass graves. Sometimes they're selling apartments where they can't even find the owner because the whole family is dead.On Google Maps, someone made an alternative version where you can see all the buildings that were destroyed, because officially you can't find this information anywhere. People were putting crosses where they knew someone died in a building - entire families. And after this, people are buying their apartments. For me, this is unbearable. You can do research about what you're doing, but people are lazy and don't want to do this work.Andrew Keen: It comes back to the Journal piece about Russia literally erasing not just Ukraine's past but also its future, creating a culture of amnesia. It's chilling on so many levels. But it's the old game - it's happened before in that part of the world and no doubt will happen again. As a filmmaker, what particular kind of political or aesthetic responsibility do you have? People have been writing - I mentioned Kundera, Russian writers, Gogol - satires of this kind of absurd political power for centuries. But as a filmmaker, what kind of responsibility do you have? How does your form help you make this argument of essentially restoring the past, of telling the truth?Anna Kryvenko: A lot of filmmakers in Ukraine, with the start of invasion, just brought cameras and started making films. The first goal wasn't to make a film but to document the crimes. My case is different - not only because my family's in Ukraine and I have many friends there and lived there until my twenties. For the last ten years, since the Maidan events in 2013-2014, I started working with archive and found footage material. This is my methodology. For me, it's not important to go somewhere and document. It's more interesting to use media deconstruction from propaganda sources, maybe from Ukrainian sources also because it's a question of ideology.One of my favorite materials now is people doing vlogs - just with their camera or mobile phone going from Russia to Crimea or back. You only have two ways to go there because airports aren't working, so you go through the Kerch-Crimea bridge. Now because of Mariupol's strategic location, you can go through there, so you have two different roads. People from different Russian cities sometimes film their road and say "what is this, is it destroyed?" This is the average Russian person, and you can hear the propaganda they're repeating or what they're really thinking. For me, it's important to show these different points of view from people who were there or are there now. I don't have the opportunity as a Ukrainian citizen to go there. Through this method, in the near future when I finish this film, we can have testimonies from the inside. We don't need to wait for the war to end because we don't know how or when it ends. It's important to show it to people who maybe don't know anything about what's going on in Mariupol.Andrew Keen: Given the abundance of video on the internet, on platforms like YouTube, how do you distinguish between propaganda and truth yourself in terms of taking some of these segments to make your film? It could be conceivable that some of the more absurd videos are put out by Ukrainians to promote their own positions and undermine the Russians. Have you found that? Is there a propaganda war on YouTube and other platforms between Ukrainian and Russian nationalists? And as a filmmaker who's trying to archive the struggle in an honest way, how do you deal with that?Anna Kryvenko: Of course, there are many people, and Mariupol is the best example because the Russian government is paying people to repeat pro-Russian ideology. Sometimes you can see just an average person from Mariupol going with a camera and shooting something without speaking - this is just documentation. Sometimes you have Russian people there for some days just saying something. And of course, you get different segments of real propaganda from some ministry in Russia with drone material and big music. I'm always trying to question myself: What am I looking at? Who is speaking? On technical aspects, why is this like this? It helps me to be holistic.Of course, I'm from Ukraine, and sometimes this is the most uncomfortable - you can hear actual people from Mariupol saying something you don't want to hear because it's not your point of view on the war. But these are people really from the city giving some kind of realistic point of view on the situation. It's sad, but there were statistics at the end of 2024 that about 150,000 people were returning to occupied territories, not only to Mariupol but all occupied territories. Maybe 40% were coming back to register their property and then returning to Ukrainian territory, but many people are returning to Mariupol because they don't have anywhere to live in Ukraine. It's not hundreds but thousands of people. As Ukrainians, we're not comfortable with this because we're all in different situations. But if something's not comfortable for my point of view, it doesn't mean it's bad or good.Andrew Keen: It's an important project. I know your artist residency at the Central European University is finishing at the end of February. You're going to focus on finishing the movie. When do you think it will be ready and what are your ambitions for the finished movie? Will you put it online, in theaters? What's your ideal?Anna Kryvenko: If everything goes well, we can finish it in a year and a half because it will be a long process of editing and working with rights. We only started working on it six months ago, and it's starting to go faster. Documentary making is a long process because of funding and everything. Even though I don't need to go somewhere physically, it's still a long process with a lot of waiting. First, we're thinking about festivals, maybe a theater release, maybe we'll have some broadcasters because it's an important topic to show to a wider audience. After a year, we'll see.Andrew Keen: If "Buildings Can Talk" is the subtitle of this upcoming movie "This House is Undamaged," it's a really important project about Mariupol. Thank you for being on the show. I'm going to have to get you back when the movie is done because I can't wait to see it.Anna Kryvenko: Thank you so much. Thank you.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Anna Kryvenko (1986, Ukraine) is a video and fine art photography artist based in Prague and Kyiv. She is a Fellow at the Artist in Residence program, Institute for Advanced Studies at Central European University. She graduated from the Centre for Audio-Visual Studies at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU, Prague). Her films and performances were screened at Dok Leipzig, ZagrebDox, Visions du Reel Nyon, Fluidum Festival, Jihlava Documentary Film Festival, etc. With her found-footage film Silently Like a Comet, she won the prize for the Best Experimental Act at FAMUFEST, Prague (CZ), and a few others. Her film Listen to the Horizon won the prize for the Best Czech Experimental Documentary, Jihlava IDFF (CZ). Her first feature documentary film My Unknown Soldier won the Last Stop Trieste 2018 Postproduction Award, Special Mention at Zagreb Dox, the Special Prize of the Jury at IDFF CRONOGRAF, and the Andrej Stankovič Prize. Her newest short film Easier Than You Think won the Jury Award of the Other Vision Competition 2022 (PAF, Czech Republic).Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

During his trip to Europe last week, Vice President JD Vance said to European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, “The threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within. The retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values—values shared with the United States of America.” In the face of mounting inflation and rampant illegal immigration, Europe's leaders must listen to their people and not take a “hard left,” plunging the country into a Joe Biden-level, continentwide nightmare, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “[Vance's] criticism was multifaceted: Close your borders. Legal-only immigration. Up your defense budget. Allow for free speech. We've gone through the Biden nightmare at home. We know what it was like to go hard left. Don't go that way. Deregulate. ... “Germany and Europe better be very careful. Germany's fertility rate is 1.45. Europe's, in aggregate, is only about 1.5. We're at least 1.6. We said years ago in 2014, NATO, pay 2% of GDP and hold your own and pull your own weight. And now it's 10 years, 11 years later and we still have nine NATO countries that will not do it, especially Germany. ...  “They have 16% of the population was not born in Germany. France is almost as bad. And they do not assimilate, intermarry, and integrate like we do. They are looking at this huge Russian-Ukrainian war on their borders where maybe 1.5 million people have been killed or wounded or missing. And they're critical of the United States that pays the greatest proportion of the NATO budget and who puts Europe under its nuclear shield. And they are damning us.” For Victor's latest thoughts, go to: https://victorhanson.com/   Don't miss out on Victor's latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You'll be notified every time a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqkXbgqrDrDVInBMSoGQgQ The Daily Signal cannot continue to tell stories like this one without the support of our viewers: https://secured.dailysignal.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts: Erin Rider and Taylor Morgan  Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy is pushing back on President Trump today, after Trump claimed that Ukraine started the war with Russia. Zelenskyy responded, saying President Trump is living in a Russian "disinformation space." The Inside Sources hosts discuss why the U.S. is quickly changing its stance on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.   

Hosts: Erin Rider and Taylor Morgan  On the Hill 2025: Fights brewing over open records management and access in Utah If you thought this legislative session has been a little slower or more quiet than normal – think again. Things are getting interesting regarding public government records here in Utah, as several bills that would affect open records access and management work their way through the legislature. One of those bills, SB277, is being sponsored by State Senator Mike McKell; he joins to share his motivations and thoughts on the legislation. Representing the other side of the conversation is journalist and KSL Investigator Daniella Rivera. The hosts get both sides of the discussion and share their own thoughts.  President Trump working to expand access to IVF Saying he's fulfilling a campaign promise, President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to expand access to and reduce the costs associated with in vitro fertilization, or IVF. It comes as Republicans appear divided on the ethicality of IVF, with many having voted against protecting IVF rights in the past few years.  Ukraine responds to claims from Pres. Trump that they started the war with Russia Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy is pushing back on President Trump today, after Trump claimed that Ukraine started the war with Russia. Zelenskyy responded, saying President Trump is living in a Russian "disinformation space." The Inside Sources hosts discuss why the U.S. is quickly changing its stance on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.  Pres. Trump directs DOJ to fire U.S. Attorneys from the “Biden Era” President Donald Trump has instructed the Department of Justice to fire all U.S. Attorneys put in place by former President Biden. And although the action itself is pretty typical of a new administration, the way Trump is doing it is sparking additional concerns. Inside Sources co-host and lawyer Erin Rider shares the concerns she’s feeling.  On the Hill 2025: Overview of bills affecting the state’s judicial system More proposed changes to Utah's judiciary, following the introduction of a few new bills. We talked about several of the proposals last week, and today we follow that conversation with a discussion on what’s new this week with judicial bills. The Inside Sources hosts discuss a proposal to limit injunctions and another that would create a committee of lawmakers who get to recommend judicial retention.  Los Angeles mayor says she’ll investigate why she left the country as fires broke out The mayor of Los Angeles has received a lot of criticism for leaving the country just before fires in the region broke out. Now, she says she will launch an investigation to determine why she was allowed to leave the country. You didn’t misread that... she will investigate herself. The Inside Sources host talk about this fascinating PR move. 

Volodymyr Yermolenko is President of PEN Ukraine, the writers Union, and Chief Editor of Ukraine World. He is one of Ukraine's leading cultural and intellectual figures, a philosopher, essayist, translator, Doctor of Political Studies, candidate of philosophical sciences, and senior lecturer at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. It is a great privilege to be in conversation, especially here in Kyiv. In this discussion, Yermolenko unpacks the complexities of Ukrainian identity, the historical context of Russian-Ukrainian relations, and the ongoing war. He explores themes of assimilation, imperialism, and the role of language in shaping national identity, while also analyzing how media narratives influence public perception. ---------- This event was co-hosted jointly by the Fog of War & Silicon Curtain podcasts. Hosts: Yaroslava Bukhta and Jonathan Fink

Antiwar.com editor Scott Horton joins to discuss his new book on the Russian-Ukrainian war.Enjoyed this episode? Join Saifedean's online learning platform to take part in weekly podcast seminars, access Saifedean's four online economics courses, and read his writing, including his new book, Principles of Economics! Find out more on Saifedean.com!The Saif House - High quality cloth hardcover bitcoin books by Saifedean & more delivered worldwide, with 10% off for paying in bitcoin - TheSaifHouse.com