Russian Success: Ukraine vs. America

Did Assad's ouster from Syria reveal the weakness of Putin and Russia? How will Putin react to the humiliation - and are Russians growing weary of him yet? Is the Trump-Putin strategic bromance on the rocks? Julia Davis, creator of Russian Media Monitor, joined Rick, Joe, and Stuart for a fascinating discussion of all that and much more. Catch up now!

Amee Vanderpool writes, "An unsealed DOJ indictment alleges that Russian-backed operations used US influencers to help drive internet traffic to "cybersquatted" and other false propaganda domains."

Rick speaks with hostage negotiator Mickey Bergman on what it takes to bring wrongly-detained Americans home from Russia and other hostile actors.

"I have heard from experts on Russia, the US, wrongful detentions, etc. They all caution that detainee trades may not happen until after the US presidential election. They see Ksenia as another of a long line of cases that need to be resolved. I see her as a person who I love and miss."

Understanding the new world order is a moving target. In this episode Rick engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the Eurasia Group. Bremmer, a prominent political scientist and author, delves into the complexities of the shifting global power dynamics and the rise of a multipolar world. The discussion touches on the implications of Russia's aggression, China's economic ascent, and the transformative power of technology, particularly AI, on international relations and democracy. Bremmer also provides insights on the challenges facing Western democracies and offers valuable advice to the younger generation on navigating this evolving geopolitical landscape.