Anne Applebaum On The War In Ukraine

The Atlantic writer on where it stands and where it’s going.

[@noahsark2009]

Thanks for having Anne Applebaum on your podcast. Timothy Snyder also delves into the Russian genocide of the Ukrainian people. Keep up the good work.

[@homerbeer943]

Snyder is a much stronger voice on Ukraine.

[@drecepy6213]

Russian genocide, okaaaay....And the Ukranian genocide on ethnic Russians in the Donbas from 2014-2022....?!

[@mironRu79]

Genocide? In Ukraine? I must have missed something 🤔

[@7171jay]

@miron Brain cells maybe???

[@DETROIT1948]

Excellent guest.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Anne is a treasure. Enough to make me tolerate Franken's endless drivel.

[@ianleslie6971]

Thanks for doing this podcast Mr Franken , it brings some sanity to the week.

[@jlvandat69]

Excellent discussion. Those of us who hunger for quality information regarding the war feel satiated. Thank you. Just one comment regarding the "negotiation scenario". I am not a history expert, but my recollection is that few or no countries governed by an autocratic leader have ever reversed policy during an invasion of a democracy and entered into good faith negotiations. Rather, the end of the ruler and the war have occurred when the joint democracies have provided adequate support or when the autocratic leader has been overthrown by domestic forces. I could be wrong, but given the history referenced and Putin's mental state, I don't see negotiations as a possibility. If he DOES disappear, then negotiations become probable, IMO. However, it's difficult to imagine Ukraine allowing Russia to occupy ANY regions of Ukraine post-war, given the enormous sacrifice by that country so far.

[@OdyTypeR]

💯 I didn't see your comment before I posted mine, thank you for making my point "diplomatically", lol

[@NathanCroucher]

"enormous sacrifice by that country so far." and for decades to come, due to the monumental amount of debt the country has accumulated. That will be a big drop in education and health outcomes, and probably a lower life expectancy, drop in GDP etc etc all for what??

[@susang4507]

Same as @OdyTypeR.👍👍💖

[@noahsark2009]

​@NathanCroucher that sacrifice is made because they don't want to be destroyed.

[@NathanCroucher]

"destroyed" huh, if the comedian had of surrendered, putin would have put in a friendly gov and life would go on as usual, worst would probably be a 10-15% drop in wages, and if you didnt like it you could just leave the country and move to any other of the glorious free democratic countries like south africa, brazil or the philippines. And then move back when you realize those places are horrible. Not now though as countries been "destroyed" Why this war again?? @@noahsark2009

[@vickidash-slesinski746]

I just returned from a visit to Poland. My husband is Polish and we spent time with his relatives that he located via DNA and Ancestry. We had a wonderful visit with these wonderful people. We also visited a number of cities, museums, churches, and Synagogues. This visit also included the Zoo and military museums. One of the relatives who was about 35 looked me in the eye and asked if they were safe. This broke my heart. I’m an Army veteran from the Cold War era and we were continually taught about how dangerous the Russian government is and I was trained to manage a fallout shelter in the civilian community in the event of a nuclear strike. Putin needs to be stopped.

[@michaelwilliams7907]

Yes he does. IMMEDIATELY. YESTERDAY.

[@beaureguard9107]

You should go volunteer.

[@sebastianfletcher-taylor1024]

Good work vatnik, here's a potato as reward for serving the Motherland.@@beaureguard9107

[@christopherbrown842]

Just for forms sake: Putin is _not_ a communist. This is a different government. Russia is not destined neccessarily to be dangerous (except from being big).

[@swordarmstudios6052]

Wow. I think it's important we appreciate this story. Understand it's implications. What is being done to these people is utterly horrific. It's just not right. This is why they should be given guns. We don't need any other reasons. When you are invaded by a hostile power intent of wiping your ethnicity and your culture off the map - the correct answer, the ethical answer, the only good option available to us - is bullets.

[@ELL289]

Thank you, Al Franken. You were a wonderful senator, and continue to make our society a better place! Anne Applebaum is a treasure.

[@philarmstrong3765]

He's good enough, he's smart enough... and doggone it, people like him! Seriously, if we had 10 more Frankens in public office, we could all sleep a lot easier. Love ya, AL!

[@imperialmotoring3789]

@@philarmstrong3765 Except that he will grope you in your sleep.

[@MarleneSB]

I appreciate the content on the rest of the world, American politics seems like such a frustrating mire, hearing that the rest of the world is a mess also is reassuring. Jokes aside, it was great to hear everything laid out in Ukraine in way I could easily digest, thanks to Al for the great questions and too Anne for the concise answers

[@kxmanners5416]

Anne Applebaum is a journalist we all need to pay close attention to, because she has precise truthful information on the current activities of the Russians and the Ukrainians.

[@peterthegreat996]

The war ends when - Russian troops leave .

[@cindypomerleau950]

Thanks for this you guys. It was enlightening and very sad. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦 ⚖️☮️ 🇺🇸

[@konstantinpogorelov4252]

Being a Ukrainian I have a huge respect for Al Franken's work at the senate, for standing up for the truth and common sense (for a change). And I'm grateful now for giving the stage to Anne and sharing these very important points: the genocidal nature of the war and the power of propaganda. I must admit the Ukraine itself suffered before and suffers even now from the russian disinformation. Falling for it is one of the reasons which made the war possible. We must at least recognize the evil when we see it, otherwise it will only grow and keep coming in more horrendous forms and numbers.

[@37Dionysos]

Ukraine had a major chance to stay neutral and avoid the US/Nato war against Russia on its soil. The war is NOT "genocidal" but the last option Russia had to defend its security from a passive-aggressive 20+ years of Western creep (on its psychotic way to war on China). Russia does NOT want to rule Ukraine or kill its people (just compare US devastation in Iraq). As for disinformation, ask Zelensky's fascists who's winning and losing---he and the current US/Nato regime are all but finished, so the lies are intensifying (and the begging for guns and money).

[@NineInchTyrone]

No disinformation like Ukrainian disinformation. Your Hitler fanboys just got cheered by Trudeau

[@dkudlay]

Lol youre russian hello?! Pogorelov?! Ukranian language doesnt have Os.

[@konstantinpogorelov4252]

@@dkudlay among US nationals many people have an English, Italian, Spanish last name. It doesn't make them less American, does it?

[@konstantinpogorelov4252]

@@dkudlay ... also please count number of Ukrainian government officials with last names ending with "ov" here: www.kmu.gov.ua/en/team This includes previous minister of defense Reznikov and current minister of defense Umerov.

[@carpepoodle]

Finally a high quality show.

[@user-qu6mb2uk4q]

Thanks to you both. Much appreciated.

[@yevhen4330]

Ukraine will keep fighting regardless of level of support. The only question is, how many will die in the process. More weapons - less dead Ukrainians. If you're against giving Ukraine weapons, you're pro genocide. It might seem too simplistic and black and white to be true, but that's pretty much what it boils down to.

[@1971VoiceoftheMummy]

🙏🕊🌻🔱 Excellent Update! Ukraine is Strong! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes! The World Stays Committed! 🔱🌻🕊🙏

[@charlesputnam9370]

Having read Timothy Snyder and Ann s books about what happened in Ukraine from 193O through the fall of Soviet Union. It's easy to see why the Ukraine people fight so hard. The history of holodamor and the communist purges . The collective farms, slave labor camps, the starvation of millions is to me as close as you can get to genocide. The atrocities already committed by occupation troops all add up to fighting to the death or genocide.

[@jamespppyacek342]

Russia has NEVER had it's shit together... for more than about 10 years in a row, for the past 500 years.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

You probably haven't read that hunger wasn't just in Ukraine, but I guess Russians don't count as people, as we can see in this war, with many expressions are copy-modify-paste from WW2.

[@michaelmanning2689]

The Ukrainians are facing an existential threat. It cannot be plainer then this. Thank You Al for bringing such experts like Anne.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

What existential threat? Let's look at numbers: keeping same percentages, Russia is "free" to kill around 2 millions Ukrainians just to be equal with US in Iraq. So, were US existential threat to Iraq and Iraqi people? By number of killed and US willingness to kill even more and call it "worth it price", the answer is "absolutely yes". And let's not go into whole issue of Syria, which was tuned into hell on Earth thanks to US.

[@user-oc6dh2yp2w]

Not only Ukrainians are facing a threat. This is a proxy war between the Western civilization and the Russian Orthodox civilization. The West is fighting for freedom, Russia is fighting for preserving tyrany. .

[@13699111]

Thank you for posting this great interview Al Franken . I'm so sick of all extremest censoring negative trolls destroying democracy . United we stand divided we fall at one time brought our together .

[@xaviersnyder123]

Al Franken how can you have this grip on me where I listen to your podcast at 12:28am on a Saturday night

[@patriciaadams4171]

12:46 for me lol

[@MarleneSB]

@@patriciaadams4171 6am here in the UK, what a way to start my Sunday.

[@hereigoagain5050]

It seems that some Western leaders are more concerned about relations with post-Putin Russia than integrity of Ukrainian land. Thanks Anne and Al. No need to blacklist Norm. There is plenty of room on KZbin servers for both Anne and Norm. :)

[@JeffreyHavenga]

Thank you Al and Anne😊

[@lindagarland5223]

Thanks for helping us to continually understand the Putin Genocide 🇺🇦. Another note, Shouldn't Musk be a criminal in his interference?

[@ghalston5641]

It’s not “the Ukraine war.” It’s Russia’s genocidal/neocolonial aggression against Ukraine.

[@lindagarland5223]

@@ghalston5641 correct!

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

What genocide? When Western countries kills in hundreds of thousands or even millions that is not a genocide, that is collateral damage.

[@larryseaquist]

Thank you for an excellent discussion with the remarkable Anne Applebaum. We are fortunate to have her assure, well-informed insights.

[@charlesputnam9370]

The best books I read this year where by Ann Applebaum and Timothy Snyder on Eastern European history. The area has a very disturbing history that is every bit as inhumane and disturbing as the Holocaust. I had never heard of the holodamar although I was aware that people had been starved and sent to concentration camps and collective farms in Russia but was not aware of the true extent of these crimes against humanity. The suffering and death in Eastern Europe from the 1930s through the fall of the Soviet Union is truly horrific. We must as a people stand up against aggression we cannot appease aotocratic leader s with emperialist goals as we have seen enough genocide, torture, slavery mass bombing and killing in the last century. We can not let it happen again. You cannot allow autocratic leaders to bully the world we have already seen the results in two world wars

[@sebastianfletcher-taylor1024]

After Nazi Germany invaded Ukraine it was in fact utilized as a sort of "testing ground" for the Holocaust - it was one of the first places that the Nazis specifically rounded up and executed ethnic Jews en masse.

[@swordarmstudios6052]

It's a history of tragedy and loss. But if we can help Ukraine win the war, and they join NATO - we, the west , could end that dark history.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

Have you read about number of civilians killed in former Soviet Union by Germans in WW2? Holocaust looks like peace of cake compared to that. I wonder, were you against aggression against Yugoslavia, Iraq or Syria, or these were "justified wars", so ignoring UN was... justified?

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

@@swordarmstudios6052 NATP helped Ukraine to have this war in the first place.

[@littlejerryseinfeld4168]

@@BojanPeric-kq9et NATO annexed crimea and launched a failed decapitation attack and a war of attrition in Ukraine?

[@OdyTypeR]

What a good one, for a change... I'm loathe to categorize and apply labels to people, but Anne and Al both fall into the "national treasure" category. You don't deal with a bully by just saying "NO you can't have _my_ lunch money" -- he'll just find somebody weaker to pick on. If one wants to change behavior, one has to give the bully a broken nose. This war doesn't end when Russian soldiers are kicked out of the Donbas. Putin needs to lose Crimea as an "...and thank you for trying" consolation prize. He's effed around long enough, it's about time he found out. I'm not saying we should put US _active duty_ military boots on the ground. I'll just make an observation: Moscow has set the precedent that "non-state" military contractors are allowed in this war. 🌻💙💛Слава Україні💛💙🌻

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

I don't remember US being stopped from bullying other countries and nations. First it was Sudan, then Yugoslavia, then Afghanistan and Iraq, finally Libya and Syria. Thus, bullying is perfectly acceptable for many democratic countries if they can get something from that. The problem is only when they can't.

[@OdyTypeR]

@@BojanPeric-kq9et Fair point. An American criticizing foreign policy makes for a lot of blackened pots and kettles. Although, I didn't say America _wasn't_ a bully. Or that I condone the practice. Nobody's broken our nose, but I think we try harder to punch ourselves in the face, lol. A lot of US citizens vote against that kind of aggressive action, but there are powerful interests and systems at play, so unfortunately the majority opinion either: A) doesn't always make itself through the ballot box to the ears of the people in charge, or B) is a poorly informed opinion. Democracy is hard. It requires more from it's citizenry. And Americans are lazy AF. But it's better than the alternatives. (Well, there are better democratic systems than America's, but you know what I mean) Also, claiming territory as your own in an imperial fashion is not our style of bullying. Which means, yes, we decide what counts as bullying, apparently. Lol. I'll admit, we're hypocritical AF. Unfortunately, foreign policy is driven by _interests_ rather than _morals_ 🤷🏼‍♂️ Edit: claiming territory in an imperial fashion is not our style *_ANYMORE_* - and that actually kinda gets to the point - Putin is trying to rebuild the "great" Empire of the past in a 20th century European authoritarian style. _That's_ why it's such a problem.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

@@OdyTypeR Let's see... You explained that US is actually not a democracy. Fair enough, AFAIK in US constitution it is about republic. Please, what is the difference between claiming territory and: a) taking part of territory and creating "country" (without UN seat); b) simply deploying military in part of a country and thus blocking access to regular military, police, civil servants etc, and that can stay in such undefined state ad infinitum? Now, what is "in trend" and what is not, I don't give damn. For US regime changes are always in vogue. And Putin hasn't attempt to rebuild empire, that is propaganda. Ukraine and Georgia in NATO - with Turkey Black Sea is NATO sea and that is the only Russian warm sea port. By the way, judging from history, using nukes against civilians is the democracy way, just is destroying passenger trains with air launched guided missiles. Courtesy of NATO, before Putin was in power.

[@OdyTypeR]

​@@BojanPeric-kq9et​​ Look closely at my last comment: 1) I engaged with the point you were trying to make. 2) I admitted America's faults while re-framing them as the unfortunate side effect of freedom, while attempting to lighten the mood by making it funny-ish. 3) I used it as an opportunity to further distinguish the difference between what America has done and what Russia is doing. And 4) I then subtly compared Putin to Mussolini and Hitler. That "good-faith" approach is the difference between "creative" trolling and what you're doing. Your rant is lazy. You are not a very good troll. I'm not upset, I'm just disappointed in you. I'm bored already. Your propaganda is bad and you should feel bad.

[@MDFnyny]

Thanks Al, Anne was awesome, keep up the good work!

[@liviadix1433]

Thank you both for explaining what has happened . Great interview

[@jamesseamen5552]

I am starting to question Russian nuclear capabilities after seeing their maintenance level of their equipment being used today.

[@k.1701]

Such an insightful and factual interview. Thank you for telling the truth about what is happening in Ukraine and explaining russia’s destructive intentions.

[@old_grey_cat]

It is good that Al asked about the use of the word "genocide." It is also good that Anne answered him with points which showed the Russians were doing what they had done in various times and places, dispossessing or killing anyone not "Russified" and actually emptying land for Russians to move in. From "handling" the Cossacks, the Holodomor, all the way to Crimea since 2014, and the areas the Wagner group "helped" to become "independent" after that.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

Russians killed far less Ukrainians than Americans killed in Iraq. But, to US army "it happened by mistake". You need to make a lot of mistakes to kill close to million, or maybe even more.

[@peterpan9988]

Anne Applebaum is great. I read everything she writes.

[@davidchunkyonion]

You should probably stop.

[@BojanPeric-kq9et]

Yes, she is great propagandist.

[@elizabethfitzgibbon3908]

She is amazing.

[@stitchcrafter]

The US is STILL slow-walking the weaponry they are providing by focusing on weapons to support ground- fighting, which is slogging & difficult & costly in terms of casualties..So f' ing FRUSTRATING.

[@johnbirk843]

I believe the ukrainians have read Solsinizin's "gulag archipelago book". In which he highlights, they were perhaps few hundred thousand security forces, that was knock on your door late at night and asked you to come with them. As many as 40 million or more went quietly and most of them died in the gulags. To which Solsinizin said "if even one in ten, fought the state thugs, yes they would have died on-the-spot instead of later in the gulag, the state would not be able to take the loss of agents and tens of millions would have been spared a long painful death in the gulag. Scientia Habet Non Domus, (Knowledge Has No Home) antiguajohn

[@stevenweiss2575]

you left out the obvious money issue with Musk. The US military has now gained more control over star link in Ukraine, but of course they had to pay it. One could argue that Musk, to some degree at least, leveraged his position in order to force the government to give him more money for star link, and of course it worked.

[@lillyho2635]

Nobody talks about the fact that musk receives not only money from the Pentagon to install the spy network, but also depends on slaughter putin's & Saudi regime's money to be their enabler.

[@JanRostkowski]

The technical term is blackmail. Anyway Musk can't be trusted as he is a traitor trump supporter and trump works for Putin.

[@megana.6491]

Love your show, Al Franken! I wish you were still in the Senate. Thanks for staying engaged and enriching the zone (as opposed to flooding the zone... I guess that makes you the Anti-Bannon)

[@johnford7847]

Very interesting discussion. Thanks for sharing.

[@user-st4fj2ii2h]

great podcast, thank you

[@susang4507]

Fantastic podcast! 👍👍💖 Slava Ukraine!💖🇺🇦💖🇺🇸💖

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

Жыве Беларусь! 🤍♥🤍 Слава Украïнi! 🇺🇦 Niech żyje Polska! 🇵🇱

[@jaymacpherson8167]

I appreciate the questions and reflections on Ukraine, as the content title indicates. I appreciate that Anne tried to direct the focus back to Ukraine and Russia. The political hit portions I could do without, and I am no supporter of the Dumpster. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is already a long war, 9 years and counting.

[@albertomartinez714]

Anne Applebottom is a true voice of reason on these issues. She really gets fascism and its threat.

[@Maelli535]

Very interesting video, and the first time I've heard Anne Applebaum's voice, after reading a lot of her books. Curse Putin and ..... 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 Слава Україні! 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@NITESKYLIGHT]

You can't purchase on the open market an intelligence as sophisticated as anne's, and that's a good thing

[@awuma]

Anne has deep connections and spends time in three countries: USA, Poland and UK. She also has spent time deep in the archives of the KGB when they were open, and her understanding and knowledge are in the very first rank of students of Russia and the Kremlin.

[@westcoast_canuck1926]

Anne is the Applebaum ❤😊

[@phyllisneal8687]

Love Annie 💞😅

[@hazellove2144]

Thank you.

[@jankowalyk7301]

Great conversation.

[@BenjaminMaerz-um5bc]

SAVE US! AL FRANKEN, be our next president. If you run you will win. But don't wait, start your campaign NOW!

[@patriciaadams4171]

Worldwide, women are the great communicators.

[@kiernanist]

Thank you so very much, Al. This might not be “a great one, for a change” yuk, yuk. BUT it is absolutely your very best and most important one, bar none. I appreciate the levity and your perfect questions. And as for Anne: she couldn’t have done a better job explaining the Musk/Ukraine/Starlink events of 2022. So many people still don’t understand it. It’s important she noted “this problem is gone” because the US Pentagon fixed it. Now we have a military contract with Starshield (the new strictly military version of Starlink) which was negotiated by Gwynne Shotwell, the President & COO of SpaceX. People anxious about this should research Shotwell. I appreciated Anne’s telling of Putin’s history of seeding propaganda. I vaguely remember the bs about CIA spreading aids in India- pre internet. Anyway… I could go on and on about this episode. The two of you should do a televised version of this and get it aired on every television network in the USA. Post it on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and KZbin. Putin, Trump, Senate & House GOP, and Corporate media billionaires fear Joe Biden & Kamala Harris re-election for different reasons to be sure- but they’re demise is the only thing that will save them from: Putin: certain defeat Trump: conviction, bankruptcy, jail GOP moc’s: 2024 electoral defeat US Billionaires: paying their fair share of taxes.

[@jeanneh9742]

Can Ukraine use rats for land mines like in Cambodia? See TIME Magazine article: Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, was likely never aware of his legacy. He sniffed out more than 100 landmines and other explosives in Cambodia during his five years with the Tanzania-based international charity APOPO, allowing them to be safely removed.

[@annew1692]

Great show!

[@johnnydawson7675]

Three Cheers for Anne!

[@dsthorp]

Yes Indeed!

[@stephenarmiger8343]

I apologize for making a comment after only listening to the introduction, but the comment that this is going to be a long war was quite unsettling. Every delay in supplying Ukraine with needed weapons is paid for in blood. This does not have to be a very long war.

[@wegder]

Thanks, I don't think the Russian empire has any more right to reconstitute its empire than the supporters of the British empire.

[@ChrisPearce-jb6kw]

No one in Britain has considered trying to recreat the empire in the last 40 years but the Russian people still seem to think that they have a right to get back there empire

[@awuma]

@@ChrisPearce-jb6kw The EU project has replaced European imperialism, but in Britain the reverberations are still there, as perhaps demonstrated by Brexit.

[@patrickgilmore4602]

Thanks

[@sydgriffin7591]

"We no longer agree on the nature of reality." Houston, I think we have a problem.

[@PatriciaGoodsonpianist]

As anyone who’s ever been on a playground knows, standing up to, and perhaps punching back at a bully, will make them run away with their tail between their legs. The Russians are consummate bullies, and why we never seem to get this is anyone’s guess.

[@damonbernard2802]

I agree, the best ever!

[@brianholmes3547]

Anne, is clearly an expert on this subject, very interesting, I didn’t like Al’s sniggering reactions to some of Anne’s points.

[@awuma]

Inadvertant, I thnk.

[@d.rabbitwhite]

Listening again and I remembered that in regard to the lies, that are now labeled as fake news that Three Arrows channel has an excellent series called the fight for the republic. A tangential video essay is called a battle of lies- fake news in the great war. Interesting how relevant...in regard to the fake news angle. One thing I think interesting is the way the lack of technology for instant news was a key to the ease in lie spreading, and now it is the abundance of it that makes dissemination easy. On another topic, I want to note that I have subscribed to this channel more than once. I didn't realize that I was again unsubscribed because I listen often enough that the new vids show up in my suggestions.

[@Dachvidful]

Why don't I get to see your smiling faces? Can you record your zoom conversations or something like that? By the way this is KZbin and they do have video... I appreciate all you have done. Thanks Al. Your Friend! Dave in Milwaukee

[@earthjustice01]

Applebaum: "It's been profoundly damaging that we no longer agree on the nature of reality."

[@awuma]

I think she has read Ivan Krastev rather than John Lindsay, but she has also written strongly to condemn cancel culture. Timothy Snyder has written extensively about the deliberate confusion of reality in Russia, and those ideas apply everywhere.

[@pjohnson179]

Where is Franken's head? He seems out of touch in the first few minutes... "What are sea drones?" Then he rambles on about "negotiating" and seems to have no concept of Ukraine being motivated to fight or cease to exist. Wow. So disappointed by Franken's ignorance.

[@ghalston5641]

Me too. Thankfully Applebaum schooled him (gently).

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

Ann didnt tell us on Mastodon about this appearance. Thank god that I found it.

[@michaelwilliams7907]

Very Very Very smart lady. I’d sail under her flag any day. Very wise for being so YOUNG and so BEAUTIFUL TOO thank u from news from the front. VIVE LIBERTE VIVE Ukraine. sic semper tyrannis

[@jim2376]

Previous Putin conversation with the FSB? "Wait awhile and then arrange for Prigozhin's accidental death. Make it a spectacular accident." Not hard to imagine that conversation.

[@hapennysparrow]

❤

[@BlindSquirrel425]

Regardless of Putin’s perspective, history will credit his regime with the greatest political trick ever pulled.

[@shaiaheyes2c41]

6:30 Moskow Musk. 27:57 "It's only genocide when Hitler does it"🙄 🙈

[@QueenJante]

Genocide definition sounds like what Canada did with the native population...

[@unfixablegop]

You can't have an improvement of Russian political decisions without Russian regime change, although you can easily have a non-improvement with regime change.

[@awuma]

More likely, a change of Russia's imperial culture, which means the Russian people and not just their leaders. Think Germany and Japan.

[@davidwilson1273]

Much respect for Mrs Applebaum got none for Mr Frankenstein.

[@ghalston5641]

Al is unfortunately showing himself woefully ignorant of the detail. Too bad because as a public figure and former senator, he should have a firmer grasp on this important foreign policy issue. Starting off by calling it “the war in Ukraine” shows he has not understood that that language serves Putain’s interests by using value neutral term. And not to understand what genocide is, and that Putain launched his attack against Ukraine using explicitly genocidal language show he has not been paying close enough attention.

[@Johnnybunt]

No comment!!!!!!!!

[@annndddrre]

It's unbelievable how clueless Al Franken appears to be on this issue.

[@denillefleming2942]

Syria has done the same. Bashar al Asad has perpetrated horrors on part of his population with Russia 's help.

[@notdoneyet7785]

Can a mine field be neutralized by carpet bombing it?

[@richardcheatham9490]

All this otherwise wonderful podcast lacks is a cessation of the interviewer's cutting off/interrupting the guest's comments.

[@keyranger9749]

Al ,Trump wasn’t the president in 2014 when Russia attacked Ukraine and took over Crimea! I know you want to blame him for everything,however Obama was the one who said don’t fight back!! Nice try though!!!!

[@aawebmanagment]

Anne is great as usual; I can't say the same about Al, far from it.

[@patrickmaline4258]

this is good. re-electing senator al would be better.

[@timothybrady2749]

Excellent presentation with a superb guest. A well planned series of questions guided the discussion of the relevant and important issues. Far to easy on Obama’s failures addressing the Russian invasion of Georgia, the non-existent response Obama and Merkel had following the Crimean annexation, Obama’s weakness with ISIS, and zero response to Russian atrocities in Syria. Remember Obama sending blankets to Ukraine rather than arms? The invasion would never have happened at all but for Biden’s weakness. Biden removed sanctions on Nordstream II, withdrew U.S. Navy assets from the Black Sea, and managed a foolish and catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden could have honored the U.S. agreement made under Clinton to protect Ukraine. Chastising Trump for trying to trade arms for information on Biden is unfair, when Obama and Biden’s enormous failures are not also addressed. As a U.S. voter, I did not need Russian disinformation to inform me that the Obama open border immigration policies hurt the U.S. I didn’t need Russian disinformation to inform me that 3/4 of NATO countries were failing to meet their defense obligations, and just rely on U.S. taxpayers to provide European security. Trump was wrong in his desire to withdraw from NATO, Afghanistan, and Syria. The appropriate action should have been to fix any problems. I am an America First voter, and fully supporting Ukraine and containing Russia now IS America First!

[@awuma]

One can disagree with some of the details you present, but the big picture is exactly right!

[@timothybrady2749]

@@awuma Ms. Applebaum was a bit harsh on Trump, and I agree he could have done much more to assist Ukraine. But she gives a total pass to Obama, Biden, Merkel, and some others whose total incompetence extended the open invitation to Putin to re-establish the Russian Empire.

[@H3LLS3NT4SS4SS1N]

I liked Al Franken before this interview, and when it popped up on my suggested feed I was excited. However, he was SO annoying! Clueless about Ukraine, blatantly unfunny, dumb and/or ignorant thoughts and comments and soooo cringe! His “Ukrainian accent” and the comments that followed (“was that a good Ukrainian accent? What’s a common Ukrainian first name?) were just 🤮🤮🤮. I still think his (cowardly) retreat from politics after parasitic shills like senator gillibrand turned on him (over the ultimate nothingburger “scandal”) was a great loss for the Democratic Party, but at least there are two democratic senators there again today. His guest, on the othrer hand, was a real gem! I somehiw wasn’t familiar with her before this, but now I am very eager to hear more from her! If nothing else, in this upload he did us all a great service by introducing us to her and giving her a platform on which to speak and spread awareness.

[@jezalb2710]

Ms Appletree is good

[@davidwitzany5852]

3:53

[@earlaustin6025]

You need to help the country

[@bill5868]

I appreciate Anna on the program. The level of international or European knowledge Al projected seems lacking even for a former Senator. Maybe more homework or background study would have shown more intelligence to support the discussion.

[@magpiegirl3783]

Totally agree. First time listening to him and he was quite uninformed. My opinion is that everyone should be trying to get more information about the war Russia has inflicted on Ukraine and then the likes of Tucker Carlson and Scott Ritter won't get so much traction.

[@lopezb]

What about a connection between Prigozhin’s IRA, Cambridge Analytica, and Kushner’s Facebook manipulations?f

[@CatalystD9]

💙💛🔱🔥

[@williamwells1862]

So just do something. Anything.

[@avecezar7696]

On whose side? Is it still unknown?

[@samuelpenalosa3034]

Pls. answer truthfully, who’s winning?

[@curtisblankinship2696]

Zbigniew Brzezinski lives.

[@royjohnson366]

It's arraigning on trump's charade.

[@user-ru4iq3ss9m]

‘Counteroffensive going slower than expected’ code for it failed

[@QueenJante]

Anne Applebaum should be very careful, could become a target for the FSB

[@jillfeatherman5523]

Pretty disingenuous about Elon. “Everyone” didn’t start distributing Starlink in Ukraine. Elon was the one that sent all the them to Ukraine. He also provided the service for free for more than a year.

[@awuma]

Yes, that is worth recognising. Ukraine has been a great advert for Starlink, too, but no doubt it got too much for Elon to pay for it, especially with his new-found MAGA "X" pals niggling him.