Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Stalin, Hitler, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine | Lex Fridman Podcast

Stephen Kotkin is a historian specializing in Stalin and Soviet history. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Stephen's Website: history.princeton.edu/people/...
Stalin: 1878-1928 (Vol 1): amzn.to/3NvokpC
Stalin: 1929-1941 (Vol 2): amzn.to/3wIYqsT
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
2:19 - Putin and Stalin
13:09 - Putin vs the West
36:01 - Response to Oliver Stone
47:07 - Russian invasion of Ukraine
1:26:35 - Putin's plan for the war
1:34:33 - Henry Kissinger
1:40:28 - Nuclear war
1:51:01 - Parallels to World War II
2:13:47 - China
2:21:55 - World War III
2:29:24 - Navalny
2:33:41 - Meaning of life
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[@lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Lambda: lambdalabs.com/lex - Scale: scale.com/lex - Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil - ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free - ROKA: roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order 2:19 - Putin and Stalin 13:09 - Putin vs the West 36:01 - Response to Oliver Stone 47:07 - Russian invasion of Ukraine 1:26:35 - Putin's plan for the war 1:34:33 - Henry Kissinger 1:40:28 - Nuclear war 1:51:01 - Parallels to World War II 2:13:47 - China 2:21:55 - World War III 2:29:24 - Navalny 2:33:41 - Meaning of life

[@marcsavoie6955]

thank you for time stamps

[@TheAeroman90]

I hope you succeed in Ukraine and Russia

[@moonrakingmilksop]

Sorry, Lex. This was a weak guest and a weak interview. But hey! You have great guests too and do great interviews too! No one bats a thousand!

[@craigscott2315]

NATO's invasion of the slavic peoples lands! It isn't the first second of third time the past thousand years! Not overly interested in the opinions of american people who have advocated the murder of 60 million babies! Not least devastated numerous regions and peoples across the planet! Britain and the u.s. flooded china with cheep rice driving local producers out of business!

[@matthewgrannan1694]

i no b

[@blakesanders4085]

I think this complement could be taken the wrong way, but these interviews remind me of Charlie Rose. Minimalist studio, no distractions, interesting guests, calm delivery of thoughtful questions. Lex is definitely filling a space that needs to be filled. Well done

[@yoseidman4166]

Yes I always tell people. Lex took over the important space left by CR

[@gustavogonzalez8303]

Let's hope Lex doesn't let us down with a scandal like CR. I agree with you: lex is great!

[@steveot]

All I can say is "You got Punked" Lex and worse than that You did NO homework at all. There are dozens of lies that he told you, knowing that by stroking your ego, he would get away with it. You Lex was a lamb that was led to slaughter. Willingly.

[@warrens.5933]

I think it's a great complement. Charlie was definitely a top-tier interviewer. I only had public access growing up so he was the first to expose me to long form interviews, which was truly some of the most wholesome content Public TV had to offer. Then it was Rogan who exposed me to podcasts. Then Lex, who I think Is currently carrying the torch

[@auto51]

I always loathed Charlie Rose. He had great great guests but he always butted in to his guests answers, never letting them answer fully, so irritating! What an ego that man had. Lex never does that…ever. Great set yes, so stylish.

[@claudiomarinangeli2360]

Lex, plese have one more interview with Stephen Kotkin now (Sep 2022). I think it'd be so interesting to see his evolved view few more months in the war.

[@scottdavis4439]

For sure!!!

[@collinsoluoch5520]

Exactly

[@paulinalcoser2984]

Yes!

[@ShahidKhan-eq1gx]

I totally agree and I find Kotkin really professional, informative and interesting

[@ldhorricks]

yes please especially what he thinks of Putin's deranged speech on Red Square recently

[@bevanabrey7865]

Mearsheimer debating Kotkin would be pretty interesting. Perhaps with Oliver Stone and Neil Ferguson acting as their respective wingmen. Then we'll get Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey Sachs to do a post-debate analysis. Okay, now I'm just getting silly.

[@lifesquandered]

I'm here for it 🍿

[@zulutda1]

Thank you for offering in depth interviews that challenge and help broaden my mental abilities.

[@cuttysark57]

Would be very interesting to hear a conversation between Mearsheimer and Kotkin.

[@mariasaraalvarado8058]

Yes, it will be interesting

[@havanasyndrome3024]

The CIA shill Kotkin would never agree to it.

[@AvanaVana]

Mearsheimer is a stooge and a false intellectual who would be utterly destroyed by Kotkin’s vast expertise and rigor.

[@zachhoward9099]

@@AvanaVana lol doubtful

[@janespring2277]

Thank you for such an interesting discussion from two men who understands how important history is as a way to make better decisions in the future.

[@hanneoustrup1628]

As an 80 years old Dane living in Denmark on a small Island called Fejoe, I am trilled to listen to this interwiev. IT gives me an outwiev og the greater political situation. I am indeed thankful for this posibily.

[@reddeercanoe]

Yes as a 70 year old Canadian living in the sticks I greatly enjoy the internet that brings me these wonderful lectures!

[@MarsLonsen]

skål, kamelåså!

[@SleazyMouse]

mkay

[@HowardRoark5150]

Hello Hanna!

[@mathieutyler8745]

it's not healthy to make up stories for likes and responses in the comment section on KZbin

[@asdfasd95]

Now I'd love to see a debate between Oliver Stone and Stephen Kotkin mediated by you, Lex! That would be very insightful. I feel like both of them come from a completely different factual understanding and it would be good to clarify what's correct and what's not. If I have to be honest, Kotkin was very easy on what the US government has done and glossed over a lot of very suspicious things. The comments about NATO being defensive could be true on paper, but that's not what NATO's done (Yugoslavia? Of course, I'm not debating whether it was morally right or wrong, just pointing out that NATO was the aggressor there. There was no defensive cause for action on NATO's side and not to mention that they did bomb civilians there which has never been fully investigated to the point of prosecution). The mentions about Syria being Russia's fault when the US was heavily involved, all the things in the Middle East which the US has done and so on. The whole thing about democratic countries where Russia has to become like Monaco or Austria, etc. - fair enough, but doesn't the US also need to do that? They've always wanted to be treated a bit special, a bit like the UK. It felt like Stephen has a much better knowledge of the written facts, but they haven't been critically analysed. On paper, US is a saint, in reality they are not. A lot of the unwritten history is why there is so much controversy. Of course, on the other hand, Stone was a lot easier on Russia and a lot more critical of the US. It feels like having both guests simultaneously would lead to a very, very fascinating debate on the topic. Both interviews were amazing in their own right though! Big, big props, this was extremely educational!

[@OTEAROA]

Totally 👍

[@SDNickyRocks]

Or Col. MacGregor

[@edwardbeadle4514]

​@@SDNickyRocks Oliver Stone is a somewhat insightful individual. MacGregor on the other hand is a propagandist that pulls facts out of thin air ala. Tucker Carlson; nothing to be learned from listening to him.

[@tfratello]

better to have Professors John Mearsheimer and/or Jeffrey Sachs

[@laxiton]

Was looking for this type of comment. He just takes some point as obviously truthful from one side and while a lot of people feel they are debatable. A lot of the things he blames Russia can be said about US/NATO as well... I am not surprised he is popular in leftist circles. I do agree with @tfratello that John Mearsheimer might be a better match perhaps if they would go into the nitty gritty details. @lexfridman please please make it happen

[@martinbull7541]

I don't mind this podcast but I really wish KZbin would stop putting him as the next in line on autoplay every God damn time

[@Yuhe1026]

Me, a Chinese, listening to him talking about China at 1 AM in the morning. I've watched all your clips about China and communism

[@teddybearroosevelt1847]

Good thing you’re trying to form a well balanced picture of the history of your country. Commendable

[@TheLAZYcc]

Kotkin sounds extremely Agnorant. 無禮和無知, 可笑又可悲I bet he cannot understand any Chinese but love to make judgments on China. May be he cannot understand any Russian too…..

[@gto433]

Its simple, east bad, west good. Orange man bad , sleepy man good.

[@DeathZeroTolerance]

TBH, this guys only good take on China is the most obvious, the housing bubble...but let's be real, in the US, median homeprices/median income is higher than it was during 2008...it's not like we're doing much better. I agree with CCP reigning in their technology sector. Jack Ma is no Elon Musk, he's a foolish narcissist that would have destroyed the country. I'm sure CCP was watching how google/ms/twitter/fb were breaking the general consensus of Americans and rule of law and said FUCK THAT! "Tibet is Ukraine, Xinjiang is Ukraine, Hong Kong is Ukraine". Lol well in that case Iraq is Ukraine, Afghanistan is Ukraine, Ukraine is Ukraine....this guy's Western bias is nearly unbearable. World seems awfully fragile at the moment...impossible global debt spiral, record global energy crisis, and a potential for nuclear war over energy/resources....LOVE HOPE PEACE

[@TheLAZYcc]

Old man good

[@austinbowling3590]

Having an interview with Stephen Kotkin and Oliver Stone to discuss Russia in such a short time period is a major achievement. I'm not sure exactly how to put it, but it can't be understated just how much insight we received in such a short time period.

[@MattAngiono]

It's good, but really he needs them both in the same room.... Just doing one interview and then another doesn't really allow the challenging of ideas that would be ideal.... I think Scott Ritter should also be in the room for that discussion, because I just see so many assumptions being made here, and his perspective is also highly enlightening

[@felicisimomalinao698]

A historian should NOT abuse the RAPE METAPHOR - it is AD HOMENEM. Historians should stick to facts - Kotkin is a bad historian

[@bergssprangare]

patronising intelligentia is the worst intelligentia..He would love it under Stalin

[@stickjohnny]

I agree with you in part but if you get two extreme shills on opposite sides of the spectrum most of what you get is lies and BS.

[@Ashdad99]

Lex very rarely pushes back, instead he says let me play devils advocate or something like that. I don't know kotkin's work so I can't know where he's biased or not, but I do know Oliver Stones work and how much real life in person digging goes into a project. Kotkin seems like he doesn't want to put the US on the hook for any of whats happening now, and actually makes it sound like we've been great to russia, when I know from my own research that is so far from the truth. I feel lex doesn't want to offend his guests, but on rogan he told people to check out Oliver Stones work and that goes against kotkin. By the way im no fan of Putin, I just know how deplorable the US is and what they've been doing to russia for 3/4 of a century

[@jeremyswanson1108]

This guy has a real ominous tone. Very informative. Loves to say "Lex"... i mean a LOT. Every 30 seconds or so.

[@saoirse_mavourneen]

Yes, I found the way he constantly said Lex, combined with his tone, a bit off and slightly creepy.

[@kevinmcinerney1959]

Stephen Kotkin is a master of communication. In general he is being affectionate and fatherly by addressing him by his first name, talking to a younger man, Where he talks about Stone and Mearsheimer, he is drawing himself up, and asserting his knowledge and authority. And his emotional response to what he sees as a bogus claim. I have seen him lecturing. When his students ask him questions, he thinks for a moment and then says "Great question........what do YOU think?". He then listens respectfully, and ties together the student's thoughts with his own. I deeply admire him.

[@dangin8811]

@@kevinmcinerney1959 he's an intellectual pigmy, nothing impressive about him, except, I suppose for his manner of expression which could give the impression that he is smart.

[@bellaluna730]

@@kevinmcinerney1959yes but it still sounds condescending as though he is the father of wisdom and Lex is the naive child.

[@kevinmcinerney1959]

@@bellaluna730 I'd stand by my description. Take this exchange Kotkin "Let's take that point that you just raised which is a deep and fundamental point, and I think you for that" Fridman "Do you guys hear that? I think that was a compliment.." Kotkin "Lex. I'm sitting here in front of you" Fridman "It's an honor" Kotkin "And it's a mutual honor" I think that shows more than token respect to Fridman. Kotkin has appeared twice on this forum. I

[@dfostar6971]

Love your interviews. Can you do another one with him again soon?

[@rivertowers520]

Take a drink every time Stephen says “Lex”. You’ll have a 2-day hangover.

[@arkytitan]

And you know, Chris, you are very right about it, Chris.

[@renopro3639]

Not if you are Russian

[@PeterArthurMartin]

@@renopro3639 LOL

[@veerchand8968]

more like die of alcohol poisoning halfway through

[@syon600]

@ Chris No sweeter sound than your name. How to win friends and influence Dale carnegie, iirc

[@wendyfay16]

Has this guest returned since this podcast? I'd love to hear his take on Putin and Ukraine now!

[@Realist369]

👍and what about today?

[@Neauxluh]

And what about today lol

[@Realist369]

@@Neauxluh do you live under a rock? It’s boys and girls against the #1 army in the world .Total defeat and capitulation is inevitable

[@ghost_1153]

Well i like to hear him now talk about a diminishing weak russia that makes us (the west) look like dumbasses after we spent all this money in aid and we made all these speeches just for it to have no effect.

[@juancavacch1870]

I would like to see him now saying that Russia ran put of ammo, Putin has seven Parkinsons, the Russians are fighting with shovels, the Russian economy is in "tatters" and the West is doing great, because you now, it is the West😅

[@Patrick17-]

" 26:46 you cool with that?" those statements about the precursor actions to the cold war were brilliant. this guys geopolitical knowledge is of the charts.

[@charles_cody]

Would love to heard if SK has any changed options since his last interview with Lex.

[@robb1324]

I'm glad Joe Pesci became a historian. He's a damn good one now!

[@Djsmt2250]

Yep his face interface kept coming up when I was listening to it in Spotify 😆

[@megamillionfreak]

Kot is a Russia-hating ju. What else is new? His kind has designs on America, too. We’re being invaded and replaced as we speak.

[@bricktopmedic]

Am I a Historian to you? Do I look Historical to you?

[@djbabbotstown]

He is but he’s lacking on his current events a bit. Russia has depleted a huge percentage of NATO arms passed on to UKR and pretty much annihilated Ukraines armour, artillery, airforce, navy. The largest army in Europe by a distance in February. They’ve done it with heavy losses but less than Ukraine. And here a very interesting bit. Their manpower has been roughly equivalent to Ukrainian. Approx 200k. Even though they had a lot more to throw from standing forces. What ever war they are fighting isn’t the projected, laser guided, always own the air, can’t politically stomach losses war America has hogtied its forces into. The goal are clear. Maybe brutal. And it seems a mix of the first war (artillery is still king), the second war (fast mechanised armour spears for breakthrough and low level combat air support). And then I think the unpredicted bit. Overwhelming intermediate ballistic missiles rather than complete air dominance. Behind the media bullshit. Europe and Americas military doctrinal planners are watching with great curiosity. And probably respect. And not a fuck ton of civilians dead which always seem to be an unintended consequence of American doctrine. Which will sacrifice 500 brown skins accidentally killed if it saves a few GIs. You lose the people as soon as you win the war. Now. The question is. How these strategies would match up when they face real foes. Like each other. Very hard to know. Of it comes down to willingness of men to die. In great numbers? Just take a look at American internal political and cultural pulse. Yanks hate each other more than anyone else.

[@jacoreyjones2059]

@robb1324 I went to the comments just to see if anyone else noticed 😂😂

[@317hyw]

It took me 11 hours to do the math but he said “Lex” more than any other guest combined 🤯

[@rufex2001]

Mob tactics. They constanty remind you they know who you are... Already used it in Casino...

[@TheKalenj]

The way he talks is so hard to listen to

[@alexdod606]

clasic condescending

[@tobiassander3995]

This is your main takeaway? Pathetic.

[@ryangarvey9325]

@@alexdod606 saying the name of the person you're speaking to isn't condescending

[@howardtith160]

Great insight and summary by Stephen Kotkin! Please bring him back to do an update, as a year has passed. Thank you Lex.

[@JLMtime]

WHAT THIS MAN IS SAYING IS WRONG china is giving Russia everything they need he is full of crap

[@spudwesth]

Kotkin lies.

[@chookachooka2985]

@@spudwesth😂ok

[@vgames6792]

sure if you are into braindead propaganda BS 🤡🤡🤡

[@hughbarr8408]

What head space do you inhabit? Rabid hatred of Putin and Russia? Ah well, you are being given a very good lesson. Now watch the West collapse now the truth is emerging.

[@edhodapp6465]

Lex - I have to admit, I find some of the things you say annoying, but this interview has made me realize annoying is good. This is the best discussion with Stephen Kotkin I have heard. You are making Mr. Kotkin talk outside of his usual deferential treatment and responses, and I am learning a lot as a result. I guess I’ll have to listen to the Oliver Stone one now - at least until I get ready to hurl a shoe at my TV… :D When you express despair on LinkedIn, please hang in there. In my personal experience, I find despair to be mostly a disease of youth. It will improve. Thanks!

[@lucaspedrajas5622]

this man's way of expressing himself is amazing, the cadence of his words is full of security

[@megamillionfreak]

He’s a Russia-hating Ju. What else is new? His hatred keeps him on his goal.

[@michaeldelisieux]

Pure wisdom!

[@jorgemarbur]

But he talks a lot of nonsense. Everything be mentions can be applied to the USA. To start with, the USA is such an imperialist country that it is the only to drop atomic bombs on foreign soil while thousands of American diabetics inject with insulin for dogs. Regards from Spain!

[@simplicius11]

A clown.

[@afriedli]

He's an imbecile who expresses himself well. Almost everything he says is complete nonsense, which is clear to anyone with a critical faculty. Increasingly, you don't even need a critical faculty - merely eyes to observe the unfolding fiasco across every domain that is developing with respect to the war in Ukraine. When you are trying to solve a problem it helps if your understanding has some connection with reality. Kotkin's has none.

[@GoatMeal66]

Having watched the Oli Stone interview, I have to say I really appreciate the diverse perspectives you have on the show, Lex. Great stuff

[@Evghenios79]

fully agree, i've watched both i agree with some of the points each made and disagree with some, having both viewpoints like that , allows for a better understanding as well as a more clear perspective of everything going on. I hope he manages to get an interview with Putin as well and perhaps even Biden

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

By diverse, you mean Kotkin's drivel about some imaginary friendliness of the Western countries towards Russia, and Trump being misled by Putin. This guy is as an unbalanced propagandist as they come.

[@tommck2386]

Oliver Stones opinions about Ukraine was shocking. Im tired of A-list actors and directors trying to pontificate to the masses. I have always enjoyed Oliver Stones movies, and enjoy watching many a fine actor im a movie. But please can they just start sticking to what they know

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

@@tommck2386 So after many years, the first time Stone says something you don't like, you don't trust him? The Wall Street was a masterpiece, particularly the Teldar Paper speech. Stone obviously knows his stuff. Why don't you trust him now?

[@giulio9476]

I don't think he have done a really good job, an interviewer should be equal to everyone, and lex pushed back a lot more here than in the Oliver podcast

[@glambor1]

very educational interview👍👏👏👏👏 not for me (that part about USSR and E-Europe), but for majority of westerners/Americans, who are just not aware of history of other countries, especially of those on North/East side of the Europe.

[@carolineabraham1520]

Thanks again Alexander for your scholarship as well as the news

[@TimKyoutube]

Heartfelt intro. I feel but a piece of that tracing my ancestry that has history in both countries. I lived in Moscow for a year and visited 3 weeks in Kiev. I too have a heart for both and support your quest. Godspeed Lex.

[@truetech4158]

Violence really produces afterlives, or stockholm syndrome says it does?

[@MrArchibaldGoodwin]

It’s “Kyiv” not Kiev.

[@purewhiteness3355]

I lived in Moscow all my life and I have relatives in Kharkov. This war has seriously fucked me up. Although it did open my eyes on a whole lot. I really hope I get to meet Lex

[@truetech4158]

@@purewhiteness3355 Were you raised to pretend that violence produces afterlives? When black people were forced to walk the plank in the middle of a ocean of pure manipulative sociopathy on the way to the land of the fee, were you raised to pretend that those drowning and shark attack victims went to a happyland in the sky like putin and the pope says is what happens to the victims? Following the olde money?

[@truetech4158]

@UCmRrggd5UEe6yt7x59Chj-g I didnt suggest your family owned slaves. I just asked you if your family moreless likes to pretend that violence and homelessness frostbite and starvation and drownings and shark attacks produce afterlives, as is what medically untreated stockholm syndrome would suggest, if you do like to pretend that the pope is honest and putin isnt really a manipulative sociopath. Following the political arena debate evading olde money more accurately now? Do you think the victims of putin's sociopathic violent attack on a neighboring country, magically floated off to a happyland in the sky that the pope says is really what happens? Can you see how stockholm syndrome works on cognitively dissonant types of people who have been affected by exposure to violence and intimidation of it? Would you vote for a very caring atheist in russia, one that legalized weed even?

[@thefablesphere]

WHY DOES YOUR CHANNEL AUTOPLAY!!!!!!

[@sebastianp3115]

It would be interesting to see the claims made and analysis offered by Kotkin reviewed a year later for accuracy. Not sure many would stand up favourably

[@ramonemiliochaconperdomo7225]

For example?

[@snarveien1853]

Kotkin needs to debate Jeffrey Sachs on West's ḧelp" on Russia. If I listen to Jeffrey Sachs, who were involved with US dealings with Russia right after Soviet Collapse, those "help" were insincere & half-baked. I believe Jeffrey Sachs over Kotkin. Those points about Russia economy & need for western tech did not happen. I don't agree with imperialistic Putin. I would go for John Mearsheimer, realist IR scholar over Kotkin

[@gMan-kx3zy]

Barely anything would…he described zelensky in an almost churchillian way…now its clear zelensky is a drugged up, corrupt actor who was chosen western countries to play the propaganda role snd take instructions…history has revealed kotkins bias and he should be discounted as a serious historian

[@dopeboyvid8988]

I read both of his books on Stalin since the last podcast. Huge fan of Kotkin!

[@666steinRamm]

It's really cool when somebody who ACTUALLY knows Russian history talks about Russia

[@larrylucid5502]

Too bad his reply to Oliver Stone is beyound shallow and obtuse. He doesnt seem stupid enough to really believe what hes saying, which can only mean hes renting his opinion to the train of western propaganda.

[@markb8468]

Same here. He's very insightful and nuanced.

[@RR-et6zp]

What did you learn about him?

[@keithremedy]

@@markb8468 he’s too much of a statist though

[@missoliya]

Would have been very interesting if Lex could interview John Mearsheimer on this subject as well.

[@steveogle3679]

Never going to happen. To much truth to take on this issue.

[@larrytennant4209]

In a way, I think it is unnecessary... there is so much material already out there from Mearsheimer. 🤔

[@UTubeISphere]

@@johnsalamito6212 Cohen (1938-2020) is no longer, but I agree that it would be interesting.

[@rod9829]

@@steveogle3679 lol

[@razvanmazilu6284]

Mearsheimer is full of shit on the subject of Russia.

[@TheMeaningofHaste]

It's high time mr Kotkin came back to the show! It would be very informative to hear his opinion on the ongoing war and the latest developments.

[@annuki8795]

Stanislav Petrov was a lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Air Defense Forces who became known as "the man who saved the world from nuclear war" for his role in a 1983 Soviet nuclear false alarm incident

[@kwasik41]

Listening this podcast from Eastern Poland, 20 km from Belarusian border, working around my house. Althoug I respect mr Stone work, I was little concerned about his views of Rusian lidership. From what I have lerned about history of the World and study geopolitics, my view is most similar to mr. Stephen Kotkin have said in Your podcast. Thank You. Whish Yu all the best. Keep up the good work. Never stop exploring.

[@suspendedtwice4sayingrasis261]

I'm Romanian and I'm well aware of my country's rather "complicated" past with Russia and I also fully agree with Stephen here. I tried listening to Oliver Stone and his views with an open mind, out of respect for his achievements, but I had to close the podcast after less than 1 hour because I was getting angrier with every bullshit argument and justification he was coming up with. But I guess it's common for otherwise intelligent and well-educated people to have some wacky and irrational beliefs...

[@SergeyPashchenko]

Gay boys

[@suspendedtwice4sayingrasis261]

@@SergeyPashchenko Look who's talking. 😄

[@bobbarista]

So you wanted to listen someone who agrees with you completely. You remind me of Stalin then haha

[@antypoliticobumbum]

@@SergeyPashchenko youre russian, and thats enough, i dont have to call you gay or anything else, because youre russian. hahahahaa

[@alexusnag]

Thank you, Lex, for bringing Kotkin after Stone.

[@nicolasdelaforge7420]

I agree- both of them.

[@Serbian1985]

Kotkin is a pathetic nwo shill. Stone is 100% correct

[@Serbian1985]

“ Truman administration deserves credit for standing up to stalin regime “ Yea and also dropping 2 atomic bombs murdering millions of innocent civilians. This guy is a disgrace and a fraud. Stone owns him

[@slartybarfastb3648]

Someone needed to counterbalance Stone.

[@MadIvano]

Stone should be arrested.

[@hawaiianwood4114]

Anyone know where to get real news we’re not fed constantly

[@rschloch]

12:50 i am confused. Did Putin say the „retreat from Warsaw“ was a great tragedy?!? Can someone link me info?

[@billpercy6354]

Lex I’m so glad that you allowed Stephen the time to fully develop his arguments, and Stephen, thank you for the compassion and logic.

[@Belleville197]

LOL !!

[@JoeKenn51]

Well said sir!

[@Nik-jq4tx]

Mr. Kotkin, why are you hiding your birthplace? Were you born in the Soviet Union? Btw Russia is already winning the war in Ukraine and the USA is loosing its dollar system and its superpower status! You are an old cold war warrier and a man of the past. You have lost, too.

[@slobodangrasic5649]

@@Nik-jq4tx Quite right.

[@emailofjamesw]

@@Nik-jq4tx how does birthplace have anything to do with what someone has to say. Also, 1 flagship cruiser and 11 generals may beg to differ

[@longdcikbill3528]

We love you too, Lex. You’re the voice of a generation. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let anyone or anything ever hold you back. Please be safe on your travels. The people need you.

[@freyawildesciencefictionau8156]

The voice of all the generations listening to him right now. Boomers, Silent Gens, Genx, millennials, everyone interested. No one age group has a corner of the market on good listening. :)

[@lukecockburn1140]

Voice of a generation? Is that specific to English speaking countries? & What is it he has said & Why do you think he speaks for a generation of people?

[@longdcikbill3528]

@@lukecockburn1140 relax man. Too early for your bs. Go to work or something

[@lukecockburn1140]

@@longdcikbill3528 @LongDcikBill I'm calm I haven't indicated any different You said something I'm asking questions to understand your perspective If that was not a shallow statement you should be able to answer it was only 2 fairly simple questions & not hateful & I'm not going to discuss what I do or what I'm doing But I don't know why you think you should have any influence over what I do

[@longdcikbill3528]

@@lukecockburn1140 awe. You’re A little feisty this morning. Why so defensive. Why so angry. Relax bud, life isn’t that bad. But also if you think I feel the need to explain myself to you, you’re sadly mistaken.

[@Patrick17-]

its like getting a wonderfully informative lecture of Harry before his midnight raid with Marv, on Kevins house

[@ulfsoderberg2581]

Can you have on Kotkin and Mearsheimer, together. Would be interesting.

[@chukwuebukakingsley8126]

Have always thought so too. A debate between them would be amazing.

[@realspokengermanwithtomek3441]

Thank you for putting out Stones and Kotkins interviews on this topic. Greetings from Germany!

[@ruinerblodsinn6648]

Wenn man sowas mal im öffentlichen Fernsehen erleben dürfte…

[@derduebel]

​@@ruinerblodsinn6648 PBS ist öffentlich rechtlich. Leider kommt zu Zeiten, in denen der Duchschnitt des deutschen Publikum TV schaut, meist Unfug und für interessante Sendungen muss man Schlaf opfern. Was sagt dies über das Publikum aus?

[@elymasmoore2629]

Downright incredible conversation. From just listening to Stephen, I know that his books are fantastic reads. His ability to explain complex geopolitical machinations (Putin’s calculations for continuing the war) was so clear and concise that a child could understand it.

[@neight123]

100% agree. Well said.

[@RavenThePlayer]

@@neight123 very interesting, not sure I would call this a conversation, though. Was 99% one sided.

[@jeffrygriffith3811]

...or an average intelligent 62 year old that is hungry for these doses of knowledgable insight.

[@altergreenhorn]

lool you must smoke the same shit as this dude because he is babling a lot like 15:00 Navalyni is the second most important person in russia? wtf ! this was just a start of his babling.

[@carllennen3520]

Oh please, it was banal assertion after banal assertion with no corraborative back up for said banal assertions. That's called "propaganda". This is just the typical New York, cosmopolitan, Jewish, antiRussian,pretentious, BS we've listened to for 40 years. All fluff, no substance.

[@Info.isfree.openmind]

Even if I disagree with this man’s politics or viewpoints, from time to time, he’s a brave man in search of answers, and a true understanding the history, the identity of this world. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤

[@akimdlanglois]

imagine Lex starts saying Stephen's name every other sentence as well

[@Eli-Eizen]

because Stephen teaching Lex boy what reality is but not some fantasy world of Lex hot bath.

[@ralfy666]

my instinct says people who say the others name every other sentence are often full of shit :D

[@ryangarvey9325]

@@ralfy666 pretty foolish and insecure of you. guess you weren’t paying attention then

[@runek100]

@@ralfy666 it is just way he talk, it is same like Joey diaz always says Joe Rogan. No meaning behind it

[@WaterproofingUSA]

Thank you Lex for interviewing professor Stephen Kotkin. I could not believe that I can hear someday on internet such a thoughtful analyzes and humanistic opinions. People should listen to historians.

[@captainchokdee1039]

But 1 month on, his stance is 180 degrees incorrect.

[@bogdanryabyshchuk4488]

@@captainchokdee1039, Lex’s or Kotkin’s?

[@captainchokdee1039]

@@bogdanryabyshchuk4488 kotkin. He is so wrong on Ukraine situation

[@bogdanryabyshchuk4488]

@@captainchokdee1039, what happened in the month since the interview? Also, if something is 180 incorrect, doesn’t it make it correct 🤔

[@origintrackz5235]

@@bogdanryabyshchuk4488 I keep reading people saying hes wrong, so i must clearly be missing something myself. personally i think he hit the head on the nail!

[@SDNickyRocks]

I would be interested in another interview reviewing the past year.

[@jb1818.]

Can i ask why western media before the war said so much about fascist factions in Ukraine I.E Azov unit etc but now they say there's no such thing. Can anyone ever be truthful because i don't understand that.

[@OurNewestMember]

Well you have a small-ish group of people who pretty much have their story in lock step. Ask yourself, what might a small-ish group of people gain by synchronizing their story? What are the probable outcome of adopting the story? That should give some indication of why some people might share a story. And sometimes that story is wrong. Anyway, participants to the story have different reasons for telling it -- people in news, academics, war companies, government executives.... Each gains something different from that story. They can fit in (especially in polite society), make profits, exercise "emergency" powers, etc. that's the hopeful prize if they can achieve the outcome of their story -- more war. And if the story needs to ignore what was reported about Ukraine from before 2022 to be effective, then that is the story to tell.

[@TheSantino89]

Stephen Kotkin's voice has something of Joe Pesci to it and I really like it. It was a great interview! Greetings from Germany

[@Dunkleosteus3691]

But I hope you notice, he's aware of that and his later interviews feature his modified speaking voice. Still, I noticed the "Joe Pesci" voice early on and found it to be funny - not great for a very serious and intelligent man.

[@marvelousmike5488]

I was thinking Joe Pesci during the whole interview so I’m glad it wasn’t just me. 😊. Doesn’t reduce my enormous respect for his knowledge and insight of history. I love listening to interviews of this guy.

[@trentw.3566]

Lol. I said the.same thing. I thought Meyer Lansky wandered into the studio. Some mob character....

[@petar4002]

Don't tell me you fell for this propaganda.

[@trentw.3566]

@@petar4002 Some, not all. No one is perfect.

[@stevedewitt5214]

Your fusion of humility, compassion and sensitivity is evolving the phenomena of podcast interviewing. It’s attuned to a global intellectual zeitgeist. Compulsive listening every time. This interview is another treasure: nearly three hours of Kotkin’s acute analysis and insight. We might not agree with everything he says but his knowledge imparted to us - for free - is priceless. The same can be said of many of your guests. Lex, do not underestimate the contribution your podcasts are making across the globe. For this we are hugely appreciative. Your emotional investment in Ukraine - Russia is particularly heart-wrenching. We implore you to stay safe as you travel both countries, and we understand your desire to embark on this journey. Trust you will find what you’re searching for and give support to those you visit. Ultimately, we look forward to your return, your insights and your continued expansion of our knowledge via your interviews. I write from Africa and end off with an ancient farewell that we say to a friend when departing: “Walk gently. Walk in peace.”

[@markb8468]

I couldn't agree more Steven! Well said. Lex is doing great work with these. And they DO make a difference.

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

Is it? It is just tailored to the audience wishing to buy his product. Other than that, he is outstandingly biased

[@compassioncampaigner728]

Who is this guy, Steve? Startlingly articulate, cohesive, well crafted thoughts, and ending with a wonderful emotion. Beautifully done, Steve. Greetings from St Pete in FL.

[@markb8468]

@@gdiwolverinemale2745 what's the title of book? I'd like to hear your analysis.

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

@@markb8468 Try "Historical Legacies of Communism in Russia and Eastern Europe". Not that I know what's in it. Today, there are ten times more communists in America than in Russia, so I am not even sure what is the purpose of writing such crap

[@blehoo1]

I want to see Kotkin v Mearsheimer in a one off bout for the heavy weight champion of the geopolitical debating world. Please - someone make this happen!

[@laxiton]

Yes

[@jills3291]

Just subscribed to your podcast a d love it…I realize this episode was a year ago…I hope Stephen Kotkin has changed his views about Ukraine war

[@martijnhendriks6659]

This has to be one of the most interesting geopolitical podcasts I have seen in a long time. Thank you Lex.

[@afriedli]

My expectation when watching this discussion is that Kotkin's remarks were not going to age well (i.e. he was going to be proved wrong about everything). However, I did not expect this to be apparent so soon. Being interesting and wrong is completely worthless. Indeed, it is worse that worthless because it serves to mislead. The thoughtless idiociy being spread by Kotkin ad others of his ilk is going to cost Ukrainians very dearly in pain and misery.

[@MrCyaltrbye]

He literally explains alternate possibilities when presenting information, but I’ll remember your comment and see how IT ages. Also, as an aside, strongly disagree about “being interesting and wrong” is worthless. Expands your universe of thought

[@afriedli]

@@MrCyaltrbye Putting a gun against your head and pulling the trigger is interesting, but dumb. Try it and see how well it "expands your universe of thought." If you do dumb shit in the realm of foreign policy, it may lead to war. If you then do dumb shit in the conduct of that war, you may end up dead. I suppose if you are dumb enough to make these blunders, you are probably also dumb enough to call them 'thought-expanding.' Of course, in a sense you are right: the kind of dumb shit that Kotkin comes out with has no consequences for him, and so could be considered 'thought-expanding.' However, that is to miss the rather important point that it's dumb shit. Leaving aside logical and empirical considerations, there is also a question of morality. When the topic under consideration concerns matters of life and death, you really should treat it with greater seriousness than the intellectual equivalent of masturbation.

[@afriedli]

@@ahmedabdullahi8180 You illustrate perfectly the problem with this interview: people come away after watching it believing there is a Russian Federation war on Ukraine. This is about as accurate as describing the American civil war as round two of the War of Independence against the British. In some respects it is a plausible definition, except in every important respect. Kotkin's understanding is like walking into a fairground hall of mirrors where everything is upside down, or fatter than it should be, or thinner, or receding into the distance, or looming over you. Any analysis is as good as the conclusions you can draw from it, and thus the forecasts you can make. But events in Ukraine and globally are not going in the expected direction. He reminds me of the geniuses before the Iraq war about whom it would be fair to say that everything they insisted couldn't happen did happen, and nothing they said would happen actually did. However, this makes Catkin quite useful as a heuristic: whatever he says, believe the opposite and you won't be far off.

[@afriedli]

@@ahmedabdullahi8180 You are mostly missing 8+ million Ukrainians who are ethnic Russians, the failed state that has existed since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, external influence amounting to interference, the abandonment of the Westphalia principles by Germany in the Balkans, with the inevitable wars that resulted, the same policy directed towards Ukraine through the EU, and the civil war that has been raging there for nearly a decade that was quietly ignored by the same parties who now express outrage about the current round in essentially the same conflict. What you miss is that there has not been a transition from a state of peace to a state of war in recent months, but merely from one state of war to another state of war. Furthermore, however painful, there is more chance of it ending peacefully since the recent Russian intervention than there was a few months ago. What is also missed is the global escalation of this conflict 'on principle' by the same powers that have hitherto demonstrated a complete absence of principle, and those who will bear the cost of this global escalation - namely, those who are most economically vulnerable - in the West and elsewhere. Not understanding this context is to understand nothing, which I'm afraid is rather Kotkin's condition.

[@TheBruntje]

I would love to see a debate between Professor Kotkin and Professor Mearsheimer

[@rap3208]

This kptkin guy will be demolished.

[@amandacollyer645]

Ohhhh, good one.

[@dannyadzic3335]

Yes both are extremely biased

[@philavise6607]

@@dannyadzic3335 It would be a great debate because they both make good factual points for the side they're speaking on. Not because they're extremely biased. We see extremely biased people in the news every day lol.

[@youtubeoppressivecensorshi8047]

Saying we should do conscription military is stupid . Less motivated troops and we make us less likely to defend ourselves . This guy says we should wait until we are invaded to fight back. We should have done no fly zone in Ukraine but joe Biden didn’t . Putin smells weakness like a shark

[@hamburgerjoe4401]

After seeing this podcast I went back and watched a lot of other lectures by Stephen Kotkin. He's not always this concise, but wow he's good here.

[@clairebaum]

Tha was a wonderful lecture.Thank you so much

[@AHowardAz]

a week full of interviews of Stephen and Victor Davis Hanson would be a perfect week for me. Let's do Victor next, Lex!!

[@stephenbrody2717]

Wow one of the most intellectually driven people I have heard speak about history. His choice of words when speaking was mesmerizing. I love this guy. Lex another great interview. Lex keeps getting great guests. Lex be safe on your travels.

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

I like Victor Davis Hanson also, but he is more folksy, drawing on his rural background and links to blue collar attitudes.

[@godless-clump-of-cells]

Why don't you just marry him, then? Just kidding.

[@Elnegro..]

Yeah he was good in the history bit, everything else such as his god awful analogy was god awful.

[@user-jx5wl6sw3d]

Stephen Kotkin got a few things wrong because real power isn’t just controlling what happens but controlling what people think about what happens fortunately for us Kotkin is not in that position its just really his spin

[@muddlerminnow]

This is fucking terrifying. The idea that this dude should be respected for anything is crazy. Where he's not just speculating wildly, he's straight up lying. If this is the crazy level to which these people will lie and manipulate narratives about shit that is happening now that we can see with our eyes, imagine the historical shit that was lied about to this degree or even worse because there was no internet to hold them accountable back then.

[@OurNewestMember]

Remember the scene in the movie divergent where several hundred/thousand people were under some kind of mind control but like maybe three of them were actually cognizant? That's what this comment section is like. Anyway, in that movie one or 2 of the 3 aware were visibly distraught and forcibly removed from the group....

[@janedoe1721]

"All war is based on miscalculation, but not everybody is punished for their miscalculation"

[@hanvroman]

George Bush got away with it.

[@savvybytes3748]

The head of Bush’s CIA warned that NATO expansion would result in what we see today. Pretty clear eyed prediction…

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

@@hanvroman He did but the nation didn’t escape miscalculation.

[@khunmikeon858]

@@carylhalfwassen8555 the Iraqi nation certainly didn’t escape Bush’s actions… 1 million dead Iraqis based on outright lies about WMDs😡

[@sbaumgartner9848]

I just re-watched this. Stephen Kotkin never fails to impress me. What he said last May is still so relevant and insightful. We don't give historians like him the accolades they deserve.Every adult North American should be listening to or reading what this man has to say.

[@morm608]

This guy is a propagandist. He pretends to know who putin speaks to or what happens inside the kremlin, wich is absurd.

[@kathreenpoulos3341]

How old are you the west is responsible for most of the wars and destruction of our society. The west is not a friendly player on the world stage they are the bullies and propagandist. KOTKIN follows the western propaganda.

[@mac-xk1ec]

Kids

[@AvanaVana]

Agreed, he’s the indisputable master of the topic. Btw, his “good fellows” appearance with the Hoover Institution a few months ago is equal parts entertaining and enlightening as well, not least because he sounds exactly like Joe Pesci…

[@Alex-hu5eg]

Every adult on earth should be listening to him. Including us, europeans

[@drudixon]

This really gave me a lot to consider. I've been for the withdrawal of support for Ukraine but now I'm not sure.

[@OurNewestMember]

Can you believe after the first 10 years of cash and weapons and staff into Ukraine there's all-out war? Yeah, after hearing Kotkin glorify "grandmas with iPhone" calling in the strike location or former cooks filing bottles with explosives now..... It's hard not to wonder, "is a 25000% budget increase for the Ukraine war anywhere near enough?"

[@GeorgePaul-dz9bi]

Professor Kotkin is a delightful classical political sophist. Lex Fridman hosts intelligent, knowledgeable and analytical guests.

[@zacharyjones7616]

Will you interview him again soon as an update on the Ukraine war?

[@Gritt_t]

This introduction and ending brought me to tears. This was not just an insightful conversation with good historic information, but raw, courageous sense of impending potential uncertainty. Thanks for sharing this one Lex.

[@TheNYK777]

Why would he skip the 1994 Budapest treaty where Russia, the US and GB guarantee Ukraine it's territorial integrity in exchange for its nukes? That was still in place when the US officially invited Ukraine into NATO at a conference in 2008 in Bucharest? What was threatening Ukraine in 2008 that the US felt they should invite in NATO despite Putin's request for NATO not to expand any closer to Russian borders? (min. 38:30)

[@firstlast7867]

Interesting to listen to after a year. Would be interesting to have him on again, look at his current thoughts on the subjects he discussed.

[@beyondrecall9446]

Yeaah, it is brilliant! This is a true gem. The rhetorics he uses and his arguments are so so hillarious that we watched it as a study group while doing my master's in Comunicology, subject: Propaganda. It was hillarious, after every statement, everyone could turn down any of the things he said. Just so blatant and listening to him painting this cartoon of Russia and Putin, the SMO and it isn't even annoying but it is so so funny, like he is acting as a character, in some bizarre parody, repeating a stereotypical prejudice and repetition of references of mental issues and somehow every harm done to Russia, like some sanctions for something their leader is guilty of (allegedly..) while the people are saying "more sanctions", and let's look where Russia is standing today.. One word explains it - Projection... I am listening to him one more time and it's funnier every time, because I catch some new things every time. And I am really amazed that people in the US and West altogether fall for this and actually these people live in this bubble., while the West is a minority both in terms of population, technology, influence, trade, it is really a reflection of desperation, and a superiority complex, again, projection, of an ever more crumbling influence and all aspects of life altogether... Damn, but now, as I keep on listening, as I write this, and have to stop all the time just to marvel at the delusional bubble which is omnipresent in the Collective West . I am in Berlin and it is so weird when you realize that the people on the top, they are not just talking their points, but no they genuinely believe it. I am amazed and now, as we are watching Israel "defending itself", you can reflect and just compare.. Ukraine has done its role , it did good but it was never intended to win but to prolong the war , as every US endeavour, like Vietnam or Afghanistan, it keeps the US afloat. Today is Friday, 3. November 2023. and I am really worried as everything is set up for a change of everything.. Whatever happens, I hope that we don't go nuclear.. The "Escalation Ladder" just skipped up a few steps. Yemeni Houthis said "to hell with it, launch the rockets" .. The Us desperately wants this war with Iran but it's unwinnable, but, as I said, their wars aren't meant to be won, just to happen and to last as long as possible and then, invest into rebuilding what they destroyed but this time, there is something different.. Israel is showing their true face, the US also, and they are becoming more and more isolated.. Greetings from the past, from a stupid guy, who doesn't know what is happening today.. I wish you well.. on this day, I am worried about the response from Hezbolah, as Israeli genocidal "self defense" has gone to far. . . Everyone is talking about that but no, an illegal occupying power doesn't have the right to self defense, but has to ensure the safety of the occupied party,yet, Gaza has a population consisting of a majority of minors, meaning children, so...They are killing children and America cheers it as the double standards are making everyone's distrust just rise and spread... Stephen, you are the one who is delusional.. people who actually observed the developments, view this as pop-culture mainstream cheap propaganda and I'm proud to say, voted as the worst propagandistic talk, with such an abundance of fallacy and projection, oh man... now it's just too much of this bullish ... Every but every statement is a fallacy, unbelievable....

[@marvinwilliams7938]

Thanks for not being an idiot. This dude Kotkin is so biased it’s unbelievable

[@OurNewestMember]

​@@beyondrecall9446 quiet part out loud much? Lol

[@s_oh]

Kotkin is a huge breath of fresh air after watching Stone here.

[@andrewminnich5106]

Huge breath of Ukraine propaganda...here's the "best guy to lead the country" kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3exdX6apdl1iLs

[@Cazza1206]

Definitely, I nearly unsubscibed from Lex for having that pos Stone on, but I got over myself 😂

[@offensivediscourse8514]

@@Cazza1206 Get over yourself

[@Cazza1206]

@@offensivediscourse8514 🤣 I clearly said I did

[@offensivediscourse8514]

@@Cazza1206 i read the first half of your comment and replied before reading the second half. My bad.

[@jdalamo2274]

By far one of the top 3 for lex. Thank you for all you do

[@mayb8701]

Im new to lex, what are the other two

[@jdalamo2274]

@@mayb8701 depends on what you want. History? Awkwardness? The Kanye one would be good if you want to see Lex challenged. Kanye is A wreck

[@beatlessteve1010]

Its good to have enemies but is it better to cooperate ?

[@leonardor8264]

I would love for this guy and Professer, John Mershiemer to have a Russia, Ukraine, debate on the Lex Fridman podcast.

[@Yado-.-]

Be safe out there Lex, the world is in need of beautifull souls like yours ❤️

[@emilyhutjes]

Again thank you Mr. Fridman for another brilliant podcast that educates many of us. (Holland)

[@mayoman4916]

@Klim Chung I got to the part where he said stalin killed 18-20 mil. Pretty sure this man doesn't have anything worthwhile to offer

[@Bahramsocialist]

@Klim Chung What do you mean 0% accurate ?! Do you mean that Russia did not attack Ukraine and no ordinary people are dying everyday in Ukraine because of Putin's war ? Do you mean all of this destruction of schools, hospitals and houses that they show in news are made up ? 5 millions refugees is a lie ? why they leave their country and flee to western countries ?

[@Bahramsocialist]

@Klim Chung You are just repeating the Putin,s version of this war. If it so and this version is true and Russia 's army are rescuing people of Ukraine , why these 5 millions refugees who escaped to western countries did not go to Russia instead ? By the way, do you justify all the crime that Russian's army has been committed in this war, for instance in Bucha where they killed innocent people ? Please just answer these questions, you do not need to teach me history. For your information, I have watched the interview with Oliver Stone and Noam Chomsky and more, so I know what has been going in Ukraine and I do not watch only CNN.

[@Bahramsocialist]

@Klim Chung In my view Iraq or Vietnam war were a crime against humanity and just stupid people can defend USA war in these countries and it is the same when we talk about Russian war in Ukraine. I live in Europe and I see how Ukrainian refugees feel safe here and nobody force them to com here. So stop talking bullshit. Leave your bubble come here and see with your eyes and talk to them and see how they hate Putin and his fucking war.

[@themilktrader969]

Obfuscation of argument by analogy - please stop my brain hurts 😢 Let’s imagine my analogy is identical to the topic at hand 😮

[@devacore477]

“There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.” ― Lao Tzu

[@christianmackey]

I especially appreciated Dr. Kotkin’s take on how to live a purposeful life. What an amazing scholar and human being.

[@aljohnson3717]

Yes.

[@zeesterzeester3771]

The West is total chaos ruled by an incompetent European parlement en the WEF

[@8888LR]

another clown 🤡

[@oldmanhair0]

@@8888LR don't be rude

[@YaPingWong]

Lex: I think you should start interviewing leaders and people outside US and Europe, particularly from Asia, to get a balance and different perspective.

[@FUNKINETIK]

I agree. I imagined a Russian historian who has researched the USA and it’s politics and presidents. Invasions (or I should say failed invasions) of other countries e.g. Cuba. I just see this whole interview as propaganda in order to promote something that GHW Bush gave a speech on, I think I can even pin point the date he gave that particular speech…… 9/11/1990. It doesn’t take a genius to see what this is all about.

[@memoriesventures3533]

@@FUNKINETIK what makes you think that Russia or non-western part of the world do not hold and promote their own propaganda? Is freedom of speech a propaganda to you?

[@FUNKINETIK]

@@memoriesventures3533 I was agreeing with YP Wong who suggested that Lex should consider finding a balance for a different perspective. Obviously other countries will promote their own values. . and defend lies that have been fabricated against them.

[@YaPingWong]

@@FUNKINETIK Thanks. I appreciate the fact that Lex had always tried to be unbiased as possible, acknowledging the fact that it is always a struggle for him. I think Lex would do much greater for humanity if he can broaden his scope, especially to Asia where the people often see the world very differently. Pls consider that Lex.

[@lunaga5714]

@@YaPingWong Exactly !

[@marcusfoster5471]

This guy os very antagonistic..gets my heckles up

[@andreyklimov88]

Thank you for this interview. Especially after the one with Oliver Stone.

[@suspendedtwice4sayingrasis261]

Oh man, I tried listening to the whole thing, but I was just getting angrier and angrier just because of the sheer stupidity of the arguments. The only reason I didn't dislike the podcast is because I like Lex's work too much, but that episode was pretty much a dumpster fire just because of the utterly retarded shit the guest was saying... 😄😂

[@brandonhopkins1106]

I had a hard time getting thru the stone interview. Love him as a director but he was dead wrong about russia

[@somniumisdreaming]

@@brandonhopkins1106 Agreed, I tried to give him fair space to persuade me and it was terrible. I just couldn't see his side. Would love to see Kotkin and Stone discuss the point.

[@Diossvk]

Why would you listen to a director, who is great at his job, but knows nothing about history and its intricacies. It must have been a mix of his feelings and irrelevant personal opininons. Am I wrong? Haven't see it, but why would I watch a director commenting history. Zero qualification and education to comment on history.

[@neroresurrected]

I’ll preface my comments by saying I love alot of Oliver Stone’s movies, but the professor Kotkin is 100% spot on, and Mr. Stone can keep making movies and people should not take him seriously with regards to his politics which has always been left leaning since forever in his case.

[@dantusmusic]

Stephen is like the Joe Pesci of historians =)

[@nicholaselliott2484]

Yes, loading his readers and audience with historical facts instead of lead.

[@bryan805]

🤣

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

bs. He actually has a very biased perspective, particularly from a recent historical standpoint

[@jeffreylebowski3216]

@@gdiwolverinemale2745 Yeah, well, that's just like your opinion, man.

[@gdiwolverinemale2745]

@@jeffreylebowski3216 Yeah, well, and what do you think is like your comment then?

[@joyaroy8532]

This man is a Nuland - US State Deptt spologist. I wish we could have more empathetic podcasts that give us a glimpse of the late Stephen Cohen's views on Russia.

[@SkinnyJoeySollenne]

I'm going to guess Stephen has not watched the 4 hour documentary Oliver released interviewing Putin

[@tomaso0]

These are precisely the kind of calm, rational and insightful conversations that the world desperately needs to hear. None of the propaganda from the TV, simply people talking. Thank you for your work

[@Mrchristuranoh]

Civilized.

[@jessdunaway8423]

I agree however, the amount of information and insight cannot be overstated. The rise of podcast with shows doing hours long deep dives into previously subjects dominated by 10 min soundbites of establishment directives translates to hope in the future of world society as a whole. Well done, Lex!

[@scroopynooperz9051]

Calmly spoken, long winded propaganda is still propaganda 😂 "Countries are sovereign and can freely choose the alliances they want to join".. this Kotkin guy. Yeah, except when those countries are named Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Syria etc. There seems to be a sizable cognitive dissonance here. This guy is clearly in the tank for a specific side. Also this guy, "we live in a democracy and we can criticize the government." 🤣 Where is Julian Assange right now? in what old Soviet bunker does Edward Snowden have to hide away in, for fear of CIA / NSA assassination? Lol Anytime someone whitewashes a particular side, you know they're fulla sh!t. Trust the ones that at least attempt objectivity and a full spectrum analysis.

[@bergssprangare]

THe olf Dart is crazy and a warmonger..Azov is nazi and international law forbid nazi parties,,They kill women in Donbas for real and with impunity..not some imaginal rape stories..Why can Kosovo break free from Serbia but not Donbass can't..Olf Duck

[@joanmavima5423]

@@scroopynooperz9051 Agree. 😑

[@metafuel]

This was superb. Yet again. I have not as yet experienced one Lex Podcast I didn't get to the end of. Always interesting, insightful and refreshing.

[@sharmoutha]

Even the last one?

[@indykrumins3668]

Such an insightful interview and so much in contrast to the ludicrous views of Oliver Stone.

[@juliane__]

Heard it for Kotkin, but Lex... not sure of him. Really not sure where he is going till the last words.

[@MrDavid-gg2kk]

Fun Fact: Stephen voiced the couple Elaine calls in that Seinfeld episode.

[@benjaminsamulibrown54]

Lex, your knocking out the park with these guests. Thanks you for your work. Much love brother.

[@saintaudio]

This is a very educational and great interview. No rush, good thoughts and positivity through the dialog. Thank you Lex and Stephen!

[@dumbvedeoz]

this guy talks nonsense the west has been trying to destroy Russia/USSR since THE 50S hence senator Joe McCarthy and Vietnam and Korea etc. plus it was through Nixon's financial policy in the 1970s the Nixon shock that USSR's economy began to falter! The USA is doing it now in Ukraine to get russias oil and gas!

[@JoeyVol]

Much more grounded in reality and not based on "ideological gut feelings" and an attempt to fit the current Ukrainian invasion into a particular world view like Oliver Stone did in his latest interview. Stone was attempting to cram a square peg into a round hole and it was painful to watch.

[@Nik-jq4tx]

Mr. Kotkin, why are you hiding your birthplace? Were you born in the Soviet Union? Btw Russia is already winning the war in Ukraine and the USA is loosing its dollar system and its superpower status! You are an old cold war warrier and a man of the past. You have lost, too.

[@JoeyVol]

@@Nik-jq4tx 😂 🤣

[@Nik-jq4tx]

@@JoeyVol :)

[@zackpadilla9522]

I had no idea Joe Pesci was this versed in foreign policy

[@stigsandstrom866]

Stephen Kotkin just slapped Oliver Stone with cold hard history backed truth!

[@stefanmilojkovic]

😂😂😂 cold hard mumbojumbos

[@Oldysrv]

I had to listen to this multiple times....Amazing! Pls bring this man back

[@DonAl_Capone]

Bring him back after nato collapses and Russia annihilates Ukraine ahah

[@wc8246]

​@@DonAl_Capone so never bring him back then?

[@jeremiahthompson8951]

​@@wc8246you want to take back you message yet?

[@JLMtime]

WHAT THIS MAN IS SAYING IS WRONG china is giving Russia everything they need he is full of crap russia is doing much better in this war then stephen kotkin is saying

[@constantine2061]

One of the best interview's I've seen on the invasion of Ukraine! I still remember writing a paper on Stalin using Stephen's first volume for my world history class in high school.

[@nd-gs5nz]

Thanks Lex from bringing different viewpoints to the show, even from clueless historians that learned history from dubious sources.

[@user-ie7fn1mw1g]

The greatest interview that I have hear since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine..hats off to you both...

[@Rob-fx2dw]

Excellent explanations of the history of the world over the past few hundred years and the aggressions of some nations.

[@galanis38]

To significant degree debatable, and definitely biased, though...

[@terriensberg5487]

Outstanding discussion. Lex, you get the best guests and have the knowledge to ask insightful, meaningful questions.

[@joethumbsup5266]

i have a question who exactly was vurdered by novichok?

[@akiracha2519]

I feel smarter after watching these two intelligent gentlemen.

[@oO-_-_-_-Oo]

"Leading a purposeful life, intentionally, is possible and actually not that hard and also that can be done on a humble scale for having a positive impact on just one person's life gives far greater meaning of your own life and is profoundly satisfying." I concur.