The Putin Files: Masha Gessen

Watch author and journalist Masha Gessen’s candid, full interview on Putin and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election - part of FRONTLINE’s media transparency project for our investigation, “Putin’s Revenge.”
More: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/int...

[@nunooliveira4257]

This interview is almost 5 years old, and it looks like Masha is previewing the future with incredible detail. A few days ago this video had around 600 thousand views, and look how they rocketed after the beginning of the current invasion of Ukrain. We ought to elect leaders who listen to those who actually know what they’re talking about - real humans, real people. Masha’s views are a reference for humankind. I'm grateful, amazed and humbled by the work of this unpretentious woman who pedals around on a simple bicycle. This is a must-see if you want to understand how a series of personal, social and political events fabricate a dangerous sociopath, leaving him in the wrong place and causing misery to millions of people - very much like it has happened not long ago, in the 1940’s. But sadly, once again, it's too late.

[@blackbird5634]

I agree, anyone who's been paying attention to Masha for a decade understands the dangers we are facing.

[@tonyv5202]

Looking at a psychological profile of Putin and attributing this as the only contributing factor to what is happening now just plays into the current stupid narrative. The history she presents is interesting if true but the conclusions she reaches are purely opinion.

[@kellyoradio5029]

You really purchased the entire trainload of KoolAid, didn't you -- Olivia Nunya?!!

[@nunooliveira4257]

@@tonyv5202 No, I don’t think “the psychological profile of Putin is the only contributing factor to what is happening now”. Far from it. If you read again my comment, I’m actually referring to the fact that we, the people, elect and allow inadequate politicians to rule us. Everywhere. We’re not good enough to each other, so we almost invariably end up electing leaders who are not good to us either. That’s the major root of the problem, in my view. Regarding opinions, each person is entitled to have one. But people dying, or millions desperately fleeing their own country is not a matter of opinion, it is happening (again). And in this almost 5 year old video Masha objectively speaks as if the interview was done today - now that the whole world is unmistakably witnessing Putin’s intentions. I believe this situation could have been prevented. Putin became a sad sociopath, but the “western world” could have done better at bridging cultures since WW2, especially in the last three decades. We can all do much better.

[@lilbit5557]

Totally agree. Have you seen Putin's revenge 1 & 2, Active Measures or Malcom Nance speaking about Putin. They all have amazing info in them as well. Also check out Alexander Dugin they call him Putin's Brain

[@courtneykhan8671]

This woman is so well educated and spoken. To be honest i leaned more about Putin from this than any other report I’ve ever seen. What a wealth of information she seems to have.

[@mishacknthane1060]

CiA could have long used her to understand the psychotic despot in Kremlin

[@rebecca5303]

They don't identify as female. Their voice has changed a lot too. I just learned this. 😳

[@ttrestle]

Check out Julia Ioffe.

[@falcontube2023]

have u ever seen any other report?

[@simonlee8889]

Then you're a deluded idiot. I am no fan of Putin. But if you imagine this is anything other than conjecture, then you have even listened THIS properly, let alone anything else.

[@gisawslonim9716]

She is amazing. I have known her name for years but have never seen her doing an interview like this. I could listen to her all day. Her explanations and imagery present the problem on the palm of one hand. The clarity of all she talks about is amazing. Oh if only all teachers talked like this and if all books presented facts like this we would all be so much better educated than we are!

[@mairedaly4926]

@Discomfort Zone It kind of shows you, that no matter how you faff about with pronouns, folks use the pronouns they see. I suspect the 'Amazing' part of the description is the most important.

[@mri1263]

Uuuuu

[@SRHtheHedgehog]

@@mairedaly4926 yeah, and saying people should use the pronouns they see always goes well as well. Ftr, I and other male coworkers were constantly misgendered at my old job because it was mostly women, and I guess wearing an apron without a 6inch beard means people should call you "she." The issue isn't people correcting pronouns or people mistaking people for a gender they aren't; that stuff is normal and will happen for as long as those constructs exist. The issue is people deciding which people deserve the respect of correcting yourself for, and coming to the conclusion that there are people that don't deserve that at all.

[@manxx25]

Yeah -- the cultural insights are handy. Hearing about a dude with a wristwatch and a car in the 60's is, to typical 'murrican with experiences in 60's 'murrica would be unremarkable w/out the cultural details of his origin story. Even knowing that having those possessions at his age at that time for someone from his background is almost meaningless in itself. Giving the post-siege of home city context and class context and family/elders context adds some color and flavor to the story. Very helpful coming from native speaker who knows the idioms and significance of key phrases that lose a lot of meaning if only flatly translated.

[@marjoriegarner5369]

she is great.

[@guapelea]

I think Masha does a magnificent job in this interview, and her analytical skills, clarity of ideas and solid information are evident. I would say that everyone who is interested in what is happening in the world today needs to see this exceptional document from beginning to end.

[@jamesturner1348]

I agree. I think she is wrong about "Democracy being a mess". Yes Democracy has had many bumpy roads and certainly is facing challenges unlike at any time in history but Democracy's strength isn't as an ideology that exists in bureaucrats minds, it in the people's desires and wishes, in their hearts and minds. The people will always decide. Many not today when they are jailed and beaten, but sooner or later the will of the people will come to pass.

[@guapelea]

@@jamesturner1348 well in putin's view, democracy is a mess, but I don't think that is her opinion

[@joeblow5087]

@@guapelea, Good point.

[@cathyscisco285]

@@jamesturner1348 no M

[@jamesturner1348]

@@cathyscisco285 No M??

[@sophiedaoust9864]

I can't overstate Masha Gessen's brilliance and insightful reflexions; I've been reading her for years with great admiration for her insights about Russian politics and culture, but also about US politics. I admire her very much and I suggest you read her articles in the New Yorker and her books :D ! Now, it's a 5 years old interview and her insight are so clear and useful that I feel it was recorded this year.

[@sueprator9314]

I have seen this series before but given the current crisis, you can't help but re listen to her insight.

[@winstonmaraj8029]

Thank you, I will. 👏👍🙏

[@mattl7886]

"democracy is such a mess" maybe. But, politicians can openly argue - even disparage eachother without any real fear of murderous reprisal.

[@hopesnopes]

Starting at 1 hour 29 min Gessen says, "He had never shown that he reacts to pressure with anything but aggression". I wish EVERYONE would watch this incredibly informative interview, and as you recommended, read he many articles in the New Yorker.

[@vincejelineo748]

Agree Sophie....

[@alexandernaeve1066]

I like how she was able to take a very complicated and detailed history and highlight the most important points, I feel like It was really worth my time to watch this, due to what is going on.

[@Stafford674]

Apparently the preferred pronoun is ''they'

[@STOPjammietime]

@Stafford Campbell So what

[@raywalters243]

Shes an idiot she's suggested we remove Russia from NATO! Russian isn't even part of NATO! She's an uneducated fake. She needs to go back to school.

[@eggplanthose]

@@STOPjammietime So respecting gender and sexual minorities is not that hard. Unless you're Putin I guess.

[@doyouwanttogivemelekiss3097]

@@raywalters243 timestamp?

[@mairedaly4926]

My takeaway from this regarding Putin; 1) Putin feels he's the Chosen one 2) As a young man he spent the best summer of his life in Crimea where he spent all his money 3) He loves the finer things in life 4) He's smart 5) He's an opportunist 6) He's reckless 7) He's a risk taker 8) His ego 9) His vengeance, he holds grudges... and will strike back when you think you're comfortable... 10) He's hostile to everyone This interview has aged well....

[@mariekenny4193]

He also speaks perfect English I believe and never eats or drinks in public

[@dgmare]

Small guy with big ego. Ha has power only cuz people near him are the same or maybe even worse. Can't believe that nobody from the inside can't stop him.

[@Rebeca-sd1md]

I loved this interview! Great insight from Masha. Objective, to the point and great showing of their intellect and knowledge. Masha is captivating. Very pleased to have had the opportunity to watch this interview and to have discovered this insightful author. This interview is years old but it feels so timely and fits the current times like a glove. It has helped me understand the origin of the awful events going on right now and to put things into perspective. I'd love to hear what she has to say about the war in Ucraine right now.

[@ericb6048]

lol, ur a simple one eh ? this woman blathered assumption after assumption paired to assumed facts and then layered in any data and facts she had.

[@osalicsomonic6069]

In 2022 it became obvious that those, who needed to have watched the interview, haven't done so.

[@sagansturtleneck3806]

In 2024 they still haven't.

[@sot11cat]

These people don't watch interviews, they watch Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson, MacGregor, Mercuris, Mearsheimer and of course Trump.

[@winstonmaraj8029]

My God, every minute is like gold. I wish this was like 100 hours. Thank you Masha. 💪👍👏💯🏆🙏🔨

[@laszlonemet4425]

Marshal

[@chigusaogino4947]

@@laszlonemet4425 Okay

[@QueenofNonSequitur]

@@laszlonemet4425 Huh?

[@sophiedaoust9864]

Absolutely right !!! I felt like I didn't want to stop listening to her. She's brilliant.

[@bialek.online]

where can i find more of her?

[@jimpollard9392]

My goodness this was informative. Very insightful. Gessen makes no bones about disliking Putin, but conscientiously endeavors to understand him (and help us understand him.) This is the very very best sort of journalist.

[@mrbigstufable]

Cannot believe this is from four years ago, prescient is all I can think. She needs to be brought back.

[@nellgwyn2723]

I would love seeing more pieces of journalism on this Level, on China, on Hungary, it must be an incredible, unimaginable piece of work but the world needs this kind of perspective and deep dives in journalism.

[@longerino]

Nell, thank you.

[@elaineburnett5230]

Totally agree, it would be more helpful that 10 minutes wrapped inside a 30 minute interview.

[@gabict8866]

Check this article out! Articles of Bio weapon labs with US / Ukraine!!! Search or scroll for this 1/4 down!! The DoD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has funded 11 bio-laboratories in the former Soviet Union Country Ukraine, bordering on Russia. Project GG-21: “All volunteer deaths will be promptly reported” The Pentagon has launched a 5-year long project with a possible extension of up to 3 years code-named GG-21: “Arthropod-borne and zoonotic infections among military personnel in Georgia”. According to the project’s description, blood samples will be obtained from 1,000 military recruits at the time of their military registration physical exam at the Georgian military hospital located in Gori. The samples will be tested for antibodies against fourteen pathogens: Bacillus anthracis Brucella CCHF virus Coxiella burnetii Francisella tularensis Hantavirus Rickettsia species TBE virus Bartonella species Borrelia species Ehlrichia species Leptospira species Salmonella typhi WNV The amount of blood draw will be 10 ml. Samples will be stored indefinitely at the NCDC (Lugar Center) or USAMRU-G and aliquots might be sent to WRAIR headquarters in US for future research studies. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is the largest biomedical research facility administered by the U.S. Department of Defense. The results of the blood testing will not be provided to the study participants. Such a procedure cannot cause death. However, according to the project report, “all volunteer deaths will be promptly reported (usually within 48 h of the PI being notified)” to the Georgian Military Hospital and WRAIR. Documents obtained from the US Federal contracts registry show that USAMRU-G is expanding its activities to other US allies in the region and is “establishing expeditionary capabilities” in Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Latvia and any future locations. The next USAMRU-G project involving biological tests on soldiers is due to start in March of this year at the Bulgarian Military Hospital in Sofia. Project UP-8: All deaths of study participants should be reported within 24 h

[@simonlee8889]

this isn't journalism, most of it is 'conjecture' - as she admits. The fact that you consider it journalism shows exactly why journalism no longer exists, you idiot.

[@simonlee8889]

@@gabict8866 Careful.. you're dealing with an audience here that prefers 'conjecture' to any kind of truth that exposes the morally bankrupt insane violence which the US elite actually mete out around the world

[@marylethamatthews3231]

Omg. She is captivating with her sheer intellect and ability to translate her observations in a way we can all understand. Great interview grateful I was able to see if. Thank you to Ms. Gessen and to PBS.

[@chrishooge3442]

Julia Ioffe is equally engaging. Recommend it too.

[@lisamyers3666]

..

[@lisamyers3666]

..

[@ClownWorldSwitzerland]

I want more of her, less Rachel Maddow

[@jillianswaine4298]

Ms Gessen is also a wonderful storyteller with her extensive knowledge. She is riveting.

[@Sofia-dl9vw]

So refreshing to hear intelligent and balanced discussions as opposed to people repeating the same points with large servings of emotion and bias. This interview is so enticing and you want to listen to it for hours. Thank you again PBS. I hope now people see your value more and let's all contribute to keep PBS alive otherwise we will lose all this quality journalism.

[@donomec1977]

a

[@donomec1977]

p

[@rockmyballsplease]

have you seen the edited version?

[@agithehun]

PBS (especially Frontline) is pretty much the only channel worth watching.

[@rockmyballsplease]

@@agithehun Love frontline. I couldn't agree more. I have been watching it for years.

[@daeberrii6528]

Living in germany, I can tell you exactly what she means for a foreigner who was hoping to live in Berlin instead of Dresden. There is a big difference.

[@mirgrande7683]

Never heard of this woman but she seems a person of real integrity. A lovely quality about her too.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Love her male jacket .👍🥴

[@on-the-rocks]

@@PAULLONDEN that’s ur main take from this? lol

[@lk1590]

Perfect for Portland.

[@watermelonkang]

I believe you just misgendered it, you goddamn bigot.

[@cassandraotroy6325]

It's 'they/them' 🥱

[@kindnessfirst9670]

In around 1971 (as a ten year old) I read a book about a young boy living in Leningrad during the siege of World War Two. It was probably a "young adult" novel but it is still burned in my memory. Understanding history is SO important to understanding the world today.

[@jackellsworthsavage5384]

i would love to read that 1971 Leningrad memoir to which you've referred - may i ask if you recall the author's name?

[@atimaatrams1932]

I just did a google search and it might be 'Shurik: A Story of the Siege of Leningrad' by Kyra Petrovskaya Wayne

[@jackellsworthsavage5384]

thank you ! i've had a lifelong obsession with eastern european, polish and russian culture but i've never been to that region. i'm longing to travel there but i have concerns re: safety? would any kind commenters recommend a particular travel strategy?

[@atimaatrams1932]

@@jackellsworthsavage5384 NP. Not much to obsess over, really. The countries are a little poor, a little dull. Soviet architecture scars most of them. I am from one of the Baltic states, though I've barely been back there since I left 12 years ago. Back when I still lived there, there were definitely places you wouldn't want to go at night, I think most dangers are in the residential districts, with the old Soviet block houses, cause that's where the ne'r-do-wells would gather and drink (look out for people in tracksuits- those are the likeliest to stir shit up, probably best not to let on that you are a foreigner in front of them, just to be safe). Sometimes, late at night, people who leave bars might be in a mood to start trouble, but I haven't experienced that myself. Taxi drivers like to swindle foreigners, but you can rent a car, if you are so inclined, also the public transport network is pretty alright within the big cities, though, I think, it stops at night for a few hours. There might be some night busses, but I'm not sure, it depends on the city. The bigger the city, the better the transportation, I don't think that would come as a surprise. You need to keep your wallet safe. Violent crime isn't usually an issue, and unless you go out of your way to cause trouble, you're good, but petty crime could be a bother (though again, during the 18 years I spent living there, I only got pickpocketed once). People seem to think that all foreigners are flush with cash. Also there is usually a bit of an age cap for people who know English. People under 30's are usually alright, though, maybe not in smaller towns, if they're over 40, there is generally little hope. Travel strategy? I think a car would be the best option, as you can be independent and travel where you want, when you want. Within the European Union, the borders are more or less open, so it's easy to go from country to country. Also trains are a thing, they usually go through countryside, which is lovely lots of fields. And, again, busses, inter city and inter country. It's not too expensive. Best time to go would be summer or early to mid fall.

[@jackellsworthsavage5384]

thanks very much for the information! i need YOU to be my tour guide ! !

[@darrendickson8182]

What a lovely down to earth woman my hat goes off to u masha

[@anaromello]

What a fascinating and incredibly accurate interview.

[@stacidickerson7491]

A new conversation needs to be had with this amazing Putin historian! This is such an incredible conversation!!!

[@acchaladka]

She writes regularly for the New Yorker magazine and has a few books I believe.

[@rosestewart1606]

she has several books. She is extremely knowledgeable about how societies can fall into authoritarianism

[@simonlee8889]

Incredible is precisely the word...And she admits it, if you actually listen..

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Feel free to facilitate that.

[@caesarforlife1663]

@@acchaladka sounds like it with the US leftist slant and bias.

[@Okijuben]

Unfortunately, this interview has aged extremely well. So informative. Thank you for this gem.

[@user-sq6sk3oo5p]

Love masha, could listen to her regale about Russia for ages.

[@pedroheberle6665]

She is endlessly fascinating to watch. What intelligence. What charisma. God bless you, Masha!

[@audreyheart2180]

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien 💪

[@Redlabel0]

mer·ry merē adjective cheerful and lively. "the narrow streets were dense with merry throngs of students" synonyms: cheerful, cheery, in good spirits, high-spirited, blithe, bright, sunny, lighthearted, buoyant, bubbly, lively, carefree, without a care in the world, joyful, joyous, rejoicing, jolly, jocund, convivial, festive, mirthful, gleeful, happy, glad, laughing, chirpy, gay, frolicsome, sportive, blithesome

[@paulduda7367]

Could you PLEASE make up your own comment and avoid recycling those of some long-dead scribe in a misguided effort to impress people you do not and will never even know!

[@audreyheart2180]

@@paulduda7367 Может быть, в любом случае пришло время для перезагрузки. Слишком много страданий и жадности. Слишком много случаев торговли детьми и женщинами в Европе и во всем мире. Слишком много порнографии. Слишком много церковной педофилии. Слишком много людей потребляют все ресурсы и неуважительно относятся к природе. Слишком много государственных переворотов. Слишком много авторитаризма и экспансионизма. Слишком много эгоизма, издевательств, лени, безответственности и “культуры отмены” (феномен стирания истории, поощрения беззакония, подавления граждан и нарушения свободного обмена идеями, мыслями и речью”). Никакой поддержки вдовам и сиротам. В долгосрочной перспективе, возможно, было бы лучше покончить с этим и начать все сначала.

[@barrett7893]

Amen

[@1337flite]

@@paulduda7367 LOL p0wn3d. Who are you trying to impress with comments about the medium that Audrey has used? "s people you do not and will never even know!". Yeah I get the irony of what I am saying - I kinda get the impression you don't get the irony in what you're "saying".

[@stevezelaznik5872]

Thank you, Frontline and Michael Kirk, for giving us access to the raw interviews with the experts. Marsha Gessen is always worth listening to.

[@martyshamsnia2721]

Plppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

[@Gravy_Master]

@@martyshamsnia2721 I love it, Marty!

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

^^ @@martyshamsnia2721 Childish behavior. Embarrassing to classical liberal thought. ^^

[@rodrollingstone2362]

@@martyshamsnia2721 Did you fall asleep on your keyboard while drunk or stoned? Looks like it.

[@ngails]

Experts?

[@brianferguson7840]

I was fascinated by all the personal details of his life. His childhood experiences and behaviour, then the events in his younger life do indicate how his "imagined exceptionalism" led to the creation of the man we see today.

[@robertbergmann425]

It's hard to believe how accurate these analyses are for the year 2022 and the Russian invasion on Ukraine.. Masha Gessen im your instant fan

[@islabee94]

She is absolutely brilliant. She paints a detailed, multifaceted picture of Putins era and timeline, so eloquently and with such clarity and intellectual honesty. Journalists like her are gems.

[@frusia123]

It's hard to believe, or simply sad, that so many eloquent people have known what Putin was like all along, and the world didn't listen. Now we're listening, hope our leaders are listening carefully too and taking notes.

[@JokerFace090]

People in the USA give so few shits about foreign affairs, they think it takes a genius with a crystal ball to know Putin wanted to invade Ukraine again. He annexed Crimea in 2014 and FSB officers have led the separatist violence in Donbas for the last 10 years.

[@eternally66]

5 years ago!! Masha Gessen lays it down. Best history lessons on this maniac to date.

[@xino_z]

Agree

[@TheSpasmer]

Im glad frontline decided to release these uncut interviews

[@javiercastillo7516]

I don't think is an interview, is a monologue, you have to show the intervier .is she reading off the teleprompter. Oliver stones interview with Putin is different more personal. I wonder why

[@benitopepolini1249]

@@javiercastillo7516 later putin simp

[@mysterywriter888]

I hope every American will see this interview. Fascinating and so timely! I have seen her before but never such a lengthy interview. Well worth watching!

[@juanitaross5492]

I wish all Americans would watch frontline too. But I tried to send this to a sister of mine who lives in Texas She won't watch, she think's they are a left wing propaganda media. This is how all far right evangelicals think. I am a Christian too but she thinks I'm not Christian enough. It's hard having family who believe Pat Robinson and Trumps conspiracy theories.

[@zitools]

@@juanitaross5492 I spent 4 months in TX recently. I didn't ask if they were evangelicals, but most of the people I spoke to understand propaganda comes from everywhere. Its just that the left wing one is the one they detest. And I don't blame them, it tends to be anti-christian, anti-working class, and lets be honest, anti-american than the other propaganda. I hope its of some consolation to you that some conspiracy theories either eventually end up being true or that it is a smaller stretch to believe when one takes a look at it. We're just lucky we live here in the West. In the Middle-east, the propaganda gets young people to suicide bomb. I do agree with you that Frontline should not be included, its a great program. But they do take themselves too serious, and there is a bias no matter how hard they try. The format doesn't lend to alternative narratives unless the interviewee brings them up as hypotheticals. Let your sister know that Frontline did an interview of Steve Bannon about a year or so after Trump's election (iirc), that makes him look like the thoughtful, intelligent person that he is. Instead of the allegedly racist xenophobe the rest of media made him out to be. Compared to them, frontline will be much more manageable.

[@mudmudmudmudmud7605]

@zitools

[@zitools]

@@mudmudmudmudmud7605 whats sus? suspicious? if so, about what? i am genuinely trying to get OP's sister to give Frontline another consideration. I mean we do have the one Dave Chappelle mocked. Remember Clayton Bigsby the black, white supremacist?

[@alphastar2934]

@@zitools If you think that a Russian lesbian that's politically active for LGBT rights and that immigrated in the US is the most neutral person for covering this topic, and if you don't see any subjective arguments in this interview, I think you're already the one that's brainwashed and we can't do anything from you. Cheers from a European (meaning I'm also from the West, and not a "brainwashed" from Middle-East).

[@Liz-dragon-street.]

The frontline series on the Putin files are amazing! I love the Masha and Vladimir Kara-Moerza interview the most...

[@marane-hand]

He is jail (for 25 years). Thank God Masha is here.

[@blackbird5634]

"people were living in horizontal time, it seemed like time had stopped." -really well said.

[@TampaDave]

"It's a crooked piece of time that we live in; It's a crooked piece of time. All in all and all in all It's a crooked piece of time." -- John Prine, RIP, You are missed!

[@blackbird5634]

@@TampaDave A man driving down a country lane sees a farmer holding a pig over his head up to an apple tree so it can eat apples. The man pulls over and says: "It would save time if you shook the tree and the apples fell so the pig could eat them." The farmer replies: "What's time to a pig?"

[@TampaDave]

black bird - Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana

[@blackbird5634]

@@TampaDave I once killed a man with a banana. . well,,,maybe I just annoyed him.

[@TampaDave]

@@blackbird5634 I can see you are probably good at that.

[@sp6990]

Blew me away. I could listen to Masha for hours. What a thorough interpretation of the history of the dictatorship under Putin that led us to where we are today. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@srdjanbasaric517]

Where we are today?

[@sp6990]

@@srdjanbasaric517 the state of world affairs

[@dissturbbed]

Living under a rock?

[@srdjanbasaric517]

@@sp6990 What world affairs?

[@sp6990]

@@srdjanbasaric517 where are we? what world? What is air? 😂😂😂 Did you take too many of your meds today?

[@ewaraj8590]

What amazing series, everything in Frontline interviews with Russian journalist is so relevant today.

[@lunarballoonistxo]

This is an incredible interview I'm so glad I listened! I'll certainly keep my eye out for Masha Gessen in the future!

[@jacksprat3009]

Frontline does it again. A meaningful, detailed understanding of Russia's current leader. Frontline might be the only TV program to give us such high quality, in depth and very important information CBS 60 Minutes is close but not nearly as in depth or important as they were in the days of Mike Wallace. Thank you Frontline and thank you, Masha Gessen.

[@iliveinthekingdomofpain7692]

Her book, ‘A Man Without a Face’ is the definitive biography of Vladimir ‘rat-boy’ Putin.

[@roger6872]

A

[@simonlee8889]

@@iliveinthekingdomofpain7692 Only if you're an idiot.. You could do the same to anybody.. Doesn't make it 'true' - except if you want to believe it..

[@simonlee8889]

This, as Masha openly states herself, is 'all conjecture'. Yet you are desperate to believe it. I am no lover of Putin or his ultimate agenda - which is just as bad as all the other elites - but to imagine this is anything other than a deliberate and contrived hatchet job is just deluded..

[@jacksprat3009]

@@simonlee8889 - Don't know how you got so negative over my post. Please re-read "A meaningful, detailed understanding of Russia's current leader." She was born in Russia, grew up there, has covered Putin and Russia for many years. I think she has a better understanding of him than most. It is my OPINION that Frontline is the best investigative TV show today. What is your OPINION?

[@peterwestcott3475]

Marsha Gessen is an admirable unit of class, style, perception and deep knowledge. 🏆

[@mikeyswood]

These interviews are shockingly good. Well done by all!!

[@marjoriegarner5369]

agree, very good

[@kgraham5820]

Brilliant! Very well communicated! Another one - Putin's Road to War: Interview with Julia Ioffe. It’s worth the watch and just as brilliant!

[@ChristiaanHartNibbrig]

Series is excellent. Masha Gessen is the most insightful and informed I've heard yet.

[@poppajon77]

Florida

[@BitcoinKhaleesi]

The others have been awesome. Just a different vibe.

[@sueprator9314]

@Cgv Bruun Agree I guess. His questions seem almost like canned questions. As "What were you thinking" type....

[@christinalydia]

Cant believe it took me years to find this interview ! I love her ! She is full of knowledge and so well spoken. Its amazing listening to her.

[@jean6872]

She is a poor speaker, tending to end sentences on low volume.

[@marymclarnon759]

Chris Tina I agree, and I wish she was my professor…

[@phyllisneal8687]

She is a frequent guest on MSNBC.

[@phyllisneal8687]

@@jean6872 are you a Russian bot? Seriously. Are you?

[@jean6872]

@@phyllisneal8687 I think you are trying to insult me but you did not because I do not even know what a bot is. Perhaps you are an American bot.

[@priscillalopez9221]

MASHA, you are a genius. I am only worry I saw this after the invasion. Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦. 🇺🇦 🙌 ✨ 🙏 ❤ 🇺🇦.

[@magnoliabranca5149]

Amazing interview Masha is remarkably articulated and knowledgeable. She has a sophistication rarely seen (or heard) on describing and interpreting these events.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Rarely seen or heard because it's garbage, but I guess you don't know English. She said (many times), "This is all conjecture" (do you know what that means?) or "None of this can be corroborated" - so mostly, this video is bullshit, except for the things we already know. Look up "Operation Mockingbird"

[@genathing903]

I’m forever indebted to Masha for helping me gain perspective both on the country I’ve left long ago and on the country I now call my own.

[@javiercastillo7516]

Why are the interviews Oliver stone and Putin so different. Someone is lying.

[@TampaDave]

Javier Castillo Absolutely brilliant! Someone IS lying, and history will show it was Putin and Trump.

[@tonywilson4713]

Absolutely true. Masha was interviewed on the Australian program Planet America and gave the best explanation on the entire Trump-Russian collusion fiasco. Masha's explanation was that: 1: Putin is not a master strategist and believes that all elections are a rubber stamp for what has already been decided because that's his Russia. Its all decided before hand. So he expected Clinton would win. 2: Putin like Russians before him have played the game with America from the unpredictable possibly madman perspective to America's straight man. Having Trump in the White House would ruin that vibe. 3: Putin was the master of East Germany before the collapse and destined to rule *SOVIET* Russia one day, but the Russia he returned to was wrecked. He wants his Soviet Empire back and just as importantly he wants to hurt the West for what happened and that included Hilary Clinton. Masha never explicitly said it but the inference was that Putin was in fact expecting to do great harm to the Clinton Presidency by releasing damaging facts after the win with a rampant Trump going nuts. We now know that assessment was right. The big was the Jim Comey didn't do as Putin expected. In Putin's world subordinates like Comey do as they are told. They don't announce to the world they found stuff and are reopening an investigation. Just imagine if Comey had kept quiet and then after the election knowledge of the additional emails were released. Just imagine how the Republicans and Trump would have reacted. Putin would have been able to sit back laughing as America tor itself to pieces. Instead he got Trump and had to wait 6 more years to start pulling the former Soviet Republics back into order.

[@primalcritters]

@TampaDaves no it was not Trump. Trump was a wildcard not supposed to happen. Russia did not expect it. Russia in fact was down under Trump. Someone is lying to you. Four years of Investigations I'm wanting to put something jail and still couldn't manage to do it. If they had under any illusion they would have. Plus Trump shutdown Nordic 2 pipeline completion and was getting American pipeline up and going. Biden stopped all that making us more reliant on the Russians. Follow the trail. Make it makes sense if you think Trump was colluding with Russia! The clintons also got a lot of money from the Russians FYI. I'm russian-american and my father has met with Putin

[@peacefulone4461]

@@TampaDave exactly 💯.

[@marrvyn]

Masha Gessen is brilliant ! Thanks very much to her and to PBS for making this insightful interview and for making it publicly available.

[@TheNeeenha]

It is impossible not to cry..really for the last month, every day

[@pamhall1434]

PBS Frontline Series are excellent journalism! Thank you for all you do...these stories need to be told. They are timeless in the historical lessons they teach us to help save democracies worldwide.

[@raveltherapy6884]

Russian troll comments aside… I am incredibly impressed with this woman's intellect, insight, and most of all reasonableness.

[@Matamick]

This is a pure case of propaganda, and the fact you don't rrealise it shows you ignorance. How do we know its propaganda because the what the US has done is never mentioned, or spun as if it was doing "good"! Read William Blum for examples of what the US gets up to - and start lets say with Cuba!

[@Matamick]

To hear the distortion of history and the bias shown here should get up everybody's nose.

[@johnthomas691]

If you think the Russian troll comments are bad here, try LVPN on RT. He's so out of touch with reality that one wonders if he believes his own convoluted jargon...

[@theshadowman1398]

Intellect ? Her ?

[@michaelrpbuckley8982]

How is Putin hostile to Russia, he's brought it up of her knees. Without him you wouldn't even be having this conversation and I wouldn't be wasting my time writing this.

[@K-OnTheCase]

So informative! Certainly providing critical insight into Putin and his behavior! Thank you Masha and PBS! ❤️👍🏼❤️

[@simonlee8889]

If you believe that, you're totally deluded...

[@K-OnTheCase]

@@simonlee8889 What are you getting at? Please elaborate? 🤔

[@simonlee8889]

@@K-OnTheCase Masha herself admits quite explicitly that what she is saying is 'conjecture'. She uses 'facts' from Putin's history to infer all kinds of motives and thoughts that are not corroborated by evidence but purely interpretations of his thoughts and motives by Masha Gessen herself. This is not journalism, it's something else entirely. She is deliberately building a portrait of a character that just happens to be exactly the kind of character that people want you to believe. The agenda is to make Putin look like a crazy psychopath. There is no real evidence of this - there is merely Gessen's interpretation. (And she is NOT objective.. This has been a long project for her. Her grandmother was a censor for Stalin. She has a deep history in Russia - but her view is not an objective one. There IS a complex agenda) This is very dangerous. But it is easy to see why it gains credibility and popularity amongst Western and especially US audiences. Because, frankly, they WANT to believe it, or they want you to believe it. But this does NOT make it 'true'. This is all dangerously manipulative. And it is no coincidence that this video is prominent - even though it's 3 years old. All this actually shows is just forvhow long the demonisation of Putin has been going on.

[@simonlee8889]

@@K-OnTheCase Masha herself admits quite explicitly that what she is saying is 'conjecture'. She uses 'facts' from Putin's history to infer all kinds of motives and thoughts that are not corroborated by evidence but purely interpretations of his thoughts and motives by Masha Gessen herself. This is not journalism, it's something else entirely. She is deliberately building a portrait of a character that just happens to be exactly the kind of character that people want you to believe. The agenda is to make Putin look like a crazy psychopath. There is no real evidence of this - there is merely Gessen's interpretation. (And she is NOT objective.. This has been a long project for her. Her grandmother was a censor for Stalin. She has a deep history in Russia - but her view is not an objective one. There IS a complex agenda) This is very dangerous. But it is easy to see why it gains credibility and popularity amongst Western and especially US audiences. Because, frankly, they WANT to believe it, or they want you to believe it. But this does NOT make it 'true'. This is all dangerously manipulative. And it is no coincidence that this video is prominent - even though it's 3 years old. All this actually shows is just forvhow long the demonisation of Putin has been going on.

[@simonlee8889]

@@K-OnTheCase And reflect on the fact that it was not the Russians who attempted to subvert the elections of 2016, but the Clintons.. As shown by the Durham investigation.. now conveniently buried by the Ukraine crisis...

[@siobhancrowley8777]

The algorhythm suggested this vid to me for weeks. I don't know, why I didn't watch it earlier. Masha Gessen is brilliant!. I've been watching dozens of docs, assesments or interviews on Putin, the Russian Fed. or the Invasion of Ukraine during the last couple of weeks. This is most def one of the two or three best (imho), I've seen so far.

[@Peter-vf3dl]

I am deeply impressed by this thoughtful and great interview. Just popped up as a recommendation.

[@Phulosophy369]

Wow! This woman is amazingly insightful and demonstrates her firm grip the subject at hand.

[@constancemiller3753]

Agreed. I also like how she speaks of Vladimir Putin as a human being. She speaks to his stories, feelings and ego as facts not punchlines. Too many speak about powerful men as story not narrative

[@nickisnyder3450]

So great to hear an Indepth analysis by someone who is qualified & informed on the subject verses the news clips that include only talking heads reading cue cards & adding lots of spin.

[@tonywilson4713]

Absolutely true. Masha was interviewed on the Australian program Planet America and gave the best explanation on the entire Trump-Russian collusion fiasco. Masha's explanation was that: 1: Putin is not a master strategist and believes that all elections are a rubber stamp for what has already been decided because that's his Russia. Its all decided before hand. So he expected Clinton would win. 2: Putin like Russians before him have played the game with America from the unpredictable possibly madman perspective to America's straight man. Having Trump in the White House would ruin that vibe. 3: Putin was the master of East Germany before the collapse and destined to rule *SOVIET* Russia one day, but the Russia he returned to was wrecked. He wants his Soviet Empire back and just as importantly he wants to hurt the West for what happened and that included Hilary Clinton. Masha never explicitly said it but the inference was that Putin was in fact expecting to do great harm to the Clinton Presidency by releasing damaging facts after the win with a rampant Trump going nuts. We now know that assessment was right. The big was the Jim Comey didn't do as Putin expected. In Putin's world subordinates like Comey do as they are told. They don't announce to the world they found stuff and are reopening an investigation. Just imagine if Comey had kept quiet and then after the election knowledge of the additional emails were released. Just imagine how the Republicans and Trump would have reacted. Putin would have been able to sit back laughing as America tor itself to pieces. Instead he got Trump and had to wait 6 more years to start pulling the former Soviet Republics back into order.

[@abelincoln2308]

She is a Liberal, which means she has a thought disorder like all Liberals and Atheists do. No moral influence in a person's thought processes, is a thought disorder. Science proves it!

[@jhinfographics1927]

@@abelincoln2308 LMAO... Science proves it ! LOL... A thought disorder like all Atheists ??? LMAO... Man, what a dumb comment ! I know both Liberals and Conservatives who are great people with open mind. You clearly not one of them. LOL... So you go and says : science proves it and says that Atheists have a thought disorder. So, let me ask you this : where is the scientific proof about ANY religion ??? About the existence of Jesus ? And many Conservatives believe the earth is flat. LOL... Science proves that too ? LMAO

[@truth2700]

You say you seen plenty that have an open mind, but I have the impression that you're not one of those people, not if you're gonna put words in conservatives' mouth (flat earth) and yet entertain the widely discredited Christ Myth Theory (even unbelieving and anti-Christian scholars accept that Jesus existed). You're certainly not helping the cause of your side. "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas." - Matthew 16:4 Let me know if you want to learn more. God bless.

[@serenityb5816]

@@tonywilson4713 the problem with that is that there were no new emails. There was nothing Putin could do to harm Hillary after the election because there was nothing there. But then, like republicans, Putin doesn’t exactly care for the truth.

[@clfm20]

The argument made at 1:18:30 perfectly describes the very central paradigm of fascism. This is not the lazy accusation thrown at every authoritarian leader, but a recognition that Putin has started to view his personal leadership as bound up in the very meaning of the country itself.

[@tessadrake824]

This lady clearly understood Putin's motivations perfectly. Everything she is saying about him here (five years ago) has been evidenced in the last few weeks, most significantly about his thoughts and fears relating to NATO.

[@Msboochie2]

She and Julia Ioffe seem to really understand Russians and especially Putin. It is becoming painfully obvious that our leadership has not talked to or taken heed from these women or others like them, because they are making very poor decisions.

[@christheghostwriter]

Every American should listen to this. The surgical precision of her words explains so many things about the last two decades, and how we got where we are today.

[@tracimccullough3749]

Read her book “Man without a Face” must read in understanding Putin

[@agny369]

the people that need to hear it most have their ears sewn shut :/

[@wgsmit02]

Every American should review the Monroe doctrine and then summarily shut the hell up about Ukraine

[@christheghostwriter]

@@wgsmit02 LOL no. This is not even CLOSE to being comparable. Ukraine is not a client state of the United States. It's an independent country with a duly elected government. Ukraine wants to align itself with the West, and it has every right to do so . You can shove your Putin support up your ass, fascist

[@perseusn4336]

@@christheghostwriter What the heck are you babbling about? Independent country my balls. Ukraine was a US / NATO puppet state since that coup in 2014 lead by Victoria Nuland under the Obama administration; even republicans where involved. Don´t you know anything or just gargle MSM fake news 24/7? Hey ignoirant imbecile, now that you talk about "muh fascism" how about you join the Ukranian neonazi battalions, like the Azov battalion. Let´s not even start with the US biolabs in Ukraine. Ignorant buffoon.

[@1schwererziehbar1]

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for uploading these interviews in full and not butchering them in the editing room.

[@eddieavila1081]

I thought i was watching a recent interview. Gessen's views turned out to be very prescient in light of current events in Ukraine. Just remarkable interview.

[@pattywitham8507]

This lady is absolutely incredible I am so glad I'm watching this and listening to her I am learning so much thank you. May God bless her.

[@jasonporter5747]

What a privilege to listen to this woman. Wonderful conversation.

[@mrp741]

Wow. Masha, you know your stuff. I could listen to you all day. Fascinating stuff, and it totally gives background and context to what's going on now.

[@BadgerDave]

I could listen to Masha Gessen for years. She has a special ability to tell an important story in a way anyone can understand.

[@sasentaiko]

Gessen is my favorite Eastern Europe expert to hear from. Their analysis in this interview is so rich that it's hard to remember that this was produced 3 years ago... pre-impeachment #1, even! Of course we're all curious now about why Putin is picking a fight with Ukraine (really, NATO and the US), and why sanctions don't work on him. The story about Putin allowing funds for food to be gobbled up by oligarchs is just nauseating.

[@peepindis]

@Beep Boop I see your account is one week old. I don't think "our west" applies. Never anything to add. Just deflect, deflect, and deflect. How are you guys getting paid, anyway?

[@peepindis]

@Beep Boop will I waste my time on a clear troll? No.

[@ceemac5656]

Amazing interview. She should be an independent consultant to every President that is elected. Frontline is in a class all of their own, and Gessen is bad to the bone! 💯💜

[@simonlee8889]

What complete shit..

[@22ergie]

@@simonlee8889 Go get some sleep

[@designingdakini]

Absolutely fascinating & terrifying at the same time. This entire series with multiple perspectives & experiences, is textbook Frontline- which never disappoints.

[@stephenwalker5712]

Agree and we’ll said.

[@AroundTheWorldWithEase]

One GOAT after another; my boy Tony Blinken who is now Sec of Defence, John Brennan former CIA Director (who knows “where the bodies are buried”) and yes, Julia Ioffe, who speaking here gave me the chills. However Masha is who I think of all the time, and doing a deep cut will reveal how funny they can be.

[@jehjey7626]

Masha Gessen is so insightful and knowledgeable. I had to write this out: 1:39:55 "...I don't think that Putin's reaction should be the consideration. I think we have known for a very, very long time that Putin is dead set on a particular course, and he's going to pursue it. When he gets very strong pushback, he steps back, and then he comes back again in the exact same direction, doing the exact same thing. The question should not be, what does Putin do? Obviously it's responsible to consider it, but it's not terribly complicated to predict what he is going to do. The question should be, what are our values, and what do we do in accordance with our values in this situation? The sanctions, I think are a very good example, right? The sanctions, as a strategic move, are a failure, and a predictable failure. The sanctions, as an expression of American values, wouldn't have been a failure if they had been framed and implemented that way, right? It is wrong to do business with a dictator. It is wrong to do business with a head of state or with a state that carries out the first forcible annexation of land in Europe since World War II. In accordance with those considerations, what does the United States do? It probably introduces similar sanctions. [It] doesn't do it step by step the way it was done, because it is not gradually more and more wrong to do business with that kind of state. It is instantly wrong to do business with that kind of state. So you introduce sanctions all at once, and perhaps in somewhat different areas, or perhaps not. But you don't do it step by step, becasue the step-by-step process was intended to show Putin that we mean business, and he has to stop. Like hell he's going to stop right? That is not the kind of pushback that will make him stop."

[@redgreen610]

Wow! I really learned something from this woman. I wish people like this were leading nations rather than analyzing those that are.

[@djape1977]

Woman, man, what is it in reality? Its a confused person and it's views are strongly influenced by that confusion

[@MsJezebel2012]

Masha Gessen does a great historical analysis, fabulous.

[@ssoozee]

It’s one thing to be smart and well-read - a historic scholar - focused on a person within a Russian epoch, but disseminating the facts in a clear and (more importantly) interesting way is another. Masha Gessen is brilliant, obviously, and so flipping interesting. And Masha, you’re rocking the whole look with the hair and glasses and suit. Yes!

[@andrewmanns7286]

⁹òòoò

[@subtropicalpermaculture]

I think she looks ridiculous

[@Cryin_Lion]

@@subtropicalpermaculture after listening to her speak your only (antiquated) response is to criticize her looks?

[@subtropicalpermaculture]

@@Cryin_Lion She's a liar . I find her endless lies and propaganda ridiculous and repulsive . Better?

[@susanl8478]

@@subtropicalpermaculture Look at all the fawning responses in the comments. All you have to do is cut your hair like a boy and use big words and you have the elite class wannabees in the palm of your hand. The lies? Oh well, they sound so good and make us all feel so smug ... while our Rome burns ,,, don't want to hear about all of that.

[@HermunthrudaWaldheim]

I am impressed. This video is so important now. I kearned so much. I watched it twice already.

[@dorothysay8327]

Superb interview. WOW.

[@marymclarnon759]

I’m astonished and excited that Masha is so knowledgeable and able to explain details of Putin’s foundation as a child/young man… and expresses this information very clearly… Masha please go on Rachel Maddow to continue your brilliant commentary…Mary

[@christopherelliot4964]

I'm positive they're already well acquainted...

[@nikk2472]

@@christopherelliot4964 lol

[@TheWlosser]

Go on tucker or fox! Maddow won’t do it she doesn’t like the truth!!

[@christopherelliot4964]

@@TheWlosser idiotic....

[@jhinfographics1927]

@@TheWlosser You are laughable ! LOL

[@samansiddiquie1902]

This is the kind of person I admire. And aspire to be. Learned and articulate.

[@Okijuben]

Admirable. Good luck in your quest for knowledge.

[@samansiddiquie1902]

@@Okijuben thank you. :) doing my best

[@caesarforlife1663]

A mind reader as well?

[@Okijuben]

@@caesarforlife1663 What's bothering you about our correspondence, friend?

[@joeblow5087]

I like the way Frontline publishes the entire interviews that go with their documentaries.

[@koizhu]

Наши леди говорят, а я не чувствую, что это было записано 5 лет назад Our ladies are talking and I don't feel like it was recorded 5 years ago

[@mackenziegoodwin459]

Fabulous interviews! Love the long form-- so informative. More of this, please!

[@billhart9832]

They are quite extraordinary. I treated this like a podcast concurrently doing some light background reading about Masha and their experiences in the USSR and later Russia after the collapse, and now from the USA as a matter of survival for their family. As has been commented here, this seems days old instead of nearly 5 years as they so vividly describe Putin's behavior and perhaps what deep-seated fears lead him to become so ruthless and vengeful. There are also insights into Russian life that Westerners would find shocking, such as 9th or 10th-grade students learning how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble a Kalashnikov (AK-47 or now AK-74), ironically at 47:47 in the video, though this coincidence is from the most important of the many revelations made herein. I'm grateful on this occasion for the KZbins algorithm placing this before me at this particular time in history.

[@HladniSjeverniVjetar]

The AK 47 "practice" was widespread all over communist eastern Europe after ww2, it's not only common for Russia... it was due to general mobilization and heavy partisan presence during ww2 so it was thought that if anything happens again its for the best that people should know such stuff. Different times different customs.

[@frederickhartray9701]

Ruthless and vengeful? Jimmy Carter is probably the only US president in my lifetime who dropped fewer bombs than Putin. That does not mean I approve of what Putin is doing but common how many regime change wars has the US fought in the last 20 years. This propagandist brainwashing is the reason the US enters so many wars and brought this situation to a head with the Obama, McCain coup in 2014.

[@bibitiptoes1473]

Westerners would find shocking that teens learn how to disassemble a gun? What type of Westerners are we talking? I hope not "bring your gun to school" Westerners, or "this is your eleventh birthday, Bobby Lee, here's your glog, yeeha"- kind of Westerners.

[@69joeyc]

This is the best analysis out of all the contributors to this series. Admiration for this level of insight.

[@steppenwolf3252]

I've seen this in sociopaths. They read you and then use that knowledge to their advantabe, allowing you to project your own idea onto them. Once they get into their goal, they can drop the facade and you wonder why you ever thought he was someone you could trust.

[@steppenwolf3252]

They are missing empathy or conscience or remorse and don't understand those traits. But they know how to mimic those emotions for at least long enough to achieve their goal.

[@mishacknthane1060]

She tornado of a woman, her intellectual prowess unparalleled, that she can analyze the despot sitting in Moscow with such precision is astonishing

[@valcalif]

That's because she grew up in Russia.

[@simonlee8889]

Not it's not. What's astonishing is that you believe it all..

[@mishacknthane1060]

Give your side of the story and rebut her anaylis

[@simonlee8889]

@@mishacknthane1060 she says herself that it's 'all conjecture'. LISTEN to her.. not just swallow her fictionalized version of Putin's life and more importantly her fictionalized version of his character and his motives. The majority of what comes out of her mouth are not facts but interpretation. If you cannot see this, then there is no hope of me persuading you otherwise. And, in reality, you want to believe her, so there is nothing I can do or say anyway.

[@mishacknthane1060]

Who said I'm swallowing what she is saying I'm a student of international affairs and I hate despotism when it is done by Zuma, Mugabe, Bush, saddam or Putin I'm saying give your version to counter her analysis.

[@hermanwills7440]

Brilliant interview. talks more sense in depth & seems to understand Putin better than many politicians especially American one's.

[@irinaforman75]

One of the smartest people. Music to ears

[@xelakram]

A truly excellent synopsis. Thank you! I have learnt so much from this interview.

[@narongroad7916]

Fascinating.

[@xkv8ter]

Agreed

[@MsRiverside6]

Wow What an amazingly informed and articulate woman. I learned more during her interview than I ever did in Grad school.

[@MsEmworld]

Do you capitalize "Grad" to avoid anyone thinking that you may have accidentally left an "e" at the end of "grad"? 😁 just curious!😁

[@Thepathof77]

She is incredible to listen to. Very neutral, incredibly informative

[@samidanger3666]

It's bizarre how often really strange cruel men work their way into positions of immense power

[@andrewwells6323]

I love Masha, very insightful. Brilliant and brave woman.

[@dm3199]

He is a woman?

[@andrewwells6323]

Not funny.

[@dm3199]

Andrew Wells indeed especially all the unsubstantiated and unchallenged bullshit coming out of her mouth.

[@Shyguyexplores]

Be careful if you say woman, you can get in big trouble for that.

[@thephoenix756]

@@dm3199 Mesha is female, so how can Mesha be called "he"?

[@chiquitafeldberg8512]

You need to read one of the most astounding books ever written. Its called The Gulag Archipelago written by one of the most compassionate and intense author's of our times, Alexander Solzhenitsyn... you will never think the same again. After you read that, you will know why Putin calls himself chosen. It's not for the reasons you starkly suggest.

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

^^ This. ^^

[@dork23wa36]

And also Solzhenitsyn's Two Hundred Years Together.

[@moirataylor9072]

A phenomenal interview. Huge in-depth knowledge, astonishing facility in delivery. Thank you Masha.

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

It was discovered that most of it was made up.

[@kakistocracyusa]

​@@moirataylor9072 The only thing phenomenal about this overly-promoted interview is that the character assassination performed by this 3rd-rate biographer (consistent with 3rd-rate biographers, full of catty language, hearsay, opinion, hyperbolic inferences about how others "felt", and other editorialization) is a harbinger of continued provocation of Russia by NATO and NATO/US propaganda efforts,

[@stephaniebartsch4807]

This interview is amazing, so deep into the psyche of Putin. Historically and culturally is explaining and adding depth to the background of Russia.

[@caesarforlife1663]

It's largely all speculation. Thinking you can understand people's motives, feelings or thought is pure arrogance and fiction in my opinion.

[@billflythe4092]

Brilliant insights elegantly and effectively stated

[@sregan5415]

"He will risk everything he has worked for in life, for the opportunity to vengefully lash out" - does not bode well for now.

[@intercat4907]

The conversation around 35:00 resonated strongly with me. The West also put tremendous optimism into the image of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, the elegant, educated Mexican President who seemed so perfectly the contemporary and counterpart of Clinton and Gore. We are seeking Camelot figures; perhaps Walt Disney has as much to answer for in our politics as in our expectations of romance.

[@MD-md4th]

The West does it constantly. Even when a person is not attractive - Hillary, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, the Squad, a number of gay men - the journals of the Degenerate Left put them on pedestals of style and grace. The deification of political “power couples” is another example.

[@forreal245]

@@MD-md4th Add the Kardashians to your list. Lol.

[@peacenik5104]

@@MD-md4th ya, like Ivanka and Jared! ... You need better disinformation than that!

[@MD-md4th]

Exactly who made Ivanka and Jared into something special? Nobody. They were pretty much reviled by all. On the other hand Yulia Tymoshenko with her ridiculous hair is another one the left tried to make into royalty.

[@KM-nd6wj]

@@MD-md4th Very rich reading this. Not like the right didn’t elevate someone who to me, has way too many similarities to Putin. Put on a pedestal by his parents, entitled, fearful, feeling betrayed wanting revenge, making threats, lying, trying to discredit the free flow of information by controlling the narrative (with Murdoch at Fox),putting out a narrative true or not, burning documents, claiming he’s protecting when he’s hurting. Very Interesting.

[@pippalefebvre5575]

Read her book “The Man Without a Face.” It is brilliant. I read it twice! She explains so much about Putin and the formation of his character and why he was so appealing to Russians at the time. It’s really so thorough, so well done, and so insightful.

[@Chrisander90]

Wow, the way Masha structure her analysis made me think she was a lawyer. She makes such a sound argument as a journalist that’s refreshing to see. It’s a shame more journalists aren’t like this.

[@galanis38]

Indeed she has structured her analysis, and presents it in a calm and measured way, also showing meticulous and indeed informative knowledge of the historical environments in which Putin was born and later worked and developed in. On the other hand much of this is her own interpretation, frequently based on conjecture and also frequently on assumptions that Putin's own telling of his story is for the most part untrue even when the facts are lacking to back such assumptions. These are flaws in her analysis. And finally, this conversation falls into the syndrome of obsession approaching the cult-like, particularly in the US, Canada, and Britain in recent years, with analyzing the person and character of Putin as if that's the sole factor controlling events in and with Russia, including the war underway at this moment, which is by no means only "Putin's war."

[@garrettgrant1264]

Julia Ioffe, another amazing journalist on Russia, made a good point on Colbert saying that Ukranians fight so fiercly because they remember what life was like before democracy. I imagine the same of Russian journalists. We Americans (including too many journalists) take our democracy for granted!

[@estherstrategicadvisor749]

@@galanis38 WHO else is this war fir OR what other name would you give this war other than "Putin's War ?" Russian citizens are bombarded with propaganda and protesters have been arrested. So any support from them is waived because of that....

[@islabee94]

@@galanis38 the point being made wasn't that her analysis was flawless, the point was that she did her job extremely well. Which she did.

[@JavierBonillaC]

This lady is so clever, well spoken and structured that Ím in awe.

[@simonlee8889]

clearly you're in awe.. otherwise you might actually hear it when she says 'obviously it's all conjecture'...

[@22ergie]

@@simonlee8889 ...you're a broken record...

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

Get out of the house much, sir? =D

[@22ergie]

@@LittleLouieLagazza If he does (doubtful), I bet he's fun at parties, if he's even invited, (doubtful).

[@peepindis]

@Simon Lee she was speaking on sketchy, unknowable details about his childhood when she said that. Her evaluation of present-day Putin is educated, informed by psychology, sociology, and first-person accounts. It'a well articulated. I'm sorry for you that's she didn't have more flattering things to say about the man who kills his political opponents and threatens nuclear war. What did you expectm

[@TeNBeeS7]

this is fantastic covering so much in depth .. a huge thanx for sharing-posting-producing

[@nurse12320]

Thank you for the insightful information.

[@elenalatici9568]

Masha Gessen's knowledge of Putin os encyclopedic. Extraordinary interview, both questions and answers. Gessen explains how we got to where we are step by step, and she did it 5 years ago!