The hosts discuss Stalin's bizarre childhood, his outmaneuvering of Trotsky, his superb use of propaganda, the great purge of suspected dissidents, how agricultural collectivization lead to famine, his leadership during World War 2 and his eventual death.
They also discuss Putin's early life as a KGB agent, his rise to power within the Russian Federation, his capitalization on the Chechen war, control of the media, murder of dissenters, meddling in US elections, the Syrian civil war and invasion of Ukraine.