This week’s special episode opens with a news round-up, asking once again–who paid $500,000 to bail George Santos out of jail, and what do they expect in return? Nikki Halely’s genocidal hate speech against trans people gets fact-checked. (Halely is reportedly the Kushner’s horse in the race in their attempt at a comeback.) Mike Pence formally announced he’s running for president, presenting an opportunity on the debate stage to talk about that time Trump’s violent mob chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!” 

At the top of the show, there’s a special highlight of Russia’s explosion of a dam in the southern Ukraine region of Kherson, flooding the homes of thousands of people as well as drowning a zoo. To explain the stakes for Ukraine and the world in its existential struggle against Russia’s genocidal invasion, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch drops by Gaslit Nation. Ambassador Yovanovitch was targeted by the dark web of corruption driven by Trump and Rudy Giuliani. She shares her harrowing story in her inspiring memoir Lessons from the Edge, out now in paperback with a new afterword. 

Got questions? We got answers! This week’s bonus episode out Friday will provide a deep dive on the news, point to where things are headed, and answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. To submit your questions and get access to bonus shows, live events and our full back catalog of bonus episodes, be sure to subscribe to Gaslit Nation on Patreon! We’ll be back with a live taping of Gaslit Nation on Tuesday June 27 at 12pm EST with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman. If you’re signed up at the Truth-teller level or higher, look out for a link sent to your inbox the morning of the event on how to join. We look forward to seeing you there and invite you to drop your questions in the chat! 

Show Notes:

• Opening clip of George Santos: https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1666151233780871168

• Listen: Trump tells associates to ‘get rid of’ U.S. ambassador to Ukraine https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/25/trump-yovanovitch-video/

• Yovanovitch: Any Concerns With Alexandra Chalupa 'Would Have Been Handled Here' | NBC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxeo57ZXXWg

• US life expectancy problem is ‘bigger than we ever thought,’ report finds https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/06/02/us-life-expectancy/70272442007/

• Nikki Haley Blames Trans Visibility for Teen Girls' Suicide Ideation https://www.advocate.com/politics/nikki-haley-dylan-mulvaney

• Former counsel to Mike Pence testifies at Jan. 6 committee hearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0nF9x7XaNY

• The Russian invasion of Russia continues: https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1665446051564617730

• Ukraine far-right expert Anton Shekhovtsov’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/anton.shekhovtsov

• Putin deep fake video: https://twitter.com/mjluxmoore/status/1665704948187668488

• Tara Reade Exiles Herself to Russia https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1664083722902052865