It’s been a while since Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, author of The Last Pioneer, and I caught up.

I’ve been sitting in a courtroom listening to the pre-trial hearings in the case of Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, for what feels like eternity, even though it’s only been three weeks.

The headlines regarding talks with Russia and Ukraine seem to be the same as they were when the hearings began.

Jared Kushner has entered the fray. He and Steve Witkoff will be meeting this weekend with Russian counterparts in Miami. This follows meetings with the Ukrainians; more meetings with Russians; and so on…

It feels a bit like groundhog day - and, according to Mikhail it is! Unless, he says, the US invades Venezuela, which is, reportedly, what Tucker Carlson is either prophesying or threatening…

The price of oil is the one thing that might pressure Putin to do…..something. Otherwise, says Mikhail, he has no incentive to stop the war. The war is the mechanism by which he is able to control his country.

Mikhail also explains that when Putin described the European leaders, Ukraine’s allies as “piggys’ or “little pigs” the insult was worse than might be realized by Westerners.

And he gets into the court case that has got Russians all riled up against the judicial system….

And much, much more!!!

Thank you David M Perry, Noble Blend, Jeanne Elbe, Marjory Button, StandUp12, and many others for tuning into my live video with Mikhail Zygar! Join me for my next live video in the app.

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