Paul Jay rejects the false choice between  "Putin as a new Hitler" and the anti-NATO Left's defense of Russia. Under the UN Charter and Nuremberg principles, Russia's invasion is a war of aggression — there was no imminent threat and no "sphere of influence" justifies it. At the same time, NATO expansion was provocative and deceptive, and the U.S. refusal to take it off the table helped set the stage for war.

The discussion highlights:

•The Ukrainian people's right to self-determination and to overthrow their own oligarchy;

• how the Iraq War normalized lawless aggression and weakened global norms;

• the role of Russian, Ukrainian, U.S., and European oligarchies in prolonging the conflict;

• why parts of the Left blur first principles by excusing one imperialism to oppose another;

• China's strategic interest in sustaining the conflict;

• Ukraine and Gaza serve as "battle labs" for AI weapons and companies like Palantir.

• NATO functions as a "protection racket," getting Europe to increase military spending to 5%.

• and why a negotiated peace — even with territorial concessions — may be necessary to create space for democratic struggle against oligarchic power on all sides.

With host Barry Stevens.