February 20 marks two years since Putin launched his total war in Ukraine. February also marks the assassination of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, gunned down in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015, on the eve of his anti-war march. And now Alexei Navalny, killed in a Siberian gulag, his body reportedly covered in bruises and kept from his family.
It may seem like Putin is winning, with Trump sailing into the Republican nomination, and MAGA lackey Mike Johnson deliberately stopping aid to Ukraine in Congress, costing countless lives and helping Russia advance. And the breaking news this week: Republicans in Congress based their impeachment proceeding of Biden on a Russian intelligence op, pulling out all the stops to help Trump steal the White House with the Kremlin’s help, again. One thing is clear: Putin is scared. The reality is that Putin’s fragile house of cards has turned Russia into a powder keg, as Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, vows to continue her husband’s work.
In this special episode, Andrea and Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack discuss the assassintion of Navalny and the work ahead to build a meaningful opposition, the mainstream media continuing to normalize Trump by labeling his 16-week abortion ban as “less restrictive”, and the triumph of Black prosecutors Tish James and Fani Willis in the larger American story of hard-fought progress.
This week’s bonus show answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. (If you haven’t submitted your questions yet, get ‘em in for next week’s Q&A!) Inspired by our listeners, this week’s bonus show covers prison incarceration rates in the U.S. vs. Russia and what that can tell us about our homegrown authoritarian threats in the GOP, whether voting by mail is safe this election (it is!), and more!
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Show Notes:
Event: Thursday February 29 at 1pm – Russian-diaspora led roundtable on Russian anti-war activities
https://www.facebook.com/events/439307928421886
Republicans in Congress initiated an impeachment proceeding of Biden based on a Russian intelligence op: https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/1760122411016421457
Thread: “JUST IN: Alexander Smirnov told the feds during an interview after his arrest that ‘officials associated with Russian intelligence’ were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden.” https://twitter.com/alanfeuer/status/1760056078992081166
Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/alexander-smirnov-hunter-biden/index.html
Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served With Human Trafficking Lawsuit Miscavige had reportedly evaded process servers 27 times over four months before a judge said he was considered served.
Donald Trump Tells Allies He Backs 16-Week Abortion Ban GOP frontunner backs less restrictive ban than many in party Biden stepping up attacks on Trump over abortion restrictions https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-16/trump-tells-allies-he-backs-16-week-abortion-ban?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=politics
“Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Alexei Navalny, received a standing ovation from the audience as she began a speech to the Munich Security Conference just hours after hearing about the “horrific news” of her husband’s death.”
https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1758526751611802082
Police have detained several people at a makeshift gathering in memory of @Navalny in Moscow, as others throw snow & shout "shame!"
https://twitter.com/AlecLuhn/status/1758549540108411094
“Fox Host: I think you could venture to wonder if Navalny would have died, been treated how he was, if there were a different president in office”
https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1758543958773293089
“Statement about Navalny from Zelensky, a man who understands that Putin plans the same fate for him and the other leaders of Ukraine.”
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1758541607723299277
“Outside the Russian embassy in Belgrade, some folks not happy about the Navalny thing.”
https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1758539061629796446
“Today in Moscow, individuals are quietly forming lines to place flowers in memory of Navalny, the sole mode of silent protest permitted by the authorities at this time.” https://twitter.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1758543715059282420
“"Alexei Navalny was asked what his message would be to people if he was killed. His response from the Academy Award winning documentary about him directed by @DanielRoher"” https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1758556265285042284
"Fani Willis: Let’s go on and have a conversation. I don't need anything from a man. A man is not a plan. A man is a companion. I don't need anybody to foot my bills. The only man who has foot my bills completely is my daddy. @Acyn"
https://twitter.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1758247461993283909
Tulsi Gabbard, Rand Paul Placed on List of Russian Propagandists by Ukraine
https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-rand-paul-placed-list-russian-propagandists-ukraine-1727831
Justice Department Transfers Approximately $500,000 in Forfeited Russian Funds to Estonia for Benefit of Ukraine
Alexei Navalny death latest: Putin critic’s mother won’t see body for 14 days ‘as chemical analysis ordered’
Arrests, vigils, and Kremlin silence: Russia marks Alexey Navalny’s death
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/18/europe/russia-alexey-navalny-arrests-death-intl/index.html
Inside Polar Wolf, the sadistic centrepiece of Putin’s gulag archipelago Conditions in the Arctic penal colony where Alexei Navalny died are essentially 'legalised torture', say survivors
Kremlin runs disinformation campaign to undermine Zelensky, documents show
Counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing Avdiivka: Russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, IFVs
Life Imitates Art as a ‘Master and Margarita’ Movie Stirs Russia An American director’s adaptation of the beloved novel is resonating with moviegoers, who may recognize some similarities in its satire of authoritarian rule.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/movies/master-and-margarita-movie-russia-reaction.html
Fact-checking Trump’s comments urging Russia to invade ‘delinquent’ NATO members
Black Diplomats Podcast: https://www.blackdiplomats.net/
Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/
Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!
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