Killing Navalny

Vladislav Davidzon and I discuss Mike Johnson's obstinacy Navalny's murder, the fate of our allies, and the future of the West. Meanwhile, Putin prepares to grab Moldova.

Russian soldiers pose in front of a ruined building in Avdiivka, appropriately, with a map of the “Russian World.” (Look closely at that map.)

Over the weekend, Vladislav Davidzon joined me on the Cosmopolicast to discuss the murder of Navalny and the House GOP’s block on aid to Ukraine.

Zoom has a new AI that takes minutes of your meetings. Here’s its earnest account of our conversation:

Summary: Vladislav, who is in New York City, joined the meeting and shared his experiences and insights about recent events, specifically regarding Congress and the death of Navalny. Claire requested a concise summary of the situation, and Vladislav agreed to provide it.

Republicans’ Stance on Ukraine Discussed: Vladislav and Claire discussed the political dynamics surrounding the Congressional Republicans’ stance on Ukraine. Vladislav explained that many Republicans are wary of backing Ukraine due to concerns about their base, who will primary them if they provide assistance to Ukraine. He noted that only certain arguments, such as those centered on preserving Western civilization and Christianity, seem to resonate with this demographic. Claire questioned the validity of these claims and their source, which Vladislav clarified were from Ukrainian lobbyists and staffers. He also estimated that around 50 Republicans are either nervous about potential challengers in their districts or are genuinely aligned with Trump's ideology. The conversation ended with an unanswered question about why the Speaker is hesitant to bring the matter to a vote.

Political Leaders’ Inexperience Debated. Vladislav and Claire had a heated discussion about the political scenarios in America and Eastern Europe. They particularly focused on an individual who gained power without significant experience. In America, they questioned the intelligence and understanding of a person who was chosen due to political contingencies and might be pressured to act by Democrats. They also discussed a person in Eastern Europe who is aware of the political dynamics but is hesitant to act due to potential backlash from his base. They explored the possibility of him feeling trapped, and questioned his understanding of the potential consequences of his actions. [Zoom’s AI got mighty confused here.]

Ukraine Concerns and US Politics. Vladislav shared his concerns about the situation in Ukraine, noting that many people there are worried and trying to understand the ongoing events. He also discussed the difficulty of influencing US senators, despite the potential benefits of supporting Ukraine. Claire agreed with Vladislav’s observations, expressing dismay at the complexity of the situation. [I did no such thing—Claire.] They also touched upon the issue of US senators voting against their constituents’ interests, with Vladislav pointing out that even Republican representatives from states with arms or tank factories did not support the bill. The conversation concluded without a clear resolution, highlighting the challenges in advocating for change.

Voter Hostility Towards Ukraine Discussed. Claire and Vladislav discussed the reasons behind the hostility of some voters towards Ukraine. Vladislav suggested that the underlying factors were Donald Trump’s positioning, war fatigue from prolonged conflicts, and a failure of the Ukrainians in their education campaign. He also emphasized that the Ukrainian side had not done enough diplomatically, focusing too much on those already supportive and not enough on those who could be swayed. The conversation also touched on the polarization in American society and the difficulty of having rational discussions on contentious issues.

Navalny’s Opposition and Carlson’s Psychology. Vladislav suggested it was a predictable outcome due to Navalny’s opposition to the regime and shared that he had written an essay on the topic for Tablet Magazine. Both agreed that Carlson’s actions are driven by psychological factors rather than financial or political motivations.

American Foreign Policy Instability Discussion. Vladislav and Claire engaged in a discussion about the instability of American foreign policy, with a focus on the impacts of these shifting policies on America’s allies. They agreed that every administration brings a new foreign policy, which is causing uncertainty among allies. They also considered the options available to these allies, such as developing their own nuclear weapons, capitulating to local hegemons, or developing their own conventional arms industries. They also touched on the potential consequences of these changes, including the risk of nuclear proliferation. Vladislav expressed his pessimism about the future stability of the international system, while Claire agreed with his assessment.

Decline of Spiritual Values Discussed. Claire and Vladislav discussed their views on the state of the West, focusing on the decline in spiritual values, discipline, and focus.Vladislav, in particular, lamented the loss of martial virtues, competence, and the ability to stand up for values. He criticized the secularization and loss of deep cultural religious structures, and suggested that wokeness did not provide a satisfactory replacement. The conversation ended without a clear resolution or next steps.

Ukraine Conflict’s Impact on Western Culture. Vladislav and Claire discussed the impact of the Ukraine conflict on people in the West. Vladislav pointed out that the war had stirred strong emotions and memories for those with ties to the region, and criticized the decadence of Western culture for not being able to understand or participate effectively in the situation. They concluded the discussion by agreeing to continue the conversation in a future podcast.

Next steps. Next steps were not generated due to insufficient transcript.