Donald Trump is Backing Putin and Selling Out Ukrainians. My guest is Volodymyr Dubovyk, a Senior Fellow at CEPA. In South Korea this week, the specter of authoritarianism briefly materialized when Prime Minister Yoon declared martial law. Although it lasted only hours, Yoon may have felt encouraged by the incoming Trump administration. While democratic forces prevailed in South Korea this time, Ukraine's situation is very different.

In Kyiv, we witnessed something previously unthinkable: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has steadfastly maintained Ukraine's right to complete territorial integrity since Russia's invasion, appeared to blink against Putin.

Zelenskyy's new apparent openness to the temporary Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory marks a dramatic shift in position—one that reveals both the mounting pressure on Ukraine's military and democracy and the growing recognition of the evaporating Western resolve.

The Trump administration is stumbling over itself in floating peace proposals that align with Russian interests, even before potentially taking office. They even dispatched their new advisor to the Kremlin, only to be dismissed by Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.

However, this dismissal wasn't a rejection of diplomacy but a calculated message. Why rush to negotiate when military realities and global dynamics increasingly favor Russian objectives? 

It seems unavoidable that we will march into 2025 in a manner reminiscent of how the world marched into Munich in 1938. 

Just as Chamberlain convinced himself that sacrificing part of Czechoslovakia might satisfy Hitler's ambitions, we are watching the potential next U.S. administration craft peace proposals that would effectively validate Putin's territorial conquests.

Get used to it, folks—we're witnessing a seismic shift in the global democratic order. It’s the first time we've sacrificed the principles of territorial integrity and democratic self-determination, which are the cornerstones of the post-World War II international system. These principles are being reconsidered in real time.

So yes, elections have consequences, and these developments do not make one feel very good. However, there is a lesson in the events that just happened in South Korea: it took a unanimous vote of parliament and some street protests, but martial law only lasted six hours, and now Yoon faces impeachment. 

Putin may feel emboldened by recent events and by Zelenskyy's apparent concession, but he is still facing the resolve of the Ukrainian people. When people stand up to these paper strongmen, they are often defeated. When the rule of law is maintained, strongmen will back down.

When the American people apply pressure—publicly and through the media—we too can urge Donald Trump to protect the people of Ukraine and never surrender.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

READ MORE OF OLGA LAUTMAN’S WORK AT HER SUBSTACK.

This revealing episode deconstructs the sophisticated Russian influence operation that delivered Trump's 2024 victory. While conventional wisdom suggests Harris lost due to poor messaging and economic concerns, our investigation exposes a military-grade information warfare campaign orchestrated by the Kremlin and executed through Elon Musk's media empire.

Expert guest Olga Lautman explains how Russia spent over $45 billion building an "information laundering machine" that weaponized X/Twitter and right-wing media to divide American voters systematically. The operation included a sophisticated $45 million psychological warfare campaign targeting specific demographics with contradictory messages, coordinated bomb threats in Georgia, and strategic algorithm manipulation.

Most chillingly, Putin's likely successor, Nikolai Patrushev, issued what amounts to a mafia-style threat, declaring Trump has "obligations to fulfill" after receiving Russian help. We explore what these obligations likely entail: a $2 trillion "shock therapy" economic plan designed to destabilize America, withdraw from global leadership, and enable Russian expansion.

As Germany prepares for potential war and Russia eyes further territorial gains, we examine how America faces its greatest crisis since the Civil War. This wasn't just election interference—it was a carefully orchestrated operation to capture American democracy itself. With expert insight from Lautman, we discuss what to expect in the coming months and how Americans can resist as their country faces unprecedented challenges.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. And as a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."

These chilling words, delivered by Nikolai Patrushev—Putin's likely successor and former head of the FSB—confirm what our three-year investigation has uncovered: a sophisticated Russian influence operation with Elon Musk at its center, designed to deliver both the presidency and America's future to Vladimir Putin.The Web of Influence

Our investigation reveals three interconnected operations:

1. The Platform Play: Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) wasn't just a business deal—it was a strategic takeover of America's digital town square. By 2024, algorithm changes amplified extremist content while Russian propaganda flowed freely.
2. The Money Trail: Russian oligarch families facilitated the X purchase, creating a direct line between the Kremlin and America's most influential social platform.
3. The Policy Puppet: Musk's daily presence at Mar-a-Lago isn't coincidental. He's orchestrating a $2 trillion "shock therapy" economic plan that economists warn could devastate the American economy—exactly as similar measures did in Argentina.

Eight years ago, I wrote "The Russia House," detailing Russian influence in Trump's first administration. Many called it impossible. Now, Putin's top security official openly declares that the President-elect has "obligations that must be fulfilled."

This isn't just another story about Russian interference. It's about the systematic dismantling of American democracy through economic warfare, information manipulation, and direct control of government operations.

When I wrote The Russia House eight years ago, it was a warning. Tonight's story is different. This isn't about what might happen—it's about what is happening right now, in plain sight, and what will happen if these plans are allowed to proceed.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump Campaign attracted some Black, Hispanic, and Jewish voters, says Carl Allen, author of "The Polls Weren't Wrong."

Trump's path to victory in 2024 wasn't through his base alone—it was through precision targeting of key demographic groups that traditionally lean Democratic. The margins were razor-thin, but the strategy was effective.

The Math 

Trump started with his rock-solid 47-48% base. They needed new voters outside of their base. They targeted demographics in traditional democratic demos. 

- Young Black men: Support doubled from 15% to 30%

- Hispanic men: Achieved majority support

- Jewish voters: Showed increased support amid Gaza conflict

"Trump didn't overwhelmingly win these groups," Allen explains. "He squeezed an extra 2-3% here and there. But 2% of a small group, plus 2% of another small group—it adds up."

The Perception Game

Perhaps most striking was how Trump won the economic narrative. Despite often vague policy proposals ("concepts of a plan," as Allen puts it), Trump successfully conveyed a simple message: he's better for jobs and wallets.

"We're reaching this point where perception outweighs policy," Allen notes. "The perception of a candidate's position is far more important than their actual policies."

The Democratic Dilemma

The interview reveals a sobering reality: Democratic policies on abortion, minimum wage, and economics poll well individually. Yet the party struggled to translate this into electoral victory.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, the final margins tell the story:

- Trump: ~49.5%

- Harris: Just under 49%

Pennsylvania saw Trump just over 50%, Harris at 48.5%.

Looking Forward

The data suggests this wasn't just an Electoral College victory—Trump appears positioned to win the popular vote for the first time since 2004. It's a watershed moment that demands Democratic soul-searching about messaging and voter outreach.

As Allen observes: "Traditional media is fading in importance... authentically reaching people, that's where podcasts have an advantage over things like commercials and mainstream cable news appearances."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What began as a day marked by Russian interference - from FBI warnings about Russian-originated bomb threats at polling stations to debunked deep-fake videos - ended with an electoral outcome that seemed to follow a Russian-crafted narrative.

Our show began confidently at 9:30 PM ET, with Dean Blundell and Spencer “Spenny” Rice joining me to witness what we expected to be a historic victory for Kamala Harris. The mood was light, even celebratory. "Dancing in the streets by 11:30," we predicted.

But as the night progressed, the numbers shifted dramatically. One by one, the critical swing states fell: Michigan (+90,820 for Trump), Wisconsin (a razor-thin +29,797), Pennsylvania (+153,204), and Georgia (+117,384).

By the time foreign policy expert Rick Petrie joined our panel, what had started as a celebration had transformed into growing concern about the integrity of what we were witnessing. 

By morning, what seemed impossible at 9:30 PM had become reality - Donald Trump had secured victory in nearly every battleground state, with margins that defied both polling and campaign internal numbers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Elon Musk confirmed his support for implementing $2 trillion in federal budget cuts, which he describes as necessary "shock therapy" for the U.S. economy. Musk laid out his vision at Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, stating, "Your money is being wasted. We'll get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook".

When asked directly about the economic impact of these cuts, Musk responded, "Sounds about right," to the prediction of severe market disruption and economic contraction. The proposed $2 trillion reduction represents nearly one-third of the current $6.13 trillion federal budget.

Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement these cuts. The Wall Street Journal reported that throughout this period, Musk maintained regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his first deputy, Sergei Kerienko, since late 2022.

The economic model for these cuts appears to mirror the "shock therapy" policies implemented in Argentina under Javier Milei, which has led to:

- Inflation at 230%

- Unemployment rising from 12% to 18%

- Poverty increasing from 42% to 53%

Musk has become Trump's most prominent financial backer through his America PAC, contributing $118 million of his own money. This level of financial support, combined with his proposed role overseeing budget cuts, would give him unprecedented influence over both fiscal policy and public discourse through his ownership of X/Twitter.

The proposed cuts would require significant reductions to core government services, including Medicare and Social Security, and eliminating multiple federal agencies. While critics argue this would cause severe economic disruption, Musk maintains these measures are necessary for long-term prosperity.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dean Blundell joins Zev Shalev for the third installment of Narativ Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a list of members of Parliament who are either actively engaged with or at high risk of foreign interference, putting Parliament Hill in crisis. The bombshell disclosure came at Canada's Foreign Interference Inquiry, during which Trudeau expressed frustration at Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre's continued refusal to receive top-secret security briefings about the threat.

I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, and/or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada, who are engaged or at high risk of, or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference," 

PM Justin Trudeau under oath.

The Prime Minister emphasized that his government has directed CSIS to inform the Conservative Party leader about these security risks, but Poilievre's refusal to receive classified briefings means "nobody in his party, nobody in a position of power knows the names of these individuals and can take appropriate action."

Indian Government's Deep Infiltration Exposed

The revelations come amid mounting evidence of Indian government interference in Canadian politics. The RCMP has uncovered evidence linking Indian government agents to a campaign of violence, including homicides, coercion, and extortion on Canadian soil.

In a dramatic development, Trudeau confirmed he confronted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these allegations during what he described as a "very uncomfortable" conversation at the G20 summit. The Prime Minister disclosed that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada had allegedly leveraged their positions to engage in clandestine intelligence-gathering activities.

Conservative Party Operative Under Investigation

Adding to the growing scandal, recent reports indicate that Arpan Khanna, who served as Pierre Poilievre's Ontario co-chair during his successful leadership campaign, is under investigation by CSIS for potentially receiving support from the Indian government. 

Khanna's nomination in the Oxford riding has come under particular scrutiny. Two senior riding officials resigned in protest, claiming the party leadership "hijacked" the process to favor Khanna.

About Dean Blundell

Dean Blundell, a legendary figure in Canadian broadcasting who hosted the boundary-pushing morning show on Toronto's 102.1 The Edge (2001-2014) and later Fan 590, has transformed from self-described "shock jock" to one of Canada's most important investigative voices through his Dean Blundell Show podcast and Crier Media empire. Under the Crier Media banner, which operates dozens of podcasts and works with a collective of reporters, journalists, and lawyers while maintaining complete independence by refusing government funding, Blundell has emerged as a leading investigator of foreign interference in Canadian politics, breaking significant stories about threats to democracy that mainstream media outlets often hesitate to cover, including early reporting on Pierre Poilievre's refusal to obtain national security clearance and exposing connections between Canadian conservative movements and international actors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our latest analysis projects Kamala Harris as the probable winner of the 2024 election, with a likely path to 292 electoral votes. Election expert Carl Allen's independent forecast supports this projection, rating Harris as the more likely winner. His models even show a possible more decisive outcome, in which Democrats could sweep all swing states.

Probable Path to Victory: 

The most likely scenario shows Harris securing traditional blue-wall states (Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania) while adding North Carolina, creating multiple viable paths to victory even if she loses one blue-wall state. This probable path puts Harris at 292 electoral votes compared to Trums’s forecast, showing potential for an even stronger Democratic performance.

Michigan appears the most volatile of the blue wall states, with both campaigns wrestling over significant voter shifts. Despite Republicans registering more new voters than expected and potential losses of 50,000-150,000 traditionally Democratic voters over Gaza, Allen's polling average still shows Harris maintaining a likely lead at 48.5% to Trump's 48%. The GOP's strategic pivot to early voting could prove decisive. While they celebrate narrower Democratic early voting margins, Allen warns they may be "cannibalizing" their crucial Election Day turnout.

In Allen's analysis, Wisconsin emerges as the most vulnerable blue-wall state, with a lower concentration of urban Democratic voters than Pennsylvania and Michigan. While Harris currently leads in Wisconsin, Allen rates it as the most likely blue-wall state to flip red—a scenario that would cost Democrats 10 electoral votes but likely wouldn't be fatal to Harris's chances if she secures other swing states.

North Carolina has become the Democrats' probable safety net, consistently showing Harris at 49% to Trump's 47% across multiple polls. The state's shifting media landscape and the toxic effect of Republican gubernatorial candidate Robinson's scandals have created likely Democratic strength. Trump's hasty addition of an unplanned North Carolina rally signals Republican anxiety about a state that could provide Harris with probable electoral insurance if any blue wall state falters.

Republicans' strategic shift to early voting will probably backfire by reducing their traditional Election Day advantage. With 19 million votes already cast and Democrats building strong early voting margins, the GOP faces a changed electoral landscape that likely complicates their path to victory. Despite prediction markets favoring Trump, Allen sees no data supporting him as even a probable favorite, suggesting market manipulation may be at play.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The secretive Catholic organization Opus Dei has emerged as a powerful force in American conservative politics, wielding outsized influence on key issues like abortion, the Supreme Court, and threats to democracy. In a revealing interview, investigative journalist Gareth Gore, author of the new book "Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church," exposes Opus Dei's hidden networks and agenda.

Key revelations:

• Opus Dei operates as a shadowy intelligence network within the Catholic Church, gathering information on members and strategically placing allies in positions of power.
• The group has deep ties to conservative politics in the U.S., with close connections to figures like Leonard Leo, Bill Barr, JD Vance and others shaping the Supreme Court and Republican policy.
• Opus Dei recruits aggressively, often targeting minors as young as 12-13 years old using cult-like tactics.
• A Spanish bank hijacked by Opus Dei funneled billions of dollars into the organization's global expansion, including major initiatives in Washington D.C.
• The group is currently facing human trafficking charges in Argentina for exploiting young women as unpaid domestic servants.

Gore argues Opus Dei represents a serious threat to democracy, pushing an authoritarian agenda cloaked in religious language. As America approaches a pivotal election, understanding Opus Dei's influence and tactics is crucial for voters concerned about the future of democratic institutions.

This eye-opening conversation sheds light on one of the most secretive and influential organizations operating in American politics today. Gore's meticulously researched book "Opus" is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the hidden forces shaping our political landscape.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The parallels between 2024 and 2016 are striking and impossible to ignore:

• Trump as the Candidate: Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, and that entails unprecedented support from Russia. 
• Female Democratic Nominee: Like Hillary Clinton in 2016, Kamala Harris faces unique challenges as a woman running for the highest office.
• Tight Polls in Battleground States: We're seeing razor-thin margins in key states, reminiscent of the nail-biting finish in 2016.
• Disinformation Campaigns: As I noted in yesterday's show, we're facing an "onslaught of disinformation" that eerily mirrors the 2016 landscape.

Green Shoots in the Data

I asked Carl Allen, author of "The Polls Weren't Wrong," how he viewed the two elections on last night’s show. Allen says his 2024 forecast is not as close as other analysts’, putting Kamala Harris in a far more advantageous polling position than Hillary Clinton was in 2016.

Here are some of the "green shoots" that Carl sees in the data.

1. Closer to 50%: Allen points out that Harris is polling closer to the crucial 50% mark in critical states, which he argues is more important than lead size.
2. Fewer Undecideds: Unlike 2016, there are fewer undecided voters this time around, potentially reducing last-minute swings.
3. Fewer Third-Party Candidates: The 2024 race has fewer prominent third-party candidates, simplifying the electoral math.

Allen emphasizes that Harris's chances are better than a toss-up, albeit just barely. He puts her probability of winning at about 66%, adding, "A 34 or one in three chance that Trump wins doesn't let me sleep well at night." 

He also calls 2016 an outlier election that shouldn’t be viewed as very predictive. While this offers some cautious optimism, it reminds me that everything about this election, like 2016, is abnormal.

2024’s Wild Cards 

Trump's strategy in 2024, like 2016 “is asymmetrical. Instead of running an on-message campaign, he's running an absolute onslaught of disinformation."

His alliance with X’s Elon Musk is an unprecedented national security crisis connecting the GOP nominee to a known Russian disinformation agent who has the most prominent news app in the world at his disposal to spread disinformation. 

There are legitimate concerns about foreign actors like Bibi Netanyahu, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin attempting to sway the election by inventing or heightening international crises. 

The Specter of Violence: The implicit threat of violence if Trump doesn’t win echoes the 2020 election. 

Biden Sounds The Alarm 

The gravity of the disinformation threat was underscored today by President Biden himself. In response to false claims about hurricane relief efforts, Biden condemned what he called "a reckless, irresponsible, relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies."

Biden explicitly named Trump, stating he "has led the onslaught of lies." echoing the "onslaught of disinformation" referred to in yesterday's show.

Carl Allen’s book “The Polls Weren’t Wrong” brings an exciting new perspective to our understanding of polls and helps us be more precise about forecasting results, especially during unprecedented unpredictability. 

What do you think about the parallels and differences between 2016 and 2024? Please reply in the comments below.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this eye-opening episode, Zev Shalev exposes how Donald Trump's campaign is unleashing a familiar torrent of disinformation, eerily reminiscent of 2016. Shalev meticulously dissects the current state of the 2024 U.S. presidential race, revealing how Trump's strategy of flooding social media with falsehoods is once again tightening the polls in crucial swing states.

At the core of Shalev's analysis is Trump's unconventional campaign approach, which prioritizes a relentless stream of disinformation over traditional political messaging. The recent Butler, Pennsylvania rally serves as a stark example, with Shalev highlighting how Twitter, under Elon Musk's ownership, has become the primary conduit for this information deluge.

Shalev doesn't just outline the problem; he offers a roadmap for countering it.

He scrutinizes the Harris campaign's response to Trump's tactics, drawing parallels to the Clinton campaign's struggles in 2016. His breakdown of Trump's "3% theory" provides crucial insight into why this flood of disinformation could be devastatingly effective, even if the majority recognizes it as false.

As the clock ticks down to election day, Shalev poses a critical question: Are we prepared to stem this tide of disinformation, or are we heading for another shocking upset? His urgent recommendations for combating this onslaught in the final weeks of the campaign are both practical and necessary.

"We're witnessing a repeat of 2016's disinformation playbook, but on steroids," Shalev warns.

"Every tweet, every rally, every online interaction is part of this strategy. We have mere weeks to change the narrative." Tune in to hear Shalev's full analysis and his thoughts on whether we can avoid falling into the same traps that caught us off guard eight years ago.

Don't miss our upcoming episode, in which we'll explore cutting-edge strategies to counter this disinformation campaign and dive deeper into its mechanics. In the age of AI and evolving social media landscapes, Zev Shalev's insights are more crucial than ever.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices