Grifters Leading the Grifted & Why Moldova Could be Next

In this episode, Alex talks about J.D. Vance and Kevin McCarthy who are two examples of the grifters leading the grifted. He discusses the new leaked recording of McCarthy condemning January 6th and Trump, he also goes over Vance’s past worries about Trumpism. Alex worries that the GOP is constantly willing to throw out values for power and influence.

Later in the episode, Alex goes over Russia’s Victory Day. It is on May 9th and marks the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. Historically, Soviet leaders have made telling speeches at this event that have given Sovietologists some insight into what the Kremlin was planning. Alex discusses how there is speculation that Putin may give a speech that could help officials understand what is next in the war. He worries Putin may need to blame someone to mobilize the Russian people, and it won’t be himself.

Finally in the episode, Alex discusses why Moldova would be next if Putin wanted to escalate the war. The European Council on Foreign Relations notes that “On 22 April, deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District outlined the aim of the second phase of his country’s war on Ukraine. The goal was not only to take the Donbas region in the country’s east but also to seize control of the southern coast of Ukraine – and to link up with the Moldovan breakaway republic of Transnistria.” Alex discusses how this Transnistria separatist region is similar to parts of Eastern Ukraine and has already seen escalating conflicts and tensions. Under Putin’s stance toward protecting and liberating Russians everywhere, Transnistria would be the same as Eastern Ukraine. Everything depends on whether Putin will accept some false “half” victories or if he wants to create an ethnonationalsit state.