Russia’s Wagner Group: Neo-Fascists? Mercenaries? Russian Paramilitary?

In this episode, Alex starts with an update on Ukraine and how shocking it is that Russian forces seem unprepared. Then he goes into the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group that many call “an arm of the Russian army.” This group has neo-nazi ties, links to civilian torture and violence in Syria and Libya, and is now helping the Russian army in Ukraine. There are recent reports that the Wagner group is helping Russian-backed groups to find and assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky. Finally in the episode, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other far-right congress members, were spotted at a white nationalist rally in Florida. It is called the America First Political Action Conference and it was formed in 2020 by Nick Fuentes. Fuentes has called Putin “his leader” and has defended Adolf Hitler. Alex defends the right for these people to hold rallies, but calls on the Republicans to condemn Congresswoman Greene. She has raised more money than almost any other congress member and this is telling about where the base is.