Episode 158—Drones, Drug Cartels, and Assassinations

We talk about Ukraine, Venezuela, drones, assassinations, drug cartels, and more!Articles and Videos:The ‘Big Tactical Error’ in the Russia-Ukraine Negotiationshttps://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/08/21/trump-ukraine-russia-negotiations-interview-00517411Zaluzhnyi declined call from Vance days after Oval Office clash, Guardian reports - https://kyivindependent.com/zaluzhnyi-declined-call-from-vance-days-after-the-oval-office-clash-guardian-reports/𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 on X: "🇺🇦 has started producing as many long-range FP-1 UAVs as 🇷🇺 produces Shaheds — 3K per month, according to Defence Express. This UAVs has a range of up to 1,600 km and 60-120kg warhead, more than that of the "Shaheds." These Ukrainian UAVs are significantly cheaper than the 🇷🇺one https://t.co/cWQYkFdU2r" / X - https://x.com/thedeaddistrict/status/1958756644487106702?s=46Ukraine • The difficulty of sniffing out Russian moles among Ukraine's foreign volunteer soldiers - https://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/2025/08/21/the-difficulty-of-sniffing-out-russian-moles-among-ukraine-s-foreign-volunteer-soldiers,110513112-eveEnemy agent from Odesa region tried to transfer military developments - https://intent.press/en/news/crime/2025/enemy-agent-from-odesa-region-tried-to-transfer-military-developments/Has Russia Advanced? Ukrainians Use This Online Map to Check Every Morning. - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/world/europe/ukraine-russia-deepstate-war-map.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gU8.fn4G.Wqu84ZG8Df8r&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShareIs the Trump Administration Building Up to a Military Confrontation With Venezuela? - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/us/politics/trump-venezuela-drug-war.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gU8.vb35.8Nh93BkWMAes&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare₩₳Ɽ ₱₳₮Ⱨ on X: "Get up--there's work to do https://t.co/U3SAfPOD7W" / X - https://x.com/warpath2pt0/status/1958500444352725304?s=46Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 on X: "Russian troops in ‘thermal insulating anti-drone ponchos’ — meant to hide them from thermal cameras — caught on video by Ukrainian thermal FPV drones. https://t.co/wzwMEZi6CD" / X - https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1959159707601387971Anton Gerashchenko on X: "I've decided to translate for you a post from the Russian Telegram channel "Nezygar" about the current state of Russian refineries and fuel market: "Tensions in Russia's fuel market are rising: in Primorye, there are kilometer-long queues at gas stations, and wholesale prices https://t.co/0cejOR5O4Q" / X - https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1959207002766221331Kyle Glen on X: "No evidence of any air defence activity whatsoever around the oil refinery in Ust-Luga, Leningrad Oblast. Not even any small arms fire as Ukrainian drones hit their target. The russian fuel crisis continues. https://t.co/unUpmt35mn" / X - https://x.com/KyleJGlen/status/1959566368795185405Igor Sushko on X: "💥 Intrigue in Russia: Explosion blew off senior FSB officer Aleksey Titov's hands at the Children's World toy store on Lyubanka Square in Moscow, right next to the FSB HQ. Hospitalized in an induced coma. Kremlin blames a helium tank for balloons but no one believes them. https://t.co/6bQAPlomco" / X - https://x.com/igorsushko/status/1959690812633334110Post by @maks23.bsky.social — Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3lx3h7qhijk2xWar Noir on X: "#Mexico 🇲🇽: "Jalisco New Generation Cartel" (#CJNG) members attacking their rivals by using rifles, machine guns and Drones. Seemingly the Cartel members are armed with DJI Matrice Drones, FN SCAR 17S rifles and AK-47 platform rifles (mostly from #USA 🇺🇸). https://t.co/QSF3eSbgkc" / X - https://x.com/war_noir/status/1959744723083829690?s=46