Pax Americana: Episode 14

Thank you to so many of you for tuning into my live video with Olga Lautman today. The show notes are below. In the meantime, join us on Tuesday at 12:30 PM ET for another episode of our new series, Active Measures. We’ll see you back here next Thursday at 11 AM ET for Pax Americana. Show Notes (courtesy of Olga) * Trump-Putin MeetTrump’s shady real estate associate Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow yesterday. The Kremlin announced a potential Trump-Putin summit as early as next week, with Trump floating the idea of including Zelenskyy. Earlier today, the White House pushed back, saying no meeting will happen. Regardless, Trump continues buying time for Russia as it escalates its genocidal war. Source: CNN and ABC News for today’s update* Russia Launched Record 6,129 Drones Against Ukraine in JulyRussia launched a record 6,129 Shahed-type drones on Ukraine in July, surpassing June’s 5,337. Daily swarms now hit up to 728 drones, devastating civilian areas and causing mass casualties—an enormous escalation from 423 drones in July 2024. Ukrainian officials warn the true count may be higher as Russia ramps up drone production. Source: Kyiv Independent* Lithuania Requests NATO Help Boost Its Air Defenses After Second Drone Crosses BorderLithuania has formally asked NATO to deploy additional air defense resources, including experimental systems, after a Russian drone carrying explosives entered from Belarus and crashed in a military training zone. This marks the second such incident in July, with officials warning these incursions are likely to continue. Source: Politico* Russia Moves Jamming Systems Closer to NATO Border, Estonia SaysEstonia revealed that Russia has deployed additional electronic warfare systems near the Estonian border, specifically in the area around Kingisepp—just 12 miles from NATO territory. These jamming systems, used in Ukraine to disrupt drones and GPS signals, are now interfering with civilian aviation and maritime navigation in the Baltic region. Source:Bloomberg* Russia's sending kidnapped Ukrainian children to front line’Ukraine’s government says Russia is conscripting abducted Ukrainian children into its military. An estimated 35,000 children have been stolen since 2014 (though Russia claims over 700,000), and some are being forced to fight against Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff confirmed that the bodies of former stolen children have been found on the battlefield, and Yale researchers are investigating what they describe as a growing "conscription-to-combat pipeline." Source: The Times* Russia’s Hybrid War on Moldovan DemocracyWith Moldova’s September 28 parliamentary elections approaching, Russia is already executing a full-scale hybrid interference operation to destabilize the pro-European government of President Maia Sandu. Tactics include mass vote buying via an app, AI-generated fake news, paid protests, and cyberattacks—while pro-Kremlin oligarchs like Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc orchestrate efforts from abroad. Source: Reuters* Durham’s Debunking of the ‘Clinton Plan’ Emails, ExplainedTrump allies pushed a declassified claim that Hillary Clinton orchestrated the Russia probe to smear Trump. But Special Counsel John Durham concluded the so-called “Clinton Plan” emails were likely Russian fabrications and created by Russian intelligence—assembled using info from real hacked emails to appear authentic and mislead U.S. intelligence. Source: New York Times* NY Times reported John Durham found the “Clinton Plan” emails were likely created by Russian spies. Right-wing media are running with them as legitimate.John Durham’s Russia probe revealed that so-called “Clinton Plan” emails were likely fabricated by Russian intelligence. But right-wing media are pushing the documents as “proof” that Clinton plotted to frame Trump, calling it a “soft coup” and demanding prosecutions. Source: Media Matters* Active Measures Chapter One* Active Measures Chapter Two This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit saltypolitics.substack.com/subscribe