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Friday Nite Videos | May 23, 2025

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Why Zuckerberg Is Sucking Up to Trump. The Sexy Paradox That Stumped Darwin. Why Putin Believes the War Is Defensive. Trump Blasts South Africa for “White Genocide” | The Daily Show. Trump and the Press | John Oliver.

Why Putin Believes the War Is Defensive

People in the West often assume that Putin is concerned with territorial expansion or gaining material advantages, and they miss the ideological dimensions.

The Weaponization Czar and Our Russia Problem

Timothy Snyder Thinking about...
Ed Martin is a major actor in Trump's attempted regime change to authoritarianism. His particular role is to transform the law into a tool to intimidate Americans. Martin will now continue his work for Trump as the official "weaponization czar."

Who Started the War Between Russia and Ukraine?

Matthew Hallinan Portside
The NATO issue did not trigger the war. However, the thoughtless expansion of NATO contributed to a climate of mistrust that was a factor in Russia’s moving in an aggressive, nationalist direction. But there are two more parts to the story.

The End of U.S. Soft Power?

John Feffer Hankyoreh
Trump’s effort to end US foreign aid throws out a lot of babies with the bathwater. During the Cold War, the US waged a war of ideas with the Soviet Union to capture the hearts and minds of the world. Foreign aid also boosted US businesses.
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