We want the straightforward truth about how much danger we're in

A recent episode of the Gaslit Nation podcast (the one about Joe Manchin) also discussed Russia. A couple days later Biden declared Kremiln aggression to be a national emergency. Sarah Kendzior and Andrea Chalupa, hosts of Gaslit Nation, put out a bonus episode about what Biden said and did. So I’m discussing both together. The regular podcast is here. Before this episode posted Tuesday evening, Biden had called Vladimir Putin. As is usual, a summary of the call was released. Kendzior was amazed because the tone was not the “obsequious bowing down” she was used to seeing. The leaders had talked about holding a summit to discuss a full range of issues. There are a few things Kendzior thinks Biden should talk to America about Russia’s cyber attack and election meddling. Then also talk about the other dangers Russia poses. The plan to deploy nuclear missiles capable of causing a nuclear tsunami along America’s east coast. The Russian troops amassing on the Ukraine border, pictures of which are spread on social media. The failing health of dissident Alexey Nvalny. Will Biden invoke sanctions to force the release of Navalny? Chalupa sees a horrible goal ahead: Our idiots (the GOP) aligned with Russia’s idiots, “it's just idiots in power running amok, making things worse and being destructive.” Kendzior said American dealings with Russia need to be more transparent. Alas, Biden’s pick for the Russia Director in the National Security Council is Matthew Rojansky. He used to work for Paul Manafort, who did dirty deeds in Ukraine for the Kremlin. Russia experts, such as dissident Garry Kasparov, are outraged, saying Rojansky may be on the Kremlin payroll. That hasn’t been verified, but even ties to Manafort should disqualify Rojansky. Kendzior said:

We want the straightforward truth about how much danger we're in, what is going on with our elections, what is going on with cyber security, what exactly is going to happen with Ukraine and Russia. We need the most qualified, empathetic and sensible, straight shooting people in charge of this division. That is not Matthew Rojansky.

Chalupa added:

To elevate a guy like Matthew Rojansky would be an invitation to Putin to come on in, let your spies, your cutouts, your assets come on in and flourish and do their thing. This guy just comes across as with no moral compass. ... So, Matthew Rojansky is a big welcome mat for Russian oligarchy and their weaponized corruption, and their golden handcuffs, and buying politicians. America is just too fragile right now to afford to have Matthew Rojansky in such a position of power. ... Instead, they should decolonize foreign policy and put somebody in that position who empathetically and deeply understands the crisis and knows how to stand up to it, like any Ukrainian American, like an Alexander Vindman, who risked his career to call out Trump.

Ten days later ... I’m finally sitting down with that bonus episode, The Russian Sanctions Special. This one doesn’t come with a transcript so I listened to the 48 minutes and took notes. Alas, unless you are a Gaslit Nation subscriber on Patreon, this one, like the other bonus episodes, is locked. The hosts of Gaslit Nation, Kendzior and Chalupa, are delighted that Biden has declared Kremlin aggression a national emergency. They’re delighted because a main purpose of GN is to get authorities to declare Kremlin aggression to be a national emergency. They read the list of sanctions against Russia. The list was originally put out by Sec. of State Blinken – who is not either of the Sec. of State guys who assisted Russia. The sanctions are in response to the Solar Winds hack, the bounties placed on the heads of American soldiers, attempts to interfere in the 2020 US election, and the attempted murder of dissident Alexi Navalny and his continued imprisonment. Actual sanctions include blocking US banks from doing business with ruble based bonds. This will affect the value of the ruble and put more domestic pressure on Vladimir Putin. In general, bad for Russia. There are sanctions against people and companies that were a part of the election interference and the Solar Winds hack. They will reduce the ability for Russia to carry out future interference (unless Saudi Arabia steps up its funding). Since the sanctions came with international support, this is a big embarrassment of Putin, something an autocrat does not want. Chalupa also read Biden’s notification of these sanctions to Congress, explaining why the sanctions were applied. Kendzior had some thoughts on Biden’s order. First, this statement could and should have been made in August of 2016. She reviewed all the reasons for that, which includes hacking into various departments of the government. The problems in 2020 are because the problems were not addressed in 2016. Those problems include a Russian asset occupying the Oval Office for four years and all that means. Kendzior called for cybersecurity and arrests of the Russian mafia members and the complicit Americans. But she does not want an actual war with Russia. Chalupa said it is good to see this from Biden, who didn’t say much while being Obama’s wingman. Obama’s foreign policy was a lot of little things – the Iran deal, trade with Cuba – while ignoring the huge threat from Russia. Biden did understand the threat of Russia and is now able to act on it. It was Navalny who gave the West a list of oligarchs who support the Kremlin. He asked the West to sanction these people. If Biden sanctions all those people Chalupa says he will achieve “Nazi Hunter” status. Some are being sanctioned in Biden’s order, but not all. Kendzior read a statement by Janet Yellen, Sec. of the Treasury, stating they will be implementing Biden’s order. Kendzior noted a problem – in 2018 it was revealed that Russia hacked the Treasury in 2015 (under Obama). It appears the part of the Treasury compromised is the part to root out internal corruption. People that the Treasury should have investigated were instead, under the nasty guy, welcomed with open arms. Treasury was torn apart and could not be trusted. So, did Biden clean out the department? One to be cleaned out is the daughter of Bill Barr. They listed some of the people who did receive sanctions in this round. They are rather nasty characters. Many have been active in undermining democracy around the world since way before 2014. We can blame both the nasty guy and Putin for the pandemic. Without Russian meddling Hillary Clinton would have been president and she would have handled the situation a lot better than the nasty guy did. The reason why Kendzior and Chalupa put out these Gaslit Nation episodes is not to punish people (though that is certainly needed). The point is to protect people (the victims), to protect life, and protect democracy. To keep these corrosive people out of our government. Economics may not trickle down, but the effects of mafia dons in the government does trickle down. So, Biden has issued these sanctions and called Russian influence a national emergency. What will Putin do in response? Another cyberattack? Take down the power grid or water system (which they did in Ukraine)? Continue to back American white supremacist groups? There are additional ways that Biden can tighten screws on Russia. It is up to us to demand accountability.