East meets West with Olga Bataman and Tara Reade is a place where we invite guests from both East and West, so you can get a perspective from across the ocean – on politics and things that matter.
Ukraine’s vanishing men, Trump’s Jimmy Carter problem, stalling peace deals – with Ben Swann
Olga and Tara welcome investigative journalist Ben Swann – creator of the acclaimed Zelensky Unmasked series – for a wide-ranging conversation on the war in Ukraine that is draining a generation, Trump’s risk of becoming another Jimmy Carter, schisms within US intelligence agencies, Russia’s recent elections, and much more.
Is Ukraine’s male population being sent to the front against its will, and why has fighting shifted almost entirely to drones? Why does Swann argue that the war is being run less from the Pentagon and more from the CIA – and what does that mean for who actually controls US policy?
Why does Swann call the latest Russia sanctions bill “toothless,” and what does he think it reveals about Washington’s real priorities? Is Trump boxed in by agencies and allies he underestimated?
What drove Trump’s decision to strike Iran despite warnings from his own Joint Chiefs chairman and Tulsi Gabbard – and why didn’t it go as planned? What do competing factions within the CIA and other intelligence agencies mean for Trump’s ability to change course?
Europe’s sleepwalking leaders, mercurial Trump, pragmatic US, UN Reform — with Dmitry Polyanskiy
Olga Bataman and Tara Reade welcome Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, for the Russian perspective on the risk of a direct conflict with Europe, America’s role in the peace talks, and the future of the United Nations.
Is Europe sleepwalking into a direct conflict with Russia? Why does Ambassador Polyanskiy say Europe has inched closer to one, and that a single incident could be enough to trigger it? And why does he argue that unpopular European leaders stay in power while leading their populations toward confrontation?
Is Washington a mediator or a source of pressure? Why does Ambassador Polyanskiy call Trump “mercurial” while describing US interests as “pragmatic”? How does he read the mixed signals — peace talks, a sanctions bill headed for Trump’s signature and a planned US base in Poland — and why does he say Russia is not counting on America’s help? And why does he say Europe and Zelensky are trying to derail the understandings reached in Anchorage?
Is there a way back? Why does he say Russia’s door to diplomacy remains open, and that the first step is a clear declaration that neither side plans to attack the other? What would a European security “equation” built together with Russia look like — and can Europe move away from a zero-sum approach toward peaceful coexistence?
And is the UN slowly dying – or, as Ambassador Polyanskiy argues, are Western countries holding Security Council reform “hostage”?
Trump’s changed, Iran and Ukraine as forever wars, midterms don’t matter – with Jimmy Dore
Olga Bataman and Tara Reade are joined by political commentator Jimmy Dore to talk about Trump’s new hair and new term, Ukraine negotiations, Iran, the current state of the US military, the Charlie Kirk assassination, the Epstein files, and much more.
Is the US stretched too thin to win two wars at once? Dore argues the Iran conflict drained missile stockpiles meant for Ukraine – so what does that say about America’s real military capacity, and who might be watching closely?
Does it actually matter who wins the US midterms? Dore says no, arguing both parties answer to the same donors regardless of outcome. Is voting still a real lever for change?
What really shifted Trump between his first and second terms? Dore lays out a theory involving lawsuits, imprisoned allies, and the Epstein files – and on the ground, how much of the anger Tara found in the US is about foreign policy versus the cost of living?
Europe’s five mistakes in Ukraine, NATO needs an enemy, what Russia wants – with Konstantin Kosachev
Olga and Tara welcome Senator Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Russian Federation Council – for Russia’s perspectives on the war in Ukraine, Western policies and the world’s future security. Did Europe misunderstand the events of 2014 from the very beginning? Why does Sen. Kosachev argue that the Minsk Agreements, the Istanbul peace talks, and Russia’s 2021 security proposals represented missed opportunities to avoid a wider conflict, and why does he believe European leaders are now politically unable to change course? Can the US influence Ukraine’s decisions? Have sanctions strengthened rather than weakened Russia? And is today’s “rules-based order” replacing international law – or is that itself a flawed interpretation of world politics? What would Russia consider a lasting peace? Why does Moscow reject claims that it seeks territorial expansion beyond Ukraine? And how does Sen. Kosachev explain Russia’s security concerns, its relationship with NATO, and its vision of a future European security architecture?
Tucker Carlson: US-Israel intel merger is treason, US already at war with Russia, Europe can’t fight
Renowned journalist Tucker Carlson joins Olga and Tara for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of American foreign policy, the war in Ukraine, US-Russia relations, Israel, Iran, free speech, and the shifting global balance of power. Is the US already in direct conflict with Russia? Why does Tucker argue that the US has lost its sovereignty, and who does he believe is shaping foreign policy decisions? We also discuss the growing tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the prospect of a third political party in the US, and whether the current political system still represents ordinary Americans. Can Europe avoid a direct confrontation with Russia and where is the boundary between proxy support and direct warfare? Are we witnessing a historical pivot of power from West to East, and can global stability survive the shift? We also examine sanctions, energy security, NATO, and the future of diplomacy.
War and US post-Lindsey Graham, NATO 3.0 and Ukraine’s Mirage Patriot Factory – with Richard Sakwa
Olga and Tara are joined by renowned political scientist and University of Kent Professor Richard Sakwa – to dissect the legacy left by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who suddenly died right after visiting Ukraine. Will the departure of one of the chief “Trump whisperers” open a long-awaited diplomatic channel between Washington and Moscow – or will the military-industrial complex continue its relentless march unchecked? Can a highly individualized foreign policy under Donald Trump bypass the systemic “war machine” that Graham so gleefully championed for decades? Why are NATO leaders offering Ukraine high-tech Patriot transfers when the engineering capacity and intellectual property safeguards simply do not exist? As Western Europe battles severe “war fever” despite crumbling domestic economies, how do elites justify historic military spending? We also look into the UK facing a rapid leadership transition under Andy Burnham – and dissect what modern Russophobia actually implies.