The Truth About Russia: Putin’s Rise, Morality, and Global Propaganda

Vladimir Putin is cold and calculating, not as a “master strategist,” but as a mafia boss who intends to expand his criminal empire.

According to his author's bio on Amazon, "David Satter is one of the world’s leading commentators on Russia and the former Soviet Union. He is the author of four books on Russia and the creator of a documentary film on the fall of the U.S.S.R. In May, 2013, he became an adviser to the Russian Service of Radio Liberty and in September, 2013, he was accredited as a Radio Liberty correspondent in Moscow. Three months later, he was expelled from Russia becoming the first U.S. correspondent to be expelled since the Cold War. David Satter is a fellow of the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a senior fellow of the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. He is also a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia and an associate of the Henry Jackson Society in London. He has been a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He teaches a course on Russian politics and history at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced Academic Programs and has been a visiting professor at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and a visiting fellow in journalism at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. David Satter’s first book was Age of Delirium: the Decline and Fall of the Soviet Union, which was published in 1996. He later made a documentary film on the basis of this book which won the 2013 Van Gogh Grand Jury Prize at the Amsterdam Film Festival. In addition, David Satter has written three other books about Russia, Darkness at Dawn: the Rise of the Russian Criminal State (2003), It Was a Long Time Ago and It Never Happened Anyway: Russia and the Communist Past (2011), and The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep: Russia’s Road to Terror and Dictatorship under Yeltsin and Putin. His books have been translated into eight languages."

David Satter can be followed:
X: @DavidSatter

Dr. Jason Jay Smart can be followed:
YouTube: / ‪‪‪‪ @jasonjaysmart
LinkedIn: /jasonjaysmart

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
01:00 Was Yeltsin a reformer or a criminal?
03:20 How Putin was chosen: A history of corruption
06:00 The apartment bombings and Putin’s rise to power
08:40 Russia’s moral void: What went wrong after the Soviet Union
11:00 Manipulating the West: Russian propaganda and disinformation
13:10 Why defeating Russia in Ukraine is essential
15:10 The impact of Russian propaganda on U.S. liberals and conservatives
17:00 David Satter on what needs to change

[LTRadical-cw]

David Satter explains how and why Russia is a mafia state without democracy. Thanks Jason great guest.

[MichalRufert]

Us Czechs know who the Russians are and what they are capable of. Both David and JJ deserve our most sincere thanks. M. Rufert, czech republic

[JoaoCosta-pnim]

Excellent! David Satter is lucid and 100% to the point! 👏👏👏

[Dougohere]

A truly excellent analysis based on known facts that most people are unaware of. This video needs to be shared wide and far. Many thanks.

[johncampbell]

This terrific summary of the history of the development of the autocratic state in Russia is rather disturbing to listen to. But more than a little refreshing to know that someone other than myself has put these peices together. Knowing the truth is the first step for western societies to be free of Russia's pernicious influence. Thanks for the post. No pun intended.

[leannevandekew]

Putin told his personal physician: "Every day I wake up, I look in the mirror, I want to throw up. What's wrong with me?"
The doctor replied, "I don't know, but your eyesight is perfect."

[UkemeIdiong]

Great information much love from Seattle Washington 🇺🇲🇺🇲 Slava 🇺🇦🇺🇦

[shaiaheyesc]

My day always get better when a new video with David Satter comes up.

[galiapink]

What a detailed, deep and meaningful analysis. Thank you very much 💙💛🕊️

[rafflesmaos]

We need more David Satters and Timothy Snyders in the world, and less tucker carlsons, elon musks, and other enablers of russian propaganda.

[frakismaximus]

Extremely informative overview... thank you David and Jason 👏 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇺🇦

[johnelliott]

Very good analysis of Russian culture.

[peterderidder]

A VERRY ggod guest to ansewer all questions !
Well said, even for non englishch speaking people understandable ! He sees how it is and dont sees it like he would like to see it !! Thanks David

[robfromladner]

Best video on this topic I have ever seen

[Joe]

Great info, much appreciated from NY, NY❤

[Jkl]

Thank you for the guest! Great analysis of situation.

[marie-vj]

Thank you, very interesting interview!!!👍🏻💪🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇬🇧

[jcdisci]

At the time, I did not think so, but NOW I realize Yeltsin was a drunk amateur who gave the country TO Pooty in exchange for protection. It would not surprise me to learn Pooty was calling the shots since the USSR crumbled.

[thechancellor]

Jason, thank you for another revealing and informative interview. One that deserves to be watched by every member of the US Congress.

Wouldn't. hurt fire Hungarians to view it as well.

[bobouzala]

Thank you for an excellent discussion! 🇺🇦