The On Deadline Podcast

On Deadline is jumping in the backseat and taking a look at driverless cars. Because like many people, we have questions. Questions like: Can you trust them? How do they even work? Sometimes if feels like something from science fiction, autonomous vehicles are already available to – beam us down the road, Scotty – and the market appears to be advancing quickly. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

No one wants to be forced to hang up the keys and rely on others to get around, and letting those in your life who are getting older know that it's time to do so can be even harder. But sometimes the conversation just needs to be had. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

The House of Representatives voted – along partisan lines – to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The inquiry kicks off a formal investigation. So here’s what they’re looking into. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

Two men. Both 48 years old, small-business owners in the food industry, and fathers of six children whose families’ respective ancestral lands are separated by just 90 miles. On the surface, Philadelphia-area residents Israel Roling and Ray Mustafa share many commonalities. Israel, however, is ultra-Jewish Orthodox. Ray is a Palestinian Muslim. Their stances on the Israel - Hamas War couldn’t be farther apart. But when it comes to the ripple effects of the October 7th terror attack, striking parallels between Israel and Ray begin to resurface. From family origin stories to generational trauma and coping tactics, KYW Newsradio’s Carol MacKenzie goes beyond the protests to explore how a baker and a grocer with dramatically divergent perspectives are connected by an international conflict.

When the terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel October 7th, kicking off a war, the reverberations were felt around the globe … and in ways you may not expect. Case in point. There has been a huge spike in antisemitism here in the United States. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

On Deadline is looking at the largest North American sports contract ever signed, for Shohei Ohtani, and what it says not just about America’s historic pastime, but also about us. The most lucrative contract in sports history comes in a confusing time in the American economic story as many are struggling to pay rent and more and more workers dip into their 401Ks to make ends meet. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

A series of killings involving homeless men in Los Angeles has many wondering what would cause someone to carry out such a gruesome murder spree. Bryanna Fox, a former FBI Special Agent and former member of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, joined Audacy in Los Angeles to discuss the recent murders and what makes a serial killer while police investigate if their suspect could be connected to other crimes. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

Former congressman George Santos allegedly lied to donors about money donated for his campaign that he actually spent on luxury goods, travel, Botox and online porn. He faked his education, job history, even his 'Jewishness.' Last week, the House of Representatives voted to expel Santos, a historic moment that saw the Republican bounced from Congress. But where were the gatekeepers when he was elected? On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

Experts will tell you spending this time of year provides an important look at the health of the economy overall. And so far the patient doesn’t need any interventions because as CNN reported, the data that’s come in so far about Black Friday and Cyber Monday is making the U.S. consumer look pretty strong. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering is by Joe Hiti.

Dozens of civilian hostages in Gaza were released after nearly two months in captivity. Their release came about through a ceasefire agreement and prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas. Many hope this step signals that a broader agreement for peace is on the horizon. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 30 million passengers from Nov. 17 through Nov. 28 … the most ever.. Are people going to end up in a 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' situation desperately trying to get where they're going? On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

Believe it or not, amid war in the Middle East, the most polarized politics in American history and an economy that no one seems quite able to define, the festive season has returned. Find out how to keep your sanity and set your expectations where they should be over the holidays. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry; It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

Next week marks the sixtieth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, which makes this the perfect time to revisit his family’s lasting legacy. From 1850s politics in Boston to Camelot, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and now Robert F. Kennedy Jr, here's a look at America's royal family and how they may influence who sits in the Oval Office in 2024.  Follow Texas Wants to Know for more of the JFK retrospective series

On Deadline is the continued crisis in the world of medicine, as health care workers across the country face an overload of patients without enough colleagues to share the work.  Experts will tell you the healthcare industry is on the brink of disaster. And they predict it will only get worse. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

On Deadline today is a wild and wacky day in court for former President Donald Trump, plus his growing support for a second term, even as legal challenges to his candidacy emerge in key battleground states. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan.

The movie and TV watching public understands how the Hollywood strike affects us all. But how, you may ask, could the UAW affect me or you as people who may not work in the auto industry? Here’s how. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

On Deadline are more calls to action after the nation was rocked by a series of mass shootings. First in Maine, then across the country, like dominos propelled by the force of their own weight. Chicago, Tampa, Louisiana, Texas, Atlanta, Indianapolis … By the time the weekend was over, a dozen separate mass shootings had erupted across the US. Will anything change? On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

This episode of On Deadline looks at the recent changes to social security and how the economy overall is fairing amidst the constant fear of recession. Suffice it to say that the economic roller coaster that is the United States in 2023 is affecting nearly everyone. On Deadline is produced and hosted by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan.

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza, some of the tall tales surrounding the conflict threaten to change opinions and influence support. False claims and misinformation have already garnered hundreds of thousands of shares and likes. On Deadline helps you separate fact from fiction. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

Another week without a solution for the Speaker of the House situation has the On Deadline team wondering what it will take to end the stalemate. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Myron Kaplan.

While the Biden administration tries to head off a wider conflict in the Middle East following the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel firing back, there is one thing we already know. Whether or not the U.S. ends up being forced to send military support, this battle has hit home for Americans. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Myron Kaplan.

A surprise attack by Hamas on Israel has left thousands dead, thousands more injured, and the world reeling. Experts say the body count is only going to increase, which has many bracing for what’s next. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

A war has broken out in the Middle East after Hamas launched a massive attack at Israel … and there was no Speaker of the House from the United States – their historic ally – to respond. Without a speaker, the House is unable to pass ANY legislation, including emergency aid to Israel. As that conflict threatens to escalate, the clock is ticking. Get the latest On Deadline, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

In the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is always seen as one of two things: KGB spy or judo master. But to anyone who’s ever lived in the Soviet Union, Putin is something else entirely: a street kid. Join journalist Julia Ioffe as she explores how Putin’s childhood taught him lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day.

WCBS 880's Neil A. Carousso talks to CBS News Correspondent Pamela Falk who's at the United Nations where members of the U.N. Security Council will discuss Hamas' attacks on Israel and weigh an official condemnation.

On Deadline today is the GOP-led impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The committee leading it held their first hearing last week and it's still going, even after the party kicked its own House Speaker out of his role. Here's the latest, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

She's been known mostly in latter years for her incredible longevity, but there's much more to Dianne Feinstein. The 90-year-old senator died last week. Explore her legacy and plans for the future of her seat in today's On Deadline, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

The day before the federal government was set to shut down, Congress passed a bipartisan spending bill that will keep the government funded for the next 45 days. WWJ Business editor Murray Feldman says the majority of small businesses in Metro Detroit would be hurt by a government shutdown. (PHOTO: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Legal experts say Donald Trump is testing the 14th Amendment in new ways by running to become the next GOP nominee for president. The amendment says a person who has taken an oath to obey the Constitution while serving as an elected official and then participated in an insurrection or rebellion against the U.S., is barred from holding federal office. What does that mean for Trump as numerous cases that charge him with that very thing unfold in the courts? Dive in with today's On Deadline, produced and hosted by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is currently down almost a dozen votes he needs to pass a spending bill thanks to conservatives known as the Freedom Caucus. The hard-right members of the House are demanding cuts deeper than the agreement McCarthy made with President Joe Biden. So far, they’re unrelenting. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

President Joe Biden is at this hour in Metro Detroit, joining striking UAW members on the picket line. WWJ's Tracey McCaskill was joined live by Oakland University history professor and automotive labor historian, Professor Daniel Clark to talk about this unique moment, and what it means. (Photo: © Ryan Garza / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Hunter Biden is an admitted crack cocaine addict and alcoholic who purchased a firearm illegally while addicted to drugs. Local district courts see hundreds of similar cases a day, possibly thousands.  But this is the president’s son, a beloved one. Joe Biden’s only remaining son after the death of his elder son Beau. So it’s different. Dive into the case against Hunter Biden with host and producer Lauren Barry. This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Joe Hiti.

Today marks one week since the United Auto Workers went on strike against all three major auto manufacturers at the same time – the first time that has ever happened -- and On Deadline is how the strike will impact the rest of the country — including you, especially if you have plans to buy a car anytime soon. Dive into the strike and how it affects your major purchase decisions in this episode of On Deadline, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound design by Joe Hiti.

As we enter the fall and winter months, there is renewed concern about COVID-19. For most, COVID lockdowns feel like a thing of the past. But Republican presidential candidates are warning of things to come. On a new Daily J, WWJ's Zach Clark looks into the possibility of new lockdowns and restrictions. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

Danilo Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison on August 31 after being sentenced to life in prison without parole the week before for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend. For two weeks, neighbors in a quiet and mostly rural suburban county west of Philadelphia anxiously waited for the capture of the 34-year old Cavalcante, as state police launched a massive manhunt. How did a late-night cigarette break tip authorities off to the whereabouts of the escaped killer? How did a dog named Yoda helped detain him? And, moving forward, can the public be reassured that an escape like this will never happen again? KYW Newsradio's Suburban Bureau Chief Jim Melwert covered the search from beginning to end. He joins Brian Seltzer and Phil Casey to empty his notebook from a wild story.

'While the cameras are focused on today, the other 364 days out of the year, there's a lot of suffering going on,' said John Feal of the FealGood Foundation this week on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He's one of the people impacted by the attacks featured on this week's On Deadline, where we examine the lingering impact of that traumatic day. Hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan and Bill Smee.

‘People will pay any price and bear any burden to see these shows, even if the tickets are way outside their budget.’ That's one expert's take in this episode of On Deadline, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry, on the topic of concert tours that made a considerable impact on local economies this summer. This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan and Bill Smee.

There are more than 55,000 teaching vacancies across the country, leaving school districts scrambling as classes in most states have already started. But what has caused the ongoing crisis?  Pay, fears of violence and more are coming into play. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan and Bill Smee.

From Hollywood stars to baristas, teachers, bus drivers, flight attendants and now auto workers, thousands of Americans are either striking or on the precipice of it. Explore that trend coast to coast in today's On Deadline, hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan and Bill Smee.

President Joe Biden, 80, and former President Donald Trump, 77, are currently the frontrunners to be candidates in the 2024 election. However, many have questioned whether they are both are past the age when they should be serving in the position. Listen to hear the drawbacks and benefits of having seasoned elected officials. Hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said — 'When you strike at a king, you must kill him' -- and many remembered those words when Russian mutiny leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin was killed in an explosive plane crash outside of Moscow. Listen for more on what happens to those on Vladimir Putin's naughty list. Hosted and produced by Lauren Barry; This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan, and Brian Setzer.

In Los Angeles, New York, Philly, Detroit, Chicago and across the country, stores have fallen victim to gangs of thieves who rush in, grab everything they can and take off with hundreds, even thousands, of dollars worth of product in one fell swoop. On Deadline dives in to find out why the crime is skyrocketing and why solutions are so hard to find. Lauren Barry is the host and producer. This episode is also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee, Myron Kapan and Jim Hanke.

On Deadline today is one of the strangest and potentially most dangerous environmental pairings the United States has ever seen. An earthquake and a hurricane-turned-tropical-storm both struck Southern California in the same day. On Deadline explores the damage left behind and how it happened in the first place. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. This episode was also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee, Myron Kaplan and Jim Hanke.

In today's episode of The On Deadline Podcast, producer and host Lauren Barry dives into the RICO Act, which is usually associated with gangsters, and uncovers how it was used in Georgia to tag former President Donald Trump with what many believe is the most serious of his four indictments. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan.

Smoke has stretched from Canadian wildfires to Detroit, Chicago, New York and other major American cities on and off all summer. Images on social media have shown smoke blanketing them in a dystopian haze. One of the most beautiful spots on earth wasn’t safe from the threat of sudden wildfire. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. It's also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted three times now, with a fourth charge on its way, according to his own social media. In this week's On Deadline, host and producer Lauren Barry delves into why the latest charge is so incendiary and explores if it could derail his chances for a second term in office and even end with jail time. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan. Sound engineering by Sabrina Boyd-Surka.

Why are Americans so violent? This week's On Deadline explores that question as the country is on pace for two mass shootings every single day in 2022. In this episode, you'll hear from a mass shooter in his own words, get the latest on the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter, get a profile of the Gilgo Beach serial killer and hear from experts about what's driving our society to ever-increasing violence. Hosted and produced by Lauren Barry. Also produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Bill Smee and Myron Kaplan.

On Deadline from Audacy's newsrooms is the extreme heat that continues to blanket the country, leaving air conditioners running and some houses the equivalent of air fryers. With temperatures nationwide and around the globe hitting record highs this summer, host Lauren Barry wonders if we'll miss the goal we have to hit to start to ease global warming. Produced by Joe Hiti, Christy Strawser, Myron Kaplan and Bill Smee.

Hollywood is at a crossroads as actors, writers and producers strike over wages, AI and more. The strike's effect on promotion, awards season and offerings after the summer will be 'profound,' according to one expert. Explore the near and far-time impact of the strike. On Deadline is hosted and produced by Lauren Barry and produced by Joe Hiti, Myron Kaplan, Christy Strawser and Bill Smee.

In Audacy's On Deadline Podcast, host Lauren Barry breaks down the latest situation in Ukraine and the controversy over its effort to join NATO. Staunch allies, including the United States, are hesitant to bring Ukraine into the alliance and risk provoking Russia, even as the former Soviet country struggles with its own internal conflict. Produced by Joe Hiti.

With a few remaining months of calm weather in Ukraine, there are talks of offensives on both sides of Russia's war. The Ukrainians are aiming to retake much of the southern, coastal areas seized by the Russians during their initial invasion. The Kremlin is talking about pushing forward with its campaign in the East, looking to control the entire Donbas region.But armies on both sides are more than a little exhausted, in terms of available fighters and weapons. And for the Ukrainians, that's where Western aid is absolutely critical.The Ukrainians are upping their requests for Western weapons, whether its more long-range precision missiles or fighter jets. They're reemphasizing that this is a fight for Ukraine's very survival ... as Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders make it clear their goal is still the destruction of Ukraine as a sovereign, independent country.Peter Mansoor is a retired U-S Army Colonel and former executive officer to General David Petraeus in Iraq. He's currently a professor of military history at THE Ohio State University.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life goes on across much of Ukraine, in spite of Russia's ongoing war in the eastern and southern sections of the country. While Ukrainians attempt to adjust to life during a hostile invasion, Russia's war has undoubtedly upended just about every facet of society, including arts and culture.Before the invasion, the Pro English Theater Group in Kyiv was putting on regular performances, building up followers and audiences and trying to make a name for themselves. When war broke out in February it put their plans on pause.The troupe of actors took shelter in a basement theater in the capital for about a month to stay safe from bombings and attacks. They used the time to rehearse new shows and are now out of the basement, back performing again.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Russia's war in Ukraine is being at least partially blamed for higher gas prices and surging inflation here in the U.S., in Europe the war could be tipping several countries into recessions. Germany and France's economies are showing signs of significant slowing, and countries across the continent are scrambling to make up for a loss of Russia oil and natural gas. In Italy, food banks are being forced to feed ever increasing numbers of people.While Europe struggles, however, Russia somehow seems to be holding steady.Russia's ruble is now considered one of the most valuable currencies in the world. And Russian leaders are bragging about how they've built up a fortress-like economy that can withstand harsh sanctions ... while their fossil fuel production remains at high levels.But those rosy predictions for the Russian economy are all short-term. How will its war in Ukraine effect Russia's long-term economic prospects? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boris Johnson is prime minister of Great Britain ... not the president of Ukraine. So Johnson's resignation announcement today obviously shouldn't have any intense, direct impact on Ukraine or its war against Russia. However "BoJo" as the Ukrainians took to calling him, was one of the earliest and strongest supporters of Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. He was also the first head of state to visit Kyiv while the war still raged.Ukraine might not have lost a leader today, but it lost a dedicated ally.Johnson's eventual departure as prime minister of the UK could impact relations with the US to a degree, especially when it comes to Russia and Ukraine.Even with changes in leadership and personalities, will the so-called "special relationship" between the U.S. and UK persist no matter what? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the first part of Russia's invasion of Ukraine ended in failure, the Russians are starting to see results from their second act: the scaled down aim of controlling all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region is getting closer to reality for Russia.Russia is working to secure its gains in the Donbas. Its forces have taken complete control of one of the provinces and are now focusing on one city where the mayor has urged civilians to evacuate as quickly as possible. If Russia succeeds in controlling the Donbas, what does it do next in Ukraine?Both Vladimir Putin and several leading Russian politicians and generals have let on to the fact that they still have ambitions to control all of Ukraine and overthrow the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Even though Russia's first attempt to seize Kiev went nowhere, could they take another shot at it? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia is making gains in eastern Ukraine but at what cost? WNBA star Brittney Griner is now asking President Biden directly to help get her out of Russia where she's been detained since February.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A lot of attention was paid in the early days of Russia's invasion to the plight of millions of Ukrainians who had to flea their hometowns in advance of Russian forces descending on Kyiv. But once Russia's initial offensive flopped and the focus of the war shifted to the East, the world shifted much of its focus away from Ukrainian refugees.But there are still an estimated 5-million Ukrainians living outside of the country right now, as the war grinds on ... most of them set up temporarily scattered across Eastern Europe; there could be just as many or more who are internally displaced. Their desperate situations have not changed ... nor has their need for help.We spoke to a woman who left Mariupol early just before Russia started to attack. Mila and her family went to Spain. If you remember, Mila's grandma was stuck in Mariupol and she and her family weren't able to contact grandma for a couple weeks. Grandma has since evacuated the city and is safe. Mila's life has taken a bit of a different path than she thought before the war. She's now in Vienna, Austria.   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If Vladimir Putin thought his invasion of Ukraine might cower Eastern European countries and intimidate NATO to stay away from the Russian sphere of influence .... he badly miscalculated. As NATO wraps up its high-level meetings today in Madrid, they have formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the alliance ... while the Biden administration is announcing dramatically scaled-up deployments of American troops to countries like Poland and the Baltics, right on Russia's doorstep.For the first time since the end of the Cold War there will be significant, and in many cases permanent positioning of American combat power in Eastern Europe.Meanwhile Russia continues stepping up its missile attacks over much of Ukraine. Seemingly without the ability to win clear-cut victories even in their scaled down operations in Eastern Ukraine, Putin and Russia will seek to terrorize Ukrainians into submission. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Ukraine's defense of the eastern region of its country against Russia's onslaught of artillery and missiles isn't going great, there was one promising development for the beleaguered nation: Ukraine is now one step closer to becoming a member of the European Union.EU leaders granted the country "candidate status," which it also gave to Moldova, another Eastern European country living under the thumb of Russia.  This move is likely to anger the Russians.But it's precisely because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine that the EU is moving so quickly to bring in these new countries. Ukraine's acceptance into the E-U is not guaranteed, and it's not without complications ... several EU member countries expressed reservations of admitting a large, war-torn country.Meanwhile Ukraine is still aspiring to be a member of NATO. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Russia's war grinds on in Eastern Ukraine, we're learning a bit more about the fates of two Americans who were volunteers fighting for the Ukrainian army when they were captured by Russians.A Kremlin spokeperson has acknowledged that the two Americans ... both military vets ... were in Russian custody. He called them "soldiers of fortune" and said the Geneva conventions and the wartime protections they provide fighters do not apply in their case, since Russia considers them mercenaries.The two Americans were fighting with a small group of foreign soldiers and went missing in action when their platoon came under heavy fire in a village near Kharkiv, which is about 25 miles from the Russian border.On Russian state television there have already been suggestions that the two men should be tried and executed for war crimes.Can and would the U-S try to help free them? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Russians hoped to pull off a lightening strike on Kyiv and rule most of Ukraine within weeks, when it launched the invasion of its neighbor back in February.And in the weeks afterwards when Russian forces were forced to retreat from the capital, Ukrainians hoped they had Russians on the run.Four months later and the war in Ukraine could last well beyond anyone's expectations. NATO's Secretary General says Russia's war in Ukraine could go on for years and the effort requires sustained Western support during that time.This comes as Ukraine's deputy defense minister says Russia has ordered its military to overrun the entire eastern Donbas region by next Sunday. That territory could prove difficult for Ukraine to win back once the Russians have dug in with defenses.And yet the Ukrainian government and military stands by its goals in this war: win back every square inch of Ukrainian territory taken by Russian, including Crimea. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds, and possibly thousands, of foreign fighters flocked to Ukraine in February and March, eager to take up arms to beat back Russia's invasion. Among those fighters were several Americans, most of them with military experience eager to help out the Ukrainian cause ... so the deaths or captures of American fighters there was probably inevitable.And indeed it has happened, two Americans--both military vets--were captured by Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine ... and already they're being discussed and featured on Russian TV, where presenters are calling for their trials and executions. Would the fates of these two American fights in Ukraine potentially lead to further U.S. involvement in the war?Meanwhile today in Kyiv, another foreign leader dropped in to visit President Zelensky. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made his second trip to Ukraine, promising continued support of their war effort. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All of that enthusiasm and optimism from the early days of Russia's war in Ukraine, when Ukrainians were able to beat back the Russian offensive on Kyiv, has turned to pessimism in recent weeks. That's because Russia's brutal, grinding campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine is paying dividends.Out-gunned and out-manned, the Ukrainian military continues to take horrible losses in the East; and the Russians continue to advance in their land grab.Russian forces now control most of the Donbas region. And Vladimir Putin now has his land bridge to Russian-occupied Crimea.Today the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania met with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy today in Kyiv. They're pledging support but there's concern that support could be cracking. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine back in February, the United States and most Western immediately launched what they claimed would be crippling sanctions against Russia and Vladimir Putin. There would be little to no loopholes or exceptions, leaders like President Biden promised, and the sanctions would be unrelenting with the goal of severely degrading Russia's ability to fight in Ukraine.Fast forward four months later and the jury remains very much out on the impact of those sanctions.  In fact, some members of the Biden administration are now acknowledging that sanctions might have caused just as much harm to the U.S. economy as the Russia's.Rising energy and food costs in the U.S., which at least in part can be directly tied to sanctions against Russia, have become two of the main drivers of inflation, which hit a 40-year high this month.Russia's recent oil profits due to rising prices have made up for a loss in exports from the sanctions. And Bloomberg News is reporting that some Biden administration officials also worry that sanctions on Russia aren't stopping the invasion of Ukraine and are instead exacerbating inflation, worsening food insecurity, and punishing ordinary Russians To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia plays no direct role in Russia's war against Ukraine. The Persian Gulf kingdom isn't providing weapons to Ukrainians nor are they siding with the Russians. And yet the oil producing giant is one key factor in energy prices that have shot through the roof since Russian forces first entered Ukraine back in February.So we're going to take a closer look at record high gas prices forcing President Biden to play nice with Saudi Arabia ... the president has confirmed he'll visit the country next month. Then we head back to Ukraine where the Russian offensive in the eastern part of the country is grinding on with devastating consequences, both for the local population there and the outgunned Ukrainian army, which has taken a lot of casualties over the last month. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia makes more progress in the Donbas region; Is the West losing interest in the war?

As Russia's war in Ukraine grinds on, the Russian economy faces increasing isolation from months of tough sanctions. Trying to offset the consequences at home, Vladimir Putin is doing his best to cozy up to China ... one of the few remaining countries in the world that is openly friendly toward Russia.The two countries announced a new bridge of "special symbolic meaning" in hopes of boosting trade. This comes as the World Trade Organization is warning that the war could lead to a global food crisis that could last for years.There has been some speculation that Putin is focused on disrupting Ukraine's grain and wheat production and exports for the precise purpose of causing food shortages ... in the hopes that will lead to the international community pressuring the Ukrainians to sue for peace.No matter the motivation, Russia's war is causing reverberations far beyond the borders of Ukraine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Russia's campaign in Eastern Ukraine grinds on, the United Kingdom is the latest country to commit to sending heavier weapons to the Ukrainian side. After the Biden administration announced it's sending multiple launch rocket systems, the UK said it's sending similar missile launches capable of matching the Russian artillery barrages that now rain down on Ukraine cities in the Donbas on an hourly basis.This has clearly caught the attention of Vladimir Putin. The Russian warned the U-S and Britain not to send longer-range rockets to Ukraine. Putin says that'll lead Russia to launch more bombing attacks.Of course all of Ukraine is already living under the threat of Russian attacks. Just this weekend several cruise missiles slammed into targets in Kyiv, the first time the capital city has been bombed in at least a month.Will western countries be intimidated by Putin's posturing ... or at this point in a war that's dragged on for nearly four months, is there not much fear of Russian retaliation? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reached it's 100th day, and even after thousands of deaths, billions of dollars worth of destruction and repeated Russian failures to achieve their goals ... the war rages on. With the focus of the fight in Eastern Ukraine, Russia seems to be increasingly confident it can occupy and hold Ukrainian territories for the long term.And to that point, the Russians have been making progress in capturing some key towns in Ukraine's Donbas region.Ukraine's president Zelensky now says Russia controls about a fifth of the country's territory.Meanwhile Vladimir Putin seems to be digging in for a war of attrition, hoping to outlast both Ukraine's military and the resolve of Western countries and NATO. Putin is calculating that the financial and military support from the West will soon start to level off ... and even decline.What might happen in the next 100 days? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There has been grim news coming out of Eastern Ukraine over the last few days, as the Russian military has picked up its pace of seizing more territory in Ukraine's Donbas region. Its troops are close to completely taking over a key city that would further a Russian foothold ... and Ukrainian president Zelensky has spoken ominously about mounting casualties among his forces. This comes as Ukraine is waiting for more weapons and aid from the U-S and other Western countries. Among the next cache of weapons on the way are long-range rocket systems ... and there are reports that the U.S. is on the verge of selling Ukraine advanced unmanned drones capable of firing on Russian targets. Can Ukraine, with the help of the U.S. and others, hold off the Russian offensive? And what does Europe look like after the war ends? With us is retired Navy Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and author of the new book To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the war in Ukraine rages into its fourth month, there is intense fighting underway in the eastern part of the country as Russia looks to extend its land grab. And even with international sanctions aimed at Russia that have been described as some of the toughest ever initiated in the modern era, the Kremlin continues to sell oil and gas that helps to bankroll its war effort in Ukraine.Well the European Union has taken a big step against Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine ... It's agreed to ban most imports of Russian oil. The EU is aiming to cut off 90-percent of Russian oil imports by year's end. Europe is the world's biggest buyer of Russian energy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war in Ukraine is raging on, and Russian forces are slowly gaining ground in the east. There are concerns that the Donbas region could soon look like the besieged port city of Mariupol. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first war crimes trial out of the Russia-Ukraine war is over. A captured Russian tank commander pleaded guilty to killing a Ukrainian civilian and today inside of a Kyiv courtroom was sentenced to life in prison. But Russian officials today hinted that they'll be conducting their own trials of Ukrainian soldiers, with the recently surrendered defenders from Mariupol the primary targets for tribunals. Will this be the first of many war crimes trials to come out of this conflict? Then we're going to briefly turn away from Ukraine and look toward another potential conflict that could closely mirror what's been playing out in Eastern Europe since February ... and that's China and Taiwan. During his trip through Asia, President Biden said the U-S will defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion. We'll take a closer look at what that does to relations with China.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 3 months ago, and there's no end in sight to the fighting. Putin appears focused now on the Donbas region in Ukraine's east, which is home to a number of Russian-backed separatist groups. But as has been the case for much of the war, things aren't going well for Russia. Ukrainian authorities say they recently repelled a Russian attack in the region.Still, things have been extremely difficult for Ukrainians. Journalists are trying to work while covering a war fought on their home soil. We speak to Illia Ponomarenko, a defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent, an English-language media outlet in Ukraine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After failing to capture the capital city of Kyiv, the Russian army has shifted it's focus to Eastern Ukraine. Russia now controls much of Southern Ukraine, including the port city of Mariupol. And it's in the middle of a battle for the Donbas region in Ukraine's east, which is known as the country's "industrial heartland."But what is it exactly that Vladimir Putin is trying to achieve now? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mariupol has fallen.The port city in the southeastern corner of Ukraine had arguably received the worst of shelling, bombing and attacks in this war, with much of the city reduced to ruble. A group of several hundred Ukrainian soldiers had been holding out inside of a massive steel plant, refusing to surrender. But now there's word that the last remaining Ukrainians have been evacuated ... and Mariupol is in Russian hands.So that's one setback on the battlefield for Ukraine; but one doesn't have to look far for success stories. Up in Kharkiv, not only has the Ukrainian Army pushed back the Russians and recaptured territory ... they've managed to drive all the way to the Russian border.We'll take a look at both battles and the current state of Russia's war in Ukraine as it is on the verge of entering its fourth month. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's how deeply Russia's invasion of Ukraine could be changing the security environment in Europe: even Switzerland, famous for its commitment to neutrality that's been in place through many, many wars .... is considering joining NATO.With Finland and Sweden, two long time NATO-holdouts now taking formal steps to join the Alliance, Switzerland's defense ministry is calling for closer ties to NATO; and they're pointing to the security threat posed to all of Europe by the Russians.The invasion of Ukraine could touch off one of the biggest European security realignments since the end of World War II.NATO's nascent expansion is not without its complications, however. Turkey's president continues to voice his hesitations to approve Finland and Sweden's memberships ... and a bigger NATO could mean a more hectic alliance, with more potential for disagreements.But one way or another, NATO looks set to become a lot more fearsome as a military alliance ... not exactly what Vladimir Putin had in mind when he launched his war in Ukraine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine's military says it recently did major damage to Russian units looking to cross a key river in the northeastern part of the country, inflicting what it says were hundreds of casualties among Russian soldiers ... and a significant loss of armor and equipment. And yet the situation on the ground in both Eastern and Southern Ukraine hasn't changed much in recent days.The war has ground into a stalemate that neither side seems totally capable of winning ... and yet neither side is ready to make concessions.Meanwhile there's a possible fly in the ointment in what looked to be a sure-thing expansion of NATO, by welcoming Finland and Sweden into the alliance. Today Turkey's president raised concerns about allowing the two Nordic countries to join NATO under rushed timetables.It could all be a negotiating ploy to make sure Turkey, which maintains one of NATO's most powerful militaries, gets something out of the deal. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finland is a country that knows a thing or two about Russian aggression. After all, the Finns fought a war against Russia in 1940, as Joseph Stalin tried to pull off a land grab in Finland, in the midst of World War II raging in Europe. And yet, up until this year Finland has maintained a more-or-less neutral position in international affairs and had resisted joining NATO.Russia's war in Ukraine quickly changed all of that, with the Finns looking set to formally apply for NATO membership in the coming weeks ... on the way to becoming part of the Alliance by the end of this year. Not surprisingly, the Russians are not thrilled about that prospect.Russia is vowing to take ‘retaliatory steps’ after Finland announced it will move to join NATO without delay; Sweden working on a similar move. It's just some of the unintended consequences of Vladimir Putin's move to seize Ukraine ... as he's managed to increase unity and cooperation among NATO countries to their high levels, perhaps since the Cold War. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One almost instant reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine was the rush of countries looking to either join NATO or strengthen their ties to the military alliance. Finland and Sweden, two Scandinavian countries that have long preferred to keep an independent stance on their strategic partnerships, reversed course in a hurry after Russia launched its war.Both countries are now on pace to join NATO by the end of this year. But the United Kingdom is jumping the gun a bit, which could complicate already tense relationships across Eastern Europe.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reached agreements with Sweden and Finland to defend them if they are attacked by Russia ... and vice versa, the Scandinavian pair promised to come to the military aid of the U-K.Meanwhile intense fighting continues in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, with the war increasingly looking like a drawn-out stalemate. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Digging in for the long haul -- that's how the U.S. Director of National Intelligence characterized Vladimir Putin's strategy as his invasion of Ukraine enters its 3rd month. DNI Avril Haines, in testimony before a Senate committee, described Russia's effort in Eastern Ukraine as a slow moving slog ... it's the U.S. intelligence assessment that Putin is hoping the attention of NATO and the West on Ukraine starts to wane over time.So what's the latest from the Donbas region, where the majority of recent fighting is happening ... is Mariupol still not totally under Russian control ... and is the war in Ukraine turning into a stalemate? We'll ask.We'll then check in with one of the millions of Ukrainian families that was forced to pick up and move to avoid Russian troops, refugees within their own country.But we start with an update on the fighting and what the American intelligence community believes are Vladimir Putin's goals to create a "land bridge" stretching from Russian-controlled Crimea all the way to the Ukrainian city of Odessa.That may very well be what Putin wants, but can his beat up military actually achieve that? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was Victory Day in Moscow, usually cause for swelling Russian patriotism and a display of military might with parading soldiers, thanks and fighter jets marching through Red Square. While there were the requisite soldiers and tanks, it was a subdued Victory Day event for Vladimir Putin and Russia's elite ... Putin didn't call for mass mobilization of hundreds of thousands more Russian soldiers, nor did he declare any kind of victory in his war in Ukraine.Instead Putin presented a list of the usual manufactured reasons for his invasion of Ukraine ... and his usual grievances against NATO and the West. We will take a closer look at what Victory Day means for the ongoing war in Ukraine.And we go live to Kyiv to talk with a group of filmmakers ... who are both U.S. Army veterans ... embedded on the front lines with Ukrainian forces.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 9th is a date that has long been circled on the calendar for all observers of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. That is the day that Russia marks its victory over Nazi Germany in World War II; a day usually filled with patriotic bravado about Russia's military strength and power.  With May 9th coming up on Monday, there are growing fears that Russia and Vladimir Putin ... desperate for any kind of at least symbolic victory to prove their invasion of Ukraine is going as planned ... will significantly ramp up attacks and provocations over the next couple of days. So we'll head to Ukraine for the latest from the battlefield.And we'll then talk with one woman who stayed in Kyiv during the early days of the war and remains there now ... about a city that's not quite at war, but not at peace either.Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has picked up in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, with Ukraine's army on the counterattack in several areas of the Donbas region. Meanwhile most of the bombed out, largely destroyed port city of Mariupol remains in Russian control. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The battle for the southern Ukrainian port town of Mariupol may be coming to its final stages as the last defenders hold off Russian forces. At the same time, heavy fighting reported all along the eastern front.And there are even reports that the Ukrainian military is on the counterattack, pushing back Russian forces in several areas in the Donbas region.One of the biggest bombshells to drop involving this war didn't actually land in Ukraine--it landed on the pages of the New York Times, where several of their sources within the U.S. Defense Department confirmed that they've been providing the Ukrainian military with locations and intel on the positions of Russian generals on the battlefield.And that the Ukrainians have been using the intel to pinpoint and kill several of those generals. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even while most of the fighting remains in Eastern Ukraine, Russia continues to remind Kyiv that it can strike in any part of the country, at any time. More missile strikes over the last 24 hours were aimed at Lviv in Western Ukraine, as the Russians were reportedly aiming for railroad links. That's key because those rail lines are being used to send western weapons toward the front lines in the Donbas region.At the same time, the European Union says it's planning a ban on all its member nations importing oil from Russia as efforts continue to hit Moscow with tough economic sanctions.And that's key because even with a lot of talk about weaning itself off of Russian oil and gas, there are still plenty of European countries dependent on Russia for its energy supplies. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi became the highest ranking American official to visit Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv during Russia's invasion. But behind the handshakes and good wishes between Pelosi and Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky were urgent requests from the Ukrainians to keep the flow of western weapons and money going.Will Congress deliver that big package of aid for the Ukrainians and are we doing enough to help their war effort? We'll take a closer look.We'll also speak with a woman from the center of the Ukraine in a town that's been transformed during the course of the war, flooded with tens of thousands of refugees fleeing eastern Ukraine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the focus has been on Eastern Ukraine and the "new phase" of the Russian invasion to capture territory in that region, there was a stark reminder today that Russia retains the ability to strike anywhere in Ukraine.Two big explosions rocked central Kyiv just after the U-N Secretary-General met with Ukraine's president. One person of several killed was a Radio Free Europe journalist.There was another person of note killed in Ukraine recently: the first American, who traveled there to fight the Russians, was killed in action. He was a 22-year-old Marine Corps veteran.......who leaves behind a wife and 7-month-old baby.Meanwhile the Russians continue their efforts to push forward and seize more land in the Donbas region. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a sign of how long Russia's war in Ukraine could last ... and a symbol of long haul American support for Ukraine ... President Biden today asked Congress to fund a substantial military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine, to the tune of 33-billion-dollars. And even at that high price tag, the Ukrainians will likely want and need more from us----will we continue to deliver?And you will hear from a new mother in Ukraine, her name is Olesya and she gave birth to a baby girl under less-than-ideal circumstances. We'll get her story of having to flee the war while 9-months-pregnant. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia has wielded one of the biggest weapons it has in its arsenal in its war against Ukraine........and it's broader confrontation against the West. Today the Russians cut off natural gas imports to two NATO countries, Poland and Bulgaria, over their refusal to pay for the gas in Russian rubles.......rather than dollars. Will the move divide NATO; and is this just the start of Russia weaponizing its natural gas exports?It was described as a scene out of a movie: an American Marine Corps veteran, held in Russia for 3 years on what were reportedly trumped up charges, was given his freedom today in a dramatic prisoner exchange. Does this hint of diplomacy mean we're closer to a peace deal in Ukraine?Ukraine is two months into its war with Russia. At the end of today's podcast we'll talk again with a member of Ukraine's parliament who says Russia can be defeated but more help is needed. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, it's been rattling that nuclear saber. From Vladimir Putin on down, there have been months of subtle--and not so subtle--warnings from Russian politicians and generals about interference in Russia's war in Ukraine possibly leading to an exchange of nuclear weapons.Once again, the Russian illusions to the use of nuclear weapons is back in the news--this time with Russia's long-time foreign minister dropping the nuclear hint. We'll look into whether he's serious or just bluffing. And we'll talk to a human rights activist in Kyiv who's monitoring humanitarian corridors to find out if Russia is allowing safe travels for aid workers and civilians.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the attention has recently been on Russia's shift of focus to Eastern Ukraine, in what could be an old fashioned land-grab operation, the Russian military hasn't stopped attacking ALL of Ukraine. That point was driven home again today after several Russian missile strikes deep into Western Ukraine.The renewed air attacks on Ukraine come one day after the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State went to Kyiv, the highest profile delegation of American leadership yet to visit Ukraine's capital city as the war still rages. And we'll take a closer look at all of these developments.Plus, we get an update from a man we talked to a month ago in Ukraine whose mother recently escaped the eastern part of the country where Russian military operations are ramping up. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been bringing you regular coverage of what life is like for people in Ukraine during this war. And keep this in mind, which was the focus of a story we brought you yesterday on the podcast: in addition to the estimated 5-million Ukrainians who have left their country to escape the Russian invasion, there are millions more who have been forced to leave their homes, while becoming refugees within their own country.So we'll hear from Alex, who got out of Irpin just before his apartment was hit by a Russian attack and has been chronicling his time with his new baby born just two weeks before the war broke out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. government is keeping the military aid rolling toward Ukraine. President Biden approved another 800-million-dollar package of equipment, ammunition and training for Ukraine's armed forces--including sending over heavier weapons, like howitzers and drones--shedding the previous concerns over antagonizing Vladimir Putin. What kind of weapons are we sending and how effective will they be in stopping the Russian offensive in Eastern Ukraine?We'll also take a closer look at the continuing political fallout here at home over how President Biden is handling Ukraine.And while an estimated 5-million Ukrainians have left the country to avoid Russia's invasion, millions more have been internally displaced. We'll talk with one Ukrainian woman helping her fellow citizens to resettle in safer parts of the country, out of harm's way. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian troops are moving ahead with their offensive in eastern Ukraine today, as the key port city of Mariupol in the south remains on the verge of falling. Defenders there say there may have only hours or days left. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin oversaw the test of a long-range missile dubbed "Satan" by the West. He says the weapon shows anyone threatening Russia should think twice. What are Russia's chances for success in this new phase of its invasion of Ukraine.....and how seriously should we take Putin's nuclear saber-rattling?We'll also hear again from a woman living under Russian occupation in the Black Sea port city of Kherson. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia's new offensive in eastern Ukraine is officially underway. The global economy is expected to take a major hit this year because of the war. And a Ukrainian photographer is taking pictures of areas around Kyiv formerly occupied by the Russians. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are signs Russia's major offensive has begun in eastern Ukraine. How much more violent will this war get?  We speak to a doctor in Western Ukraine who says air raid sirens are becoming more and more common. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia warns it may retaliate for increased U-S military aid to Ukraine, and officials have confirmed that Ukrainian missiles sank a Russian warship.Ukrainians living in the eastern part of the country are bracing for a major Russian offensive.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A major Russian warship is damaged, and Ukraine is taking credit for the attackWe check back in with a Ukrainian woman who had to flee with her family from an area currently controlled by the Russians.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk to a Ukrainian who's had to flee his home city, but it hasn't stopped him from doing everything he can to help his country's war effort.President Biden pledges more military support to Ukraine, as defense officials work to ensure that contractors can continue meeting Ukraine's needs well into the future.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices