Two comments (I guess more than two, but two categories of comments). First, terrific podcast on an extremely important topic. It is in fact “WORSE THAN WATERGATE” — the ALLCAPS are meant to invoke a tone in one’s mind like Tucker Carlson’s “RUSSIA” cry that he so artfully employed throughout the Russia hoax. I felt an “amen” as David spoke of the Durham report and said that the reaction/lack of reaction by the mainstream media was like a nail in the coffin to the country’s future. Mollie’s erudition and insights on this topic are spectacular. Please, please The Federalist, don’t fire Mollie. I don’t mean to just flatter, but I think it’s important to get input on the great work besides just audience size and book sales (which I hope are humongous). A few years ago I was super focused on details, always looked to primary sources, and could have added a great deal, but we laymen (laypeople?) are tired. It’s exhausting watching one’s country fall to pieces. Second — David, I loved your animal stories! I’d love to see a picture of the snake. I may not be in the majority, but I bet there are others who loved to hear about it, and would love to hear more. Your prowess with the snapping turtle was impressive. I wouldn’t recommend taking similar affirmative steps with the snake. But I bet others, like me, would find future details interesting.

Its clear and you admit it that your not much into the Ukraine/Russia war. Its clear that Ukraine joining NATO was and is an existential threat to Russia. Its the West's fault it came to this. If you think Moscow will allow missles on the Ukrainian border that could reach Moscow in about 5-10 minutes, then I suggest you bone up on the topic. Don't forget to read Russian and Ukrainian history while your at it. I don't care a wit about a deeply corrupt nation run by Oligarchs and is not a democracy at all. Opposition parties are banned and politicians jailed. The Eastern Ukraine region is largely Russian speakers and were being mistreated by Ukraine. The West is the real bad guy here. If the west had stayed out of it many hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians would be alive today and certainly NOT under communists. Russia began in Keiv. The war is both wrong and stupid and who wants to die for two corrupt nations?