1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: The New York Times is finally waking up to corruption 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: in Ukraine, as officials that met. Now, military contract money 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: has quote vanished. Now to be clear, this is your 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: tax dollars. As I've warned you for a couple of 5 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: years now, if you think that Russia is corrupt, you've 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: seen nothing compared to how corrupt it is in Ukraine. 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: Russians actually have talked for decades about how corrupt Ukraine is, 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: and they're not the only one. There have been many 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: other world leaders that have been warning the US you 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: might not want to be sending all the money you're 11 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 1: sending to Ukraine because you're not actually helping them fight 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: the Russians as much as you're helping Ukrainian oligarchs get really, 13 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: really rich. Now, I went over to the border with 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: Ukraine and I went over and met with the leader 15 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: in Hungary. They have been dealing with the humanitarian crisis 16 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: that has been coming out of Ukraine and the millions 17 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: coming in too hungry, and then even going to other 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: parts of Europe. Victor Raban, who's the prime minister I 19 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: have a relationship with. We set down when I was 20 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: there just a couple of months ago, and he was 21 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: explaining to me just how corrupt the Ukrainian government is. 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: And this is under Zelenski, to be very clear. As 23 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: we were sitting there and talking about the cash and 24 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: the money, he would explain how the money was being funneled. 25 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: He would explain just how corrupt they were. And he 26 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: was explaining that the richest people in the Ukrainian government, 27 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: they're actually most of them aren't even in Ukraine all 28 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: that often. Right now, they're in Warsaw. They're hanging out 29 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: in Warsaw in five star hotels. They're hanging out in 30 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: Warsaw having a grand time. And while they're in Warsaw 31 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: in these five star hotels, they're counting their money. They're 32 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: funneling their money. They're making money because every time we 33 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: send billions more to Ukraine, they're cashing out. War is 34 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: good for the oligarchs in Ukraine. War is good for 35 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: the corruption in Ukraine because when there's war, it's very 36 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: hard to follow the money. So, in a potential sign 37 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: of shifting attitudes on how the war in Ukraine has 38 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: covered in the legacy media, the New York Times is 39 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: starting to slowly acknowledge the endemic corruption that has been 40 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: a defining feature of the former Soviet state, as officials 41 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: have now admitted that the money for military contracts has 42 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: quote vanished following the dismissal of the Ukrainian Defense Minister 43 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: amid a slew of corruption scandals surrounding the war efforts 44 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: against Russia, The New York Times acknowledge that the enduring 45 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: challenges a corruption Ukraine, their words, has emerged as a 46 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: rare area of criticism of President Zolensky's leadership. A rare 47 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: area of criticism. I love how they describe that right, 48 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 1: like he's doing everything else right, except all the money 49 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: you're sitting him is not getting the battlefield. That's what 50 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: they're telling you here with their corruption. You should be 51 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: angry when I say it this way. You should be 52 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: angry the fact that they are even saying it and 53 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: still trying to give Zolensky accolades. Now, you got to 54 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: understand something about Zelensky. Zelensky isn't some great military warrior 55 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: or leader. He's a former actor. He's an actor. While 56 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: the country is under siege, it was listening to concerts 57 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: and having world stars come over and meeting with world leaders, 58 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: begging for more money for his corrupt government to then 59 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: funnel into their own personal bank accounts and for them 60 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: and their families to live in warsaw in five star hotels. 61 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: Zolensky is the guy that's on all the Grammys, the 62 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: Emmys and everything else, right, every award show. It's the 63 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: guy that's going around the world and fake military fatigues. 64 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: They're really not even real military fatigues, they're fake. Right. 65 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: He has a stylist that helps him get his image. 66 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 1: You may remember that Zolensky when he met with Donald Trump, 67 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: he wore a suit like a normal world leader. But 68 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: when you have a chance to look like you're under siege, 69 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: you wear military esque type clothing, fake military fatigues, and 70 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: you wear them without even a patch on there the 71 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 1: country that you're representing. It makes it look like your 72 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: world war torn country desperately needs cash. It makes it 73 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: look like you're a strong leader. And that's the reason 74 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,239 Speaker 1: why the media is refused to criticize him, right, because 75 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: he's the hero and Vladimir Putin is the villain, which 76 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: may actually not be the case. There's actually a chance 77 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: that they're both in many ways villains, but of course 78 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: you can't tell the mainstream media that because if you 79 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: don't virtue signal and back Ukraine and the war against 80 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,239 Speaker 1: the evil villain Vladimir Putin, then you're an evil person. 81 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: That's how the media treats you. And that's exactly why 82 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,479 Speaker 1: The New York Times has put it this way, with 83 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: a big caveat, a big pause, right, and enduring challenge 84 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: it the enduring challenge of corruption in Ukraine has quote 85 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: emerged as a rare area of criticism, a rare area 86 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: of criticism. Well, if the entire funding for the war 87 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: effort is the war effort, and the entire war effort 88 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: is dealing with corruption and money that has vanished that 89 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: was supposed to go to fighting the Russians, then why 90 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: would you refer to this as a rare area of criticism. 91 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't you refer to it as what it actually is, 92 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: which is the entire thing is a complete ruse. Now, 93 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: although the Defense Minister has yet to be tried or 94 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: charged or tied with any of the corruption scandals quote 95 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: unquote personally, the Ukrainian government says, The Times went on 96 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: to admit that the resignation has elevated the issue to 97 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: the highest level of Ukrainian politics. Unnamed Ukrainian officials even 98 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: told The New York Times that some funds intended for 99 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: military contracts failed to produce weaponry or ammunition, and that 100 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: some money has quote vanished well, claiming that the issue 101 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: was merely confined to the early days of the war, 102 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: because of course they're gonna say, all right, well, they 103 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: just stole a bunch of money early on, but now 104 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: the money's really working there, we promise, right right, we promise. 105 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 1: The neoliberal outlet has previous been previously been king to 106 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 1: highlighting claims from the Biden administration on how the Violensky 107 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: government has been committed quote unquote to fighting corruption. Remember 108 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: this is the same government that you're supposed to believe 109 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: was trying to fight corruption when they fired a prosecutor 110 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: who was actually fighting corruption, corruption with barisma and corruption 111 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: that was tied to the president of the United States 112 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: of America. And remember the corruption got the bidens ten 113 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: billion dollars ten billion or excuse me, let me rephrase 114 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: that ten million. Sorry, I want to make sure I 115 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: get that right, so no one freaks out. Ten million 116 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: dollars is how much the Bidence got off of that deal. 117 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: The Zelenski government is not committed to fighting corruption. If 118 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: they were, they wouldn't have allowed that prosecutor that was 119 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: going after corruption Ukraine to be fired and then the 120 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: mind to be funneled back to the Bidens. Now, the 121 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: New York Times says, well, they're working on fighting corruption. 122 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: They cited as evidence statements from officials such as veteran 123 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: Washington insider enacting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuwan, who 124 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: played a pivotal role in the revolution Ukraine that saw 125 00:07:54,800 --> 00:08:01,679 Speaker 1: the overthrow of democratically elected President Victor in two thousand 126 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: and fourteen. Despite the nine senior government officials being sacked 127 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: over allegations of corruption, not one, not two, not three, 128 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: not four, not five, not six, on seven and eight, 129 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: but nine senior government officials who've been sacked over corruption allegations, 130 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: including purchasing military food supplies at vastly inflated prices to 131 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: look up their friends and taking luxury vacations while the 132 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: war was going on. The paper went on to write 133 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: in January that corruption quote has otherwise not been a 134 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,719 Speaker 1: significant factor in the war. That's what the New York 135 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: Time set. In fact, they even went on to say 136 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: this back in January, despite Russian propaganda claims to the 137 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: contrary that are aimed at undermining his Zolenski's government. See, 138 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: Russia's been telling people how corrupt Ukraine is. And when 139 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: they do it, immediately the paper says The New York 140 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: Times and the lefties are like, oh no, no, that's propaganda. 141 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: That's all it is. It's just propaganda, calmed down, Okay, 142 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: it's propaganda. Ukraine corruption scandal deepens. Another headline reads, as 143 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: Zelenski sacks string of officials. The proclamation for The New 144 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: York Times age poorly. By the way, if you go 145 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: back just to January. Just days later, there was a 146 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: report that came out Transparency International gave Ukraine a score 147 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: of thirty three out of one hundred, and it's annual 148 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: Corruption Perception Index known as the CPI, ranking one hundred 149 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: and sixteenth in the world and the second lowis in 150 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: all of Europe, only behind Russia. What did I tell 151 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: you at the beginning? I said that Ukraine is more 152 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: corrupt than even Russia. And guess what, I'm not the 153 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: only one saying it. 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Join me and make the 177 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: switch today and protect our values and stand for them 178 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: with every phone call Patriotmobile dot com slash Ferguson or 179 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: eight seven eight Patriot Now Expressing concerns over the fate 180 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: of the one hundred and thirteen billion in American taxpayer 181 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: dollars that we've sent to Ukraine following Russia's invasion, The 182 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: Republican Ledhouse Oversight Committee went on to note in February, 183 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: and this is their exact words back in February, that 184 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: the Ukrainian government officials allegedly engaged in bribery, used government 185 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: vehicles for personal use, and purchase inflated food supplies for 186 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: Ukrainian forces. Why for kickbacks? Why were they doing this? 187 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: And if we know this back in February, why did 188 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: it take this long for the New York Times cover 189 00:11:55,080 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: it since we're now in September. It's because they didn't 190 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: want anybody to know what was actually happening. They didn't 191 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: want anybody to talk about it. They didn't want it 192 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: to be an issue. They didn't want to have the 193 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: conversation we're having right now because at that point. Remember, 194 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: we were obsessed with a guy wearing fake military fatigues 195 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: named Zelensky who could do no wrong, right because he's good. 196 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: We've decided it war's good, right for the Democratic Party 197 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: right now, and Russia is bad. And that's just the 198 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: narrative we're going to stick with now. Since that warning 199 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: back in January and February, corruption scandals surrounding the war 200 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: effort have continued to emerge. Last month, for example, every 201 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: single head of regional recruitment offices throughout Ukraine was fired, 202 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: every single one of them, amid allegations of widespread bribery 203 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 1: of officials from those seeking to avoid conscription into the 204 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: war quote unquote. Two weeks later, first Deputy Minister of 205 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: Policy and Food and another government individual another unnamed quote 206 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: economic minister, were sacked on suspicions of misappropriating one point 207 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: six eight million in government funds. Following the ousting of 208 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: the Defense minister on Monday, the New York Times acknowledge 209 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: that although there have yet to be specific allegations of 210 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: corruption involving American funding, that's their caveat here. The nature 211 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: of graft in the country has shifted from its traditional 212 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: avenues of exploiting state run enterprises to a focus on 213 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: war profiteering as billions pour into the country from abroad. 214 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: That's the words the New York Times. Speaking of the paper, 215 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: the executive director of the Anti Corruption Action Center in 216 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: Ukraine said, the question here is where is the money. Literally, 217 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: corruption can kill. She added, depending on how effective we 218 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: are in guarding the public funds the soldiers, we either 219 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: have a weapon or not have a weapon. This on 220 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: top of the fact that two high ranking government officials 221 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: have been embroiled in a corruption scandal and found to 222 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: have misappropriated one point six million in funds that no 223 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: one can find. The New York Times went on to 224 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 1: claim on Monday that there is a shifting mood within 225 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: Ukraine on the issue, which the paper said was mostly 226 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: taboo throughout the first year of the war as Ukrainians 227 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: rallied around their government in a fight for national survival. 228 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: The corruption scandals are nonetheless piercing the sense of unquestioning 229 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: support for the government the Ukrainians had exhibited throughout the 230 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: first year of Russia's full scale invasion. The critical reporting 231 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: of the issue of corruption Ukraine from The New York 232 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: Times may signal what many believe is a shift in 233 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: attitude overall towards the war and perhaps the Biden administration's 234 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: strategy of dumping weapons, hardware, and massive cachet of money 235 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: into the conflict and into the hands of people who 236 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: are clearly stealing the money. The White House is currently 237 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: trying to convince Congress, however, to greenlight an additional twenty 238 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: four billion an A to the country. However, elections loom 239 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: and more voters are now questioning the extent of our 240 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: involvement and why there's so many problems are still unresolved there, 241 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: as well as so many issues and problems here in 242 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: this country. Now, I go back to what I said 243 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: at the very beginning of this conversation. This is corruption 244 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: at the highest level. This is corruption at a level 245 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: that is not shocking. I think that's another point that 246 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: needs to be made. This is corruption that has been 247 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: known about, especially if you went and set with anybody 248 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: in Ukraine or outside of Ukraine, anybody around there, and 249 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: let me just tell you this. This is corruption. Okay, 250 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: that is obvious. This is corruption that everybody knows is 251 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: happening in broad daylight. So you're sending money and they're 252 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: stealing the money. You send more money and they steal 253 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: more money. You send more money and they steal even 254 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: more money. You get the trend here, right, It's pretty simple. 255 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: You send money, they steal money. You send money, they 256 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: steal money. You send more money, they steal more money. 257 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: You send bigger checks. They steal even more money in 258 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: bigger checks. This has been consistent. Okay, this has been 259 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: transparent from the very beginning. This has been something that 260 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: has been going on now and everybody knows it's happening. 261 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: Everybody can witness that it's happening. Everybody can watch it happening. 262 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: Everybody knows that it's happening. And yet we're still sending 263 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: the money because if you don't send the money, it's like, woh, well, 264 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: then you're in favor of Russia. And this is what 265 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: virtue signaling does right now with this administration, with this 266 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 1: media and around the world. If you asked any questions 267 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: over the last year, year and a half of what's 268 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: going on in Ukraine, and they would say that you 269 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: are a sympathizer. They would say that you are a 270 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: Russian sympathizer. That's what they would say. They would say 271 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 1: that you are a Russian sympathizer, and you're backing Vladimir Putin. 272 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 1: If you ask questions in this country, okay, in our government, 273 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: they would immediately come after you and they would say 274 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: you are a sympathizer. You are a Russian sympathizer. No, 275 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: I'm not. I absolutely hate Vladimir Putin, I can't stand him. 276 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: But I'm also not an idiot. And I also know 277 00:17:55,359 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: that there's serious and significant corruption, serious corruption that has 278 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: taking place in Ukraine long before this war ever happened. 279 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: And that is the point that everybody needs to understand. 280 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: This isn't new, this is normal. There's only one country 281 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: that ranks lower when it comes or higher when it 282 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: comes to corruption than Russia, and that's Ukraine in that 283 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: corruption report that came out. So like, if you think 284 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: that Russia is corrupt, then you've seen nothing until you 285 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: look at Ukraine. And that's been that way for decades. 286 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: And everybody knows it, folks, Okay, everybody knows that, So 287 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: why the hell are we seeing them? In essence, Plank 288 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: checks there's also those audio recordings. We talked about this 289 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago. Apparently there's multi recordings that apparently 290 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: the government may actually have the FBI may have these recordings, 291 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: and on these recordings the man who owned Barrisma that 292 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: Russian oligarch, corrupt Russian oligarch, just like all the others 293 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: we've been talking about this morning, recorded phone calls between 294 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: him and Hunter Biden and apparently some conversations he had 295 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: with Joe Biden. Why did he do this? That is 296 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: the I'm covering my aaass if you ever turn on 297 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: me strategy. By the way, it's smart strategy. I don't 298 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: blame the guy for doing this. It's a brilliant move. 299 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: So why is it that Joe Biden is still defending 300 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: sending billions of dollars to Ukraine instead of it going 301 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: to Americans who actually need it, by the way, like 302 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:34,479 Speaker 1: those in Hawaii for example. Well here's what the President 303 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: had to say, is he laughed it off the question 304 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: over the weekend. 305 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 2: Mister Biden, you're sending all this money to Ukraine, but 306 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,920 Speaker 2: there's Americans that are suffering at home. 307 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: Why come the money can't go here to war? Money's 308 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: going to America and ever before number one and number two. 309 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: If we don't do somebody, Ukraine and Americans are gonna 310 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: be fighting a war in Europe. 311 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: All right, doctor Biden, all this money going to your Ukraine. 312 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: What about Americans at right now? 313 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 2: What about Americans at home, doctor Biden? 314 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: So Joe Biden just said, if we don't send money now, 315 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: then Americans are going to be fighting a war in Europe. 316 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 1: That's an escalation, by the way, right, that's a pretty 317 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: big escalation. So you better let me send this money. 318 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: And if you don't, I may send your sons and 319 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: daughters or the non binary people right to Ukraine to 320 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 1: fight against Russia. Even CNN right now it's finally starting 321 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: to get their head out of their ables's and they're 322 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: reporting on the corruption. Listen more. 323 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 2: First, let's talk about this decision. Why has Alensky dropped 324 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: his defense minister All we understand ow it was that 325 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 2: this came at the request of Oleski Restakov, who's been 326 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 2: widely praised for what he's done over the last eighteen months, 327 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 2: the pretty firm record that he's shown in a very 328 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: difficult job. But also this is about aready drawing a 329 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 2: line against some of those scandals that we've seen, corruption allegations, 330 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 2: investigations that have gone on, procurement scandals that have emerged. 331 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 2: Many of them. I think it's important to note that 332 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 2: had to do with the early days of the war 333 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 2: with Ukrainian taxpayers money with Ukrainian weapons, but that have 334 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 2: still jogged the image of the country, not just as 335 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: it seeks to get more weapons from its Western allies, 336 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 2: but of course more broadly audios Ukraine looks to joining 337 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 2: NATO at some point and it's more fundamental aim of 338 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: being able to join the European Union. So Kiev has 339 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 2: been at pains to show that it is cracking down 340 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 2: on these corruption allegations, taking them extremely seriously, dealing with them, 341 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 2: and whilst Alexi Resnikov has not been tainted by them 342 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 2: at all. This really allows them to draw a line, 343 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 2: even as the rest are being made and investigations who 344 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: are being drawn to a close, to draw a line 345 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 2: under those first eighteen months of the war. Now, the 346 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: man taking over a crimean Tatar Ristam Umarov, who's widely 347 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 2: seen as a safe pair of hands. This is a 348 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 2: man who has a after all, been involved in several 349 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: prisoner swaps throughout the war. He's a businessman who's also 350 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: been involved in the Black Sea Grain initiative and is 351 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 2: wide he's seen there as a very complete man to 352 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 2: take over. Let's be clear what must be arguably one 353 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 2: of the hardest jobs in the world going forward. As 354 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 2: you said the nineteenth months of this war, it isn't 355 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 2: just about sustaining the war effort and getting Ukrainian weapons 356 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 2: up and going. It is also of course about holding 357 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 2: the Alliance together and keeping momentum there from Western Alliance 358 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 2: members who at this point are also getting extremely tired of. 359 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: This war out. Wellisa, before I let you go, what 360 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: does this mean for this counter offense have we've been 361 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: hearing about so much? 362 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: Well, this is going to be important because again, this 363 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 2: is a man who's going to take over. When they're 364 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 2: looking to get the weapons that will help feed this 365 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 2: counter offensive that is making progress to the south of 366 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 2: zabricha small assault units that are heading down trying to 367 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 2: extend the bridgehead to the south of Verbotna, that one 368 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: village that has been recaptured, and it is significant because 369 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 2: it does give them momentum and allow them to look 370 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 2: further southwards in their aims getting the right weaponry to 371 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: what will be a bigger soul down there as they 372 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 2: seek to draw Russian and eat frontline troops from elsewhere 373 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 2: along the front line will be crucial, and there is 374 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 2: the next weeks and months that will be really significant 375 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 2: and important to making this happen out here Melium. 376 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,479 Speaker 1: Now you hear part of the propaganda there. Well, we 377 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: still have to stay focused on this. And there's no 378 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 1: indication that the Defense minister, right, there's no indication he's 379 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: actually don anything wrong. They wouldn't have fired him if 380 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,679 Speaker 1: you wouldn't have done something wrong, Okay, they wouldn't have 381 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: fired him in candem. And they're like, well, they're really 382 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: trying to show they're acting and they're moving forward on this, 383 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: and they're moving forward quickly, and they're acting quickly on this. 384 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: I'm sorry I got to say bs on that one. 385 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: The only reason why this is now happening is because 386 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: people are reporting on it for months on end, and 387 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: the story hasn't disappeared. That's the part that you need 388 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: to understand about this. They're not doing any of this 389 00:23:54,920 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: now because they're trying to get rid of corruption. They're 390 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: trying to do it now. A better way of putting 391 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: it is to keep the money flowing. I'm sure Zolensky's 392 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: looking at these guys going, hey, there's tony articles about 393 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: corruption here, I'm afraid the billions are gonna stop flowing. Guys. 394 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 1: We all got to get paid, Okay, we all got 395 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: to make our money. So the way that we're gonna 396 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 1: make our money is me me sacking some of you. Guys. 397 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 1: Don't worry, you're still good. This is nothing but a 398 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: PR play, plain and simple. It's a PR play. It's 399 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: a simple PR play. It's a smart Let me also 400 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: say this, it is a very smart PR play. Okay, 401 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: it's a brilliant PR move. It's a PR move that 402 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 1: we need it, right, if you're Zolensky and his team, 403 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: A right, look, things are, we're getting these articles. We 404 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,960 Speaker 1: got to look like we're cleaning this crap up so 405 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: that they keep saying it's the money. By the way, 406 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's some Democrats in Washington, d C. I'm 407 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: sure of that. I have no doubt in my mind. 408 00:24:56,119 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: Okay that there are some Democrats in DC and are 409 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: probably saying, hey, heads up, you guys are gonna have 410 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: a hard time getting more cash out of the US 411 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,719 Speaker 1: if you guys don't look like you're doing something on corruption, Like, 412 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: heads up, this is what's happening. You need to understand it. 413 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 1: That's my gut here. I feel pretty confident that there 414 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: are even maybe people in the White House who are saying, hey, 415 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 1: you guys have got to look like you're fixing some 416 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: of these problems. Because if you don't look like you're 417 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: fixing these problems, we're gonna have a hard time convincing 418 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 1: for another one hundred billion to come your way, another 419 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: fifty billion to come your way, another seventy five billion 420 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: to come your way, It's gonna be tough. So we 421 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: need you to work on this real quick. I have 422 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 1: no doubt that's what this is all about. Please take 423 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 1: everything I just told you, share it with your family 424 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: and friends, take our podcast, share it wherever you can 425 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: on social media, because I promise you what I just 426 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: told you is not and will not be covered by 427 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: the mainstream media. They are not going to do it.