What Rough Beast The Mitochondria Conspiracy
Sep 20, 2025
Molly McKew, an information-warfare expert and author of the Great Power newsletter, dives deep into Russia's long-standing manipulation of American politics. She exposes how oligarchs have influenced the U.S. since the '80s and discusses Trump's vulnerabilities to Russia's strategies. The conversation highlights the alarming speed of online radicalization, the exploitation of America's weak national identity, and the sobering reality of Ukraine's plight under misleading diplomacy. McKew warns of the consequences of eroding institutions in the face of authoritarianism.
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Khodorkovsky's Fall And Post-Prison Activism
- Molly recounts Mikhail Khodorkovsky's rise, imprisonment, and later funding of investigative projects after his release.
- She uses his arc to illustrate how oligarchs shifted from independent power to instruments of state control under Putin.
How Russia Uses Oligarchs As State Instruments
- Putin integrated oligarchs into state power so their wealth depends on loyalty, preventing independent opposition.
- That system differs from U.S. corruption but still allows actors to exploit a pliant president for private gain.
Russia Weaponized America's Cultural Voids
- Russia's influence operations aim to fracture American society by amplifying culture-war 'goop' across the political spectrum.
- That exploitation leverages America's weak, constructed national identity to make disinformation highly effective.