The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 68
Sep 6, 2025
Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a researcher and former history professor specializing in Russian political ideology, joins the discussion on the complex dynamics of Bolshevik Russia. They delve into the demographic shifts during the revolution, focusing on the rise of Jewish individuals in power and the implications of elite networks. The conversation challenges traditional narratives about Jewish roles in Bolshevism, urging self-reflection within the community. They also explore historical accountability and the interplay of identity and socialism through figures like Trotsky.
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Cassowary Videos Beat Sleep
- Matthew Raphael Johnson recounts staying up late doom-scrolling on animal videos instead of sleeping.
- He uses the cassowary and emu videos as a personal example of time-wasting distractions.
Networks Over IQ Explain Power
- The podcast links Jewish networks to rapid placement into Soviet power after the Revolution.
- Matthew Raphael Johnson argues networking, not innate IQ, explains their outsized influence.
Foreign Aid Protected Soviet Elite
- The ARA (American Relief Administration) fed Soviet elites while famine ravaged the Volga.
- Johnson highlights foreign aid shielding the new ruling class from the worst consequences of their policies.
