The Bunker – News without the nonsense The summit of all fears – Start Your Week with Rafael Behr and Jacob Jarvis
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Aug 11, 2025 Rafael Behr, a Guardian columnist and author, teams up with Jacob Jarvis to dissect heated political landscapes. They scrutinize the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin, questioning if it will yield any results, especially with Ukraine's Zelensky absent. The duo also unpacks the complexities of conspiracy narratives and geopolitics, particularly in Gaza. They reflect on Israeli leadership challenges amid ongoing conflicts and raise concerns about political privilege impacting housing policy decisions. A thought-provoking discourse on accountability in today's volatile politics!
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Putin Prefers A Summit Without Zelensky
- Rafael Behr argues Putin won't want Zelensky at the Alaska summit and prefers a bilateral stage.
- That sidelining frames the meeting as a diplomatic win for Russia and weakens Ukraine's position.
Summit Plays Into Cold War Framing
- Rafael Behr says the bilateral summit legitimizes Putin as a major player on the world stage.
- That recreates a Cold War-style framing that flatters Moscow and undercuts Ukraine's agency.
Vanity, Not Policy, Shapes Trump On Putin
- Rafael Behr argues Trump's apparent cooling towards Putin is largely rhetorical vanity, not deep policy change.
- That produces minor arms adjustments but lacks serious sanctions or decisive measures on Moscow.
