The Globalist Trump’s Ukraine U-Turn and the Moomins turn 80
Jul 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Charles Hecker, a Russia analyst, sheds light on Trump’s surprising shift regarding military aid to Ukraine. Latika Burke talks about Australia’s diplomatic juggling act with China, while Hannah Lucinda-Smith reports on Turkey's cultural censorship as Spotify threatens to withdraw. Fiona Wilson celebrates the 80th anniversary of the beloved Moomins, exploring their influence on culture and themes of friendship. The conversation seamlessly weaves between geopolitics and whimsical nostalgia.
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Trump's Ukraine Policy Shift
- Donald Trump shifted on Ukraine aid due to frustration with Putin's dishonesty and the war's human cost.
- His prior desire to normalize US-Russia relations failed as Putin gave nothing in return.
Trump's Tariff Discretion
- Trump prefers discretion in imposing tariffs on countries buying Russian oil instead of automatic high tariffs.
- This creates inconsistency, allowing case-by-case decisions mainly to maintain leverage rather than fixed policy.
Limits of US Tariffs on Russia Oil
- The proposed 500% tariffs on Russian oil buyers like India and China could deeply disrupt global trade.
- Despite bipartisan support, the bill may be a non-starter due to fragile US-India and US-China trade relations.