Bad Faith Episode 504 - What to Believe About Trump & Ukraine (w/ Scott Ritter)
Aug 28, 2025
Scott Ritter, a former U.S. Marine intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector, joins to dissect Trump's complex relationship with the Ukraine conflict. He explores the contradictions of Trump's anti-war rhetoric against the backdrop of ongoing tensions. Ritter discusses the historical roots of the conflict and critiques U.S. foreign policy influences, particularly the military-industrial complex. He paints a vivid picture of the geopolitical dynamics at play, urging a reevaluation of narratives surrounding both Russia and Ukraine.
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Cold War Childhood Shaped His View
- Scott Ritter grew up on Cold War front lines in Hawaii, Turkey, and West Germany which shaped his view of the Russian threat.
- He joined the Marine Corps to prepare for a Soviet conflict and studied Russian language and history to know the enemy.
From Inspector To Advocate For Peace
- Ritter describes being the first on-site inspector in the Soviet Union under the INF Treaty in 1988 and meeting Soviet families.
- He recounts a New Year's Eve where personal friendship made him stop wanting to kill Soviet people and shift toward disarmament work.
NATO Expansion Re-Ignited Nuclear Fears
- Ritter warns that NATO expansion and Western policies created the threat narrative that revived Russian nuclear deterrence.
- He argues U.S. aims for strategic defeat of Russia pushed Moscow to re-emphasize nuclear readiness.
