This episode is sponsored by Nexo.io, NEAR and FTX US.

On this week’s “Long Reads Sunday,” NLW builds off of Stack Hödler’s thread on a recent Putin speech to examine the Russian leader’s weaponization of inflation.

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“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell, research by Scott Hill and additional production support by Eleanor Pahl. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “Catnip” by Famous Cats and “I Don't Know How To Explain It” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Contributor/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.

If Coffee is brown, why don't we pee brown?