The

The Hello and welcome to behind the news. My name is Doug Henwood, as mandated by papal encyclical,

two guests and two segments today. Anatole Levin will review U.S. relations with the outside world

under the Trump regime, and Samuel Moyne will talk about checks and balances in the need for a better

elite. Regular listeners are no doubt familiar with the voice of Anatole Levin. Anatole, one of the

finest analysts of global politics I know, is the voice of Anatole Levin. Anatole, one of the finest

analyst of global politics I know, is the director of the Eurasia program at the Quincy

Institute for Responsible Statecraft based in Washington. In the 1980s and 90s, he covered the

former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the wars in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and the Southern

Caucasus for the Financial Times and the Times of London.

An update. I mentioned Ukrainian President Zelensky's trying to neuter his government's anti-corruption

efforts, which prompted the first large demonstrations in Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

After we recorded this interview yesterday, Zelensky retreated and proposed a new set of laws for

consideration by the

Parliament.

Apologies for the occasionally spotty audio, we couldn't get Zancaster, my usual platform

to work, so we resorted to the decidedly inferior Zoom.

Anatole Levin.

So it looks like Trump's alleged love affair with Putin has hit a few snags.

What do you make of this situation?

Well, I'm not sure it was ever a love affair. I mean, Trump is in love with himself.

And Putin, well, I suppose if you ask Putin, he'd say he's in love with Russia. So this was always

...