Lately, a word that has long been associated with Russian politics is...

Lately, a word that has long been associated with Russian politics is everywhere in the American media.

Oligarchs. Now, this term has been applied to other times and places as far back as ancient Greece,

usually designating wealthy individuals

with out-sized political influence. But when the USSR collapsed, 1990s Russia became emblematic

of the rise of oligarchy, and then in the early 2000s, their new leader, Vladimir Putin,

would bring the oligarchs to heal like a true mob boss.

For today's episode, we'll dig into the history of post-Soviet Russia to see if there are

indeed significant parallels with America today, as well as to unpack how Russian influence

underpins the polarization of post-truth America today.

Stay tuned to learn how Vladimir Putin's longtime right-hand man, who has a background in theater and public relations, shaped Russian propaganda and helped establish Putin's now almost 25 years of supreme power, while using those same

measures to support the rise of Donald Trump and deploy a toxic ecosystem of fake news and

disinformation so as to destabilize and polarize America. There is much talk these days about

the dangers of Maga as a potentially fascist

movement. But behind that very real threat may lie the darker and more immediate still

European danger of an emboldened Putin, hungry to expand his glorious empire and make

Russia great again, while the most powerful country

in the world endorses and enables his lies by swallowing his propaganda.

I'm Julian Walker. Welcome to Conspiratuality, where we investigate the intersections of conspiracy

theories and spiritual influence to uncover cults, pseudoscience,

and authoritarian extremism. Now, more than ever, we appreciate your support so much. If you're

not already a Patreon or Apple subscriber, please join us if you value independent media in these

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