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Hello and welcome to the Americano podcast, a series of discussions about American politics, life and culture.

My name is Freddie Gray. I'm the deputy editor of The Spectator.

I am delighted to be joined again. It's been a while, sadly, but he's back by Jacob Heilbrun,

who is editor of the national interest and a regular contributor to The Spectator. And we're

going to be talking about the invasion of Ukraine

and asking what America's response should or perhaps will be. Jacob, you've just written a piece

for the national interest in which you conclude the transformation of Russia in Western eyes from adversary to enemy has begun.

Consequences will shape global politics for decades to come.

As Putin's highly aggressive assault on Ukraine continues,

how do you think this is going to play out in Washington over the coming days?

In Washington, it's very interesting.

The Democrats are firmly united behind President Biden.

The Senate Republicans are to some degree praising Joe Biden.

Ted Cruz, for example, who never says anything laudatory about Biden,

praised him for his move on sanctions. And Biden today will announce a much more sweeping

round of sanctions in tandem with Europe on the Putin regime. However, there is a split in the Republican Party, exemplified by people

like J.D. Vance among the House Republicans today, Paul Gozhar, Congressman Gozard, denounced Biden.

Now, they're trying to have it both ways, to some degree. They're saying that had Trump been

...