I'm John Batchel with my colleague Craig Unger, his book's American Compromat,

and House of Trump, House of Putin, developed a relationship between Donald Trump, a striving, ambitious Manhattan developer, and what was Soviet intelligence and Soviet mob, that after the fall of the Soviet Union became Russian state security and Russian mob, having to do with apartments and laundering money.

They're the usual stuff that gangsters have to involve themselves in because they

have illicit funds and they want to justify them in the bank.

But Craig is looking at the possibility

that there was more to it in the White House and afterwards. Craig, here we are today in

2026. We're involved in several wars simultaneously. Mr. Trump is daily making remarks that have long been challenged as why is he so partial or not more

confrontational with Vladimir Putin? Is this in any fashion explained by what you are developing

about 2016 and afterwards? Well, I mean, I think what you've seen it is, and we continue to see, is Trump is doing

everything he can to help Russia.

And it may not be obvious on the surface, but the war in Iran is a huge serendipity for Russia.

It's a bonanza.

They just didn't expect. And largely because the price of

oil goes through the roof and Russia is a major oil producer. And it means billions and billions

of dollars that they desperately needed to finance their war in Ukraine, from which Trump has

virtually entirely withdrawn in terms of aiding the Ukrainians.

So Russia right now is in communication with Trump?

What can you, I know there's no evidence of this, but what would follow?

Is there still quid pro quo?

I think, you know, I don't think there needs to be communication. I mean, I mean, gosh,

what do you think Putin's thinks of Ukraine? I think it's pretty obvious. He's been at war with them

for four years, and Trump knows that, and he's trying to help them. He is helping them.

...