Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Moscow Tools (FULL SPECIAL) | The Daily Show

The Daily Show
20 May 202424:02

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the contrasting views between Estonian defenses and American Trump supporters regarding Russia and Vladimir Putin. It highlights Estonia's preparations against a potential Russian invasion and the perspective of Estonian leaders on NATO's importance. Conversely, at a Trump rally in rural Pennsylvania, supporters express admiration for Putin, seeing him as a strong, well-mannered leader. The video delves into the impact of disinformation, the Republican Party's shifting stance towards Russia, and the potential geopolitical consequences of Trump's possible return to the presidency, all while examining the broader implications for global stability and democracy.

Takeaways

  • 🔹 Estonia is training to prepare for a potential Russian invasion.
  • 🔹 Many MAGA supporters view Vladimir Putin favorably and believe he is a strong leader.
  • 🔹 Some Trump supporters think the US would be better off emulating Russia's perceived strengths.
  • 🔹 Misinformation about Ukraine and the Biden administration is prevalent among these supporters.
  • 🔹 John Bolton criticizes Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and doubts his understanding of alliances like NATO.
  • 🔹 There is concern that Trump might withdraw from NATO if re-elected, weakening the alliance and leaving Eastern European countries vulnerable.
  • 🔹 Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasizes the importance of NATO for Estonia’s security.
  • 🔹 Russian propaganda targets Republican voters in the US, spreading divisive and misleading information.
  • 🔹 Russia's media influence campaigns exploit existing social and political divides in America.
  • 🔹 Estonians, especially those with memories of Soviet occupation, are acutely aware of the dangers posed by Russia’s expansionist policies.

Q & A

  • Why are Estonians training in the woods?

    -Estonians are training in the woods to prepare for a potential Russian invasion, reflecting their concern about their proximity to Russia and the historical context of past Russian occupation.

  • What is the general perception of Vladimir Putin among MAGA supporters at the rally?

    -Many MAGA supporters at the rally view Vladimir Putin positively, seeing him as a strong, well-mannered leader who they believe runs his country well and values freedom.

  • How do the opinions of MAGA supporters about Russia contrast with traditional Republican views?

    -Traditional Republicans viewed Russia as a geopolitical foe and a focus of evil, while current MAGA supporters have a softer stance, admiring Putin and his leadership, which is a stark contrast.

  • What does John Bolton think about Donald Trump's understanding of NATO?

    -John Bolton believes that Donald Trump does not understand alliances and that he might withdraw the U.S. from NATO if he wins a second term, which could have severe geopolitical consequences.

  • What are the consequences of disinformation campaigns, according to Julia Ioffe?

    -Julia Ioffe explains that disinformation campaigns, often amplified by social media, can significantly influence public opinion and political actions, leading to real-world consequences like delayed military aid to Ukraine.

  • What does Prime Minister Kaja Kallas say about NATO's role for Estonia?

    -Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasizes that NATO's presence deters aggression from Russia, arguing that NATO is essential for Estonia's security and the peace in the region.

  • How do MAGA supporters justify their support for Vladimir Putin despite his actions?

    -MAGA supporters justify their support for Putin by focusing on his perceived strengths, leadership qualities, and opposition to what they see as corrupt or ineffective leadership in the U.S., particularly under Joe Biden.

  • Why does Kaja Kallas believe that aggression must be countered strongly?

    -Kaja Kallas believes that if Russia's aggression is not countered strongly, it will embolden them to expand further, making aggression seem like a successful strategy.

  • What is the historical context of Russian occupation mentioned by the Estonian volunteers?

    -The historical context includes mass atrocities, deportations, and suppression of Estonian culture during the Soviet occupation, which has shaped their current attitudes towards Russia and defense preparedness.

  • How does the perception of life in Russia differ among Estonian Russians based on their location?

    -Estonian Russians living closer to the border can see the realities of life in Russia and recognize it is not better than in Europe, while those further away might be more influenced by Russian propaganda.

Outlines

00:00

🇪🇪 Estonia's Military Training Amid Russian Threat

The opening scene is set in Estonia, where locals are training to defend against a potential Russian invasion. The narrator interacts with people preparing for combat, discussing the importance of camouflage and military tactics. The narrative shifts to the broader geopolitical context, focusing on America's polarized political climate and the influence of Trump rallies. A dialogue ensues about the perceived threats from Russia, featuring interviews with Trump supporters who express admiration for Vladimir Putin and critique the Biden administration. The conversation explores the complexities of international politics, the allure of authoritarian leaders, and the ongoing conflicts impacting global stability.

05:05

🗳️ US Politics and Putin's Influence

The script delves into America's upcoming election, highlighting the dissatisfaction with the current political choices. Interviews with Trump supporters reveal a surprising admiration for Russia and its leadership, with many expressing a preference for Putin over Biden. The discussion touches on historical perspectives of the GOP's stance on Russia, contrasting Reagan-era policies with contemporary views. The narrative emphasizes the shift within the Republican Party, driven by Trump's rhetoric, towards a more favorable view of Putin and authoritarianism. This section underscores the ideological divide and the potential implications for US foreign policy and international alliances.

10:06

🌐 Russian Propaganda and Republican Alignment

The focus shifts to the influence of Russian propaganda on American political discourse. An investigative report uncovers Kremlin documents outlining strategies to sway Republican voters by amplifying divisive narratives. The spread of misinformation through social media platforms like Truth Social is highlighted, with examples of false stories about Ukrainian corruption gaining traction. Interviews with political figures and analysts shed light on how these tactics exploit existing biases and fears. The narrative explores the impact of these disinformation campaigns on public opinion and policy, particularly regarding US support for Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.

15:08

🇪🇪 Estonia's Defense and NATO's Importance

The scene transitions to Estonia, a NATO member country on Russia's border. The Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, discusses the critical role of NATO in ensuring national security and deterring Russian aggression. The conversation underscores the high stakes of the US presidential election for NATO's future, with concerns about Trump's potential withdrawal from the alliance. The narrative highlights Estonia's historical experiences under Soviet occupation and the contemporary threat posed by Russia. The determination of Estonian civilians, who train in the woods to repel any potential invasion, is portrayed as a testament to the country's resilience and commitment to freedom.

20:10

🛡️ Estonia's Vigilance Against Russian Aggression

The final segment emphasizes Estonia's proactive measures to defend against Russian threats. Interviews with local volunteers, including a choir conductor turned militia member, illustrate the personal impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on Estonians. The narrative juxtaposes this with the complacency observed among some Americans regarding Russian autocracy. The Prime Minister reiterates the importance of NATO and international alliances in maintaining peace and security. The script concludes with a reflection on the broader implications of geopolitical conflicts and the vital need for global cooperation to address common threats.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡NATO

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance of Western countries aimed at ensuring mutual defense against aggression. In the video, NATO's role is highlighted in the context of protecting Estonia and other member countries from Russian aggression. The importance of maintaining and strengthening NATO alliances is emphasized to counterbalance potential threats from Russia.

💡Trump

Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, is discussed in relation to his supporters' admiration for authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and their dissatisfaction with current U.S. leadership. The video explores Trump's influence on the Republican Party's shifting attitudes towards Russia and NATO, and his potential impact on global geopolitics if re-elected.

💡Putin

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, is portrayed as a strong, authoritarian leader admired by some Trump supporters. The video contrasts this admiration with Putin's controversial actions, such as election meddling and the invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the complexities and dangers of his leadership style.

💡Election Influence

The video discusses how Russia has attempted to influence U.S. elections, particularly through disinformation campaigns targeting Republican voters. This theme is explored through examples of Russian propaganda being echoed in American political discourse and social media, demonstrating the ongoing impact of such interference.

💡Estonia

Estonia, a small NATO member country bordering Russia, is depicted as a nation preparing for potential Russian aggression. The video features interviews with Estonian leaders and defense volunteers, illustrating the country's strategic importance and the existential threat it faces from its powerful neighbor.

💡MAGA

MAGA (Make America Great Again) refers to the political movement supporting Donald Trump. The video highlights how some MAGA supporters view Putin favorably, believing he embodies qualities they admire. This support contrasts sharply with traditional Republican views on Russia, showcasing a significant shift within the party.

💡Disinformation

Disinformation refers to false or misleading information spread deliberately to deceive. The video examines how Russian disinformation campaigns have successfully infiltrated American political discourse, influencing opinions and creating divisions. Examples include false narratives about Ukraine and the demonization of political opponents.

💡Ukraine

Ukraine is central to the video's discussion on Russian aggression and Western responses. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is used to illustrate the broader geopolitical struggle and the importance of NATO's support for Ukraine. The video also debunks myths and disinformation about the conflict spread by Russian propaganda.

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism, a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms, is a key concept in the video. It examines how some Americans are drawn to authoritarian leaders like Putin, contrasting their views with the values of democracy and freedom traditionally upheld in the West.

💡John Bolton

John Bolton, a former U.S. National Security Advisor, provides expert commentary on the Republican Party's shift towards pro-Russian sentiments. His insights help frame the discussion on the dangers of weakening NATO and the implications of a potential Trump victory for international alliances and security.

Highlights

Estonians are training to fight the Russians due to growing fears of invasion.

The GOP's shift towards admiration for Putin contrasts sharply with its past stance.

Over half of Republicans now view Vladimir Putin as a better president than Joe Biden.

The segment explores why some Americans believe Russia is a model society.

Former Republican officials express concern over Trump's fascination with authoritarian leaders.

Russian disinformation campaigns target U.S. voters to sow discord and promote pro-Russian sentiments.

Misinformation about Ukraine, such as Zelenskyy's supposed purchase of yachts, originates from Russian sources.

U.S. aid to Ukraine was delayed due to misinformation and political controversy, affecting Ukraine's defense.

Republicans are increasingly echoing Russian propaganda that criticizes Ukraine and praises Russia.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasizes the importance of NATO in deterring Russian aggression.

Estonian civilians are actively preparing for potential Russian military action.

The historical context of Russia's occupation of Estonia shapes current Estonian attitudes towards Russia.

Russian-born journalist Julia Ioffe explains how Russian propaganda exploits existing American fears and prejudices.

The interview with John Bolton highlights the geopolitical risks if Trump wins the next election.

Estonians' experiences under Soviet occupation provide a stark warning against Russian expansionism.

Transcripts

00:00

(curious oscillating music)

00:01

(footsteps crunching)

00:09

- We're in Estonia, they're training to fight the Russians.

00:12

(intense rhythmic music)

00:16

(intense rhythmic music ending)

00:17

Do you have any more camo?

00:19

No? Okay, that's cool.

00:21

I'll just...

00:23

Are you using all these leaves?

00:25

- Yeah, yeah.

00:25

- Yeah. Okay, sorry.

00:26

- We're crawling.

00:28

- The crawling helps the leaves,

00:29

it looks like you're a moving bush.

00:30

Yeah, yeah, no, I got it, I got it.

00:31

Yeah, yeah.

00:33

(low rhythmic music)

00:41

(low rhythmic music continues)

00:48

(low rhythmic music ending)

00:50

(low vocal music)

00:58

(intense ascending music)

01:01

America is heading into an election nobody wants,

01:04

and the world has serious problems

01:06

that demand serious conversations.

01:08

However, after years of Trump rallies,

01:10

the only people I know how to talk to

01:11

about the state of the world

01:13

are old pals, like MAGA Edward.

01:15

- We may already be in the middle of World War III,

01:17

it just hasn't gotten real hot yet.

01:18

You could blame Biden,

01:19

but we all know who's runnin' this country.

01:21

- Who is running this country?

01:23

- Barack Obama, this is his third term.

01:24

- Do you think the world would be safer

01:26

with Donald Trump returning to the presidency?

01:28

- 100%.

01:29

- I know without a fact, it would.

01:30

- Without a fact,

01:31

it would be a safer world. - Yes!

01:33

- [Jordan] But as the MAGA faithful

01:34

wait for Trump to return us to safety,

01:36

they found a surprising model for their perfect society.

01:40

- I would like to see America be more like Russia.

01:43

- [Jordan] Yes, Russia.

01:44

- It's clean, everybody looks healthy.

01:46

I mean, it looks like they take care of their people.

01:50

- You see the streets in Russia,

01:51

people are walkin' around and they all seem to be happy.

01:54

Their country really looks like they've got things together

01:56

a little bit.

01:57

- Putin is a valued leader who runs his country.

01:59

He's a respectful person towards his country.

02:01

- What do you like about Vladimir Putin?

02:03

- The way he's leadin' his country, it's all for freedom.

02:05

I used to watch his videos fishing, horseback riding,

02:08

back in the day.

02:09

- (laughing) You would do it just for fun,

02:10

you'd watch Putin horseback riding videos?

02:12

- Yeah.

02:13

- Who's a better leader, Vladimir Putin or Joe Biden?

02:16

- Putin.

02:17

- [Jordan] This guy, the one with a terrifying track record?

02:20

- [Reporter] Littering the landscape with violent deaths,

02:23

mystery illnesses, and dubious suicides.

02:26

- [Jordan] The one who meddled in our election, in 2016?

02:28

The one who is "meddling" in Ukraine?

02:32

(explosion blasting)

02:33

What do they see in a guy who creates so much chaos?

02:36

- He's strong, he's well-mannered, he speaks well.

02:41

- Putin is well-mannered,

02:42

right? - Absolutely.

02:43

- He knows where the fork goes, where the knife goes,

02:45

which window the journalist goes out of.

02:47

- (laughing) Yup.

02:48

- I think he's a calm person, I think he's methodical,

02:50

I think he thinks about things beyond today,

02:53

and I think he sees into the future for his country.

02:57

- It looks like he's thinking two steps ahead, right?

02:58

- Yes.

02:59

- It's almost like he knows what the next territory

03:02

that he wants to infiltrate with his own perspective.

03:04

- Right, right. - Right?

03:05

Who do you think started the war in Ukraine?

03:06

- Joe Biden and his son.

03:08

- This war was started so that Biden could remain President.

03:11

- That is what's happening. - Wartime president.

03:13

So, how did Biden

03:14

manufacture Putin sending tanks into Ukraine?

03:18

- Ooh.

03:20

- That's a good question.

03:21

- But you do think it was manufactured by Biden.

03:25

- Yes, yes. - Yes, well-

03:27

- Yeah, obviously.

03:28

- [Person In Black Trump Hat] Yeah.

03:29

- But how he did it...

03:32

- How does he do a lotta things that he does?

03:34

- That's a way to evade it, for sure.

03:37

Wait, people are giving Putin a pass here,

03:40

at a Trump rally in a field, in rural Pennsylvania,

03:42

next to the most American vehicle in history,

03:45

a monster truck with a "tits" license plate.

03:48

The Republican party used to talk about Russia like this:

03:51

- Mr. Khrushchev understands only strength and firmness.

03:55

They are the focus of evil in the modern world.

03:58

- Russia, I indicated, is a geopolitical foe.

04:02

- [Jordan] But this ain't your daddy's GOP,

04:03

it's Vladdy's GOP.

04:05

Nowadays, more than half of republicans

04:08

think Vladimir Putin is a better president than Joe Biden.

04:11

And it's not just out here, it's everywhere.

04:13

Tucker Carlson recently went to Moscow

04:16

to marvel at ciabatta loaves and mass transit.

04:19

- How does Russia have a subway station

04:21

that's nicer than anything in our country?

04:24

- [Jordan] And the Russian fandom

04:25

goes all the way to the very brain trust of the GOP.

04:29

- The Ukrainian Government is attacking Christians.

04:31

Russia is not doing that.

04:32

- Putin is smart, our leaders are dumb.

04:36

- [Jordan] How did the Republican party become Moscow tools?

04:39

- The explanation for that stems largely from Donald Trump.

04:44

- [Jordan] This is John Bolton,

04:45

the most republican of republicans.

04:47

He served under three Republican presidents,

04:49

including Trump, sold the invasion of Iraq,

04:52

and did some light geopolitical meddling.

04:54

- As somebody who has helped plan coup d'etat,

04:57

it takes a lot of work.

04:59

- Imagine Ronald Reagan is caught in amber, in 1988.

05:04

I'm using "Jurassic Park" technology.

05:06

He wakes up now, unthawed,

05:09

what does he think of the modern GOP?

05:12

- Well, certainly the Trump wing of it,

05:14

he would be appalled by.

05:16

It's just antithetical

05:18

not just to the philosophical beliefs of Ronald Reagan,

05:21

but to the positive attitude about America

05:24

and its prospects.

05:25

- So Reagan wakes up and he's shocked.

05:26

- Right.

05:27

- And he's also like, "What is this internet thing?

05:29

Maybe we should send Steven Seagal over there

05:31

to kick Putin's ass.

05:32

Wait a minute, Steven Seagal already lives there.

05:34

This is all too confusing,

05:35

let's just go back to ignoring AIDS." (laughing)

05:38

- I think he'd be stunned that the Republican Party

05:41

had anything to do with Donald Trump.

05:42

- What is Trump's infatuation with Putin?

05:45

- Well, I think he has a fascination

05:47

with authoritarian leaders, generally.

05:50

I think Trump would like to be a big guy,

05:52

but I don't think he's smart enough to be a dictator.

05:54

- So is Trump... What's the term, an idiot?

05:58

- Well, I think Rex Tillerson

06:00

had the iconic two-word description of Trump.

06:04

The first word, I won't repeat even on your show,

06:07

the second of which was "moron."

06:08

- Okay, I'll throw it in there, (beep).

06:10

- That's pretty much on point,

06:11

that's right. - Yes, a (beep) moron.

06:13

- Right.

06:13

- Can a (beep) moron still be a useful idiot?

06:17

- I think the answer to that's yes,

06:19

and I think Vladimir Putin understands it.

06:21

- Yes.

06:22

For Putin, Trump is like one of those dogs

06:24

that the Russians shot into space:

06:26

obedient, useful, and utterly disposable.

06:29

But if Putin's puppy actually wins,

06:31

what does that mean for things like NATO,

06:33

an alliance of Western nations

06:35

which has been a thorn in Putin's side?

06:38

- Well, I think there are two main points

06:41

that Putin will be concerned about

06:43

if Trump wins in November.

06:45

One, the most immediate point will be the war in Ukraine;

06:48

and second, related to it but broader, the future of NATO.

06:52

- Does Trump know what NATO does?

06:55

- He doesn't understand alliances.

06:57

- How important is having an alliance

06:59

with perhaps somebody you don't agree with but connect with

07:04

so that you can push together a common goal

07:06

for geopolitical safety?

07:08

- Well, I think NATO's the most successful

07:10

political military alliance in human history.

07:13

So before we give that up, people oughta think about it

07:16

a little bit more seriously than Trump does.

07:19

- [Jordan] So the stakes of this election

07:20

couldn't be higher.

07:21

The only way to stop an existential threat

07:23

is through alliances, a unified front for the common good.

07:27

So picking between Trump and Biden must be a no-brainer.

07:30

- I'm not gonna vote for either one,

07:32

I wrote in a name in 2020, I'll do that again this year.

07:36

- A wise man once told me that sometimes,

07:37

it's important to make alliances

07:41

with people that you may not agree fully with

07:43

in order to have some sort of global stability.

07:47

But maybe, tell me more

07:49

about writing in an unnamed candidate for president

07:52

with 0% chance of winning?

07:53

- I don't think either prospect is very appealing, frankly.

07:58

- [Jordan] Great.

07:58

So in the race between a current president

08:00

and a former president,

08:02

it looks like the winner will be the Russian President.

08:07

The GOP's softer stance on Russia

08:09

was giving me flashbacks to 2016,

08:11

when Putin tried to influence our election.

08:14

- I mean, it could be Russia,

08:15

it could be somebody sitting on their bed

08:16

that weighs 400 pounds, okay?

08:19

- [Jordan] But Russia would've to think we're fools

08:20

to fall for that again.

08:22

- This is the traditional image of Americans

08:24

that Russians have in their minds,

08:25

that we're stupid, that we're gullible,

08:28

that we smile at everyone like total idiots.

08:30

You concede information in their head,

08:33

and they will parrot the information that is useful to you.

08:36

- [Jordan] This is Russian-born American journalist,

08:38

Julia Ioffe.

08:39

As a correspondent in Moscow,

08:41

Ioffe covered Putin and the Kremlin,

08:43

so I wanted her to help me

08:44

parse through what I'd been hearing at rallies.

08:47

- There was an amazing Washington Post report

08:50

by Catherine Belton, an investigative reporter,

08:53

who got her hands on some secret Kremlin documents.

08:57

So this is a pitch

08:59

for a "partisan" media campaign in the US.

09:02

The targets of this campaign are Republican Party voters.

09:07

We wanna echo what they're saying, which is that,

09:10

I'm just reading from the document here,

09:11

"Colored, perverts, and invalids get all the privileges."

09:16

- It sounds like a Toby Keith lyric.

09:17

(Julia laughing)

09:19

- This will sound familiar to you, "The danger

09:21

of criminality of colored people and immigrants"-

09:26

- Yeah, I've heard a thing or two there.

09:28

- I used to live in Milwaukee,

09:29

and there's places in Milwaukee that you can't go to,

09:32

because me as a little white guy,

09:35

I wouldn't feel safe bein' there.

09:37

You see the streets in Russia,

09:38

it looks like their infrastructure in their country

09:40

looks a whole lot nicer than ours does here.

09:43

- The murder rate is twice as high in Russia

09:45

as it is in the United States.

09:46

- I didn't know that, guys.

09:48

I mean, well, thank you for informing me.

09:50

- The best political influence campaigns

09:52

are the ones where you don't invent anything,

09:54

you just take the facts on the ground and you amplify them,

09:57

right?

09:58

And so what you see these fake accounts amplifying

10:03

are arguments that I'm sure you've heard on the trail

10:06

and at these rallies, which is that,

10:07

"Democrats are globalists

10:09

who care more about Ukraine than about the southern border."

10:12

It's, "Russia's good, and Ukraine is corrupt."

10:16

- It is corruption.

10:17

They're taking advantage of the situation what they created,

10:21

it's by design.

10:22

- They're pumpin' money over there

10:24

and we know it's coming back to politicians' pockets here.

10:27

- Now, it goes into the means of spreading this information.

10:30

- How they gonna do it?

10:31

- Well, you're gonna use social media.

10:33

But it says,

10:34

"The only place where they can spread this information

10:38

without any censorship is," I'm gonna let you guess.

10:41

- Where can they get the vitamins,

10:42

where are you sellin' T-shirts?

10:43

- I'm Red Pill Ken, on Truth Social, @redpillken.

10:46

- [Jordan And Julia] Truth Social.

10:47

- Yes.

10:48

- The most useful of the idiots

10:50

can be found on Truth Social.

10:52

- (laughing) Or owning it.

10:53

Connect these dots, how Zelenskyy is benefiting from this.

10:57

Where (stammering)-

10:58

- Because he has yachts, he has plenty of money!

11:01

And guess what Zelenskyy does?

11:03

He sniffs cocaine right in front of y'all!

11:06

- So the yacht story

11:07

is that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine,

11:10

took money that the US sent him for weapons,

11:12

siphoned it off, and bought two luxury yachts.

11:15

The story is completely false.

11:18

But then researchers were like, "Where did this come from?"

11:22

- It came from a little website called DC Weekly,

11:24

which is from not actually here in Washington DC!

11:28

DC Weekly is allegedly run out of here, Moscow.

11:31

Then, the story spreads across the internet

11:34

and makes its way to there, to (beep) there!

11:38

Yup, it was shared by Marjorie Taylor Greene and J.D. Vance.

11:41

- There were people who would cut Social Security,

11:44

throw our grandparents into poverty.

11:46

Why,

11:47

so that one of Zelenskyy ministers can buy a bigger yacht?

11:49

- [Jordan] Meanwhile,

11:50

military aid for Ukraine hung in the balance.

11:52

- Not another penny will go to Ukraine.

11:56

- [Jordan] Congress eventually gave Ukraine

11:58

a whole lotta pennies,

11:59

but aid was stalled for seven months.

12:01

- In that time,

12:02

Ukraine suffered tremendous battlefield losses.

12:05

So people are actually dying because members of Congress

12:08

are parroting fake Russian bullshit.

12:10

- So is that a win for Putin?

12:12

- 1,000%.

12:13

- [Jordan] Yes, Putin was winning,

12:15

but it wasn't just because of disinformation.

12:17

- What's happening in Russia

12:18

is basically a Republican wet dream.

12:21

They have banned the international LGBT movement,

12:25

They're restricting abortion.

12:26

Vladimir Putin invokes

12:28

a lot of what republicans call "wokeness."

12:30

It just seems that Maga heads, they're much more comfortable

12:33

with that authoritarian persona,

12:37

especially when the guy is white, male, Christian-

12:41

- Shirtless, hairless.

12:43

(slow rhythmic music)

12:46

Clearly, a big Putin fan.

12:48

- Well, it's like a souvenir.

12:51

- Meet Kline Preston.

12:53

That's the Founder of the KGB.

12:54

- Yes.

12:55

- He was a lawyer for future GOP Senator Marsha Blackburn,

12:59

he attended the NRA convention in 2015

13:01

with a convicted Russian agent, and in 2020,

13:04

he fought to overturn Biden's election results in Michigan

13:07

to help Trump.

13:08

And he knows all about election integrity

13:10

because he's been an official observer

13:13

of seven Russian elections.

13:15

- So in Russia,

13:16

they have legislation that allows for foreign observers.

13:20

- What do you say to the critics who might say

13:23

maybe they're choosing outside observers

13:25

who are biased to be a little pro-Russia?

13:29

- Well, I wouldn't say that I'm pro-Russia.

13:31

- From a decorating perspective, perhaps.

13:34

- Well, I mean,

13:35

I could see how someone would make such a comment based on,

13:38

you know, knowin' my background.

13:40

- Or your furnishings.

13:41

- My furnishings and, you know.

13:42

- Yeah, or your knickknacks.

13:44

- (laughing) Yeah.

13:45

- Your oil paintings-

13:46

- A long interest- - Weaponry on the wall.

13:48

- Yeah, um-

13:49

- The bust. (laughing)

13:52

Who do you point the finger at for that Russian invasion?

13:54

- The West.

13:55

When Russia invaded in 2022, in February,

13:59

it was a defensive move.

14:01

- Putin's a victim here.

14:02

- Well, I mean, to some degree Russia is.

14:05

The fact is, and American politicians hate this,

14:10

Vladimir Putin's done a very good job for his country

14:13

and he's really popular.

14:16

- Some people claim that he controls the media,

14:19

he controls and/or executes his enemies.

14:24

- I mean, who?

14:25

- Well, Navalny.

14:27

- But there's no proof that he killed him.

14:28

- Right, okay.

14:30

Yevgeny Prigozhin?

14:31

- Prigozhin, okay.

14:33

Um, his plane blew up or whatever.

14:37

- What about somebody like Nikolai Glushkov, Putin critic?

14:41

Is that suspicious to you, his death?

14:44

- Yeah, it's suspicious, absolutely.

14:45

- Yeah, yeah.

14:46

- But can I say that Vladimir Putin did it? No.

14:49

- Huh.

14:49

- Litvinenko, you remember him?

14:51

- I don't.

14:52

- Well, let's just say he had a penchant for polonium.

14:54

- Right.

14:55

- Especially in his tea.

14:57

He died a horrible death.

14:58

- It seems like the Oscar's-style in memoriam

15:01

for all the opposition leaders and journalists

15:03

who have died under Putin's watch,

15:05

it's just like, I don't know if John Legend

15:07

has the stamina to complete that.

15:10

As we were talking, Kline got an unexpected call.

15:14

- Oh man, I gotta do it.

15:15

- You got a call?

15:17

- Yeah, RT, the...

15:20

- That's Russian television that's calling?

15:22

- Yeah.

15:23

- I mean, I have to ask, are you a Russian asset?

15:26

- (laughing) well, if I am, I'm a bad one.

15:29

- [Jordan] Wait,

15:30

was Kline about to feed the propaganda from the Kremlin

15:33

back to Russian State Television?

15:35

- There's nothin' democratic today about Ukraine.

15:38

- Oh no, was I the biscuit in a propaganda circle jerk?

15:43

Putin has a clear set of goals

15:45

beyond decorating his US assets offices.

15:47

He also wants to stop funding for Ukraine and weaken NATO

15:51

so he can expand Russian territory.

15:53

And Donald Trump is playing right into Putin's hands

15:55

by threatening to leave our allies to fend for themselves.

15:58

- You didn't pay, you're delinquent.

16:01

I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,

16:03

you gotta pay.

16:05

- If Trump wins a second term, what happens to NATO?

16:07

- I think Trump will withdraw from NATO,

16:09

I think that's his intention.

16:11

- How do you stop something like that from happening?

16:13

- The best advice I can offer for people in a second term,

16:16

since I won't be part of it, is keep distracting Trump.

16:20

- He's like a cat.

16:21

Get a laser pointer into the White House, right?

16:23

Jesus Christ, it's the only way to save nuclear apocalypse?

16:26

- Well, I hadn't thought of that,

16:27

but that might do the trick.

16:29

- If we do pull out of NATO, who is the most screwed?

16:33

- Well, I think any country

16:34

that borders on Russia or a former part of the Soviet Union.

16:38

- So if I were booking travel into the Eastern Bloc

16:40

to say Estonia maybe,

16:43

slow down or at least get the trip protection?

16:45

- I was gonna say go now.

16:47

- [Jordan] If you say so, John.

16:48

When has following John Bolton's advice on foreign affairs

16:51

ever gone wrong?

16:53

(momentous string music)

16:58

This is Estonia,

17:00

a NATO member country of just over 1,000,000 people

17:02

that sits on the border of Russia.

17:05

Since the invasion of Ukraine,

17:07

Estonians have been wondering, "Are we next?"

17:10

To see how people here

17:11

are feeling about being in Putin's crosshairs,

17:13

I sat down with Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas,

17:16

who has been described as the Iron Lady of the Baltic

17:19

for standing up to Russia.

17:21

- Apparently,

17:22

I'm the only leader that is on Russia's most wanted list.

17:27

- Oh.

17:28

- Yeah.

17:29

- (stammering) You're on the most wanted list?

17:31

- I am.

17:32

- I'm not in danger, right?

17:34

- No.

17:35

- I'm a brave fake journalist,

17:36

but I'm only so brave and mostly fake.

17:40

As Putin has gotten bolder,

17:42

Kallas has become one of NATO's most vocal supporters.

17:45

- We shouldn't dismantle NATO,

17:47

NATO is the strongest military alliance.

17:51

We don't have war here because we are in NATO.

17:54

- An America Presidential candidate is arguing

17:58

that if everybody's not paying their fair share in NATO,

18:01

then why should we be facing the brunt of it?

18:05

- First, we are paying more for defense, I mean Estonia.

18:09

- You guys are?

18:10

- Yes, we are spending 3.2% of our GDP on defense.

18:14

It's more than the United States is spending (laughing)

18:17

in terms of percentage.

18:18

- Nice flex.

18:19

- How I explain NATO to school children,

18:22

I always say that, you know,

18:24

"If you have a school bully and you are weaker physically,

18:29

the bully doesn't bully you when you have big friends,

18:32

and this is how NATO works."

18:34

- So what happens if one of your big friends

18:37

also happens to be a bully who's talking about

18:40

just becoming friends with the other bully,

18:43

and then bullyin' all the little people?

18:45

- Well, that is definitely going to be more complicated.

18:49

- Yeah.

18:49

- If Russia will succeed in Ukraine,

18:52

then their appetite will grow because, you know,

18:55

they have expanded their empire and colonized the country.

18:59

Aggression pays off.

19:02

Every next step, they're bolder,

19:04

"Okay, nothing happened to us, we can do this."

19:06

They have built up their military

19:08

to colonize another country.

19:11

- Just, and for clarification,

19:12

how close is Russia to us right now?

19:14

- It's 320 kilometers or something.

19:18

- I'm from New York, how many city blocks is that?

19:20

- It's three-hour drive.

19:22

- Three-hour drive.

19:23

Okay, so that's a good seven city blocks in New York.

19:26

That's congestion, New York is intense that way.

19:29

It turns out we're so close that Estonian civilians

19:32

are training in the woods in case of a Russian invasion.

19:37

These are our guys?

19:38

- Yeah. - Okay.

19:40

If Russia were to attack while I'm with you guys,

19:42

I gotta be honest, I'm not really the fighting kind.

19:45

(vehicle rattling)

19:46

This is the Estonian Defense League,

19:48

they're an all-volunteer army

19:49

of about 30,000 regular Estonians.

19:52

What do you do, what's your day job?

19:53

- I'm a choir conductor, studying for that.

19:55

- You were a choir conductor?

19:57

- I was studying for it, yeah.

19:58

- How do you go from studying to be a choir conductor

20:00

to in the middle of the Estonian woods

20:02

holding a AR of some sort?

20:06

- The Russian-Ukraine war changed everything for us, so.

20:09

- Yeah.

20:10

When Americans gather like this, they're usually training

20:12

to keep a barber shop open during COVID.

20:15

And you guys are training to?

20:17

- To repel Russians.

20:18

- Right. - It's simple.

20:19

- We don't have any illusions.

20:21

Even today, when we see what's happening in Ukraine,

20:23

we understand that all Estonians has to stop Putin.

20:28

- And there's a reason these soldiers are concerned.

20:32

I got your six, or whatever it is in metric, 12?

20:38

Russia brutally occupied Estonia until 1991.

20:42

So while MAGA world turns a blind eye

20:44

to Putin's plan to expand Russia,

20:46

people who lived under that occupation

20:48

have a different view of it.

20:50

- Everybody's for peace.

20:52

But we understand

20:53

what peace under Soviet or Russian occupation means.

20:57

You had mass atrocities, mass deportations.

21:02

My own mother was deported to Siberia

21:04

as a six-months old baby.

21:06

There were mass killings.

21:08

They were suppressing our culture,

21:11

trying to erase our language.

21:13

This is what "peace" under occupation means.

21:17

That doesn't mean that the human suffering will stop.

21:20

- [Jordan] If only we could get that information

21:22

to go viral on Truth Social.

21:26

For the past few months, I've been wrestling

21:28

with my country's susceptibility to propaganda.

21:31

Are we just useful idiots, or is the harder truth

21:34

that some of us might actually want autocracy?

21:37

(Tucker cackling)

21:38

And if it's Russian autocracy,

21:40

do Americans really even know what that looks like?

21:43

- I love Moscow, it's the place I was born,

21:46

it was one of my favorite cities in the world.

21:48

But it's now become the center of totalitarian repression.

21:53

It's almost total police surveillance.

21:55

People are being sent to jail

21:56

for what they say in private phone conversations.

21:59

And what I would tell these MAGA voters

22:01

is that a great metro is not worth your personal liberty.

22:05

- Yeah, it's quite the price to pay for a fancy subway ride.

22:08

- We have a Russian minority in Estonia.

22:12

It is interesting,

22:13

those that are living closer to the border,

22:15

they can see the life on the Russian side,

22:18

(laughing) and they can see

22:19

that it's not better than on the European side.

22:24

Whereas people that are further away from the border,

22:28

they may also believe what the Russians are telling.

22:32

- That makes sense.

22:32

I was in Green Bay, Wisconsin,

22:34

and I heard about how great life in Moscow is,

22:36

and I think that's 5,000,000,000 kilometers away.

22:41

I have to learn this metric system eventually,

22:43

I gotta get into this.

22:44

- Yeah, yeah, we all have to.

22:46

It's complicated.

22:47

- It is.

22:48

(intense rhythmic music)

22:49

So if we want folks in Pennsylvania to pay closer attention

22:51

to the realities halfway across the world,

22:54

maybe I could help make the rest of the world

22:56

look a little more like Pennsylvania.

22:59

(soldier laughing)

23:02

It says, (clearing throat) "Ride for tits,"

23:07

it's a traditional American license plate.

23:11

Everybody has 'em in America.

23:12

If you have a a giant monster truck

23:14

and wanna flex in America,

23:15

ya gotta throw a "ride for tits" on it.

23:17

- It's illegal here.

23:19

- Is that illegal here? - Yeah.

23:20

- For recruitment, you put this thing on a military truck,

23:21

these numbers are gonna go up 20%.

23:23

- Yeah, can't put it to car though, yeah.

23:26

(bright rhythmic music)

23:27

- [Jordan] My failure at novelty license plate diplomacy

23:29

made me feel like an idiot.

23:31

Well, at least I'm not a Moscow tool.

23:33

(bright rhythmic music continues)

23:40

(bright rhythmic music continues)

23:47

(bright rhythmic music ending)

23:50

(upbeat rhythmic music)

23:59

(upbeat rhythmic music ending)