Topic: Baltic States

During a press conference with Baltic leaders, President Trump asserted that "nobody has been tougher on Russia" while emphasizing the benefits of a good relationship with Vladimir Putin. Dutch lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan was sentenced to 30 days in prison for lying to the Mueller team. The hosts discuss the "shame culture" prevalent in modern political discourse, comparing it to "Game of Thrones."

Former CIA Director Robert Gates walks back his previous criticisms of Donald Trump, expressing hope that the President-elect will be successful. Gates discusses Russia's strategic advantages in Syria and Ukraine, as well as alleged Russian interference in European elections and the Brexit vote. The hosts analyze Gates' shift in tone as an attempt to remain relevant.

Hillary Clinton criticizes Donald Trump's "walk away" strategy regarding NATO, arguing it would drive allies toward Vladimir Putin. The hosts discuss the reality of the US as a "Roman Empire" style power, maintaining 662 overseas bases at a cost of hundreds of billions annually. They note that while Trump wants to audit the Pentagon and clean up "corrupt deals," Clinton represents the status quo of the empire.

NATO has tripled its air missions in the Baltic states in response to Russian warplanes testing borders. U.S. troops from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment are participating in war games in Lithuania to simulate conflict with Russia. These actions are intended to show a collective defense against potential Russian aggression and prevent the alliance from being split.

Policy experts are calling for a "Libel Fund" to protect journalists and the recruitment of "citizen journalists" to perform deep research into Russian financial holdings. The discussion also covers the "Valdai alternative," a proposed gathering to counter Vladimir Putin's international influence and engage with "swing states."

General Wesley Clark discusses the strategic importance of Ukraine and the potential threat Vladimir Putin poses to NATO members in the Baltic states. Clark draws parallels between Putin's annexation of Crimea and Adolf Hitler's early territorial expansions in Europe. The discussion questions whether Putin's actions in the Black Sea region will eventually lead to a direct declaration of war against NATO.

Robert Gates discusses the long history of Russian black ops in Central Asia and the use of economic leverage and cyber warfare against Baltic states like Estonia. He suggests that the US and Europe must provide an "economic safety net" to these countries to prevent them from "knuckling under" to Russian pressure regarding energy supplies.