Topic: Lada

The European Union is expressing growing frustration with U.S. trade policies that favor American-made electric vehicles through exclusive subsidies. This tension comes as European businesses consider relocating to the U.S. to take advantage of green energy incentives. The discussion of European automotive history includes nostalgic references to the Lada and the East German Trabant.

The episode concludes with a series of audio remixes featuring James Comey, Hillary Clinton, and Vladimir Putin. The hosts sign off with their traditional "In the morning" greeting and a final reference to the "best podcast in the universe."

Filmmaker Oliver Stone is mentioned for his views on the Ukraine conflict, which the hosts compare to their own analysis. In Russian business news, the Kia Rio has overtaken the Lada as the best-selling car. The segment concludes with a look ahead to the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The normalization of relations with Cuba has sparked a wave of "sentimentalism" among Democrats who wish to see the country's 1950s-era aesthetic before it is developed. The hosts compare this to the reality of "East Block crap," sharing anecdotes about unreliable Lada cars and Java motorcycles from the Soviet era.

AvtoVAZ president Bo Anderson announced that a sport version of the Lada Vesta, featuring 500 horsepower, will soon go on sale. The car is slated to compete in the World Touring Car Championship with British drivers. The segment mocks the idea of a high-performance Lada, suggesting the chassis might separate from the body at such high power levels.