Topic: Osce

Scott Horton alleges that veteran journalist Bob Woodward fabricated or severely distorted a quote from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in his latest book. By comparing Woodward's text to OSCE transcripts from December 2021, Horton claims the meaning of Lavrov's "playing with fire" comment was reversed to suit a pro-war narrative. The hosts cite this as further evidence of Woodward's long-standing ties to naval intelligence.

The hosts discuss the presence of OSCE election observers in Texas and the state's threat to prosecute them if they interfere with voting. A State Department spokesperson's "shut up slave" response confirms that these observers are eligible for full diplomatic immunity under a 1996 proclamation.

The integrity of the U.S. primary elections is questioned, specifically regarding discrepancies between exit polls and final results in states won by Hillary Clinton. The discussion mentions reports of Bernie Sanders votes being discarded in California and Putin's observation that U.S. prosecutors have tried to block international election observers.

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki is challenged by reporter Matt Lee regarding the source of data on Minsk agreement violations. Psaki cites 250 violations by separatists based on Ukrainian government reports, admitting the independent OSCE does not have access to the areas to verify the claims. The hosts highlight the lack of impartial data and the U.S. reliance on one-sided information.

Vice President Joe Biden announced a $20 million aid package for Ukrainian law enforcement and $3 million for food rations. The US has also guaranteed a $1 billion sovereign bond for Ukraine as part of an IMF-led effort to stabilize the country's financial sector following the 2014 change in government.

The highly touted Geneva Agreement on Ukraine is revealed to be a mere four-paragraph document that lacks concrete enforcement mechanisms. The agreement calls for the disarmament of illegal groups, the vacation of seized buildings, and a leading role for the OSCE in monitoring de-escalation. Adam Curry critiques the document as "vapor," noting that it provides little more than a diplomatic smokescreen while tensions continue to rise on the ground.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sends observers to monitor U.S. elections, prompting a standoff with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott threatens to arrest observers who violate state law, while State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland asserts they have diplomatic immunity. The hosts mock the "shut up slave" rhetoric used by the State Department during press briefings.

President Obama signed nine bills into law during the Iowa Caucus, including the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act. The legislation authorizes the U.S. to support democratic movements and fund international broadcasting like Radio Liberty and Voice of America to Belarus. The hosts suggest this is a geopolitical move involving propaganda and internet interference.