Topic: Radio Free Europe

Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia are fighting for survival as the Trump administration cuts their grants. The hosts mock the idea that shortwave radio is still a primary news source in 2025, suggesting these organizations are merely trying to "protect their own bacon" by claiming they are essential for reaching oppressed populations.

Pope Francis is recovering from double pneumonia and is expected to undergo two months of speech therapy and rehabilitation. Separately, there are reports that the U.S. Congress may consider selling Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, an organization founded during the Cold War to promote democratic values.

Mass protests have erupted in Tbilisi, Georgia, over a "foreign influence" bill that would require NGOs receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Western media and the EU have labeled it a "Russian law," while protesters have clashed with police using water cannons and tear gas. The situation is compared to the 2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine.

Radu from Garland, Texas, is knighted as Sir George of the Southern Carpathians following a significant donation marking his 33rd anniversary in the United States. Having grown up behind the Iron Curtain, he compares modern Western media to the propaganda he experienced in his youth.

Facebook's algorithms block RT (Russia Today) from posting content after a copyright claim by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty during a live stream of Obama's final press conference. RT claims they had legitimate rights via the Associated Press. The hosts describe this as a "propaganda war" between state-funded media organizations.

Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland visited Moscow for talks on the Ukrainian conflict amid reports of corruption involving President Petro Poroshenko. Radio Free Europe has begun reporting on Poroshenko's alleged misuse of power in a land deal, leading to speculation that the U.S. may be preparing for another regime change in Kiev. The segment reviews Nuland's historical involvement in the 2014 Ukrainian government transition.

The use of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) footage on domestic ABC news is highlighted as a sign of state propaganda. The segment also notes that Ukraine has appointed several foreign-born ministers, including American Natalie Jeresko, who were granted citizenship just before their appointments.

House Resolution 758 calls for expanded U.S. international broadcasting to counter Russian propaganda in Ukraine and Moldova. The resolution mandates that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe provide 24/7 content to target populations in Russian and Ukrainian languages. Critics argue this move explicitly codifies the use of U.S. state-sponsored media for counter-propaganda purposes.

An Associated Press report claiming a surge in Russian LGBT individuals seeking asylum in the U.S. is traced back to James Kirchick and Radio Free Europe. The discussion includes a 2013 clip of Kirchick protesting on RT and examines the funding sources of the organizations promoting the narrative.

The United States is actively assisting Ukraine with constitutional reforms and "voter education" through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This includes launching Russian-language television programs produced by Radio Free Europe to counter local narratives and align Ukraine with European standards.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4278, known as the Ukraine Support Act, which provides for security personnel and weaponry. Congressman Ed Royce emphasized the need to counter Russian propaganda by increasing funding for Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America. The hosts liken these broadcasting efforts to the American version of Russia Today.

Journalist Dave Satter was expelled from Russia, a move he claims is a crackdown on the press, though Russian authorities state he simply failed to renew his visa. Satter's history with Radio Free Europe has led some to view him as a Western operative. The incident has sparked an open letter from Nobel laureates to Vladimir Putin, further escalating Cold War-style media tensions.

Adam Curry plays a station identification clip from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty in Prague (Praha). The hosts discuss the sparse programming on the channel and the pronunciation of the city's name in the local language.