Topic: Vladivostok

China and Russia are conducting joint naval exercises off the coast of Vladivostok, involving 18 ships and live-fire drills. This "show of strength" is largely ignored by Western media despite its Cold War implications. Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald and filmmaker Laura Poitras continue to release NSA-related documents through international outlets like Der Spiegel.

The strategic importance of North Korea as a buffer zone for China and Russia against American influence in Japan and South Korea is discussed. The hosts critique a BBC News report regarding the restart of nuclear facilities at Youngbyon, arguing that the media relies on "official" claims without visual evidence or verified sources.

The hosts discuss a tip from a Russian source claiming that Putin's back pain is a cover-up for an assassination attempt involving a bomb blast on a road near Vladivostok. They explore theories ranging from drug addiction to being under the control of the Russian mob or "MK-Ultra" style subdual. The conversation notes the extreme secrecy surrounding the private lives of Russian leaders.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton conducted a six-nation tour including China, Indonesia, and the Cook Islands, notably absent from the DNC. During Bill Clinton's speech, the hashtag #Hillary2016 trended on Twitter, which the hosts interpret as a calculated PR move to overshadow the current administration.

Russia hosted the APEC summit in Vladivostok, investing $21 billion into the city's infrastructure to establish it as an East Asian economic hub. The summit focused on removing trade barriers and food security, serving as a Russian-led alternative to US-dominated economic partnerships.

Edward Klein reports that Bill Clinton is writing his Democratic National Convention speech in longhand and refusing to share the contents with the Obama campaign. The hosts suggest the Clintons are positioning themselves for 2016 while distancing Hillary from the current administration by sending her to Vladivostok during the convention.

China is developing a "New Silk Road" railway spanning 10,000 kilometers to connect Asian trading hubs with Rotterdam and Antwerp. The route passes through Belarus, which has recently been accused of providing Syria with deadly military technology. The hosts discuss the geopolitical implications of the rail link and the perceived failure of Russian and Chinese propaganda compared to Western media.

A new presidential proclamation regarding a free trade agreement with Korea is analyzed. The hosts theorize that this could open the door for a pipeline from Vladivostok to run through North Korea into South Korea, further isolating China from regional energy markets.

The United States is sending "nutritional assistance" in the form of energy bars and biscuits to North Korea rather than traditional grains. This diplomatic move coincides with Russian efforts to build a natural gas pipeline from Vladivostok through North Korea to South Korea and Japan. Russia's Gazprom seeks to capture the Japanese market following the shutdown of Japan's nuclear facilities after the Fukushima disaster.

Russian sources report the sinking of a Chinese-registered cargo ship, the New Star, by the Russian Coast Guard. Rumors suggest the ship, which was bound for Seattle, may have been carrying a missing nuclear warhead from a Russian Topol-M missile. The lack of Western media coverage on the incident is noted.