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The world suffered a massive loss in the likes of Alexei Navalny. While the news was announced on Friday, we do not know when or how his death occurred exactly. In fact, his family feels that it may not even be true as they have not been able to view or receive his body. The reaction to his murder, has lead to the highest number of arrests in Russia since the war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, at a time when Putin has never been less popular amongst Russians. He took their sons, their husbands, and fathers… Now he has taken their leader; their one beacon of hope. And really, a hope for further stability in the world at large. So today, we are going to honor the passing of this behemoth with the vast majority of our episode. A man who faced down tyranny, without blinking. But before we jump into that, I do want to cover one smaller story – so that you guys are up to date.
- Trump ordered to pay $350 million
Donald Trump was sentenced to pay $350 million in court on Friday, in his civil case, as expected. Although, the total amount that will end up being paid, will likely be closer to $450 million or higher, due to accruing interest. He is also banned from practicing business in the State of New York for three years… THAT piece actually WAS surprising to me, as Letitia James asked for Trump to be permanently barred and it seemed like the judge was going to go for the maximum punishment.
Trump’s adult sons were also banned from doing business in the state of New York for two years each, and also ordered to pay about $4 million each in fines. Justice Engoron, the judge in this case, said Trump’s QUOTE “complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological.” END QUOTE.
Trump plans to appeal but even so, he will have to either put up the funds or secure bond within 30 days of the decision. Whatsmore, the Trump Organization will continue to be monitored by an outside organization, to censor for fraud and oversee any transactions that they deem suspicious… And that has already been going on, and will be extended as they appeal. We will keep you guys posted.
- Content warning: this story includes murder and graphic details
- Navalny
Our audience size doubled in the wake of the Israel / Hamas war… So I have to assume that there are a number of you out there, who do not know the depths of my obsession with Russian community leader Alexei Navalny. I studied some Russian history in school and have covered elements of Russian history here on this podcast, like the Road of Bones bonus episode for example (which is still in our feed just further down).
From what I can see, Russians have never seen a day of fairness, genuine leadership, or freedom in their very long history. The Russian people have been fearless enough to overthrow several waves of autocracy… The Czars, Lenin, Stalin and Soviet rule generally – just to name a few. I have been to Russia, bringing home delicate, deep purple nesting dolls after days spent touring glorious palaces, and intricately adorned cathedrals, pointy tips gracefully piercing the clouds. Russians have a beautiful culture, they have a strength beyond belief, and they have always been deserving of a better government than what they have had.
And Alexei Navalny knew this… He knew it so much more intimately than I ever could.
But the problem was, he was fearless enough to stand up and SAY it. To put his NAME next to that statement. Alexei, much like myself, began his political journey as a blogger. So here is we will start our story time – how did we get to this point where Putin killed him in cold blood? He must have been a formidable opponent for Putin to waste his breath, so how did Navalny rise to the level where he was facing off directly with Putin? Let’s jump in.
+So Navalny, like I said, started out as a blogger. During his time working as an attorney, he uncovered corruption within major oil and gas companies like Gazprom and Rosneft. He took to his blog to expose this corruption. As you can imagine, this did not earn his much appreciation among those big names running those companies, but the people admired and followed his truth finding mission. And they spread the word.
+Navalny then founded an anti-corruption project that would take these companies on in court. Now, it’s Russia, so there’s only so much you can do through their court system so it is tied into the corruption that plagues Russians. His project underwent a rebrand at one point, and then began taking aim higher up the food chain – moving from business leaders, to political ones. At the end of the day, the buck stops there. Companies are only as corrupt as government allows them to be.
+He essentially acted as a community organizer – coordinating and participating in mass protests and other acts of defiance. And through this work, political leaders decided they had had enough of him, and launched two different baseless embezzlement investigations against him, which he fought.
+He then actually runs for Mayor of Moscow. This catapults him further into the spotlight, but his opponents actually liked that, because it also made their incumbent seem more legitimate to have an actual opponent. Prior, everyone was too scared to go up against him. You have to remember, these corrupt leaders maintain their power through force… Many Russians find it easier to simply stay out of things, in an effort to survive. But not Navalny.
+He was then convicted of his embezzlement charges (Russia has a 96%+ conviction rate) and sentenced to 5 years in prison, but he was allowed to stay home during his appeal and continue his political campaign – but he loses, as expected. These “political” races in Russia are not legitimate. Eventually, Navalny appeals his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
+Meanwhile, he started a Youtube channel that garners TENS OF MILLIONS of views, exposing OTHER corrupt leaders in Russia. He began taking on the highest leaders of Russia, including the Prime Minister.
+Then in 2018, Navalny runs for President. Against, you-know-who. Knowing he will not win, but he is drawing attention to the corruption by showing his fundraising and his popularity, up against that of Putin.
+And this is where things get bad. In 2017, he had a green, corrosive substance thrown in his face, damaging his right eye. But that same year, the European Human Rights courts tossed his case out saying it was “manifestly unreasonable” – meaning he had done literally NOTHING wrong.
+Russian leadership then retaliates by banning him from running for President. But this only served to draw MORE attention to the cause! Europe began paying even closer attention to the situation in Russia. Protests broke out, and Navalny deployed other tactics such as encouraging followers to vote for ANYONE other than Putin’s party. And it worked, they actually lost the majority.
+By 2020, Navalny was too powerful for Putin. He was flying on a plane, when the flight had to make an emergency landing in Berlin, rushing Navalny to a hospital. He had been poisoned and fell into a coma. The agent used was a soviet era namesake… Leaving Putin’s fingerprints all over the attack. It’s like he WANTED Navalny to know he did it. But Navalny made a miraculous recovery, which would not have happened if the pilot hadn’t been able to land when he did.
+This was the biggest turning point. And the decision that ultimately led to Navalny’s demise… He boarded a plane for Russia. He was not to be scared off. He was not going to hide from his homeland. He was not going to leave his people. So, holding hands with his wife, he went home. He was arrested at the airport where press, police, and supporters alike were awaiting him… He kissed his wife goodbye. And that was the last time Navalny walked free.
He was taken into custody where he was maltreated from the outset, telling his attorneys that prison leaders were deliberately putting him into cells with sick inmates and using other tactics such as the cold and lack of nutrition to wear him down in ways that would appear less suspicious. Eventually he was transferred to the highest security prison (again, after doing nothing wrong) above the arctic circle. This is where he died. Reports claimed that he was simply walking with guards in a court yard when he collapsed.
But Navalny left us all with a clear message QUOTE “listen, I’ve got something very obvious to tell you. You’re not allowed to give up. If they decide to kill me, it means that we are incredibly strong.” END QUOTE.
I know in the grand scheme of so many dying in Gaza, so many hostages still being held, the death of one man may seem so inconsequential. Especially when he knowingly WALKED into the hands of his captors and eventual killers. Aware that they wanted him dead. Having JUST survived an assassination attempt.
But this death is bigger than just one man.
The minute I heard this news, I was at lunch stuffing my face, and had to stop eating because I thought I was physically going to be sick. My appetite was gone, replaced with a massive knot in my stomach. I knew he was in danger. I knew we hadn’t heard from him in weeks. I knew he was being delibetraly mistreated. But I also I knew this changes everything. I felt like I had so much riding on this man, and I am not even Russian! I naively believed that with so many eyes on him, that Putin could not stand to kill him… That it would insight a revolt the likes of which Russia has not seen since the days when entire royal families were gunned down in a basement. And now, we will see if it will.
Russians are already carrying on Navalny’s tradition of peaceful protest in the face of corruption. At least 400 people have been detained across the country following the news of his murder and many are laying flowers at the Russian Wall of Grief, for his death. This is a spot that Navalny frequented for gatherings, and the monument itself commemorates a fallen Russian activist who was imprisoned. A young man asked a New York Times reporter at the wall, QUOTE “please don’t forget that there are still many good people in this country” END QUOTE. I believe that with my whole soul. Russia is rich and beautiful but with a leader like Putin… I mean, he has done NOTHING, but dim her light. The beauty of Russia lies within her people.
But the problem is Putin knows that and he is doing everything he can, to tamper their spirit, to hold her down… And snatch power globally, systematically holding it hostage, as he has always done in Russia. In politics there is always a lot of drinking that occurs, and I would imagine in Russia, it may occur even more abundantly than here in the US. But I heard that Putin never drinks… Since he was a novice, he has always liked to sit in the corner of the room and soberly observe. This is how he has calculated everyone’s weaknesses, and how precisely to take them down. He is paranoid, spiteful, and after his interview with Tucker Carlson – seems, more than ever – out of touch with reality. But it is up to the Russian people – solely up to them – whether or not Putin will pay for what he did to their hero up there on the ice. But I have a feeling Navalny’s tall figure, handsome face, and bright blue eyes will haunt Putin’s palaces at night… His work was left unfinished but his legacy will linger.
Alexei Navalny leaves behind a wife, two children, his parents, a brother who fought beside him, and a country who loved him, to mourn.
Doing this man justice, at the time of his death, weighs heavy on my shoulders today. But I am hoping that this shows you guys the significance of his death… That with him, the hope for a nation dies. Only Russia isn’t just about Russia. It’s actually about all of us – as our collective safety is tied up in this. Because Putin would like nothing more than to see the whole world, bent to his will. And while Navalny, one man, could never have stopped this juggernaut on his own, he was the best hope for defeating Putin internally. Like I said, it’s hope that has died with Navalny.
But like my purple nesting dolls, or a deep Russian purple Amethyst hidden in an outer shell, Russia has cracked herself open and given birth to new waves of transformation for generations. From the barren Siberian tundras, into the dense darkness of the Boreal Forrests, to the coasts of the Caspian Sea… Russia will have to look within herself and decide who she wants to be for tomorrow. And crack herself open once again.
Just as a reminder, an American journalist Evan Gershkovich for the Wall Street Journal has been wrongfully jailed in Russia for over 250 days.
And that, is the News Du Jour!
Today, I wanted to leave you guys with the quote:
“Tears stream down your face,
When you lose something you cannot replace.
Tears down your face,
I promise you,
I will look for my mistakes.
Tears stream down your face, and I…
And lights will guide you home.
And ignite your bones.
And I will try to fix you.”