The Rest Is Politics: US
The Rest Is Politics: US

221. Trump Just Gave Putin Exactly What He Wanted

September 14, 2026 • 38m

Summary

⏱️ 8 min read

Overview

Anthony Scaramucci and Katty Kay analyze Trump's pressure on Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries while remaining silent on Putin's attacks, warning this emboldens Russian aggression toward NATO. They discuss alarming developments in AI safety, with industry leaders like Dario Amadei calling for urgent regulation while Trump and congressional Republicans refuse to act, prioritizing profits and China competition over existential risks.

Trump Pressures Ukraine While Staying Silent on Putin

Trump demanded that Zelensky stop attacking Russian oil refineries, claiming the strikes hurt the world, while failing to condemn Russia's attack on a Polish-Ukrainian border train station that nearly killed European leaders. The Kremlin welcomed Trump's statement as the U.S. president blamed Ukraine for an energy crisis he actually created through his failed Middle East policies. Scaramucci argues Trump is acting as a de facto Russian agent, doing exactly what Putin wants at every turn.

  • Trump tells Zelensky to stop targeting Russian refineries, blaming Ukraine for rising diesel prices that hit a record $6.06
  • Kremlin spokesman Peskov welcomes Trump's call but refuses to commit Russia to stopping attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure
  • Russia attacked a train station on the Polish-Ukrainian border that European leaders including Boris Johnson had just passed through
  • Trump mentioned Ukraine's refinery attacks but said nothing about Russia's attack near the Polish border
" If Russia stopped attacking Ukraine, the war would be over. If Ukraine stops its attacks, they're going to lose their civilization, their culture, their language. "
" I think he's a full-on agent of Vladimir Putin. I think he's a full-on talking head of the Russian government. And he says and does exactly what the Russian government wants him to do. "

Jared Kushner's Conference Call and Russian Talking Points

Jared Kushner dialed into a conference in Kiev from safety, telling European leaders that Putin is committed to peace and that Ukraine simply needs to give up eastern territory. His remarks were met with derision in the room, as he failed to mention Russia's initial aggression, war crimes, or attacks on civilians. Kushner's business dealings in Moscow and naive assumptions that all countries act purely out of financial self-interest have given America's adversaries a roadmap for manipulating the White House.

  • Kushner told the YES conference in Kiev that Putin is very committed to peace and Ukraine must give up land in the east
  • Kushner never mentioned Russia's initial attack, war crimes, or devastation of Ukrainian civilian life
  • Kushner's appearance in Kiev was met with derision from European attendees
  • Anne Applebaum argues Kushner and Wyckoff naively assume all countries act purely out of financial self-interest
" Now all of those countries and the Gulf states know, how do I get a response from the White House? Oh, I just put money on the table because that's all that motivates America right now. "

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