This week’s Intelligence Roundtable arguably had as much humor as intelligence. Mentioned “Fred Mertz”, landlord for I Love Lucy (and now for Germany), and battered-by-Brigitte Emmanuel Macron, but also covered more consequential stuff on Ukraine and Gaza.
From the Heart Under the Keffiyeh
Schiller Institute moderator asked me to whittle down my talk to 10 minutes. Not eloquent, but from the heart under the keffiyeh.
Russia-Ukraine and an Emotional Trump
Nima, John Helmer & I discuss Russia-Ukraine and Trump’s “emotional overload”. If bored, fast-forward to the end for (1) the moral imperative to stop genocide and (2) “When Grandma Met Queen Victoria” as she (Victoria) reviewed troops going off to Boer War
Can Trump Tamp Down Russophobia
Trump is being called timid by the neocons and the likes of NYT’s David Sanger. Can Trump tamp down Russophobia and move toward rapprochement with Russia on Ukraine? He did so two weeks ago, endorsing Putin’s call to resume the talks w/Ukraine in Istanbul.
Corrupting the Youth with the Truth
Oliver Stone, again, tells it like it is UNCENSORED. I was there; saw no age-gap between Oliver and the Russian youth he engaged so personally, poignantly. Socrates was accused of “corrupting the youth”. Let Oliver so “corrupt” our own youth with the truth
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/05/25/watch-oliver-stone-they-always-kill-the-socrates/
China Defends Hamas
China: Hamas’s “use of force to resist foreign oppression and establish an independent state is an inalienable right, including armed struggle that should not be considered terrorism.” Richard Falk, who literally wrote the book on international law, agrees unz.com/mwhitney/do-yo
Flexibility in Ukraine Deal
Medvedev: Buffer Zone to Cover Nearly All of Ukraine. Putin wants to avoid having to go that far. And THAT is largely why there is some flexibility and a chance for agreement in talks. Russia in no hurry; waiting to see if Trump has the flexibility to deal tass.com/politics/19631
Fasting for the Children of Gaza
FASTING TO SAVE THE CHILDREN OF GAZA FROM FORCED STARVATION, brought to you by people who care. It is not too late to sign up https://fosna.org/2025gazafast Watch my Veterans For Peace friends explain & launch the fast (includes poignant song about Rachel Corrie)
If Hamas Surrenders
Have clever Zionist media left you confused and a “bystander” to genocide? Do you find comfort clinging to the feeling of powerless, shrugging “What can I do?” Well, you’re doing it now (Aaron Bushnell). DO NOT READ THIS! DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER READING THIS!
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2025/05/25/its-a-complete-lie-to-say-gaza-can-have-peace-if-hamas-surrenders/
Accurate Historical Context from the Russians
Putin aide and chief negotiator at Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, provides a history lesson putting in context Moscow’s approach to present-day Ukraine. The history is accurate; all Russian schoolchildren learn it, as I did in college 65 years ago. (8 min.)