Oct 23, 2026 · 47 min
Trump’s Russia deal tests America’s defenses against influence
"The deal with Russia"
The episode connects a hostage-release negotiation, foreign intervention, election threats, and personal resilience to questions about democratic power and public attention.
- 1Trump’s Russia negotiations raise questions about whether foreign policy serves American interests or a narrow political circle.
- 2Russia’s influence operations remain potent as U.S. defenses weaken, even without evidence that votes were changed.
- 3Meditation and healthier news habits can sustain political engagement without letting fear and anger overwhelm judgment.
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Mary Peltola describes Trump’s threatened Justice Department intervention in Alaska’s Senate race and prepares for a possible legal battle over the result.
The brief
Trump defends negotiations that secured an American hostage’s return from Russia, while Julia Curlee, Ben Rhodes, and Nicolle Wallace question who benefits from the policy.
The panel examines Russia’s continuing influence operations, including efforts aimed at pro-Ukraine candidates, and why weakened U.S. defenses matter even without evidence of changed votes.
Anne Applebaum describes Venezuelans’ shock after U.S. intervention failed to improve daily life or produce a meaningful democratic transition under a broader pattern of kleptocratic governance.
Mary Peltola discusses Trump’s threatened Justice Department intervention in Alaska’s Senate race, the state’s affordability pressures, ranked-choice voting, and preparation for a legal fight.
Dan Harris argues that meditation can create space between provocation and response, helping people confront political crises without surrendering to anger, fear, or news overload.
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