Morning Jolt: Why Does Putin Always Seem to Outfox Our Presidents?

TODAY'S JOLT IS SPONSORED BY

WITH JIM GERAGHTY

February 20 2024

Why Does Putin Always Seem to Outfox Our Presidents?

On the menu today: President Biden says that the "devastating consequences" he threatened if Alexei Navalny died in prison went into effect a long time ago, and that he and his team are "contemplating what else could be done." Meanwhile, Russia seeks a new form of leverage and deterrence against us by militarizing space and threatening the world's satellites. The full-spectrum malevolence and ruthlessness of Vladimir Putin and his regime couldn't be more abundantly clear — and yet somehow, we keep getting one president after another convinced that he can get Putin to see reason. Heaven forbid, we send Ukraine some of those longer-range ATACMS missile systems! We must not be escalatory or provocative, now!

Our Ineffective Presidents

President Biden, after meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland, June 16, 2021:

Q: Mr. President, just a quick follow on the same theme of consequences. You said, just now, that you spoke to him a lot about human rights. ...

READ MORE >

Introducing the University of Austin

The University of Austin invites students to begin their educational journey with world-renowned faculty and mentors. UATX's Brave 100 founding class will receive a four-year full-tuition scholarship and be considered for $100,000 in additional funding from philanthropic entrepreneurs Joe Lonsdale and Alex Magaro.

Learn more.