Gilbert Doctorow

GLENN DIESEN–Growing Western Military Pressure and Proxy War Escalation: The discussion highlights that Britain and NATO are actively supporting Ukraine with intelligence and operations deep inside Russia, intensifying the conflict beyond Ukrainian borders. This escalates the proxy dimension of the war, increasing the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO states, especially as Western nations debate supplying longer-range strike weapons like Tomahawks.

️ Internal Russian Divisions and Public Discontent: Despite official approval ratings showing Putin’s strong popularity, alternative data from social media and independent polls suggest significant dissatisfaction among Russians regarding the war’s slow, grinding attrition strategy. This internal discontent, combined with pressure from military and security agencies, could destabilize Putin’s leadership if perceived as weak or indecisive. The war’s human and economic costs exacerbate these tensions.

JUDGE NAP–Despite his public popularity, Putin’s ability to maintain deterrence and respond effectively to Western pressures is weakening. This internal erosion is more acute among Russia’s political elite than the general populace, signaling potential shifts in power dynamics that are not yet openly acknowledged but simmer beneath the surface. The presence of capable successors indicates an emerging transition, albeit a cautious and controlled one given the risks of instability.
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The Taboo of Discussing Putin’s Departure: The political class in Russia does not openly debate Putin’s potential exit due to the regime’s closed nature and fear of destabilizing narratives. However, private conversations and the expert’s analysis suggest this is a real and pressing concern. This secrecy reflects the authoritarian context where public discourse is tightly controlled, but private dissent and strategic planning continue.

JUDGE NA—The video features Judge Andrew Napolitano hosting a discussion primarily focused on the evolving situation in Russia and Ukraine as of October 1, 2025. The key guest, Professor Gilbert Doctorow, provides a nuanced analysis of Russia’s internal political climate, public sentiment, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The dialogue explores the rising criticism within Russia’s political and elite circles toward President Vladimir Putin’s cautious military strategy and his restrained response to NATO’s incursions. There are indications of dissatisfaction among Russia’s political class and hints of a potential palace coup against Putin, although his general popularity among the working class remains relatively stable due to economic benefits they have experienced despite the war. The discussion also touches on the strategic implications of the war’s slow pace, the impact of Western sanctions and military aid to Ukraine, and the psychological warfare being waged by U.S. political figures such as Donald Trump and others, who publicly mock Russia’s military capabilities to unsettle Moscow’s leadership.

G. DOCTOROW—We have no doubt that Washington is the head that wags the Israeli dog, however much John Mearsheimer and a host of other analysts insist that the Israeli Lobby is the force shaping American foreign policy.

However, the main reason for my recommending this program is because Judge Napolitano has put up on screen short videos of the forcible removal of two dissident journalists – Sam Husseini and Max Blumenthal – from Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s farewell press conference, both of them denouncing Blinken for his awful role as enabler of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

EDITOR—The likelihood of other countries joining the group of Fico in Slovakia and Orban in Hungary is rising with the day. I don’t know if indeed the Alternative for Deutschland will succeed in breaking the cordon sanitaire and in having a role in the coalition, not to mention possibly its own majority government in Germany. That’s improbable. But nonetheless, this is significant change in the thinking of the most important country in Europe, which is facilitated, which is magnified by Trump and his emissary in this case, which is his Twitter, X colleague.