The thing about unchecked power is it often makes grave mistakes. One of the reason Putin decided on the folly of war with Ukraine was the lack of those willing to tell him he was making a grave error. I fear @realDonaldTrump will stumble into a war, costing troop’s their lives.

Hey House Republicans, fixed your work for you. If you want to condemn political violence pass a resolution without lies and poison pills that unites not divides. Kirk manufactured lies and hate, including about me & twin and poisoned young minds.

Hey you, you better watch what you say!

Trump’s refusal to back allies shatters U.S. credibility. Ken Harbaugh and LtCol Vindman warn of dangers to NATO and nuclear deterrence. @avindman.bsky.social Watch the full video here: youtu.be/eheVHReV6yg Follow The Ken Harbaugh Show here: linktr.ee/thekenharbau...

Trump’s Russia-Ukraine War Trump consistently deflects blame and manufactures success. It is the one constant of his character. He has rejected responsibility for foreign policy disasters, denying that Russia would ever invade Ukraine. www.avindman.com/p/trumps-rus...

To affirm sovereignty, Poland needs to adopt a policy of actively hunting Russian approaching its borders. A coalition of the willing could even extend a no-fly zone into western Ukraine, destroying Russian objects approaching NATO territory.

Breaking – Russia Violates Poland’s Sovereignty, Escalating Tensions with NATO Russia Violated Polish and NATO Airspace to Test Responses and Rattle Escalation open.substack.com/pub/alexande...

Trump right now getting ready with: if I were president Russia never would have attacked Poland/NATO. 🤣 Trump‘s weakness has been encouraging Russian aggression.

Discussion on Trump’s Military Adventures at Home and Abroad with Legal Expert Frank Rosenblatt www.avindman.com/p/live-with-...

Tonight at 6:30pm ET I will be speaking with Retired Lt. Col Frank Rosenblatt of the National Institute of Military Justice on Trump's deployment of the military to American cities, strikes on purported drug runners, and the pretext for a war with Venezuela. Join me on Substack Live at Avindman.com

Trump’s military adventures are overstretching the military and degrading its ability to meet real threats. www.avindman.com/p/on-venezue...

What drives someone to risk everything for truth? Lt. Col. @avindman.bsky.social shares his story on the personal cost of principled leadership & the present dangers facing American democracy. A gripping conversation on Making Sense of the World. thesirennetwork.com/s/making-sense-of-the-world

A new executive order turns the National Guard into his personal police force. @janessagoldbeck.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/janessag...

Today, marks Ukraine’s 34 Independence Day. It’s the third since the start of the full-scale war and 12th since the Russia-Ukraine War started in 2014. It’s both a somber and joyful day because for centuries the Ukrainian people have struggled for independence.

Rachel and I are in Minneapolis Monday/ Tuesday, next week, attending the DNC Veteran and Military Family Council (VMFC) meeting. Rachel is running to be a co-chair. Come see us! Come vote for Rachel! We need your support to build the VMFC into a powerhouse, mobilizing vets & families for democracy.

On Thursday, 8/21, I’ll be speaking with John Gans at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Our discussion, titled “The Folly of Realism: Ukraine, Russia, and US Foreign Policy.“ Admission is open to the public, register with this link: globalaffairs.org/events/folly...

Trump–Zelensky-European Leaders Meeting: First Impressions open.substack.com/pub/alexande...

This is a perfect example of an effective influence campaign. After a meeting with Putin, where Putin questioned the legitimacy of mail-in ballots, Trump launches a campaign to end mail-in. I don’t think many people understand how easy it is to puppeteer Trump.

Signed Copies of The Folly of Realism Six months on, the lessons of my book feel more urgent than ever www.avindman.com/p/signed-cop...

“In reality, the Russians got exactly what they wanted, Trump completely backpedaled on this and looked extremely weak.“ @avindman.bsky.social on President Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that produced no deal to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump looked weak and inconsequential. He’s diminished the office of President and made the United States irrelevant.

Trump walked away empty handed after giving Putin a series of gifts. Putin said the underlaying conditions for the war need to be addressed to achieve peace. Those conditions are ending Ukraine’s sovereignty/ movement towards Europe. I see some harsh terms being proposed to Ukraine. Trump’s a loser.

The interview Trump just gave on Air Force One, show a good level of preparation for the meeting with Putin. The tone suggests Trump’s willing to apply pressure on Putin to coerce a peace settlement. The Summit seems to be an effort to set conditions for Putin-Zelensky talks.

alexander_s_vindman 3m A Preview of the Trump-Putin Alaska Summit. And an announcement of a Summit Debrief AMA, tonight at 1830 ET. www.avindman.com/p/trump-puti...

🎙️NPR spoke with VoteVets @avindman.bsky.social on Trump’s meeting with Putin and what it means for Ukraine. LISTEN HERE: www.npr.org/2025/08/14/n...

This is incredibly beautiful storytelling.

Non-negotiable, Trump should demand Russia return Ukraine's stolen children. nypost.com/2025/08/12/o...

Non-negotiable, Trump should demand Russia return Ukraine's stolen children. nypost.com/2025/08/12/o...

On Thursday, 8/21, I’ll be speaking with John Gans at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Our discussion, titled “The Folly of Realism: Ukraine, Russia, and US Foreign Policy.“ Admission is open to the public, register with this link: globalaffairs.org/events/folly...

I’ve been increasingly troubled thinking about this Putin-Trump Summit for several days. The meeting will be a disaster, maybe a major disaster. That said, I’m going to do an Substack Live AMA 6:30-7:00 PM ET, today to share thoughts and answer questions.

This week, @realDonaldTrump referred to Alaska being Russian, twice. Today, he called St. Petersburg Leningrad. If this were the “Manchurian Candidate”, the President would be exposed as a Russian agent.

Why the Alaska Summit Is Doomed Before It Begins I’ve seen this pattern before: incoherent diplomacy, misplaced optimism, and a failure to impose real costs on Moscow. www.avindman.com/p/why-the-al...

The Trump-Putin Summit, as it is being framed, a peace deal “land-swap” between Russia and Ukraine, is very troubling and should sound alarm bells at home and abroad.

Coercion, bombing, and thin deals do not get you a Nobel Peace Prize. Pax Trumpiana? I Think Not open.substack.com/pub/alexande...

Just like Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David, inviting Putin to Alaska stinks. The only legitimate reason for Putin to set foot in the U.S. is to arrest him as a war criminal and send him to The Hague for trial. Trump looks like a weakling trying to “Reset” with Russia.

Trump’s attempts to “Reset” U.S.-Russia relations have failed as Putin has shown little interest in peace. This last ditch effort to end the war in Ukraine, before Trump’ is embarrassed into pressuring Putin to save face, are likely to falter. This Summit is another giveaway with no upside.

Featuring Rachel Vindman!! open.substack.com/pub/thesiren...

This is a personal post on a 50th birthday trip to Greece. It was an opportunity to reflect on the ancient world, democracy, and our future as well as relax and gather strength for what lay ahead. open.substack.com/pub/alexande...

Good read from Amb. David Pressman | I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It’s Happening Here. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...

An Attack on American Diplomacy Just like the DoD, NSC, and Intel community firing, the State firings degrade U.S. national security and are a gift to our enemies. www.avindman.com/p/an-attack-...

Amid air raid sirens and drone strikes, @peterlevine.bsky.social, a Kettering Foundation board member, traveled to Kyiv to lead a Civic Studies course.

🇺🇦 What does democracy look like in a war zone? In a new episode of #TheStakes, host @bradrourke.bsky.social speaks with KF Senior Fellow and retired Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and KF board member and Tufts professor @peterlevine.bsky.social youtu.be/GOkB6EezxWc

Last chance!

A Big, Beautiful Disaster On the Passage of Trump’s Budget www.avindman.com/p/a-big-beau...

Join me in Seattle at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park on Monday 7/7 at 7pm for book and geopolitics talk. RSVP here: www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/alexan...

Happy Independence Day!! #NoKings

So proud of you stepping up to serve the veteran and military family community by running to co-chair the Veteran and Military Family Caucus (VMFC) of Democratic National Committee (DNC).