On today’s #DogShirtTV, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org & @hollybfletcher.bsky.social welcome Katsiaryna Shmatsina @katiebelarus.bsky.social to discuss the relationships between #Belarus, #Russia, and Trump's regime. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej7f...

My latest for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social on what might happen when Lukashenka steps down. Few possibilities: a successor from his family (not Kolya) or the nomenklatura (all loyal to Moscow). 1/2 . More here : www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

As I followed the recent U.S. envoy visit to Belarus and the prisoner release deal, I started outlining a few thoughts — and it turned into a longread. Read my latest for @lawfaremedia.org : www.lawfaremedia.org/article/what...

"For the U.S., paying a visit to Belarus or softening sanctions is a low-cost move...The administration’s calculation here appears to hinge on whether the Kremlin’s satellite can offer anything useful for the stalled Russia-Ukraine peace talks," writes @katiebelarus.bsky.social.

It was a pleasure talking to you, @bdtaylor-su.bsky.social. I didn’t get to take your classes during my time at @maxwellsu.bsky.social, but I’ve always followed your work.

Katie and Prez re-started the weekly 1-1 magazine show. The most recent: "Iran, Spiderweb & Medvedev's drunk tweets" is now up. @katiebelarus.bsky.social youtu.be/xOHqlxghEUo

@darthputinkgb.bsky.social thought I was flattering him. Jeez. Our 1–1 Conversation: Iran, Spiderweb, and My Two Cents on Kellogg’s Visit to Minsk : youtu.be/xOHqlxghEUo?...

@darthputinkgb.bsky.social thought I was flattering him. Jeez. Our 1–1 Conversation: Iran, Spiderweb, and My Two Cents on Kellogg’s Visit to Minsk : youtu.be/xOHqlxghEUo?...

Apparently one cannot be a podcaster without a mug with merch, huh? @darthputinpod.bsky.social Our North America shop: darthputin-shop.fourthwall.com

On today’s #DogShirtTV, @hollybfletcher.bsky.social discusses #FakeNews about #Sudan, @lapatina.bsky.social welcomes @katiebelarus.bsky.social to talk about national identity & repression in #Belarus, & @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org asks why no one is selling old Swedish men on Instagram.

Darth Putin master strategist in the bunker with Phillips O'Brien on the overlooked YT conversation channel youtube.com/@inthebunker... @darthputinkgb.bsky.social @katiebelarus.bsky.social @phillipspobrien.bsky.social

In the latest @darthputinpod.bsky.social with @stephanie-baker.bsky.social, we talk about her new book Sanctioning Russia, the effects of sanctions, and why it is no longer possible to do quality journalism while based in Moscow. @darthputinkgb.bsky.social claims sanctions were part of his plan.

Honestly always surprised when I’m asked to write about Belarus for Western outlets. Like—what do you wanna know? Besides the obvious: Lukashenka trading political prisoners, being Putin’s proxy, threatening NATO’s eastern flank. What else?

Russia has added 4,700 Belarusians to its federal wanted list — including journalists, bloggers, poets, musicians, and former political prisoners. I was added in early 2024. New names keep coming every month. 1/2 mediazonaby.com/article/2025...

Your Prez remembered He has a patreon and made His first weekly newsletter. @katiebelarus.bsky.social helped me with the difficult words. www.patreon.com/posts/126212...

New episode @darthputinpod.bsky.social : this time with esteemed @glandsbergis.bsky.social , former minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania : youtu.be/yJ-Vf0myEM8?...

We had @beverlyochieng.bsky.social in the bunker to discuss stalking Wagner across Africa. youtu.be/ieHAMkEHiBk

@darthputinkgb.bsky.social perfectly summed up the state of affairs in his book: Ukraine should cede territory for the sake of peace to prevent a nuclear war. Russia is a reasonable country with whom a lasting peace is possible—if we’re willing to compromise and give it everything it wants. 1/2

Well I started a podcast because I felt left out and people don't have enough podcasts to listen to. The first ep is an interview with the brave, resilient, and endearing @katiebelarus.bsky.social a Belarusian journalist and dissident who had to flee her country. open.substack.com/pub/hollyber...

Thank you, @hollybfletcher.bsky.social, for your kind words! The interview will be out soon—we discussed not just my work in Belarus as a political analyst but also broader experiences: life in an authoritarian country and the vulnerabilities that come with forced exile

@hollybfletcher.bsky.social in @darthputinpod.bsky.social : We start with a bit of humor but quickly move into serious discussions. We talk about white evangelicalism, with Holly sharing her first-hand experience growing up in a missionary family in Africa. m.youtube.com/watch?v=pyJn...

I’ve just found out that Gulag by @anneapplebaum.bsky.social is on the list of banned books in Belarus, alongside some history books written by Belarusians that presumably don’t align with the Kremlin’s narrative, and books on topics like polyamory and pornography. Quite an interesting mix.

Questions like ‘Why aren’t you wearing a suit?’ are just the cherry on top. They always come from people who haven’t experienced even a fraction of the struggles others go through. Their biggest problem? That their champagne wasn’t chilled properly.

I’d add the NATO Eastern Flank to the list. With the U.S. in retreat, to put it mildly, hybrid attacks could become bolder. And those who once said ‘Russia wouldn’t dare attack NATO in broad daylight’ may soon have to rethink.

We agree. youtu.be/uB89R8ALCP0

On today’s #DogShirtTV, @benjaminwittes.bsky.social & @hollybfletcher.bsky.social welcome Belarussian democracy activist Katie Shmatsina @katiebelarus.bsky.social to talk about the situation in #Belarus and the US #Asylum process. www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2cV...

I woke up at an ungodly hour to join @benjaminwittes.bsky.social on @dogshirttv.bsky.social to discuss a rather niche topic—Belarusian politics and the story of the January 6 insurrectionist who got asylum in Belarus and opened a diner in Brest.

Come to #DogShirtTV to chat with @katiebelarus.bsky.social instead. She fled here. You can ask her if she regrets it.

Congratulations to Dwayne Yancey, founding editor @cardinalnews.org, on his well-deserved award! I met Dwayne when he chose to write about my experience as a scholar in exile, facing political persecution. He handled the facts with care and crafted a well-rounded, accurate story.

Months ago, I commented on U.S. politics for a Belarusian audience via a U.S.-funded outlet. I was warned to be careful with Trump but could criticize Lukashenka freely. Now, Musk calls for closing Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. Turns out, editorial courtesy couldn’t quite save them.

In conversation with @coldwarhost.bsky.social , we examine the most pivotal moments of the Cold War & Budapest Memorandum. One of the key reasons Ukraine gave up its strategic nukes in the ’90s? The cost was simply too high to sustain. @darthputinpod.bsky.social youtu.be/b1oCoJxrOXo?fe…

New year listening in the bunker with Darth. We had @philipobaji.bsky.social to talk about what Wagner is doing in Africa. And he talks about being kidnapped by them. youtu.be/wyT7v3YLLuE

What a New Year’s surprise. Thank you, @cardinalnews.org , for highlighting my journey as a scholar in exile. A thoughtful way to close out 2024.

So @katiebelarus.bsky.social & Prez had a staff meet in the bunker & we've some news to announce... You can now be a member of "In the Bunker with Darth" & join live streams with Prez and get also bonus content. www.youtube.com/channel/UCux...

Because she is a convicted insurrectionist in Belarus, which is to say a very courageous person—and emphatically not part of the problem: www.lawfaremedia.org/article/watc...

@benjaminwittes.bsky.social, our esteemed guest @darthputinpod.bsky.social, shared insights on a wide range of topics, from the upcoming Trump administration to makeup tips. @darthputinkgb.bsky.social was seeking some botox advice. youtu.be/OyHM_x1B54U?...

Listen to Russian colonialism 101 when @maksymeristavi.com was in the bunker. Like and subscribe. youtu.be/ffIx0vAshiE?...

I can't believe I wrote this just a few days ago. Everything seemed lost then. I have never been as happy to have been as humiliatingly wrong as I am now! I do think it's still worth reading though as a lot of it is still relevant. We ignore the lessons of the last months at our peril.

Prez welcomes all refugees from free speechistan. If you want also to see how Prez’s annexation of YouTube from imperialist forces proceeds, follow @darthputinpod.bsky.social. Katie is local governor. @katiebelarus.bsky.social

Our latest episode @darthputinpod.bsky.social @darthputinkgb.bsky.social @anderspuck.bsky.social youtu.be/lxPk9yHR-2E?...

The Prez denies we are on Bluesky.