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Leigh Ann Caldwell, Julia Ioffe, Peter Hamby, Abby Livingston & John Heilemann
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Sunday through Thursday
Puck’s daily political newsletter from Washington—featuring Leigh Ann Caldwell, Julia Ioffe, Peter Hamby, Abby Livingston, and John Heilemann—on what’s really happening in this town, from the White House to the Pentagon to Capitol Hill, K Street, and the campaign trail.
THE LATEST ARTICLES
Julia Ioffe
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August 23, 2023
War & Profit
Inside Moscow, the war economy is booming: restaurants are packed, businesses have pivoted to Asia, and, somehow, elites are richer than ever. But with prices rising and the ruble plummeting, insiders worry the good times are a mirage.
Julia Ioffe
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August 16, 2023
Biden & Putin’s Nuclear Blurred Lines
There is now a clear consensus that the White House sees the risk of Putin going nuclear as lower today than even a few months ago, encouraging Biden officials to tacitly approve Ukrainian tactics that they once feared would trigger a counterattack on NATO, or worse.
Julia Ioffe
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August 9, 2023
The Treaty of M.B.S.
The man who allegedly ordered the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and whose country Biden once labeled “a pariah,” is now convening the most plausible talks on ending the war in Ukraine. There are all kinds of ways to launder your image: sports-washing, green-washing, and now, diplo-washing.
Julia Ioffe
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August 2, 2023
The Ukraine “Israel Model” & Its Discontents
The goal of institutionalizing the flow of aid to Ukraine wasn’t simply about creating predictability. It was also about Trump-proofing foreign policy.
Julia Ioffe
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July 25, 2023
Where the Wild Things Are
The unofficial notes from official Washington’s summer journey to the Aspen Security conference: the disappearance of Qin Gang, the specter of Prigozhin, Putinology, Theo Baker, and what happens when you try to fuck with Andrea Mitchell.
Julia Ioffe
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July 19, 2023
Ukraine’s Summer War of Attrition
The much hyped “spring offensive,” now well into July, hasn’t been the blitz that was hoped for in the West, but rather a low morale, high casualty battle for every muddy inch.
Julia Ioffe
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July 11, 2023
History Boys
An off-the-books, citizen’s backchannel to Russia exposes the ego and inanity of Washington “formers” freelancing as peacemakers without any consideration for Ukraine.
Julia Ioffe
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July 5, 2023
Putin’s Post-Prigozhin Clean Up
Despite Western media assertions that the half-coup heard round the world was a sign of instability, my sources around Moscow and the Kremlin tell me that Putin is once again in full control. But questions linger about a future purge and missed warning signs.
Julia Ioffe
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June 27, 2023
Putin vs. Prigozhin: The Post-Coup Report
In the wake of Prigozhin’s attempted coup, there’s been a lot of full-throated certainty in the Western media that Putin has been mortally wounded and that his regime is weaker than ever. Look as I might, I just don’t see it.
Julia Ioffe
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May 30, 2023
Yalta 2023: Planning for Life After the Russian Invasion
From Brussels to Vilnius, Western leaders and Russian exiles are beginning to imagine the contours of postwar Ukraine—and whether there is still hope for change in Moscow.
