Who Made Vladimir Putin? [TEASER]

"Russia has been an empire for so long, she doesn't know how to be a country." This line from Peter Morgan's new play, Patriots, captures the story of Russian kingmaker Boris Berezovsky and his mysterious death in England. On the day Putin was inaugurated for his fifth term, Andrea attended a performance of Patriots with a former colleague of Paul Klebnikov, the American journalist and author of Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism. Klebnikov was gunned down in Moscow in 2004, likely on Berezovsky's orders.

In this chilling episode of Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss the latest leadership shake-up in Russia's disastrous invasion of Ukraine, the forces behind Vladimir Putin's rise to power, and the latest threats from Russia's mafia state, including against Olga and her fearless human rights work. Western leaders must wake-up and do more to protect those on the frontlines, fighting for our democracy, more than the institutions failing us.

The discussion with Kremlin File begins around the 18-minute mark and is exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller tier and higher. In the opening segment, Andrea reads comments from Gaslit Nation subscribers at the Democracy Defender tier and higher on our recent coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!

Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:

Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:

• June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!

Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET

• July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.

In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September

• Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!

Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET

• Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in!

RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Show Notes:

Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September!

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775

Paul Klebnikov: The Man Who Knew Too Much

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-man-who-knew-too-much/

Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/godfather-of-the-kremlin-the-decline-of-russia-in-the-age-of-gangster-capitalism_paul-klebnikov/297758/#edition=4484892&idiq=3909390