The Duran Podcast - Q & A: Biden faces conflict at home and abroad

Episode Date: February 6, 2024

Q & A: Biden faces conflict at home and abroad

All right, Alexander, let's answer the questions from the live stream with the great Robert Barnes. And let's start off with Christos' super chat saying thank you. Thank you, Christos, for that. Dirty Dangles sent us the super chat about the books. I work hard and read books every day on different skills and associate with many young men who do the same. My knowledge of history and geopolitical issues is based off articles, videos, and video games. Not good. What are some good books I can read and share with the next generation?

I think you and Robert answered that question very well. Absolutely. You might not know if there's any additional book that you want to mention or we haven't covered. I'm not going to add now, but as I said, just to repeat again, anything by AJP Taylor on European history is extremely good. And perhaps there's one book that I would mention, actually, which is Taylor's book on the origins of the Second World War, which is controversial. but I find very interesting. And again, it's a very, very good piece of diplomatic history. And you could also add Dominic Levin's book, Verla Flam,

sorry, it's French title, but it's about Russian foreign policy on the eve of the First World War. The Russians are the only people who provided this with full access to their archives in terms of what was going on in St. Petersburg just before the First World War. And that provides us perhaps the best information there is about the diplomacy of that, of those crucial weeks that led up to the First World War. All right.

Elza says it's hard to be the adult in the White House. Death dealer says... I didn't know whether there are any action. Death dealer says the neocons need to realize a war with Iran will not help the United States. and they are basically going to get our U.S. military killed. How is this going to benefit the neocons in the Biden White House? The neocons do not think in that way. You are absolutely right.

You're completely correct. It will not benefit the United States. The neocons, however, believe that it will benefit themselves. It will assist them in the power battles in Washington. And of course, it is consistent. with their ideology. Remember what I've always said. No reverse gear.

That's how these people work. Ricardo Afonzo sent us a super sticker. Thank you for that. Sanjava says the amazing Robert Barnes with the outstanding Duran. I am in heaven. Thank you, Sanjama for that. Rocky Lux says, Robert, when the corruption in Washington is so institutionalized and malicious, how realistic is it that the corruption can be truly defeated?

it can be defeated. I mean, it has happened before. We mustn't despair. There was a period in the late 19th century when there was a lot of corruption in America and Americans came together and there was a lot of reform at that time and there were some things that were done

which I personally think were mistaken. I mean, the temperance movement which evolved into prohibition was very much a part of that fight back against corruption in America at that time. And I think that was a mistake. And I think it created a different type of corruption. But overall, I think there were big gains done then.

And the overall moral and political climate in the United States was improved. So it can be done, but it's going to be very, very difficult. The one thing I'm going to say is, I've gradually come to the view that of all the Western countries of the so-called Western democracies. The only place it can happen is the United States. If it doesn't happen there, it won't happen anywhere else. Sparky says D-Nastify Israel. KM says Trump can mass fire Deep State January 2025,

but the Capitol Police got $3 billion a year budget, nationwide offices, and Army surveillance blips, NGOs are fully funded. Executive Branch can't touch them. you know something you are correct about this i mean donald trump has the right as president of the united states if he is elected to fire anyone in the federal service now there might be you know legal claims and compensation claims and things of that kind but basically they serve at his will he's the only elected official within the executive branch and they are there to serve and assist him.

I don't think he ever fully understood that when he was president before. And I don't think, of course, he knew exactly whom to put in their place. I hope this time he'll be a lot better organized. Pasha says, at Elza said it's hard to be the adult in the White House. Another perspective is that it's nearly impossible not to be the adult there. Well said. Ricardo says the best story to explain modern geopolitics is the rabbi of Prague and his golem, not a book, but a good cautionary tale.

Absolutely. Absolutely. It's a very good tale. It's from the 17th century and it's about a rabbi who created a golem, the creature, a kind of robot, if you like. This is a 17th century story, mind you, to protect the Jewish people. It's a very interesting story. You can follow it up. There's a church in Prague where the Gollum is supposed to be hidden in the attic. People have searched the attic many times and surprise, surprise, they can't find it there. But anyway, it's an interesting story. Didipong says, Robert, can you explain the concept of nullification and how it relates to what is transpiring in Texas? Robert's answered that. Robert went into great detail about that, yeah. I went to detail on that.

Dee Pierce says, is not better for the West to spread too thin and fail everywhere now, as opposed to dialing back for later. Dangerous game, but they are exhausting themselves of future capability against Bricks and others, no? Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think conserve your resources. Think before you act, you know, take a deep breath and all that. But, of course, neocons don't work like this because neocons don't believe. that the United States needs to conserve its resources,

because neocons don't worry about resources. That's not what concerns them. Peter Jackson says, can the U.S. deep state due to Trump, Le Pen, Orban, what it has already done to Imran Khan and his foreign minister? I believe Robert answered that as well. I don't know if you want to say something about that.

Well, I think the answer is, I think they will try. Of course, Pakistan has a much, much weaker tradition of civic and institutional constraints, legal and political constraints, than Western democracies do, so-called Western democracies do. Of course, it's eroding here all the time. And they will try. They are trying in the United States with all these legal places that they've been ringing against Donald Trump. But so far, it hasn't been working. And Dora says, how can the president federalize the National Guard if they are constitutionally, state and federal already on duty for their state?

Wouldn't that be power grab of the military? Robert answered that. Barbara answered that one, yeah. Valerie said, have you all ever done an in-depth video on Navalny or the state of the oligarchy in Russia post-Putin? I would definitely be interested in the Duran exploring those topics. We covered Navalny extensively years ago, which. he was an important figure in Russia. I mean, I wrote articles about him at that time,

which you can find on our site. And I would just spend exactly who he was. If you want a really good article from me about Navalny, one which I still think is perhaps the best insight into his personality, then, you know, type into Google, you know, Valny Mercuris, and you probably get an analysis that I did at the Kirovless case, on which he was convicted, I believe, in 2013. And you see, it sets out very clearly there the kind of things that he was doing in a provincial town in Russia, the kind of games he was playing there, and it will

give you a very good insight into the sort of man he is. Bill says, does anyone know how many members of the U.S. State Department hold dual citizenship with Israel? I have no idea. I don't know. I'm sure somebody knows, but I don't. I'm sure that's easy to find. Agu said, concerned about Davos implying they accepted Trump presidency. I worry it's a lie meant to distance themselves from ongoing plans. They conceived to get rid of him. You know what I mean. I'm sure you're right. Brulaham says, can the Alex is in

Robert discuss the Israel, Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, conflict, and the recent court judgments by the ICJ and potential criminal charges to follow. Well, that, we've done it. We've done videos on this. Absolutely. A great length, actually. Yeah, just recently, maybe like a week ago. Look for the link.

Yeah, you'll find it. Tyler Durden says, if the U.S. attacks around directly, the response could be hypersonic and devastating. Let's hope they won't do it. I hope so too. But, you know, hold your breath. These people, as I said, have no reverse care. Justice is now says, thank you all for your great analysis and commentary.

You are the news that matters. Zeshan, thank you for that super sticker. Big Wyman, thank you for a super sticker. Tahrara Fazil, thank you for that super chat. Elsa says, if you don't feel wealthy under Bidenomics, you're Putin's agent. Same with Schultzenomics in Germany. Correct. Absolutely. I mean, you know, you've got the authority of Nancy Pelosi, which confirms that. If you're protesting about anything now, be it Palestine, if you're a trucker in Canada, of course you're a Putin agent.

It goes without saying, as I said, Nancy has said it. That must be so. Don F says, Vali, for the best mod ever. Thank you, Don F for that. Resistance to Evil says, could you guys please research Ukrainian birth records for the last two years, to verify the number of legally named javelins and javelinas who will celebrate their second birthday this February. I think I will pass that one. I'm sure that there's someone else going to do that. But, you know, that'd be an interesting thing to know.

Yeah. Probably find that online. Chrissy NRG says, the bit of the pipe bomb plant, Jan 5th, police photo, KH, not make drama she knew. Pelosi behind the collapse of banking system to deflect. Only a few keystrokes away, Trump is getting to revel in the dossier once he's in office. Yeah, I think, I think this is all about, you know, the situation in the banking system,

the fact that there are growing problems and that in the financial sector in the United States. People are talking a lot about this, the fact that I read somewhere that the interest payments on US debt are now running at a trillion dollars a year or something. I mean, astronomic amounts. And, of course, you know, worries about, you know, what kind of things Trump might find out if he does become president. So, yes, we're in a very nervous situation in the United States.

And that's a bad thing, by the way. It means that we're going to have a very, very tense election. But it's also a good thing. Because if they're nervous, it shows that they've got reasons to be nervous. and we should hold on to that too. Jetset.1, thank you for that super chat. Sleepy Kraying says, will the West provoke by cracking down on the Russians in NATO countries?

A border town like Narvae in Estonia comes to mind, which is a Russian major city like the whole of Estonia was and was subject to a silent ethnic cleansing in the 90s? I'm afraid it's very possible. And in the Baltic states, there's already a narrative being appearing that Putin is preparing to weaponise the Russians in the Baltic states and create protests amongst them, which is perhaps a sign that the Baltic governments are becoming ready

to take some action against these Russians in their midst as well. Very difficult to do, by the way, because the Baltic states are very small populations. And if they start removing, I mean, a lot of the skilled workers, in the Baltic states are Russian speakers. So, I mean, you know, it's going to undermine even further their own economies at a time when the Baltic states have already been suffering from major emigration issues. But, you know, that's the politics and the ideology, which, it seems, trumps everything

in this situation. So Bork says, question for the Duran and R. B. Barrin and Robert Barnes, is there any real hope that a new Trump presidency can excise the malignant U.S. Neil Conn Wolfitz's doctrines. He's ending the U.S. position globally or will both get a new job again? Robert answered that question. Yeah. We answered this, yes. Sanjava says, I can't even fathom how Biden administration fulfilled the worst predictions

of leaving the world in flames that even the Democrat diehards, like Joey are finding it difficult to defend what a trap is in a presidency. He surpassed my worst expectations. And that's saying a lot, by the way. Cool, Roy says the people are with Trump this time. Summer of 1970 says in the honor of the First Amendment, thank you, Iran. Zachary says, what if Biden gets 80 plus million votes like in 2020? Wouldn't that make all of this irrelevant?

We continue our journey into the abyss for four more years. let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that this election is different. That's all I can say. Sparky says Chris Ray controls elections and justice in the state of Georgia. He's a big part of the state's old boy network. Joe Public says when did any president follow the people's will? Well, don't be too dismissive. I mean, there have been times when presidents were very,

you know, attuned with the views of the people. I mean, Washington, George Washington, I think Lincoln very much, not all people of the United States, but a very, very significant constituency of people in the northern states. Teddy Roosevelt in some ways. Franklin Roosevelt, definitely, I would say. Other presidents, too, while people that are less known today. And I would say JFK also.

I mean, he caught a certain mood, as did LBJ in his own way. So, you know, don't say that presidents in the past have been completely elite, you know, subject to elite capture. That is the situation today. But if Americans start feeling too cynical about their past, then, I mean, they will lose hope for their future. Remember what George Orwell, George Orwell's book, what they say is 1980. You know, he who controls the past controls the future. If you feel cynical about the past, you lose hope in the future. Let's go over to, where are we here?

Let's go over to Odyssey and the question from Breaking Bread. It's all Shakespeare's kiddies. Okay, thank you for that. And also from Odyssey, open it up, from deplorable Neanderthal. It'll look pretty bad when a governor in a wheelchair beats the U.S. Army and Air Force when FJB tries to force his hand. Good times ahead. And from breaking bread, the perfect storm of all times. Hold on.

Yeah. Very true. CIA, torture camps says free Assange, free J6 political prisoners, free. the Kutz family free Imran Khan, free Amos is Miller's food. Completely agree. And the Amos Miller case that Robert was saying this. I have to say,

I'd have to be speechless. And that doesn't often happen to me, it must be said. And from Rumble, Andresen says, please ask Robert, can Texas use the invasion as a reason to secede from the U.S.? I believe. He answered that question at great length, yeah. Yes, he did.

And from Marco Ramos, welcome to the Duran community. And from Three Three Climer, Barnes for Attorney General. I am quite. From Alexander Potichev, how far did the neocans have to push it before everyone else has enough? Well, that's a very good question. I hope this, I hope, I hope people will say enough this year. year, actually. Nino asks, what's your opinion of Alina Haba?

Do you think she's good for the Trump legal team? I think a Robert answered that one. Yeah. And I Am Not a Nugget says you used to question the 300 billion Russian asset number. Do you think the euros and the US found that much in assets they want to seize? Well, I think we now have some clarity about this. it turns out that there was a substantial amount of money held in was it clear view, which is this funding.

It's one of the two big agencies based in Belgium, which is used for these very, very big international transactions. And the Russians have their own, by the way. And I'm surprised that the Russians central bank was keeping money in clear view in the way that he did actually. But that was what they got hold of. I suspect the reality is that the US and the EU thought that they were going to get an awful lot more Russian money than they actually did. Sparky says you make it sound as if living in pods and eating bugs is less than ideal. Joanna, thank you for that super sticker.

and says, will Alex and Alexander ever do a video together in person? We have. We have done, yeah. We have done many times. Nino NPC says, do you guys think the collective West will start reverse gearing with Ukraine and Mideast policies as it gets more evident? Trump will take the White House in hopes of some form of damage control. My own impression at the moment is that on the contrary, the prospect of Donald Trump,

the fear that Donald Trump is going to get elected, and the sense that the war is being lost, is causing them, if anything, to double down. I think that is their immediate visceral response. I think that's the response of the neocons in Washington. And I think that it's also the response of the, you know, the Ursula's and the beerbox in Germany as well. So I don't think they're reversing at all.

I don't think they know how to reverse. I think on the contrary, they're now. looking around, trying to find some way to turn the sitting round, however it's possible, before Donald Trump enters the White House, and if it all falls apart, find some way to blame it all on him. Soap the Ork says 7.5 years as police officer, I was fired over the jab. Never will I regret refusing that nor refusing to force it on others. Honor over money.

Good for you. Very brave man. Fragments of USSR says, Robert, serious question with Penny Pritzker occupied in Ukraine. Who will the Biden campaign trust with their funds for the election? It was her job since Obama, unless I'm mistaken. I think he answered that one, didn't he? I mean, am I my right? I'm not sure.

Not sure. Maybe. Anyway, this is in charge of the funds in Ukraine, yeah. Yes. I mean, this is more, yeah, I mean, the point about the funds in Ukraine is that the person you want to be in charge of the funds in Ukraine is somebody who will allow the funds to move around exactly wherever they go. So, I mean, I don't know anything about this person, but I'm sure she's in the right spot for that. Exactly. She's part of the Hyatt Hotel family. Oh, well, there you go.

That just very powerful. Very powerful. Very powerful. Very powerful. Very powerful. Very powerful. Yeah. But she's in the right spot. That's for sure. Alexander. No, we had to that. Let me see. Ah, Nino. Info I have gained from Andrei Martianov, the entire NATO does not have the military capability nor technology to defeat Russia in a direct war. Even the majority of nukes, Russia will intercept. Well, I'm not going to get into the technical issues, but I think what Martianov was saying over many years has now, to a great extent, been vindicated from what you're reading every day in the mainstream media in Europe. They're all going around saying, you know, we aren't prepared for a war.

Our militaries are unfit for purpose. We haven't enough men. We don't have enough machines. The machines we have aren't working properly. And even our generals aren't perhaps fit for purpose anymore. So I don't think that we're going to get into a war with Russia. I think the Russians have no interest in starting a war with us or, you know, advancing all the way to the Channel or the North Sea or anything of that kind.

Why would they want to do that? Nobody has ever explained to me why the Russians would want to do that. But in terms of the military weakness of NATO, I mean, the war in Ukraine has exposed that in the most cruel way. Robert Brooks, thank you for that super chat. Joe Public says Zionists need to be banned from politics worldwide. Your thoughts? Well, I think that would be a difficult thing to do. And banning is a strong word. I don't like bans. I think what we need to do is to expose people, talk about their policies, reestablish democracy,

reestablish freedom of speech, get a diversified media, break the hold of the oligarchs do all of those kind of things. If that happens, then we won't need to ban anyone at all, because I'm confident in that case that we're able to hold proper and informed discussions, then the people will insist that the right decisions be made. Christian Del Moors says, Are the elites worried about populist revolts?

Yes. I've answered that. Yes. Yellow vests, Canadian truckers and European farmers. Yep. And one final one. Let me just make sure I've gotten all of the questions answered. Yes.

Lisa says, if Trump wins the elections, Annalina Berbach and team wouldn't act like wild incompetent bullies towards other nations, but just incompetent. Germany wouldn't even manage a two-day war without the U.S. Completely correct. That's entirely true. That's why they're so terrified of Donald Trump winning. the election. That's why every single European, big European newspaper is now carrying big

stories about this. And, you know, in London, I was just passing, you know, a news agent. And there's a huge picture of a, you know, growling-looking Donald Trump. The photo has obviously been retouched to make him look really menacing and underneath the words, you know, the coming of the dictating. I mean, terrible stuff, actually. From locals, Ignaki says, welcome Barnes. Emile says, thank you. USA now says, I'll say that R.B. won't cause he likes others emotionally bulk mailed. Biden equal retarded. Like that. M.W. Mama says, hope this tip goes through.

USA now says which method to give money as least for you guys. And USA now says Nikki Haley from the makers of Elf on the shelf. It's a meme. You know, there's a puff piece for Nick. There's a puff piece for Nikki Haley and The Guardian today. I'm surprised they're still bother, actually. I can't imagine why. I mean, it seems to me this is several weeks too late.

Yeah, agreed. All right. Those are all the questions from. the live stream with Robert Barnes. Thank you.