People who say Vladimir Putin is a tyrant who doesn't share power have never met Sharik the dog or Matroskin the cat.

shocking

Some useful Maritime Law for Idiots insights from SIPRI's Pierre Thévenin on the U.S. seizures of fleeing "shadow fleet" tankers. Washington and Moscow both have a legal leg to stand on here, but everybody would be hopping around on one foot if it ever went to court.

Meduza

‘A new precedent’ In an interview with Meduza, expert Pierre Thévenin breaks down the maritime law behind Washington’s recent tanker seizures — Meduza

On January 7, U.S. military forces seized two tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” ending a weeks-long pursuit of one vessel, the B...

So, according to Macron, the worst that could happen to Taiwan is "further encirclement"? China, you rascals.

Lots of interesting stuff in this excerpt from sociologist Konstantin Gaaze's new book: Putin/Shoigu started drilling for the Crimea annexation in March 2013; Ukraine's EU deal, not NATO, is what drove Putin nuts; Russian troops maybe kidnapped (!) Yanukovych to "legitimize" Aksyonov's appointment...

Meduza

This was Russia today Wednesday, January 7, 2026 — Meduza

More Russian "isolation" on display: "Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wants talks with Russia to build a nuclear power plant to wrap up this month and urged government officials to find new partners after Japan pulled out from a second project." https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/vietnam-warns-nuclear-power-delays-seeks-russia-deal-by-january-after-japan-2026-01-08/

Another exiled Russian media outlet starts publishing AI-translated stories. Somebody please save a spot for me in the bread lines.

Looks like Graham found the right moment to enlist Trump in his Russia sanctions bill. Oil on the brain.

the grim reaper has really gone off script since he finally claimed kissinger

with the greenland annexation looming, i can already see the dividing lines emerging among american liberals, who will join the freedom fighters against their own compatriots, who will find think tank jobs in unfriendly europe, who will succumb to the zombie virus