Ukraine War Brief Podcast
@ukrainewarpod.bsky.social
Rob Gaudette on Twitter. Hosted by a Ukrainian and produced by an American with a PharmD. thepeoplesmedia.substack.com
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If I use an estimated 6 trillion ruble deficit—instead of the “very optimistic” 3.8 trillion rubles currently under consideration—the gap is even more profound.
Russia is apparently jealous of the Maduro raid. It’s how their “special military operation” was supposed to go. Kyiv in 3 days and all that.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
From grudging respect to unease: Russia weighs up fall of Maduro
Reaction to effectiveness of US operation contrasts with loss of key ally for Putin, whose priority remains Ukraine
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Russia is apparently jealous of the Maduro raid. It’s how their “special military operation” was supposed to go. Kyiv in 3 days and all that.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
The U.S. has demanded acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez to expel Iranian, Russian, and Cuban agents from the country and stop selling oil to U.S. adversaries. 🔥
There is shooting near the presidential palace in Caracas, unknown what’s happening now.
There is shooting near the presidential palace in Caracas, unknown what’s happening now.
January 6, 2026 at 1:44 AM
The U.S. has demanded acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez to expel Iranian, Russian, and Cuban agents from the country and stop selling oil to U.S. adversaries. 🔥
There is shooting near the presidential palace in Caracas, unknown what’s happening now.
There is shooting near the presidential palace in Caracas, unknown what’s happening now.
“We wanted the best, but got the same old thing.”
90s Russian PM on monetary reform. 😂
90s Russian PM on monetary reform. 😂
January 6, 2026 at 1:33 AM
“We wanted the best, but got the same old thing.”
90s Russian PM on monetary reform. 😂
90s Russian PM on monetary reform. 😂
Wow. The U.S. plans to intercept the Bella 1 oil tanker, which tried to escape the Venezuelan oil blockade by hanging a Russian flag. 🔥 🔥
www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
U.S. plans to intercept tanker involved in Venezuelan oil trade, days after Maduro's capture
Two U.S. intelligence officials said Venezuelan officials had discussed placing Soviet-era defense systems and armed military personnel on tankers — disguising them as civilians for defense purposes.
www.cbsnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Wow. The U.S. plans to intercept the Bella 1 oil tanker, which tried to escape the Venezuelan oil blockade by hanging a Russian flag. 🔥 🔥
www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...
Zhukovsky and Domodedovo airports in Moscow are closed due to Ukrainian drones. 🔥
January 5, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Zhukovsky and Domodedovo airports in Moscow are closed due to Ukrainian drones. 🔥
👀 The Jerusalem Post reports that the United States might imminently attack Iran with “full force,” unlike the summer. The attack would occur in conjunction with Israel.
Russian allies getting toppled one at a time...? Russia is weak.
www.jpost.com/middle-east/...
Russian allies getting toppled one at a time...? Russia is weak.
www.jpost.com/middle-east/...
Iran restrains crackdown amid Trump’s military threat | The Jerusalem Post
For years, Iran's security establishment seemed to dismiss Trump’s tough rhetoric as TACO, Trump Always Chickens Out.
www.jpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:59 PM
👀 The Jerusalem Post reports that the United States might imminently attack Iran with “full force,” unlike the summer. The attack would occur in conjunction with Israel.
Russian allies getting toppled one at a time...? Russia is weak.
www.jpost.com/middle-east/...
Russian allies getting toppled one at a time...? Russia is weak.
www.jpost.com/middle-east/...
🚨 Saudi Aramco reduced the premium for flagship Arab Light sold to Asia to just $0.30, a five year low. This is a tenth of what it was just a few months ago!!
Very bad news for Russia, as demands for discounts on Urals will increase. 🔥
Very bad news for Russia, as demands for discounts on Urals will increase. 🔥
January 5, 2026 at 7:52 PM
🚨 Saudi Aramco reduced the premium for flagship Arab Light sold to Asia to just $0.30, a five year low. This is a tenth of what it was just a few months ago!!
Very bad news for Russia, as demands for discounts on Urals will increase. 🔥
Very bad news for Russia, as demands for discounts on Urals will increase. 🔥
Reposted by Ukraine War Brief Podcast
At the UNSC, Russia demanded immediate release of the “elected president” Maduro, condemning US actions.
January 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM
At the UNSC, Russia demanded immediate release of the “elected president” Maduro, condemning US actions.
Russian GDP will likely decline in Q1 and Q2 2026
-Financial Genius
-Financial Genius
January 5, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Russian GDP will likely decline in Q1 and Q2 2026
-Financial Genius
-Financial Genius
The State Department posted this graphic in Russia on its Russian Embassy Twitter account. Hegseth is not pictured.
“Don’t play games with President Trump.”
“Don’t play games with President Trump.”
January 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The State Department posted this graphic in Russia on its Russian Embassy Twitter account. Hegseth is not pictured.
“Don’t play games with President Trump.”
“Don’t play games with President Trump.”
“Financial Genius,” a Russian economics blogger who is usually pretty trustworthy, estimates Russia’s 2026 budget deficit at 10 trillion rubles.
For reference, 2025 is going to be at least 6 trillion rubles, very likely more.
dzen.ru/a/aVIPJ7dTWF...
For reference, 2025 is going to be at least 6 trillion rubles, very likely more.
dzen.ru/a/aVIPJ7dTWF...
January 5, 2026 at 5:56 AM
“Financial Genius,” a Russian economics blogger who is usually pretty trustworthy, estimates Russia’s 2026 budget deficit at 10 trillion rubles.
For reference, 2025 is going to be at least 6 trillion rubles, very likely more.
dzen.ru/a/aVIPJ7dTWF...
For reference, 2025 is going to be at least 6 trillion rubles, very likely more.
dzen.ru/a/aVIPJ7dTWF...
Slow news out of Russia since they shut down the country for 2 weeks every January. Business reopens January 12.
January 5, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Slow news out of Russia since they shut down the country for 2 weeks every January. Business reopens January 12.
Warmonger Trump (36% approval) invaded Venezuela, bombed Iran, bombed Yemen, and struck Nigeria. He got such a kick out of that on Fox News that now he wants to invade, bomb, or annex:
-Cuba
-Denmark
-Canada
-Iran
-Mexico
-Colombia
It will not stop unless Americans stop it.
-Cuba
-Denmark
-Canada
-Iran
-Mexico
-Colombia
It will not stop unless Americans stop it.
January 5, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Warmonger Trump (36% approval) invaded Venezuela, bombed Iran, bombed Yemen, and struck Nigeria. He got such a kick out of that on Fox News that now he wants to invade, bomb, or annex:
-Cuba
-Denmark
-Canada
-Iran
-Mexico
-Colombia
It will not stop unless Americans stop it.
-Cuba
-Denmark
-Canada
-Iran
-Mexico
-Colombia
It will not stop unless Americans stop it.
Reposted by Ukraine War Brief Podcast
it's truly incredible that after a decade of trump being involved in politics (setting aside decades of his history in business) so many people still line up to make deals with him that end up with his knife in their back. anyway, mariá machado, step up and claim your fell for it again award.
January 4, 2026 at 9:14 PM
it's truly incredible that after a decade of trump being involved in politics (setting aside decades of his history in business) so many people still line up to make deals with him that end up with his knife in their back. anyway, mariá machado, step up and claim your fell for it again award.
The Energia plant in Lipetsk appears to be engulfed in flames. 🔥
January 4, 2026 at 9:06 PM
The Energia plant in Lipetsk appears to be engulfed in flames. 🔥
Yelets, Lipetsk, Russia is under attack by Ukraine. Happy New Year!
Just a few years ago, a fire like this might make Western news. Now it’s crickets because it’s such a common occurrence. 🔥
Just a few years ago, a fire like this might make Western news. Now it’s crickets because it’s such a common occurrence. 🔥
January 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Yelets, Lipetsk, Russia is under attack by Ukraine. Happy New Year!
Just a few years ago, a fire like this might make Western news. Now it’s crickets because it’s such a common occurrence. 🔥
Just a few years ago, a fire like this might make Western news. Now it’s crickets because it’s such a common occurrence. 🔥
The groveling of European leaders to this tyrant will be their undoing.
Now Trump says "we" need Greenland.
Well done weak European leaders who tepidly criticized/welcomed Trump’s invasion of Venezuela yesterday.
You're next.
Well done weak European leaders who tepidly criticized/welcomed Trump’s invasion of Venezuela yesterday.
You're next.
January 4, 2026 at 8:44 PM
The groveling of European leaders to this tyrant will be their undoing.
Trump also said that Greenland is next, and the U.S. “needs to have Greenland.” The U.S. is a malevolent and global bad actor. The EU will do nothing if the U.S. annexes Greenland.
Americans need to take to the streets en masse to put a stop to this.
Americans need to take to the streets en masse to put a stop to this.
NEW: In a phone call this morning, I asked President Trump why Venezuelan regime change was different from Iraq. “I didn’t do Iraq. That was Bush. You’ll have to ask Bush that question, because we should have never gone into Iraq," he told me. Here is the story: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Trump: Delcy Rodríguez Might Be Next
The president told The Atlantic that the interim Venezuelan president will meet a fate worse than Maduro’s unless she complies with U.S. wishes.
www.theatlantic.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Trump also said that Greenland is next, and the U.S. “needs to have Greenland.” The U.S. is a malevolent and global bad actor. The EU will do nothing if the U.S. annexes Greenland.
Americans need to take to the streets en masse to put a stop to this.
Americans need to take to the streets en masse to put a stop to this.
Russia used a Shahed equipped with MANPADS for the first time today. The Shahed factory in Alabuga needs to be destroyed.
January 4, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Russia used a Shahed equipped with MANPADS for the first time today. The Shahed factory in Alabuga needs to be destroyed.
Ahhh, Qatar, such a great intermediary. 🙄 Qatar loves Putin.
January 4, 2026 at 4:02 AM
Ahhh, Qatar, such a great intermediary. 🙄 Qatar loves Putin.
January 4, 2026 at 4:01 AM
A double thumbs up, would recommend, from Nicolás Maduro, former President of Venezuela.
Former Venezuelan President/dictator Nicolás Maduro in DEA custody this evening.
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 AM
A double thumbs up, would recommend, from Nicolás Maduro, former President of Venezuela.
The funniest thing would be if the judge granted Maduro and Celia Flores bail. They can fly commercial back to Caracas.
January 3, 2026 at 11:24 PM
The funniest thing would be if the judge granted Maduro and Celia Flores bail. They can fly commercial back to Caracas.
Reposted by Ukraine War Brief Podcast
You can introduce articles of impeachment at any time, Zoe.
You can also work to convince your Republican colleagues that illegal wars aren't good for their electoral prospects. Stop acting like you have no agency here.
You can also work to convince your Republican colleagues that illegal wars aren't good for their electoral prospects. Stop acting like you have no agency here.
Trump illegally attacked Venezuela without constitutionally required approval. Trump says it's to take their oil and that his cabinet members will run the country.
Will any Republican members of the Senate or House finally stand up for the Constitution? Have they no shame?
Will any Republican members of the Senate or House finally stand up for the Constitution? Have they no shame?
January 3, 2026 at 11:00 PM
You can introduce articles of impeachment at any time, Zoe.
You can also work to convince your Republican colleagues that illegal wars aren't good for their electoral prospects. Stop acting like you have no agency here.
You can also work to convince your Republican colleagues that illegal wars aren't good for their electoral prospects. Stop acting like you have no agency here.
Babel reports that the Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, said Maduro is the only legitimate president of the country and that it will never become a U.S. colony. She made the statement on state tv after calling for Maduro’s release.
We have two clowns running the circus.
We have two clowns running the circus.
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Babel reports that the Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, said Maduro is the only legitimate president of the country and that it will never become a U.S. colony. She made the statement on state tv after calling for Maduro’s release.
We have two clowns running the circus.
We have two clowns running the circus.