Podcast Summary

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Episode: WHEN DO WE START BOMBING RUSSIANS WHO ARE KILLING CHRISTIANS IN UKRAINE?
Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Keith Olbermann (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview of the Episode’s Main Theme

This episode centers on Keith Olbermann’s sharp critique of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, specifically the justification of military intervention in the name of protecting Christians abroad. Olbermann provocatively asks why, following the administration’s military actions against ISIS in Nigeria (under the pretext of defending Christians), Trump isn’t applying the same logic to Russia, which he claims is responsible for killing Christians in Ukraine. The episode blends political analysis, satirical takes on recent Trump-related absurdities, discussions of corruption and pardons, Olbermann’s classic “Worst Persons in the World,” and a retrospective Ted Turner story.

Detailed Breakdown of Key Discussion Points

1. Trump’s “Protecting Christians” Doctrine (03:07—12:02)

• Olbermann opens by highlighting Trump’s recently stated foreign policy principle: military intervention against groups targeting Christians, referencing U.S. bombing in Nigeria.
• Calls out hypocrisy: Trump met with President Zelensky the day before but made no such tough talk or action against Russia, which is responsible for deaths of Christians in Ukraine.
• “If that is the standard, Trump has obligated himself to start bombing Russians today. Get going boy. Because the percentage of Christians in Ukraine is 85%. 85. That’s more than in Ireland. That’s way more than here.” (06:16)
• Satirical summary of Trump’s selective standards, accusing him of making decisions based solely on self-interest and foreign blackmail rather than principle.
• Contextualizes Russian religious policies: religion in Russia controlled by the Kremlin, with the Russian Orthodox Church holding monopoly-like power; contrasts this to Ukraine’s 85% Christian population.

2. Zelensky’s Response and Historical Republican Rhetoric (11:20—13:45)

• Zelensky’s messaging: Posts a video labeling Russians as “godless”—a stance that aligns with the GOP’s Cold War-era rhetoric painting Russians as atheist persecutors of the faithful.
• Olbermann notes the irony: “This bullshit didn’t start with Trump. He just dumbed it down to make it more effective with the rubes and the marks.”
• Suggests that pro-Ukraine strategists could exploit the White House’s current “save the Christians” narrative to split the MAGA base.

3. Corruption, Pardons, and Giuliani (15:50—25:24)

• In-depth examination of recent allegations that Trump’s presidential pardons were for sale, using details from the Noel Dunphy lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani.
• Reads lurid and disturbing suit excerpts chronicling Giuliani’s alleged behavior, including selling pardons for $2 million each (split with Trump and Giuliani).
• Notable quote: “He [Giuliani] told Ms. Dunphy that she could refer individuals seeking pardons to him, so long as they did not go through the normal channels of the Office