Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem – "Is the Ukraine War Ending?"
Host: Dave Smith (A)
Co-host: Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein (B)
Date: August 19, 2025
Podcast Network: GaS Digital Network

Overview

This episode tackles the groundbreaking recent developments in the Ukraine War, notably Vladimir Putin’s unprecedented visit to Alaska for talks with Donald Trump, the subsequent diplomatic activity, and escalating questions around whether a true end to the conflict may finally be in sight. Dave Smith and Rob Bernstein delve into the historical failures of diplomacy, media narratives, and what it truly means for peace to be on the table—often in their trademark sharp, libertarian style.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Putin-Trump Meeting in Alaska

Timeframe: 00:44–05:50

• Event Recap: First direct meeting between the US President and Russian President since the Ukraine War began.
• Key Players Present: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Marco Rubio, Witkoff, Sergey Lavrov.
• Outcome: No concrete deal reached, but described as a 'good meeting,' with prerequisites for conflict resolution finally being considered.
• Dave's Take:
  • Blasts the fact that it’s taken years for US and Russian leaders to sit face-to-face:

    “That is—I just find that to be so criminal that it took this long for that to happen.” (04:58)

• Draws a parallel to adult conflict resolution and the failure of global governance organizations like the UN to require leaders to talk before war.

2. Criticism of Warhawks and the American Political Establishment

Timeframe: 05:50–07:49

• Rob’s Take: Criticizes elites including John Bolton and the broader media for attacking Trump for mere engagement with Putin.

  “Kudos to Trump for doing it. And, you know, shame on everyone in the media that's trying to say that even just sitting down with Putin is a mistake. That. That doesn't make any sense.” (07:31)

• Asserts that continuing the war is senseless and that peace talks should have always been prioritized.

3. Media and Policy Fantasies vs. Geopolitical Realities

Timeframe: 07:49–21:31

• Dave:
  • Destroys the naivety of Western media arguments like “we can’t appease dictators” and, “since when can a big country bully a small one?”
  • Compares potential Mexico-China military alliance to US resistance to Russian moves in Ukraine, showing such sovereignty narratives are fantasy.
  • Points out hypocrisy: the West supports dictators when convenient for policy objectives.

4. Russiagate: Historical Pivot & Western Hypocrisy

Timeframe: 21:31–36:33

• Dave recounts: Russiagate’s impact, framing Trump as a Russian agent to thwart his detente policy.

  “It is something to think about: the fact that Donald Trump ran in 2016 on detente with Russia… they accused him of treason for this thing that we've now learned… they completely made up and used just for this purpose.” (18:07)

• Trump, boxed in by Russiagate, paradoxically escalated pressure on Russia to prove he wasn’t a Putin puppet, thus fueling the very hostilities that would lead to war.

5. The Media’s Collusion and “Putin Apologist” Labeling

Timeframe: 36:33–45:25

• Eric Swalwell Compilation: Played to demonstrate the evolution of the “Trump is a Russian agent” narrative—despite Mueller’s lack of charges.

  “Calling a Russian agent the sitting President of the United States of America… and then after… doesn’t back you up at all, you go, ‘well, I challenge him to prove to me that he’s not.’ Like, what the hell does that mean?” (33:06)

• Rob:
  • Connects this tactic to other issues: “If you didn’t think our government should get rid of TikTok—oh, so you're a Chinese Socialist Party advocate.” (38:29)
• Dave:
  • Notes the “Putin stooge” insult is especially ridiculous—no one in the US truly idolizes Putin.

6. Analysis of the Summit Outcomes & Shifting Negotiation Dynamics

Timeframe: 45:25–54:54

• Both hosts discuss Trump’s media spectacle:
  • Lack of substantive public detail—progress is minimal, but at least the sitting down is taking place.
• Rob:

  “Classic Donald Trump: he did get his big television spectacle. Not a single detail released. No real sign of progress aside from the fact that he actually sat down with the guy.”

• Discusses Putin’s flattering comments about Trump and possible strategic motives.

7. What a Ukraine Peace Deal Actually Looks Like

Timeframe: 48:00–54:54

• Dave’s prediction:
  • Russia will keep Crimea and Donbass; may create a corridor to Crimea; Ukraine won’t join NATO.
  • The terms have shifted further in Putin’s favor as the war drags on.
  • Western rhetoric about “no land concessions” is already fading; focus is now on “security guarantees” for Ukraine.

  • “…it’s still going to be the same bullet points, just with hundreds of thousands of people more dead and Ukraine getting a little bit less. Like, this is how it’s going to end.” (52:50)

8. Security Assurances: The Last Sticking Point

Timeframe: 54:54–59:08 (and referenced later)

• The real sticking point is what “security assurance” means.
  • Dave: “The entire war is over [security guarantees]. Because when you have a security guarantee... you only give war guarantees to allies… That’s been Vladimir Putin’s entire point the whole time.”
• Rob’s Solution:
  • Suggests the guarantee should be that the world’s unity on sanctions (especially with China/India) be the deterrent if Russia gets aggressive again:

    “…I actually think that’s your security guarantee.” (55:44)

9. Zelensky’s Role and Negotiation Leverage

Timeframe: 57:05–65:08

• Zelensky’s Appearance: Noted for again wearing his trademark T-shirt to high-level US meetings.

• Dave: Criticizes Zelensky for “demanding security guarantees” when he has zero leverage:

  “Zelensky is offering us nothing. Like, just absolutely nothing, but yet he's sitting here demanding security guarantees. And, like, what is that?” (59:27)

• Ukrainian Public: 70% now support an immediate negotiated settlement, willing to cede territory for peace.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dave Smith on the lack of diplomacy:

  “It should also just be a standard that, like, hey, before we embark on a mass murder campaign, let's just try to talk it out.” (04:02)

• Rob Bernstein on critics of peace talks:

  “What could be more evil than discouraging peace talks in the middle of a hot war?” (08:07)

• Dave on media hypocrisy:

  “Are you telling me that Mexico can join a military alliance with China if they want to? No, they can’t. It’s not the case…” (11:38)

• On Russiagate fallout:

  “It gave [the intelligence agencies] the cover to prevent the democratically elected President… from enacting the policy that he ran on…” (18:07)

• On Zelensky’s demands:

  “Where do you get off demanding something like that?” (59:27)

Recurring Humor/Tone:

• Both hosts maintain an irreverent, libertarian, and combative tone throughout, frequently mocking establishment narratives, media figures, and government hypocrisy.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:44 – Main topic and initial recap of Putin-Trump Alaska meeting
• 04:58 – "Criminal" that US and Russia took so long to meet
• 07:31 – Media attacks on Trump for meeting with Putin
• 11:38 – Dave’s analogy: Mexico can’t join China alliance, so why should Ukraine join NATO?
• 18:07 – Russiagate prevented Trump’s detente policy, and its real consequences
• 21:31 – Obama-era origins of the conflict; coup and civil war backstory
• 33:06 – Dave breaks down the difference between 'Russian agent' and 'asset'
• 38:29 – The “Putin apologist” talking point and its use in other policy debates
• 45:25 – Review of Putin-Trump summit dynamics and “TV spectacle” criticism
• 52:50 – Peace deal will end up as Russia keeping the land, regardless of Western rhetoric
• 54:54 – Security guarantees — the last sticking point and their implications
• 59:27 – Dave unimpressed with Zelensky’s leverage and demands in negotiations
• 65:30 – Closing/Rob’s touring announcements

Conclusion

This episode provides a critical, sometimes caustic, libertarian lens on the Ukraine War’s possible winddown, the farcical nature of media and political posturing, and the inevitable hard realities behind the coming "peace." Dave and Rob cut through official narratives, arguing that expanded diplomacy should have happened much sooner and illustrating how Russiagate distracted and hindered real solutions. The war, they argue, will only end as many predicted from the outset—on Russian terms, with security guarantees and Western promises simply shifting shape as conditions change.

Fans of Part Of The Problem will find this episode a particularly rich mix of hard analysis, media criticism, and trademark humor.