Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Briefing with Jen Psaki
Host: Jen Psaki (MSNBC)
Episode: Trump-Putin summit special coverage; Part 2
Date: August 16, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode delivers in-depth analysis and special coverage of the highly anticipated, yet anticlimactic Alaska meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. With an expert guest lineup—including Peter Baker (New York Times), Michael McFaul (former US Ambassador to Russia), Ben Rhodes (former Deputy National Security Adviser), Andrea Mitchell (NBC News), Julia Ioffe (Puck News), and General Mark Hertling—the show unpacks the geopolitical fallout, optics, and the nearly complete exclusion of Ukrainian voices from the summit concerning the war in Ukraine.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Summit: Atmospherics Over Substance
- The meeting in Anchorage was marked by symbolism and vague statements rather than concrete agreements.
- Trump and Putin praised each other during a "press conference" where they took no questions and provided no real details about any progress or deals.
- Notably, Ukrainian President Zelensky was not invited, underscoring a glaring omission of the party most impacted by the ongoing conflict.
"If today's press conference was your only reference point, you might have no idea that Putin started the war in Ukraine."
— Jen Psaki [01:43]
2. The Optics: Putin’s Information Win
- The summit was widely characterized as a propaganda victory for Putin.
- Despite Trump's pre-meeting threats of “severe consequences” for lack of progress, Putin left the meeting unscathed, with only praise from Trump and hints of further meetings—possibly in Moscow.
"He got to be back on the world stage. He's not in handcuffs. He's obviously welcomed as a friend, not as an adversary."
— Peter Baker [05:24]
- The Russian leader capitalized on his global re-emergence: red carpet treatment, chummy photo ops, and a narrative of normalization with the US.
3. Putin’s Historical Narrative and Tactics
- Both in private and public, Putin employed his characteristic historical revisionism, providing Trump with maps and documents asserting Ukraine as part of Russia.
- Guests noted the danger: Putin reframes Ukraine's sovereignty, which risks shaping the perspective of a US president who is eager to flatter and be flattered.
"Putin doesn't think that Ukraine exists as a nation. ... If you don't know the history, then you're just going to nod and go along."
— Michael McFaul [06:55]
4. Trump’s Perspective: ‘Getting Along’ Trumps Substance
- Trump's main post-summit takeaway, according to a taped interview with Sean Hannity, was that the meeting was a “10 out of 10” solely because of personal rapport with Putin.
- The panel found this focus on personal chemistry, rather than US or Ukrainian interests, deeply troubling.
"Trump is looking for some quick win or something he can spin in the news cycle, and that's just not going to cut it."
— Ben Rhodes [11:20]
- Trump also called Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, raising concerns about Trump’s club of authoritarian “peers.”
5. Exclusion of Ukraine: Impact and Perception
- Ukrainian President Zelensky’s exclusion from the summit was widely condemned by the panel and highlighted by Zelensky himself, who posted:
“The Russians are killing as well. ... Ukraine is ready to work ... We count on a strong position from America. Everything will depend on this.”
— Jen Psaki quoting Zelensky [16:26]
- General Mark Hertling outlined the practical downsides for Ukraine, emphasizing the continuing need for American support, especially in intelligence, logistics, and advanced weapons.
- The imagined leverage of the US—flooding Ukraine with weapons, sanctions—is seen as real, but unused.
"Since President Trump has been in the White House, the war has gotten more aggressive. There's been more attacks on Ukrainian civilians by multiples."
— Michael McFaul [13:26]
6. Reactions: Press and Policy Experts
Peter Baker on Lack of Substance
- No agreement reached despite Trump’s initial demands for an immediate ceasefire.
- "Trump left town on Air Force One without that." [04:39]
Andrea Mitchell on US Standing
- Putin’s comfort and Trump’s deferential body language was glaring.
- “President Putin was drawn out of his isolation ... and is being seen as an equal, more than an equal.” [27:15]
Julia Ioffe on Putin’s Strategy
- Putin arrived “for the win” and left with everything he wanted, giving up nothing.
- "Putin couldn't have gotten better images than if he had paid for them himself." [36:37]
7. Fallout for Ukraine and Europe
- General Hertling and other guests expressed concern that without robust US backing, Ukraine faces dire difficulties despite European efforts.
- Loss of US support in intelligence, weapons, and political leverage could undermine Ukraine’s fight and embolden Russia.
“For me, this their fight is my fight. And seeing what happened today, I have a visceral response. ... We seem to be disavowing Mr. Putin's actions, his thousands of war crimes, his violations of the Geneva Convention.”
— Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling [20:32]
8. Audience and Global Response
- The summit’s visual moments—Putin welcomed by American troops on a red carpet—sent shockwaves through US allies, particularly those with experience of Russian aggression.
- Reactions from Ukraine and eastern European countries underscored fears that Western resolve is fading.
“More Ukrainian flags than those country flags. They support this because they know what Russia is all about.”
— Mark Hertling on Europe [20:32]
9. Broader Themes: Trump’s Authoritarian Club and US Policy Shifts
- Discussion of the normalization of autocratic leaders in Trump’s foreign policy orbit—Lukashenko, Nayib Bukele, Bolsonaro.
- Under Trump, there is a marked turn towards “transactional” relationships, with traditional US allies sidelined.
10. Related DC News: DOJ Backs Down on Policing Power Grab
- Psaki transitions to domestic policy, discussing DOJ reversal on taking over Washington, DC’s police, keeping local authority intact (at least temporarily).
- Congressman Jake Auchincloss warns of the erosion of home rule and the need for Democrats to champion both public safety and self-governance.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Putin won the information war. He used Trump to show he is not isolated.”
— Jen Psaki [02:50] - “He is more comfortable with these autocrats than ... President Zelensky, who is ... excluded from this meeting so that Trump could sit down with Putin.”
— Ben Rhodes [11:53] - “Putin showed up for the win—to pocket the win. He didn't need a deal. ... What did Donald Trump get for it in return? Bupkis. Nothing. I mean, what a deal maker.”
— Julia Ioffe [38:09] - “American troops literally on their knees as Vladimir Putin walked on a red carpet. Just embarrassing.”
— Rep. Jake Auchincloss [43:33]
Important Timestamps
- 00:50 – Jen Psaki recaps summit context and lack of press transparency
- 01:25 – Gen. Hertling on the lack of a substantive deal
- 03:39 – Plans for a possible meeting in Moscow
- 04:39 – Peter Baker details atmosphere and what Putin gained
- 06:55 – Michael McFaul on Putin’s revisionist history tactics
- 09:25 – Ben Rhodes on Trump's global worldview and autocrat circle
- 13:26 – Michael McFaul on escalation of the war under Trump
- 16:26 – Psaki relays Zelensky’s response and military impact with Hertling
- 20:32 – Hertling details Ukrainian and European responses, personal impact
- 25:24 – Room impressions post-summit (Psaki, Yoffe, Andrea Mitchell)
- 27:15 – Andrea Mitchell on summit optics and implications
- 32:19 – Putin’s history lesson at press conference analyzed
- 36:37 – Julia Ioffe on Putin’s diplomatic and PR win
- 39:51 – 44:36 – Auchincloss and Psaki discuss DC policing, Trump’s global posture
Episode Takeaways
- Symbolism > Substance: The Trump-Putin summit in Alaska produced more optics than outcomes, with Putin successfully breaking his isolation and Trump focusing on personal rapport over policy.
- US Credibility Questioned: Welcoming Putin with honors, despite his war crimes indictment, alarmed US allies and encouraged Russian propaganda.
- Ukraine Marginalized: The nation most affected by the war was left out of negotiations and decision making, deepening concerns about Western abandonment.
- Autocrats’ Club: Trump’s foreign policy drift toward authoritarians, rather than democratic allies, marks a further shift from US tradition.
- Domestic Parallels: Concerns about executive overreach in DC policing echo wider anxieties about rule of law and democratic norms.
Overall tone:
A mix of analysis, alarm, and frustration, with experts stressing the dangers of normalization with Putin, US disengagement from Ukraine, and the elevation of optics over real diplomatic progress.