The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

“David Rutherford Show: Live From Ukraine – American Intel Officer Reveals The Ground Truth”

Original Air Date: November 26, 2025
Host: David Rutherford (in for Clay & Buck)
Guest: Stephen Al Abadi (“Aladdin” on X), former US Army intelligence officer and independent war correspondent, reporting live from Ukraine

Episode Overview

This special episode features an in-depth, boots-on-the-ground conversation with Stephen Al Abadi, an American intelligence officer turned independent journalist currently reporting from Ukraine. With the peace process ongoing and global attention fixed on Eastern Europe, the episode delves into the realities of life in Ukraine today, the sentiment of its people, the state of the war, American and Western support, the context of corruption, and how Ukrainians see their future. Al Abadi shares his journey, personal risk, and the daily realities of war, all colored by his own background as an Iraqi-born American who’s spent decades in conflict zones.

Guest Introduction & Background (03:07 – 06:37)

Stephen Al Abadi grew up in Baghdad, started as a linguist for US forces in 2003, later immigrated on a Special Immigrant Visa, and became a US Army intelligence officer (GS-13).
Experienced abrupt termination before the 2024 election, attributing partisan reasons to his government ouster (05:54).
In 2023-24, worked with the NATO Security Assistance Group for Ukraine but faced professional retaliation due to his political leanings.
After his government career ended, transitioned to exposing fraud and contract abuse online, rapidly gaining audience support, then crowd-funded his way to Ukraine to report firsthand.
Quote:
“Initially I wanted to come to Ukraine on the ground a while back to report on what happened and I just pulled the plug. And actually I had almost zero money in my pocket. I did crowdsource funding on GoFundMe … So the GoFundMe is still live.” – Stephen (08:46)

Life in Wartime Ukraine: Everyday Realities (07:36–15:30)

Kyiv and other cities are under almost daily attack; drone and missile strikes have become a matter-of-fact part of life.
Ukrainians display “extreme grit and willpower” as they adapt to near-constant danger.
The normalization of violence: civilians routinely continue with their day after attacks; “it became normal.”
Quote:
“Literally the drone I told you just hit about 30 minutes ago … I was looking around, trying to see if anybody [was] freaking out and it was like, it became normal.” – Stephen (13:16)
Ongoing civilian resilience mirrors what Stephen saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Corruption, Identity, and Cultural Complexity (12:01–21:35)

Ukraine's population is extremely conservative, family-oriented, and churchgoing, with a growing movement to fight corruption at the local and governmental level.
Government corruption is acknowledged and resented by the population, driving public pressure for reform.
Regional linguistic, cultural, and political divides:
- Western Ukraine is largely Ukrainian-speaking and anti-Russian.
- Central areas are bilingual.
- Eastern Ukraine retains strong Russian ties, with complex personal and intergenerational allegiances.
Quote:
“The closer to the eastern front you get, the more Russian ties you have. … Old Soviet Union military, yeah, there’s obviously intertwined, deep connection. But at the same time, those people, they settled. A lot of them, they settled with the Ukrainian identity.” – Stephen (17:42)

Debunking Myths: Youth, Draft, and “Missing Men” (24:38–27:22)

Contrary to Western media narratives, there is not a stark absence of young men in Ukrainian towns; Stephen reports seeing "young kids all over the place."
Ukrainian parliament allowed teenagers up to 22 to leave; many did, but the majority stayed for patriotism and because life abroad proved difficult.
Many who left for the West returned, citing dissatisfaction with Western liberal/woke culture.
Quote:
“They packed their stuff, came back to Ukraine and restarted their life again. … They talked a lot about the woke culture in the West, and the LGBTQ is like, was like, no, that’s not, yeah, we’re not about that stuff.” – Stephen (26:10)

The Frontlines: Veterans’ Stories and American Aid (27:22–34:16)

Stephen regularly encounters wounded veterans; amputees and injured are common throughout cities.
The war on the frontlines is "10 times worse" than what’s reported—heavy casualties, but unwavering gratitude for US aid among frontline soldiers.
American support is recognized as crucial; “if it wasn’t for America, we would have lost our country.” (29:02)
Major equipment issues: US-supplied arms sent under the Biden administration (“old, broken equipment”), Ukrainian troops forced to cannibalize multiple Bradleys and Abrams tanks to maintain a few working units.
Quote:
“If we had given them proper weapons that actually work … they probably would have taken their land back.” – Stephen (33:26)
The current front is largely static, with casualties running 5:1 or higher favoring Ukrainian defense; Russian manpower remains vast and is now supplemented by North Korean personnel (confirmed by captured uniforms and IDs).

The Ukrainian Spirit and Resolve (36:28–40:26)

Despite devastation, Ukrainian morale is unbroken—a kind of national “9/11 moment” unifying the population.
Russian attacks on civilian targets have only steeled resistance; daily loss and grief have become perversely routine but have not engendered defeatism.
Quote:
“Not even one person [says] we shouldn’t be doing this. … They are not giving up. Every person I spoke to … If Russia thinks they’re going to break our spirit, matter of fact, they made it even stronger just because they’re daily and indiscriminately attacking civilians.” – Stephen (37:42)

Peace Negotiations and Political Dynamics (43:26–47:32)

Reports of internal schism and leadership crisis around Zelensky: Stephen confirms parliament-level intrigue but notes the military, not politicians, now holds real power.
The military “has significant amount of influence on what’s going to happen politically in the country.” (43:57)
On the peace process, Ukrainians insist on being direct participants rather than bystanders to deals cut by foreign powers.
Dignity and national pride are non-negotiables; no Ukrainian Stephen has met wants to give up land or be treated as a pawn.
Quote:
“No one on the street … wants to give their land to Russia. They want their land back. So I don’t know how you settle that.” – Stephen (48:15)

The Mission: Reporting the Real Story (50:27–54:58)

Stephen intends to spend six months touring Ukraine, documenting civilian suffering and infrastructure damage, focusing on daily realities rather than military installations (which are off-limits).
Efforts underway to gain press credentials to embed at the front; journalistic emphasis for now is on “telling people stories here and move on.”
Russian tactics include indiscriminate drone, missile, and even naval mine attacks on civilians.
Quote:
“To me it’s like a terroristic tactics what Russia is doing. … If you’re deliberately hitting civilians, you’re trying to scare people into submission, and they’re not.” – Stephen (54:22)

Breaking News: Muslim Brotherhood & Espionage (57:38–59:55)

Towards the end, Stephen shares an on-the-ground scoop:

Discovery of a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Center in Odessa, tied to Turkish business and shipping interests.
Stephen suspects this signals espionage and/or logistics for furthering Turkish, Islamist, or even Russian-aligned activities.
Quote:
“Come to find out, Muslim Brotherhood affiliated through Turkish businessmen and shipping businesses. … I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of that going on. Espionage. Spying. Also expansion of Islam.” – Stephen (58:29)

Notable and Memorable Quotes

On normalization of violence:
“It became normal. … We can submit and live in fear or we can just live our lives.” – Stephen (13:16)
On aid from America:
“If it wasn’t for America, we would have lost our country.” – Ukrainian soldiers via Stephen (29:02)
On corruption and identity:
“People here, they’re fed up with the corruption and they’re fighting it within ... They want to live in peace and see their country prosper.” – Stephen (12:31)
On the future of language and national identity:
“In a generation … everybody in this region, they will be speaking Ukrainian after the boomers … die off.” – Stephen (21:22)
On the impact of the war:
“It’s, it reminds me by the spirit of the American people after the 911 attack … that’s where the Ukrainians are right now.” – Stephen (39:56)
On dignity and peace talks:
“If any peace deal happens … they don’t want to feel undignified. … How do you want us just to give our land? That’s our land.” – Stephen (47:57)

Timestamps of Major Segments

Guest Introduction, Bio, & Arrival in Ukraine: 03:07–06:37
Personal Motivation, Entry into Journalism, Life in Kyiv: 07:36–15:30
Corruption and Regional Identity: 12:01–21:35
Language & Demographics: 17:40–21:35
Narrative on ‘Missing’ Young Men: 24:38–27:22
Frontline Conditions & Weapon Quality: 27:22–34:16
Ukrainian National Spirit: 36:28–40:26
Zelensky, Military Influence, and Negotiations: 43:26–47:32
Future Goals & Reporting Focus: 50:27–54:58
Espionage, Muslim Brotherhood in Odessa: 57:38–59:55

Tone and Atmosphere

The tone throughout is candid and journalistic, bordering on deeply personal as Stephen describes both the emotional toll of war and the complex moral ambiguities. David is empathetic, probing, and supportive, often reflecting the feelings of listeners who struggle to interpret media narratives far from the actual conflict.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a rare, firsthand, and unsanitized account of life in Ukraine during the ongoing war, filtering prevailing media coverage through hard-won on-the-ground perspective. Stephen’s unique trajectory—from Baghdad to US intel to freelance war reporting—lends unusual credibility and empathy to his observations, whether debunking Western tropes about “missing men” or exposing the spiritual backbone of a nation under siege. For anyone seeking context, humanity, and nuance missing from headlines, this is an essential listen.

For more from Stephen Al Abadi (“Aladdin”):

X (Twitter): @Aladdin1983
YouTube: [Link via his X profile]
GoFundMe: Linked from X profile to support his independent reporting

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

“David Rutherford Show: Live From Ukraine – American Intel Officer Reveals The Ground Truth”

Episode Overview

Guest Introduction & Background (03:07 – 06:37)

Stephen Al Abadi grew up in Baghdad, started as a linguist for US forces in 2003, later immigrated on a Special Immigrant Visa, and became a US Army intelligence officer (GS-13).
Experienced abrupt termination before the 2024 election, attributing partisan reasons to his government ouster (05:54).
In 2023-24, worked with the NATO Security Assistance Group for Ukraine but faced professional retaliation due to his political leanings.
After his government career ended, transitioned to exposing fraud and contract abuse online, rapidly gaining audience support, then crowd-funded his way to Ukraine to report firsthand.
Quote:
“Initially I wanted to come to Ukraine on the ground a while back to report on what happened and I just pulled the plug. And actually I had almost zero money in my pocket. I did crowdsource funding on GoFundMe … So the GoFundMe is still live.” – Stephen (08:46)

Life in Wartime Ukraine: Everyday Realities (07:36–15:30)

Kyiv and other cities are under almost daily attack; drone and missile strikes have become a matter-of-fact part of life.
Ukrainians display “extreme grit and willpower” as they adapt to near-constant danger.
The normalization of violence: civilians routinely continue with their day after attacks; “it became normal.”
Quote:
“Literally the drone I told you just hit about 30 minutes ago … I was looking around, trying to see if anybody [was] freaking out and it was like, it became normal.” – Stephen (13:16)
Ongoing civilian resilience mirrors what Stephen saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Corruption, Identity, and Cultural Complexity (12:01–21:35)

Ukraine's population is extremely conservative, family-oriented, and churchgoing, with a growing movement to fight corruption at the local and governmental level.
Government corruption is acknowledged and resented by the population, driving public pressure for reform.
Regional linguistic, cultural, and political divides:
- Western Ukraine is largely Ukrainian-speaking and anti-Russian.
- Central areas are bilingual.
- Eastern Ukraine retains strong Russian ties, with complex personal and intergenerational allegiances.
Quote:
“The closer to the eastern front you get, the more Russian ties you have. … Old Soviet Union military, yeah, there’s obviously intertwined, deep connection. But at the same time, those people, they settled. A lot of them, they settled with the Ukrainian identity.” – Stephen (17:42)

Debunking Myths: Youth, Draft, and “Missing Men” (24:38–27:22)

Contrary to Western media narratives, there is not a stark absence of young men in Ukrainian towns; Stephen reports seeing "young kids all over the place."
Ukrainian parliament allowed teenagers up to 22 to leave; many did, but the majority stayed for patriotism and because life abroad proved difficult.
Many who left for the West returned, citing dissatisfaction with Western liberal/woke culture.
Quote:
“They packed their stuff, came back to Ukraine and restarted their life again. … They talked a lot about the woke culture in the West, and the LGBTQ is like, was like, no, that’s not, yeah, we’re not about that stuff.” – Stephen (26:10)

The Frontlines: Veterans’ Stories and American Aid (27:22–34:16)

Stephen regularly encounters wounded veterans; amputees and injured are common throughout cities.
The war on the frontlines is "10 times worse" than what’s reported—heavy casualties, but unwavering gratitude for US aid among frontline soldiers.
American support is recognized as crucial; “if it wasn’t for America, we would have lost our country.” (29:02)
Major equipment issues: US-supplied arms sent under the Biden administration (“old, broken equipment”), Ukrainian troops forced to cannibalize multiple Bradleys and Abrams tanks to maintain a few working units.
Quote:
“If we had given them proper weapons that actually work … they probably would have taken their land back.” – Stephen (33:26)
The current front is largely static, with casualties running 5:1 or higher favoring Ukrainian defense; Russian manpower remains vast and is now supplemented by North Korean personnel (confirmed by captured uniforms and IDs).

The Ukrainian Spirit and Resolve (36:28–40:26)

Despite devastation, Ukrainian morale is unbroken—a kind of national “9/11 moment” unifying the population.
Russian attacks on civilian targets have only steeled resistance; daily loss and grief have become perversely routine but have not engendered defeatism.
Quote:
“Not even one person [says] we shouldn’t be doing this. … They are not giving up. Every person I spoke to … If Russia thinks they’re going to break our spirit, matter of fact, they made it even stronger just because they’re daily and indiscriminately attacking civilians.” – Stephen (37:42)

Peace Negotiations and Political Dynamics (43:26–47:32)

Reports of internal schism and leadership crisis around Zelensky: Stephen confirms parliament-level intrigue but notes the military, not politicians, now holds real power.
The military “has significant amount of influence on what’s going to happen politically in the country.” (43:57)
On the peace process, Ukrainians insist on being direct participants rather than bystanders to deals cut by foreign powers.
Dignity and national pride are non-negotiables; no Ukrainian Stephen has met wants to give up land or be treated as a pawn.
Quote:
“No one on the street … wants to give their land to Russia. They want their land back. So I don’t know how you settle that.” – Stephen (48:15)

The Mission: Reporting the Real Story (50:27–54:58)

Stephen intends to spend six months touring Ukraine, documenting civilian suffering and infrastructure damage, focusing on daily realities rather than military installations (which are off-limits).
Efforts underway to gain press credentials to embed at the front; journalistic emphasis for now is on “telling people stories here and move on.”
Russian tactics include indiscriminate drone, missile, and even naval mine attacks on civilians.
Quote:
“To me it’s like a terroristic tactics what Russia is doing. … If you’re deliberately hitting civilians, you’re trying to scare people into submission, and they’re not.” – Stephen (54:22)

Breaking News: Muslim Brotherhood & Espionage (57:38–59:55)

Towards the end, Stephen shares an on-the-ground scoop:

Discovery of a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Center in Odessa, tied to Turkish business and shipping interests.
Stephen suspects this signals espionage and/or logistics for furthering Turkish, Islamist, or even Russian-aligned activities.
Quote:
“Come to find out, Muslim Brotherhood affiliated through Turkish businessmen and shipping businesses. … I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of that going on. Espionage. Spying. Also expansion of Islam.” – Stephen (58:29)

Notable and Memorable Quotes

On normalization of violence:
“It became normal. … We can submit and live in fear or we can just live our lives.” – Stephen (13:16)
On aid from America:
“If it wasn’t for America, we would have lost our country.” – Ukrainian soldiers via Stephen (29:02)
On corruption and identity:
“People here, they’re fed up with the corruption and they’re fighting it within ... They want to live in peace and see their country prosper.” – Stephen (12:31)
On the future of language and national identity:
“In a generation … everybody in this region, they will be speaking Ukrainian after the boomers … die off.” – Stephen (21:22)
On the impact of the war:
“It’s, it reminds me by the spirit of the American people after the 911 attack … that’s where the Ukrainians are right now.” – Stephen (39:56)
On dignity and peace talks:
“If any peace deal happens … they don’t want to feel undignified. … How do you want us just to give our land? That’s our land.” – Stephen (47:57)

Timestamps of Major Segments

Guest Introduction, Bio, & Arrival in Ukraine: 03:07–06:37
Personal Motivation, Entry into Journalism, Life in Kyiv: 07:36–15:30
Corruption and Regional Identity: 12:01–21:35
Language & Demographics: 17:40–21:35
Narrative on ‘Missing’ Young Men: 24:38–27:22
Frontline Conditions & Weapon Quality: 27:22–34:16
Ukrainian National Spirit: 36:28–40:26
Zelensky, Military Influence, and Negotiations: 43:26–47:32
Future Goals & Reporting Focus: 50:27–54:58
Espionage, Muslim Brotherhood in Odessa: 57:38–59:55

Tone and Atmosphere

Final Thoughts

For more from Stephen Al Abadi (“Aladdin”):

X (Twitter): @Aladdin1983
YouTube: [Link via his X profile]
GoFundMe: Linked from X profile to support his independent reporting

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David Rutherford Show: Live From Ukraine - American Intel Officer Reveals The Ground Truth

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Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

“David Rutherford Show: Live From Ukraine – American Intel Officer Reveals The Ground Truth”

Episode Overview

Guest Introduction & Background (03:07 – 06:37)

Life in Wartime Ukraine: Everyday Realities (07:36–15:30)

Corruption, Identity, and Cultural Complexity (12:01–21:35)

Debunking Myths: Youth, Draft, and “Missing Men” (24:38–27:22)

The Frontlines: Veterans’ Stories and American Aid (27:22–34:16)

The Ukrainian Spirit and Resolve (36:28–40:26)

Peace Negotiations and Political Dynamics (43:26–47:32)

The Mission: Reporting the Real Story (50:27–54:58)

Breaking News: Muslim Brotherhood & Espionage (57:38–59:55)

Notable and Memorable Quotes

Timestamps of Major Segments

Tone and Atmosphere

Final Thoughts

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

“David Rutherford Show: Live From Ukraine – American Intel Officer Reveals The Ground Truth”

Episode Overview

Guest Introduction & Background (03:07 – 06:37)

Life in Wartime Ukraine: Everyday Realities (07:36–15:30)

Corruption, Identity, and Cultural Complexity (12:01–21:35)

Debunking Myths: Youth, Draft, and “Missing Men” (24:38–27:22)

The Frontlines: Veterans’ Stories and American Aid (27:22–34:16)

The Ukrainian Spirit and Resolve (36:28–40:26)

Peace Negotiations and Political Dynamics (43:26–47:32)

The Mission: Reporting the Real Story (50:27–54:58)

Breaking News: Muslim Brotherhood & Espionage (57:38–59:55)

Notable and Memorable Quotes

Timestamps of Major Segments

Tone and Atmosphere

Final Thoughts