Refried Beans | Putin’s War of Choice (feat. Rachel Vindman) | Originally Posted 2/24/2022

Summary

The Daily Beans: Refried Beans | Putin’s War of Choice (feat. Rachel Vindman) | Released February 22, 2025

Host: Allison Gill
Featuring: Rachel Vindman

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Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Beans, hosted by Allison Gill, listeners are welcomed to the "Refried Beans" segment—a retrospective look at past episodes to evaluate progress and changes over time. The episode, originally posted on February 24, 2022, covers a spectrum of urgent news topics, including the geopolitical turmoil stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, significant legal developments in the United States, and a heartfelt "Good News" segment showcasing listener submissions.

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Top Stories

1. Sanctions on Russia Amid Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine

Timestamp [02:24]
Allison Gill opens the episode by detailing the unprecedented sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions target major Russian financial institutions such as Sberbank and VTB Bank, along with numerous subsidiaries.

• Key Actions:
  • Spurbank and VTB Bank: Full-blocking sanctions cutting off assets from the US financial system.
  • Additional Financial Institutions: Including Bank Haute Criti, Sovcom Bank, and Navicom Bank.
  • Debt and Equity Restrictions: Applying to 13 critical Russian state-owned enterprises like Gazprom and Ros Telecom.
  • Sanctions on Russian Elites: Including high-profile figures like Sergei Ivanov and oligarch Igor Sechin.

Quote [02:24]:
“All these actions include individuals who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian state and have elevated their family members into some of the highest positions of power in the country.”

These measures extend to Belarus, sanctioning military and financial entities that support Russian aggression, and impose restrictions on military exports and technological goods to cripple Russia’s strategic capabilities.

Quote [13:45]:
“Export restrictions are primarily targeting the Russian defense, aviation, and maritime sectors to cut off Russia's access to cutting-edge technology.”

Allison emphasizes the multilateral cooperation involved, highlighting the alignment with the European Union, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, thus amplifying the sanctions' impact.

Quote [14:20]:
“This unprecedented coordination significantly expands the scope of restrictions on Russia and maximizes the impact on its military capabilities.”

2. Russia Seizes Chernobyl

Timestamp [05:10]
Russian forces have reportedly seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, sparking fears of another nuclear disaster reminiscent of the 1986 catastrophe.

Quote [05:10]:
“The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry echoed the President's warning, raising the specter of another nuclear disaster in the city.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the move as a declaration of war against Europe, highlighting the grave risks of Russia's attempts to control such a sensitive site.

3. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's Handling of Trump Cases

Timestamp [08:35]
The episode delves into Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s apparent reluctance to prosecute former President Donald Trump, focusing on investigations into Trump’s business practices.

Quote [08:35]:
“Bragg appeared not to be focused on the case, which centers on whether Trump and his businesses inflated the value of their assets to secure more favorable loans and insurance and tax rates.”

Alison Gill highlights anecdotal insights from sources familiar with the situation, suggesting a lack of proactive engagement by Bragg, leading to the resignation of key officials Dunn and Pomeranz.

4. Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill Passes

Timestamp [12:00]
The Florida House has passed the controversial "Parental Rights in Education" bill, colloquially known as the "Don't Say Gay” bill, with a vote of 69 to 47.

Quote [12:00]:
“Ron DeSantis, who's running for reelection and a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has signaled his support for the legislation.”

The bill prohibits classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools, sparking national and international backlash. The episode notes the trend of similar bills across multiple states, emphasizing the growing legislative effort to limit LGBTQ+ discourse in education.

Quote [12:45]:
“In less than two months this year, conservative state lawmakers have filed more than 170 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, surpassing last year's total.”

5. Legal Challenges for Sidney Powell

Timestamp [15:30]
Sidney Powell and her legal team face increased scrutiny as a federal appeals court denies their request to delay sanctions. Powell is under criminal investigation for her attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Quote [15:30]:
“'It is another thing to take on the charge of vindicating rights associated with an allegedly fraudulent election. It's another to take on the charge of deceiving a federal court and the American people,' Judge Parker stated.”

The court's decision underscores the severity of Powell's legal battles, including imposed financial penalties and mandatory continuing legal education.

6. Federal Charges Against George Floyd’s Murderers

Timestamp [18:00]
Three former Minneapolis police officers—Derek Chauvin’s assistants—have been found guilty of violating George Floyd’s civil rights. The verdict marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle against systemic racism in law enforcement.

Quote [18:00]:
“In closing arguments, prosecutors said the defendants had front row seats to Floyd's murder and chose to do nothing to help while Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nine and a half minutes.”

The guilty verdicts carry substantial implications for federal civil rights enforcement and reflect broader societal demands for accountability and justice.

7. Roger Stone’s Lawsuit Against January 6 Committee

Timestamp [22:10]
Former Trump advisor Roger Stone has filed a lawsuit to block a subpoena demanding his phone records, claiming they are irrelevant to the January 6 investigation.

Quote [22:10]:
“He's actually claiming that his communications are irrelevant to January 6 and that the subpoena would sweep up privileged communications between Stone and clergy.”

Allison Gill expresses skepticism about Stone's claims, hinting at the potential for further legal entanglements.

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In-Depth Interview: Rachel Vindman on Ukraine and Sanctions

Timestamp [14:53 - 33:42]

Allison Gill engages in a comprehensive discussion with Rachel Vindman, a National Security professional and household leader, regarding the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the efficacy of the newly imposed sanctions.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Effectiveness of Sanctions:

   • Rachel Vindman praises the immediate impact of financial sanctions on Russian oligarchs and major banks, noting their detrimental effect on Russia's economy.
   • Quote [17:41]:
     “I think these sanctions have bite. I mean, honestly, the one before had bite, too.”

2. Potential of SWIFT Exclusion:

   • While expressing satisfaction with the current sanctions, Vindman emphasizes the potential further impact if Russia were excluded from the SWIFT financial system.
   • Quote [17:41]:
     “If you change money, if you send like a wire transfer to a bank anywhere overseas, you have to use the SWIFT code.”

3. Unity Among Allies:

   • Vindman commends the strengthened unity and cooperation among Western allies, which she believes is central to the resilience against Russian aggression.
   • Quote [20:05]:
     “He thought, based on the disunity in the United States, that President Biden wouldn't be willing to go as far as he did. But we see him. He is marshaling the forces of the free world.”

4. Russian Public Response:

   • Highlighting the significant protests within Russia against the invasion, Vindman underscores the courage of Russian citizens facing severe repercussions.
   • Quote [20:59]:
     “Surprisingly, there have been protests in the streets with thousands marching in Moscow and other cities, despite heavy crackdowns.”

5. Putin’s Miscalculations:

   • Vindman suggests that Putin underestimated both the unity of Western nations and the resolve of the Russian populace, which is now actively resisting the war.
   • Quote [27:19]:
     “I think Putin is surprised at our intelligence calling him out at every step and announcing his plans at every step of the way.”

6. Future of Sanctions:

   • The conversation touches on the potential escalation of sanctions and the strategic implications for both Russia and the global political landscape.
   • Quote [27:16]:
     “The banking sanctions are going to be just as painful as SWIFT. The Russian economy is tanking, and the people are going to feel it the most.”

7. Personal Insights:

   • Vindman shares personal reflections on the bravery of Ukrainian and Russian protesters, emphasizing the human aspect of geopolitical conflicts.
   • Quote [32:41]:
     “Keeping people updated and understanding why accountability is so important—that's what the lawsuit is for us. Accountability in so many different ways.”

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Good News Segment

Despite the heavy news cycle, The Daily Beans concludes on a positive note with the "Good News" segment, featuring listener submissions that highlight personal achievements, delightful pet moments, and uplifting stories.

Listener Highlights:

1. Jessica Pronoun:

   • Celebrates a promotion at work and shares adorable pet photos of her dog Bella with Santa and her nephew’s cat Willow during an ice storm.
   • Timestamp [35:16]:
     “Bella with Santa and her nephew's cat, Willow, during the ice storm.”

2. Danielle:

   • Thanks the podcast for inspiring her to educate her young child about justice and shares a picture from her signed copy of Preet Bharara's children's book, Justice Is.
   • Timestamp [36:20]:
     “Here are us reading the book together, featuring a page of Black Lives Matter Plaza.”

3. Dory:

   • Expresses appreciation for the podcast’s ability to demystify complex news, sharing humorous photos of her cat in a onesie.
   • Timestamp [37:25]:
     “My cat refusing treats while I’m away and wearing a cute little PJs.”

4. Mary:

   • Shares a heartfelt tribute to her late mother with photos of her mother's lifelong companion, a classic Steiff teddy bear.
   • Timestamp [39:44]:
     “Pictures of her mother with her teddy bear from childhood to her final days in a wheelchair.”

5. Skatermom:

   • Posts delightful images of her rescue dog Rusty, showcasing his funny behavior when she's away and his adorable refusal to exercise.
   • Timestamp [38:32]:
     “Rusty on the kitchen floor waiting for her return.”

6. Yvonne:

   • Extends gratitude for the podcast’s role in maintaining sanity and joy during challenging times, sharing a nostalgic photo of her mother’s teddy bear.

Closing Quote [43:40]:
“I like refried beans.”

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Conclusion

Allison Gill wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of mental health, community support, and staying informed amidst tumultuous times. She teases upcoming content, including further interviews and engaging discussions, ensuring listeners remain connected and empowered.

Final Remarks [43:38]:
“Take care of yourselves, take care of each other, take care of your mental health, and take care of the planet. And vote blue.”

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Notable Quotes:

• Allison Gill:
  “We are imposing severe and immediate economic sanctions on Russia in response to Putin's war of choice against Ukraine.”
  [02:24]

• Rachel Vindman:
  “These sanctions have bite. I mean, honestly, the one before had bite, too.”
  [17:41]

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:
  “Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl power plant. Our defenders are sacrificing their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated.”
  [05:10]

• Allison Gill:
  “Without American democracy, global democracy, it will falter. I believe you're absolutely right.”
  [33:40]

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This episode of The Daily Beans masterfully balances urgent global and national news with personal stories of triumph and resilience, offering listeners both critical insights and moments of joy. Through detailed reporting and engaging interviews, Allison Gill ensures that the audience remains well-informed and connected, embodying the podcast’s mission to deliver progressive news with the right amount of snark.

Transcript

[Alison Gill]

MSW Media. Hey everybody, it's Ag. And welcome to Refried Beans where we play an episode of the Daily Beans podcast from the same week either one, two or three years ago so we can see how far we've come. So please enjoy this episode from days gone by and note the date in the intro. Refried beans. I like refried beans. That's why I want to try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're wasting time. Hello and welcome to the Daily beans for Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Today, Biden and NATO impose additional sanctions on Russia as Putin initiates a full scale invasion of Ukraine. We have additional insights into the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's reluctance to prosecute Donald Trump. The don't say Gay bill has passed the Florida House 69 to 47. Ivanka is in talks with the 16 Committee to possibly provide testimony. A court has denied Sidney Powell's request to delay the sanctions against her. The three officers who assisted Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd have been found guilty on federal civil rights charges. And Roger Stone has sued the January 6 committee to block a subpoena of his phone records. I'm your host, Alison Gill. Hey everybody. Just massive amounts of news today, but before we get into it, I want to take a minute to thank our patrons. I've just looked at our new patron subscribers and thanks to you, I've been able to double the pay of a staffer while managing to stay off Spotify. And it's because of the incredible support you've given us. It's just $3 a month and in return you get ad free feeds of this show and Muller She Wrote and the MSW Book Club along with a ticket to my bi weekly happy hour Zoom call where you can ask me questions. We just hang out. And of course our weekly newsletter which includes all my research notes and the sources that I cite throughout the week. So thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. Later on today, I'm going to be joined by Rachel Vindeman to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Also, I am off next week, but not really. I will be bringing you quick headlines every day and of course I've been working on bringing you incredible interviews and content for next week as well. But don't worry, I'm getting tons of time off. I don't want you to think that I'm still putting in 10 hour days. I will not be. But thank you for your concern. I am definitely taking my own advice on taking care of my Mental health. So we do have a lot of news to get to. Let's hit the hot notes. Hot notes. All right. Today the United States, along with allies and partners is imposing severe and immediate economics sanctions on Russia in response to Putin's war of choice against Ukraine. That's coming out of the White House. Here is the list that Biden announced after meeting with the G7 on Thursday morning. That is the morning after Putin initiated a full scale invasion into a sovereign democracy. First severing the connection to the US financial system for Russia's largest financial institution, Spurbank, including 25 subsidiaries by imposing correspondent and payable through account sanctions. So that's great. Spur bank full blocking sanctions on Russia's second largest financial institution, VTB bank, including 20 subsidiaries. That action will freeze any of VTB's assets touching the US financial system and prohibit US persons from dealing with them. That's very big. VTB holds nearly one fifth of the overall Russian banking sector's assets and one third is held by Sberbank. Full blocking sanctions on three major Russian financial institutions, Bank Haute Criti, Sovcom Bank, OJSC and Navicom bank and 34 subsidiaries. And those sanctions freeze any of those institutions assets touching the US Financial system and prevents any United States persons from dealing with them. New debt and equity restrictions on 13 of the most critical major Russian enterprises and entities including restrictions on all transactions in provisions of financing for and other dealings in new debt of greater than 14 days maturity and new equity issued by 13 Russian state owned enterprises. Spur Bank, Alfa Bank, Credit bank of Moscow, Gazprom Bank, Russian Agricultural Bank, Gazprom, Gazprom, Neft, Transneft, Ros Telecom, RUS Hydro, Alrosa and Sovkomflot and Russian Railways. So addition to that, full blocking sanctions on Russian elites and their family members. Sergei Ivanov and his son Sergei, Nikolaya Petrushev and his son Andrei. This is an oligarch, Igor Sechin, the one that you know, Carter Page said he never met with and his son Ivan. Andrei Puchkov, Yuri Solviev and two real estate companies he owns, Galina Ulitina and Alexander Vedyakin. These actions include individuals who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian state and have elevated their family members into some of the highest positions of power in the country. They will also be blocking travel to the United States and cutting them off from US financial systems and freezing all of their assets. Also costs on Belarus for supporting a further invasion of Ukraine by sanctioning 24 Belarusian individuals and entities including targeting Belarus military and financial capabilities by sanctioning two significant Belarusian state owned banks, nine defense firms and seven regime connected officials and elites. Next, sweeping restrictions on Russia's military to strike a blow to Putin's military and strategic ambitions. This includes measures against military end users, including the Russian Ministry of Defense. Exports of nearly all US Items and items produced in foreign countries using certain US Origin software, technology or equipment will be restricted to targeted military end users. Russia wide restrictions to choke off Russia's import of technological goods critical to a diversified economy and Putin's ability to project power. That includes Russia wide denial of exports of sensitive technology primarily targeting the Russian defense, aviation and maritime sectors to cut off Russia's access to cutting edge technology. And finally, historical multilateral cooperation that serves as a force multiplier in restricting more than $50 billion in key inputs to Russia, impacting far more than that in Russia's production. As a result of that multilateral coordination, we will provide an exemption for other countries that adopt equally stringent measures. Countries that adopt substantially similar export restrictions are exempted from the new U.S. licensing requirements for items produced in their countries. The European Union, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have already communicated their plans for parallel actions. This unprecedented coordination significantly expands the scope of restrictions on Russia. And further engagement with allies and partners will continue to maximize the impact on Russia's military capabilities. In other news, Russian forces have seized control of Chernobyl in northern Ukraine, very close to Kyiv. This is the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster and that's according to the agency that manages the area. Earlier Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces were attempting to wrestle control of the nuclear power plant. Quote Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl power plant. Our defenders are sacrificing their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry echoed the President's warning, raising the specter of another nuclear disaster in the city. Quote, In 1986, the world saw the biggest technological disaster in Chernobyl. If Russia continues the war, Chernobyl can happen again in 2022. And yet other news. We have more insight into why Dunn and Pomeranz might have resigned their posts in the Manhattan DA's office investigating Trump and the Trump Org. From the Washington Post to Dunn and Pomeranz, the people familiar with the situation said Bragg appeared not to be focused on the case, which centers on whether Trump and his businesses inflated the value of their assets to secure more favorable loans and insurance and tax rates. One person familiar with the situation said the new prosecutor took weeks to read memos that Dunham Pomeranz had prepared and didn't meet with them for some time, even though the grand jury's term was set to expire in the spring. When they did meet, Bragg didn't seem keenly interested, said the person, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the inactivity. Members of the grand jury were instructed to stay home on days when they were slated to serve. We are grateful for their service, said Bragg's spokeswoman about Dunn and Pomeranz, adding that the investigation into Trump and his business practices is still ongoing. The phone number for Alvin Bragg's office is 212-335-9000 and Ivanka Trump is considering appearing before the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. That's according to a spokesperson for the former president's daughter who spoke to CBS News on Wednesday. Last month, the committee asked Ivanka sent her a nine page letter, longest one I've seen who served as an advisor to her father against the whole law about putting your family members in the White House. But whatever, they asked her to voluntarily speak. Ivanka Trump is in discussions with the committee to voluntarily appear for an interview. That's what the spokesperson told cbs. The news, which was first reported by the Times, comes just over a month after Bennie Thompson sent that nine page letter to Ivanka requesting that she appear before the committee. He also included the little attachment reminding her of when they reminded them that they can't destroy or deface or hide or conceal presidential records, the letter said. The committee believes that she was at the White House on January 6th and in the Oval Office when the president had a phone call with then Vice President Mike Pence. The chairman wanted to ask her about this, as well as if she'd heard or was part of any other conversation about her dad's plan to obstruct or impede the counting of electoral votes. If Ivanka appears before the committee, she will be one of the former president's closest allies to do so. Since the committee was formed, it has sent over 80 subpoenas to former members of the Trump administration, as well as those involved in the January 6 rally and from our friend Adam Klassfeldt at Law and Crime, skewering attorney Sidney Powell and her peers for their inexplicable delay. A federal appeals court on Tuesday shot down the so called Kraken lawyers request to pause sanctions that could lead to disciplinary proceedings or disbarment. A three member panel on the sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a stay proposed by attorneys Powell, Roll, Johnson, Kleinhandler, Haller, Hagerstrom, all of whom are fighting for their law licenses after a district court judge referred them to respective bars for possible disbarment. The court rejected a similar motion by their co counsel Gentilla Stephanie Lynn Gentilla in a separate order. As we know, US District Judge Linda Parker found they committed an historic and profound abuse of the judicial process in an attempt to overturn President Joe Biden' victory in Michigan. Quote it is one thing to take on the charge of vindicating rights associated with an allegedly fraudulent election. It's another to take on the charge of deceiving a federal court and the American people into believing that rights were infringed without regard to whether any laws or rights were in fact violated. And that is what happened here. That's what Judge Parker wrote in her 110 page order in August, which we covered in very great detail on cleanup on aisle 45. For Judge Parker, the litigation was never about fraud, instead about undermining the people's faith in our democracy and debasing the judicial process to do so. Parker also ordered the lawyers to take continuing legal education cles in the August ruling ordering them to complete their courses by this coming Friday. And she tacked on $175,000 in financial penalties on December 3rd. Sidney Powell is currently under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for her role in the couple. And Florida's House of Representatives has passed a bill Thursday that would prohibit classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in the state's primary schools. The legislation, titled the Parental Rights in Education Bill, but dubbed by critics as the don't say Gay Bill, will now head to the state's Republican held Senate, where it's expected to pass. Ron DeSantis, who's running for reelection, is widely considered to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has signaled his support for the legislation, is expected to sign it into law. Thursday's 69 to 47 vote comes after weeks of national outrage over the measure, which has grabbed the attention of international newspaper actors and of course, the White House. In addition to the don't say Gay bill advancing in Florida, there are 15 bills under consideration in eight states that would limit speech about LGBTQ identities in classrooms. That's according to Pen America, a nonprofit group that advocates for free speech. And in less than two months this year, conservative state lawmakers have filed more than 170 anti LGBTQ bills, already surpassing last year's 139 total most of this year's proposed anti LGBTQ legislation. At least 92 target trans people specifically. And this is breaking Just now, three former Minneapolis police officers have been found guilty of violating the civil rights of George Floyd, a black man whose death murder at the hands of police in 2020 spurred protests against systemic racism around the world. The former officers, Kung, Tao and Lane were charged with depriving Floyd of his civil rights while acting under government authority. Kung and Thao face an additional charge of not intervening to stop their fellow officer, Chauvin from using excessive force. They all pled not guilty. Thao, Kung and Lane each face up to life in prison, though such a severe punishment is unlikely. A state trial is scheduled for June against the men on charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter. In closing arguments, prosecutors said the defendants had front row seats to Floyd's murder and chose to do nothing to help while Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for nine and a half minutes. And also just breaking Roger Stone is the latest totally innocent person to sue the Jan. 6 committee to block a subpoena of his phone records, which I'm sure don't include anything incriminating. He's actually claiming that his communications are irrelevant to January 6th and that the subpoena would sweep up privileged communications between Stone and clergy. He's a very religious man, Roger Stone, and of course, Stone and his lawyers. Good luck with that, by the way, I think. And I'm going to put beans on this today, Friday, when you're listening to this, it's Thursday as I record this, but I think Biden is going to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson today to the Supreme Court. I'm just going to put some beans on that. All right. I will be right back to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine with Rachel Vindman. You don't want to miss it. Stay with us after these messages. We'll be right back, everybody. Welcome back. I'm happy to be joined today by Rachel Vindman, Natsack hobbyist on Twitter and the head of the Vindeman household. How are you today, Rachel?

[Rachel Vindman]

I am doing okay, Allison. How are you?

[Alison Gill]

I'm good. Good as can be expected. It's a very somber day for Ukrainians, for the world, for democracy, for global democracy.

[Rachel Vindman]

I agree all the above. I mean, certainly some will feel it more than others, but for all of us, I do think that Overnight with that speech, with the movements and the actions of the Russian military, the world order has changed and we need to need to look at that and re examine a lot of things right now.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, especially our own democracy as that will impact the global democracy and all the through lines since 2016 for weakening NATO. This has been the plan for quite some time coming. I wanted to ask you first, Biden. We just finished listening to President Biden give his speech addressing the United States, but really addressing the world after his meeting with G7 leaders and his imposition of new sanctions further than the sanctions that had been initially imposed to include vtb, which is one of the largest banks and three other banks freezing, completely freezing assets for Russians in the United States. And also they've expelled the number two diplomat in response to Russia expelling the number two American diplomat. And also additional oligarchs being sanctioned without a list of names. But here they come.

[Rachel Vindman]

I think they have released it. I heard Kaitlan Collins on CNN say they haven't released it, but I haven't seen it. Not that I would know who they are, but they are known. I think there's constantly a list and hopefully this is meaningful and it doesn't include Putin himself.

[Alison Gill]

They're still leaving some sanctions on the table and we've known for a while now that this was going to be a piecemeal response to additional actions from Russia. But what do you think about these sanctions today absent removing them from SWIFT and really quickly? SWIFT is the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. It's a cooperative of financial institutions that's been around since 1973. It's headquartered in Belgium. It's overseen by the national bank of Belgium with cooperation from other major central banks including the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. And during the question and answer session after the speech, Biden said that SWIFT is still on the table. However, there were European allies who were not ready to go down that road yet, particularly Italy and Germany. So totality of the sanctions today, what are your thoughts?

[Rachel Vindman]

I think they're a good place to start. I'm happy with them. I mean, I actually like that there's still room for movement. I would have liked to have seen SWIFT today or the start because it'll be why it'll take a little bit to implement swift Because I think that the benefit of having Swift means that it will limit the ability for the oligarchs to move money between accounts. Because if you change money, if you send like a wire transfer to a bank anywhere overseas. You have to use the SWIFT code. You can't do it without Swift code. So it would. If they have banks in Switzerland and Caymans and I mean, I was the other Cyprus. There's probably many Virgin Islands. Yeah, Right.

[Alison Gill]

So I don't.

[Rachel Vindman]

I don't. I don't have any of those accounts. I'm not really, really well versed about them in spy novel. So anyway, so it would make it more difficult. But look, these sanctions have bite. I mean, honestly, the. The one before had bite, too. Like the. I mean, what is announced on. Was it Monday? I'm sorry, it's been quite a week. But they were not playing around. I do think it's good that there is still movement. I think that's quite important, knowing what I know kind of about the Russian psyche and the sort of Eastern mindset. I think it is good that there's movement. And I definitely got the impression from President Biden's comments that we're pretty much on board with it, but not everyone is. And I think it's been publicly said that the UK is as well. That's how it works in a coalition. And we're not the only one members, but we are standing strong in so many areas. And I think Putin has to be quite surprised at our resolve, at our unity, because he thought, I think, based on the disunity in the United States, that President Biden wouldn't be willing to go as far as he did. But we see him. He is marshaling the forces of the free world, and he is the de facto leader of the free world right now. And I am so sorry that I'm seeing this, that this is happening. I'm so grateful, though, that our allies trust us again. That's a wonderful thing.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. We were able to rebuild and strengthen and help rebuild NATO quite quickly from the destruction that was caused by the last administration. And I think Putin is also quite surprised. I'm not an expert, but I think he might be surprised at our intelligence calling him out at every step of the way and announcing his plans at every step of the way. And while none of it would have stopped the invasion, it certainly takes away any of the pretext and reasons that Putin was banking on to gain support from particularly especially Russians who are now out in the streets protesting in the thousands, thousands and thousands in Moscow and 50 cities around Russia. There have been 800 arrests in Moscow and 1,500 arrests around the country. These are very, very brave protesters out in the streets against this war. What are your thoughts on The Russian people's response?

[Rachel Vindman]

Well, first off, I want to say that Russian state TV that instantly has been playing clips of Tucker Carlson, Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump louding Vladimir Putin. And they have been doing this with regularity for, you know, for several months as the build up to this. But I think in Russia, I know this just like in the United States. So there's just not a lot of. So there's people maybe my age and who still watch news like, you know, state news. But the younger people don't just like the younger people here. I mean, they just don't sit around watching like Fox News or CNN or whatever, any kind of news. They consume their news online. So I think there's sort of this genuine, like, what's going on, because they're certainly, like, giving them this propaganda and they're trying to get the propaganda on social media. And it's not really. It's not social media. I mean, again, they're not also on Facebook. Okay. I mean, they're trying to get it in their way, but it's a lot harder to crack that code and to get in there to really, unless the people want to see it, then it's difficult. So I think the protest, and I watch some of the protests, and the people typically look younger than me. And I think that is just a product of our times. And I think that's probably very surprising to Vladimir Putin because I don't think he quite gets that. I mean, he's a very inflated man in his 70s, and he's been in power for a long time. And this is just the nature. This is like the way things go. I mean, you know, you can read any book, the true story or a fiction story about the mob. You know, people go on and they're okay, but then after a while, they fall. And why do they fall? Because they have surrounded themselves in such a cocoon that they cannot see the truth or the danger, you know, and they just really kind of start believing their own height. So I think that he is underestimating and probably underestimated what the Russian people, what their reaction would be. And I mean, you know, we have a lot of research polls that say, you know, most, most Russians are very against this. And I think that's at all ages. It's just the people who are older are less likely to protest. But the young people, they understand this. And, you know, they're certainly cracking down. That's absolutely going to happen. But I am proud of them. And I just think it's even more poignant after Zelensky in his speech yesterday. And he called on regular Russians who have not lost their soul to go out and protest. And they did. They did it even after knowing what the consequences would be. And I find that incredibly brave and just so, so inspiring because we, you know, Alison, so much of what we're going through is. I think Alex said this during one of his interviews. And I said it, I said it earlier in the day, like victims of our own success. We don't, we have it so easy that we don't understand actual hard steps. So we're like make junk up to, you know, to be upset about. And, you know, I was just driving and I saw this car with like this, this big truck with a thing on the back this. Support blue collar workers. Is anyone not supporting blue collar workers? Like, okay, what does this even mean? And I thought you feel like a victim, but why? So I feel we're just in this place where people have not had to sacrifice for an extremely long time. Look at the president in his speech. He had to absolutely say, we're going to fight for freedom. And it's going to be hard, but I'm going to do everything I can so you don't have to pay more money. And I know people are hurting, and I know it's truly a financial issue, but I can guarantee you my grandparents during World War II didn't care if it cost them money. They were willing to do whatever it took to fight for freedom. And I hope that we can withstand this, that Western Europe can withstand it, so that the Russians and the Ukrainians can see that we're willing to bear some of this with them, to fight with them, even though we're not fighting. We're not going to have troops on the ground in Ukraine. But. And the ways that we can, that we're willing to sacrifice as well, which is just a small measure of what they're going to be sacrificing.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. And I think that's personified in doocy from Fox News, who immediately gets up and says, what about gas prices?

[Rachel Vindman]

Oh, my gosh.

[Alison Gill]

And you said, did you said that he was a worthy adversary. Did you underestimate him? It's like you just contradicted yourself.

[Rachel Vindman]

I don't understand that guy.

[Alison Gill]

Dumbass.

[Rachel Vindman]

Yes, dumbass. That's kind.

[Alison Gill]

Thank you. Now, I also think that Putin is overestimating the loyalty of people close to him. He's been isolating himself from most of the leadership in Douma and his prime ministers, et cetera, his cabinet, the equivalent big Table. Yeah. And also there's already been cracks in the oligarchs. And I think that these sanctions aren't going to sit well with a lot of them. We'll see what happens because if they turn on this single man, that could be very bad for him. And I'm also concerned for Volodymyr Zerelensky, knowing what happened with Tamoshenko and Yanukovych. I'm very concerned. And Navalny, who ran against Putin in Russia, what he does to his political enemies and they're trying to capture Chernobyl and Biden seated, that the end game here is expansion, taking over the country, building a land bridge over to his base in an adjoining country through Poland. And I'm very concerned about the government in Ukraine, Zelensky, et cetera. And I think we'll see how that plays out. And Biden even said we'll see how these sanctions go over the next month or so and then we'll think about where we're at. But he was very clear in that these bank sanctions could and possibly are more damaging than removing or expelling Russia from Swift.

[Rachel Vindman]

So, yeah, I do agree we're in.

[Alison Gill]

A waiting game now.

[Rachel Vindman]

I think the banking is going to be just as painful as swift. Swift is kind of a morale type target. It's something they're going to have to get around and it's going to be complicated and difficult. But this really packs the bank sanctions, really pack a punch and they will have an immediate effect. No, the truth is the Russian economy is tanking. The, the ruble is tanking. The value of the grivne, the Ukrainian currency has also tanked. So the countries are entering this war and the people are the ones that are going to feel it most intently. But the oligarchs, who have more than any person could ever, ever want or need, are not going to be happy with. They're going to be so limited in where they can go and what they can do. Even though it's the largest country in the world, I wouldn't want to be stuck there all the time. And they're used to having such freedom and freedom of movement and to visit other countries and their other properties. And I think they're definitely going to feel a squeeze. And I think, and I tweeted this, I mean, don't listen to me for sanctions advice and I don't want anyone to call me for what we should do. And I'm not saying this, but I think when you start seizing their property, seizing their bank accounts, which we've done. I mean, that was one of the things they did. When you start sending home their children from elite colleges and universities and boarding schools, that's really going to wake them up. That's really going to be something. You know, there are lots of properties that they own. If you go to Kensington or Chelsea or Mayfair in London, I mean, it's like they call it London Grad. And they probably likely have British visa, British passports even, because they own property there. But what they don't have is a Schengen visa, because the UK is no longer part of the eu. Revoke those Schengen visas. I mean, everywhere you can hit them, hit them, and they're going to get pissed, and they're going to be like, why did you do this? And I really do think, as the President said, it's not a deterrent, but they will feel the squeeze. And that's a different thing.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, yeah. And I think real estate seizure or forfeiture in the United States would be interesting, too. Although I was thinking to myself last night, if we seize the assets of Russian oligarchs in the United States, then the New York Attorney General won't have any property to seize from the Trump Organization.

[Rachel Vindman]

It's true. I mean, you know, when you start untangling this and you do such. I have to say, you did such a great job of breaking this down. And I always learned so much from your podcast, because you explain it in a way that I can understand it. And there's a real reason. It's not just admiration for the reason why Trump supports Russia and Vladimir Putin in particular. It goes much deeper than that.

[Alison Gill]

Those daddy issues, for real.

[Rachel Vindman]

Yeah. I mean, he also really wanted that kind of power, and he did get it, and I don't think he ever really understood it. And come on, all the big rooms and the gold, I mean, that's like just his jam. But, you know, Putin, I also think that we can't, like, downplay. I mean, you can see, like, the huge, long tables and keeping people at distance when they come to visit. He is terrified of COVID absolutely terrified of COVID And that's been pretty well established. So I think, you know, he's maybe just gotten a little or a lot. Well, like a lot of us in his head over the time of the pandemic, and I think it's really kind of messed with him. And a lot of people have made the comment that he. He is not the man he used.

[Alison Gill]

To be, but, yeah, I've seen that.

[Rachel Vindman]

Yeah. I don't Know, I was really down to anything, like, specific. I think it's. It's really a consequence of sheltering yourself and only surrounding yourself with people who are not necessarily. Yes. People. Because they're trying to please you. Yes, they are, but they're scared. I mean, and when we saw that in their show meeting the other day, was it Monday? Yes. You know, when they. They were just terrified of him. And I think that's genuine fear because he is definitely someone to be feared. That kind of absolute power that he has. And again, it's just something that is very difficult to translate for regular Americans. We just don't understand this kind of fear. I was. I was telling someone that, you know, in my. When they had the issue with Crimea, we lived in Russia and I worked at a school and that the teachers that I worked with, the Russian, they wouldn't even talk about it. They were afraid. I mean, you know, like the whole. The walls can talk, but Americans do not know this kind of fear. We do not know this kind of concern. Again, look at Tucker Carlson. He can say whatever he wants on tv and we have freedom of speech. And, you know, people can come up to you like that. And that's a good thing. They don't know this. Russians don't know this. So, again, going back to the protests, it's incredibly brave to be out there deprotesting. They have phones. They can certainly use that data. They can be tracked, they can be traced if the Russians choose to do that. And yet they're still going out and they're still doing. They're using a peaceful way to speak out against it. And I think that's just incredibly powerful and inspiring.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, agreed. And thank you so much for coming on and talking to us today and thoughts. And send my love to Alex. I know he couldn't be here today. He's kind of busy. We can talk about his lawsuit another time.

[Rachel Vindman]

We definitely want to talk about it. And again, I just want to say, keeping people updated and the work you do and really understanding why accountability is so important. And we will make it on to talk about that. But that's really what the lawsuit is for us. But accountability in so many different ways. And right now, you can see the resolve of the United States and our Western partners and accountability for Vladimir Putin and his actions. And that's what's been missing for so long in the world in general. And eventually those bills come due. And that's where we are right now.

[Alison Gill]

They do. And without American democracy, global democracy, it will falter. I Believe you're absolutely. Thank you.

[Rachel Vindman]

Thank you so much. Take care.

[Alison Gill]

It's been really great to talk to you and you as well. We'll see you again soon. Everybody. Stick around. We'll be right back with the good news. All right, everybody, welcome back. It's time for the good news. Who likes good news? Everyone. Then good news, everyone. Good news. Good. We need the good news today. And because it's Friday, we're joined by Amy Carrero. Hi, Amy.

[Amy Carrero]

Hello. Wow. We really need the good news today.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, we do. This week has been very harrowing and, you know, for the people of Ukraine and for democracy. So I am very, very thankful that we are to the good news portion of the show. And if anyone has any good news you want to send in or something you're creating with your website or your small business or your wubby stories or what the mutt, whatever you want to send in, Halloween photos, I take all year, you can do that by going to DailyBeansPod.com and clicking on Contact. So, Amy, I'm gonna go ahead and kick us off if that's cool. Let's do it. All right. This is from Jessica Pronoun. She and her hello, Queens of the beans. I'm excited to share that I've gotten a promotion at work. I was super nervous going into my interview, but laughing along with you lovely ladies helped to calm my nerves and I knocked it out of the park. Thank you for all that you do and keeping us laughing in these interesting times. For podpet tax is a picture of my Bella with Santa and her meeting my nephew's cat, Willow during the recent ice storm. And here are just a few of the pet names for Bella, Izzy, Belly, Princess Bella, Boop, Boose, and Baby Bella Boose.

[Amy Carrero]

Boo. Sounds like dirty.

[Alison Gill]

I know. Boo. Boo. Look at this beautiful baby. Is that a King Charles?

[Amy Carrero]

Oh, yeah, sweetheart. Oh, that's so cute. With Santa. Well.

[Alison Gill]

And Willow. Willow is the name of the first cat, so very good name. Yeah.

[Amy Carrero]

Oh, yeah, that's cute. Okay, we love that we. We could use like a pet picture from the White House. I'm just saying, maybe inappropriate today, but like this weekend it would be nice to get a pot pet.

[Alison Gill]

Pot tax.

[Amy Carrero]

Okay. Next up, Danielle. No pronouns given. I wanted to give a shout out to Ag for really getting me into all things justice, beginning from the kitchen days. I was always wanting to be fair, but I really started to understand when I found you. Now I'm teaching my 10 week old how to bring justice into this world. We just received our signed copy of Preet Bharara's new children's book, Justice Is. And it's beautiful. Highly recommend for children of all ages and adults. For a keepsake, here we are reading. And here is a pic of my favorite page as a sneak peek.

[Alison Gill]

Ooh. Oh, look. Oh, that's beautiful. Picture of Black Lives Matter Plaza. Yeah.

[Amy Carrero]

And it's a. It's, like, drawn. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Wow.

[Alison Gill]

That's a big book. That is beautiful.

[Amy Carrero]

It is a big book. Oh, I can't wait to get it.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, I need to get my copy. Preet is so great. Thank you for that, Danielle, and congrats on your little baby. Congrats, little head, little baby head. There. So cute. All right, next up from Dory pronouns, she and her just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. Been loving the beans lately. My schedule is accommodating more regular listening. And thank goodness you are there to unspool the clusterfuck of news and present it in a manner that keeps the panic at arm's length. Thank you. Listening to your story about buying a onesie for your cat reminded me of when we had to get our mixie fixed when she was of age. She didn't tolerate the cone very well, and we were advised to get her a onesie. I've attached some photos of her back then posing in her little PJs. Thank you again for all you do. Thanks for bringing us those fantastic and knowledgeable guests, and thank you for being you. Look at the ones.

[Amy Carrero]

Oh, my God. And the little rubber band holding it together.

[Rachel Vindman]

Yeah.

[Alison Gill]

For the booty. Very cute. Now, your kitty is much, much slimmer than mine.

[Amy Carrero]

Very slim.

[Alison Gill]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Rachel Vindman]

What a cute.

[Alison Gill]

This is like one of those, like, Egypt royalty cats with the giant.

[Amy Carrero]

Yeah, I was gonna say. I know so little about cats. I'm like, that's the greyhound version of cats.

[Alison Gill]

Look how little. Slim.

[Amy Carrero]

Yeah.

[Alison Gill]

Next to the. Next to the person there in the arm.

[Amy Carrero]

Cute. All right, well, next up, we've got Mary, pronounced she.

[Alison Gill]

Her.

[Amy Carrero]

My good news for today is that my husband is flying out to Eugene, Oregon, next month to visit his sister. He hasn't seen his sister since August 2015. Wow. So he is looking forward to hanging out with her. I can't make the trip out to Oregon with him this time around, but I admit I am looking forward to having the house to myself for a few days. Oh, yeah?

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. Catch up on those true crime shows that are piling up on your dvd, Mary.

[Amy Carrero]

Yes. Yes.

[Alison Gill]

You want to take the next one, too? Yeah.

[Amy Carrero]

All right, next up, from Skatermom pronouns. She, her. This is my daughter's rescue dog, Rusty. First picture. He will refuse treats if he thinks I'm leaving. This great boy sat on the kitchen floor until I returned home and then snatched it up. Wow, look, Patience. The second picture, he decided I didn't need to do push ups.

[Alison Gill]

Oh my God, look at what a cutie.

[Amy Carrero]

My dog does that too. He gets on my yoga mat. Like, not today.

[Alison Gill]

Nope. No yoga today. I'm doing yoga. Yep. So cute, cuties. Thank you for that. And that's cool. Time alone for Mary and skater mom. Rescue dogs. Always great to see rescue dogs. And. And they get. They get so smart, right, if you're leaving that they refuse the treatment and.

[Amy Carrero]

Then waits for you to come back to eat it. If it's. That's patience. That's like the. Mm. Yeah, exactly. Love it.

[Alison Gill]

So cute. All right, next up from Yvonne. No pronouns given. Love your show. Thanks for your sanity, laughter and swearing during these dark and dangerous times. This is my first submission. My 94 year old mother passed away in 2020. I just had to send a picture of her teddy bear, a classic 1920 Steif bear from Germany.

[Rachel Vindman]

Wow.

[Alison Gill]

She received Teddy when she was about three years old. She was born in 1926. Well, this is. This is by far our oldest. Stuffy Teddy went everywhere with her, from the Midwest to LA to Columbia to Europe a couple of times to New York City, home to Michigan and finally to dc. I took the second picture of mom in her wheelchair with her teddy when she was 93. And of course, Teddy was with her when she passed. After a full and wonderful life now. Very real from his life of adventure and love, Teddy is retired, resting on my couch. I miss my mom every day. Thanks for all you do.

[Amy Carrero]

Whoa, look at that picture.

[Alison Gill]

Oh, that's so great.

[Amy Carrero]

It's a picture of. It's a picture of two pictures. One where I'm assuming her mother is like three or she looks like she's like a toddler holding the teddy. And then her in the wheelchair when she's 93, 90 years later. My gosh, how cool is that?

[Alison Gill]

Oh, my God, that's amazing.

[Amy Carrero]

They still make these bears. My husband, who's kind of bougie, he's a tourist. Instead of buying our friends who have children practical gifts like a diaper genie or, I don't know, just something that a new parent would actually want, he always insists on getting them, these bears, the Steef or Steiff bears. And I always give him such a hard time about it. But then the parents are always like, they're so sturdy, they'll last forever. So maybe there's something to it.

[Alison Gill]

And here's clearly some evidence of that. Yeah. Holy moly, that's amazing. Thanks to everyone for sending in your good news today. Seriously. Yes. And keep it going. We're gonna keep needing it. These are gonna be pretty heavy news weeks coming at us, so send everything you can over to [e-mail] and click on contact. And Amy, it was so good to see you today.

[Amy Carrero]

Good to see you too.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. I missed you this week. And I love your beanie, by the way.

[Amy Carrero]

This is just a dirty hair day, you know? You know how it is. Your hair always looks great, though, so maybe you don't know how it is.

[Alison Gill]

I. My hair's always dirty.

[Amy Carrero]

We've never seen it clean. It's like the Hulk. He's like, I'm just always angry. That's the secret.

[Alison Gill]

There you go. Yeah, I love it. Cool.

[Amy Carrero]

Well, thanks for keeping us updated. I was telling you off the air that I'm very excited for tomorrow's beans because. Woo. It's just a minefield. There's so much stuff, and I think we all expected for there to be misinformation, a lot of confusion going on around this, but even for someone who, I mean, I consider myself pretty media literate when it comes to stuff, but I don't know, there's so much stuff out there. So I'm looking forward to your very expert take on things.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. And I'm not really an expert on Ukraine. And that's why I was so happy to talk to Rachel Vindman today. I knew Alex couldn't be here because he's very busy, obviously, and rightfully so. He's one of the world's top experts, so I'm assuming that he is consulting on a regular basis, someone, somehow, somewhere. And so. And today wasn't the right time to speak to him about his lawsuit, but we will have him back on at some point when things. I don't know if things are gonna calm down, but we will have him on to talk about that at some point. But Rachel is so wonderful, Wonderful and lovely and just brilliant in her own right. So it was wonderful to speak to her today. So I. I look forward to everyone being able to hear that. Which you just did. If you're listening to this show now.

[Amy Carrero]

Hello. From the future. I mean, from the past.

[Alison Gill]

Yes. Podcast. Time travel is real.

[Amy Carrero]

Yeah.

[Alison Gill]

All right, well, thank you so much, Amy. And we will, I believe we'll see you next week. Yeah.

[Amy Carrero]

Yeah, we'll see you next week.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. Awesome. So if you have any Amy's court cases, are you anything that you need Amy to decide, you can send that into us, too. So we'll do that and everybody and have a great weekend. I'll be here Sunday with Mueller, she Wrote and the MSW Book Club. Until then, take care of yourselves, take care of each other, take care of your mental health, and take care of the planet. And vote blue over Q. I've been Allison Gill.

[Amy Carrero]

And I've been Amy Carrero.

[Alison Gill]

And them's the beans.

[Rachel Vindman]

Refried beans.

[Alison Gill]

I like refried beans.