Mike Eckel

The Krasheninnikov volcano, on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, erupts for the first time in nearly 6 centuries. No damage to nearby settlements so far. (source: t.me/kronoki)

Those Fishy-Looking Russian Economic Stats Look A Lot Like Those Fishy-Looking Soviet Economic Stats Bullish Russian economic data has caused eyes to pop among economists, financial analysts, and investment bankers. But some are wondering if numbers are being skewed for politics.

www.rferl.org/a/those-fish...

Russia's Kamchatka peninsula was hit by a 8.7 magnitude earthquake early Wednesday local time. Officials say a 13-foot tsunami was recorded in some locations, including on the peninsula's southern tip.
t.me/vsolodovbrie...
(source: t.me/svodka25)

YouTube video by Edgar Aldrett Tom Lehrer - "Silent E"

youtube.com/watch?v=91BQ...

Can The Kremlin Finally Get Russians To Stop Using YouTube? Not Yet. Russian officials have spent years laying the groundwork for a “managed” Internet that authorities could control and surveil. Pushing Russians away from hugely popular YouTube is key.

“YouTube is massive in Russia. It is a major threat to the government."
www.rferl.org/a/russia-kre...

Кавказ.Реалии В турецком Бодруме провинции Мугла главе Чечни Рамзану Кадырову потребовалась помощь экстренных служб – береговой охраны и скорой помощи, сообщает ряд крупных турецких изданий. Сам Кадыров и его прибл...

Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly nearly drowned while swimming in the sea off the southwestern Turkish coast, near Bodrum, sometime around July 24. Turkish newspapers say emergency services rescued him (?) and he was briefly hospitalised.
t.me/kavkazrealii...

Ramzan Kadyrov made a rare public appearance over the weekend. Agentstvo ID'd several of the "random passersby" and found characters revealing how staged this stroll was. Man, Ramzan looks like shit. "Rumors of his death, greatly exaggerated," but not *that* greatly. www.agents.media/chtoby-oprov...

Had forgotten about this footnote: Jeffrey Epstein had a social/professional relationship with Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the UN who died in 2017 reportedly of a heart attack. H/t @jennycohn.bsky.social
www.wsj.com/politics/jef...

This is how millions of Ukrainians have coped with 41 months of near nightly Russian aerial bombardment: sheltering in subway stations. This is Kyiv's subway overnight. Powerful photos by
Serhii Nuzhnenko.

NEW statement from Dow Jones, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal:

"We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit."

Judge Orders Trump Officials to Restore Funding for Radio Free Europe

U.S. Judge Orders Trump Officials to Restore Funding for Radio Free Europe www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/u...

Russia Major General Vladimir Shesterov was sentenced to 6 years in prison for a fraud/ embezzlement scheme at the military/tourist theme park-- Patriot Park -- outside Moscow. A former deputy defense minister is also being prosecuted.
t.me/interfaxonli...

NPR's chief executive, Katherine Maher, calls tonight's vote "unwarranted dismantling of beloved local civic institutions." Her statement:

Maurene Comey's goodbye note to SDNY colleagues:

backstory here:

The latest chapter in the odyssey of the $325M, Russian oligarch-linked yacht Amadea: the US Justice Dept won its case in March, authorized to seize it. Defendants appealed. US wanted them to post $25M bond b/c yacht upkeep is pricey ($32M and counting). US judge denied bond request yesterday.

I guess I haven't ridden enough Czech trains...

Говорит Москва РЖД анонсировали полное исчезновение «санитарных зон» в России В них не будет необходимости, заявил замгендиректора «Российских железных дорог» Иван Колесников. По его словам, гравитационных туалето...

Among the many wonders of (some) Russian passenger trains: "gravity toilets" which flush directly onto rails. (it's why conductors lock toilets when traveling through "sanitary zones" in cities frustrating passengers). A top executive says they'll be totally phased out soon.
t.me/radiogovorit...

Video of Daniel Martindale, an American man who allegedly spied on Ukrainian infrastructure in the Donetsk region for Russian intelligence for 2 years before being extracted last year, receiving Russian citizenship today (apparently). He thanked Putin.

Ramzan Kadyrov does not sound well.
www.agents.media/chechenskij-...

White House envoy Keith Kellogg arriving in Kyiv this morning. (source: t.me/ermaka2022)

What The Death Of Roman Starovoit Says About Putin’s Russia The murk surrounding the death of Russia’s transport minister – allegedly tied to the theft of border defenses -- has captured the attention of the political elites. For many, it’s not a settled fact ...

“No one knows anything, and no one wants to take responsibility."
www.rferl.org/a/russia-min...

Correspondents from the independent journalists’ cooperative Bereg visited Russia's polluted Black Sea coast for a firsthand look at one of the strangest tourism seasons in recent memory. That report is now available in English. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Gallup has new polling on immigration. Topline findings:
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)

news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...

America Has Never Seen Corruption Like This Trump’s Qatari jet was just the beginning.

America has never seen corruption like this. Not the scope, nor the scale, nor the speed.

My latest for @theatlantic.com, on this high-water mark of American kleptocracy:

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

front page of today's New York Post:

What The Death Of Roman Starovoit Says About Putin’s Russia The murk surrounding the death of Russia’s transport minister – allegedly tied to the theft of border defenses -- has captured the attention of the political elites. For many, it’s not a settled fact ...

www.rferl.org/a/russia-min...

Старовойт закончил прощальное сообщение в чате Минтранса словами «честь имею» Подробнее на сайте

Roman Starovoit met with deputies on July 7, prior to being sacked by Putin, per @kommersant. Later, after the decree was released, he sent a message in a group chat: “it’s been an honor.” (this could dispel rumors that he died prior to his firing)
www.kommersant.ru/doc/7873907

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur today.