Episode description

This week we’re joined by Stephanie Baker, an award-winning investigative reporter from Bloomberg News, who’s out with a new book from the frontlines on the war on kleptocracy: Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia, the most sanctioned country in the world. 

Sanctions are a double-edged sword. While they’ve undeniably strained the Russian economy, causing hundreds of billions in losses, they aren’t a panacea. Some Western companies have found ways to stay in Russia or help it sidestep restrictions, raising serious questions about enforcement. 

Stephanie sheds light on the effectiveness of these sanctions: what’s working, what’s falling short, and how Russia is navigating the economic minefield. We’ll explore which countries are leading the charge for tougher measures, and how Russia is finding ways to benefit from—or at least mitigate—sanctions. We also discuss the role “Londongrad” being a playground of Russian oligarchs, and how recent efforts have tightened the screws on money laundering. We also look at how countries like India take advantage of sanction loopholes at Ukraine’s expense and what more can be done to hold nations accountable for helping Russia’s war machine.

The bottomline: “Sanctions aren’t working” is Kremlin disinformation. Russia is desperate to get rid of sanctions, because its longterm prospects to keep its genocidal war going, and its own country from imploding, are bleak. Tune in to get the full picture and understand how these economic tools are shaping the future of our world, including Russia and China’s war on the U.S. dollar. 

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Miss the live-taping in NYC? This Saturday at 3pm ET, Gaslit Nation will debut the video of our live taping from the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City, exclusively on Patreon. So be sure to subscribe or follow the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Join us as we celebrate the release of Andrea’s new graphic novel, In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, featuring a special guest appearance by journalist Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack.

During this special Patreon Drop, you'll have the chance to engage in a live chat while watching the video. Don't miss out on this and future recorded Gaslit Nation events—stay tuned!

Ready to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! This space is designed for you to share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and actively contribute to conversations that help shape Gaslit Nation. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just starting to find your voice, everyone is welcome.

Our goal is to build coalitions and foster collective healing during these challenging times. Thank you to everyone who made our first salon a success! We’re excited to continue these crucial discussions every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET.

For those who can't make it live, don’t worry—each session is recorded and shared exclusively on Patreon. If these salons resonate with you, there’s a chance they’ll extend beyond the election.

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Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida:

• Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link

• Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw

• Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link

On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It.

On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025.

All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Have you RSVP’ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

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Gaslit Nation listener Rick Minnich is out with a new documentary he directed about a Holocaust survivor who went on to make suits for the former general and future US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, who liberated him from Buchenwald in 1945. Watch it at IFC, if you're in NYC: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-presidents-tailor/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFWzEpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXQqSBXDu9Kol0IStZUymP-1KuiVQjq71OlSxYaPW--gAIlqX0oUuiJAZg_aem_pduEyKQUIlFliLy6vGsdqA