Larry Johnson: Is Trump Done With Zelensky?

If you feel like the headlines about Ukraine, Russia, and “energy deals” never add up, you’re not imagining it. We sit down with Larry Johnson to separate political theater from the underlying mechanics that actually move wars and markets and to ask why so many public claims collapse the moment you put real numbers next to them.

We start with Trump’s escalating pressure on Zelensky and the idea that Ukraine should swap leaders to “make a deal.” From there, we interrogate the energy angle: global diesel consumption, how much diesel really moves by export, and why Russia’s share is smaller than most people assume. Larry lays out the bigger drivers behind the global diesel shortage, including Persian Gulf disruptions, strategic petroleum reserve drawdowns, and a shipping crunch as tankers get stuck, damaged, or removed from service. The practical takeaway is simple and uncomfortable: even dramatic announcements may not bring meaningful relief at the pump, and supply shocks can linger for years.

Next we turn to leverage and credibility. We talk through the contradiction of maintaining Russia sanctions while still exploring purchases that fund Moscow, and why “ceasefire” messaging can ring hollow when strikes continue. We also dig into the dangers of escalation, the way drone warfare gets reported, and how geography and air defenses change what “massive attacks” really mean on the ground.

Finally, we confront two stories that raise stark moral and strategic questions: a proposed live stream execution in the United States, and the widening conflict involving the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and potential US action in Yemen. If this conversation challenged your assumptions, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What part do you think the public most misunderstands right now?

Chapter Markers0:00 Satire On War And Contradictions1:45 Meet Larry Johnson And The Week3:22 Diesel Supply Numbers And What Matters7:09 Energy Ceasefire Claims And Reality9:08 CIA Leverage And Missing Enforcement12:46 Sanctions Versus Buying Russian Diesel19:32 Trump Calls For New Ukrainian Leader23:47 Drone War Escalation And Damage Claims22:57 Elections During War And Personal Risk22:57 Hardliners Versus Negotiations In Kyiv22:57 When Might The War End22:57 Russia Strikes Kyiv And Major Targets22:57 How Big Russia Skews The Narrative22:57 The Ethics Of A Public Execution25:35 Houthis Hit Saudi Arabia And US Options27:44 Wrap Up And How To Support

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