Ukraine War BREAKING NEWS: Trump-Putin Scandal - Covid & Phone Calls

"If you're in 2024 and we've seen what we've seen about this war in Ukraine and you still think Trump is somehow the right person for Ukraine that he's got the Ukrainians' best interests at heart, that he isn't beholden to Putin, then I can't help you."

Hello Team

🎦 00:00-00:18⏩

Jonathan introduces the video as a breaking news update for the 8th of October (almost the 9th!) and introduces the topic - a new book by Bob Woodward which contains some explosive revelations.

Return to top⤴️

Trump-Putin COVID Test Scandal

🎦 00:18-04:03⏩

Jonathan explains that Bob Woodward has written a new book which contains revelations about the relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. During the COVID-19 pandemic, then-President Trump secretly sent COVID tests to Vladimir Putin for his personal use at a time when there was a global shortage of tests. Jonathan plays a clip from an interview with Woodward where he reveals that he has the transcript of the conversation between Trump and Putin in which Putin asks Trump not to tell anyone about the tests as people will be mad at him.

Return to top⤴️

Trump's Seven Phone Calls with Putin

🎦 04:03-04:24⏩

Jonathan goes on to explain that the book also reveals that Trump made seven phone calls to Putin after leaving office, the content of which is unknown.

Return to top⤴️

Trump Campaign Denial

🎦 04:24-04:43⏩

Jonathan explains that the Trump campaign has vehemently denied this, although Jonathan believes that no one is likely to believe them.

Return to top⤴️

Kamala Harris' Reaction

🎦 04:43-10:10⏩

Jonathan plays a clip from the Bulwark podcast in which hosts Sam Stein and Tim Miller discuss the revelations. They are incredulous that Trump would send much needed COVID tests to Putin at a time when Americans were dying from the virus and in desperate need of tests. They believe that this would have been a cataclysmic political scandal had it come out at the time. Jonathan then plays a clip of Kamala Harris speaking on the Howard Stern show in which she expresses her anger at the revelations, describing Putin as a murderous dictator. She believes that Trump admires dictators and that he is being manipulated by them, using flattery and favours. Jonathan agrees with Harris' assessment of Trump. He reminds viewers that Trump's aides and security advisors had previously expressed concern that he was susceptible to this kind of manipulation by strongmen. He states that it is not a liberal conspiracy theory but something that has been widely reported by those who have worked closely with Trump.

Return to top⤴️

Biden's view of Putin

🎦 10:10-18:59⏩

Jonathan plays more of the interview with Kamala Harris, who asks how Trump supporters will reconcile this with their view of him and ponders how they will assuage the cognitive dissonance. Jonathan believes that they will argue that it was necessary to keep Putin onside and that he was trying to manipulate him. Jonathan believes that the reality of the situation is that Putin is the one doing the manipulating. He then plays more of the CNN interview in which it is revealed that Biden had referred to Putin as "evil" and the "epitome of evil" in private conversations in the lead up to the invasion of Ukraine. Jonathan highlights the stark difference between Biden and Harris' opinion of Putin and Trump's view which he rarely, if ever, criticises.

Return to top⤴️

Fox News/Newsmax/OAN coverage

🎦 18:59-19:47⏩

Jonathan speculates how Fox News will present this story and whether they will try to downplay it for their viewers. He questions whether it will reach low-information voters who rely on sources such as Fox News, Newsmax and OAN. He believes that this is an absolute bombshell of a story.

Return to top⤴️

Wrap Up

🎦 19:47-20:35⏩

Jonathan encourages viewers to share their thoughts in the comments and let him know if they think it will affect the outcome of the election. He believes that it should and that it further invalidates Trump, although he acknowledges that Trump's core base of supporters will remain loyal despite the revelations.

Return to top⤴️