Background Briefing: October 18, 2026
The Richest Man in the World, Who Bought the Last Election For the Republicans, Has Spent $366 Million So Far On the Midterms Including $168 Million to Elect Ken Paxton
We begin with the richest man in the world who bought the last election for the Republicans with $300 million and now with the midterms 16 days away, has spent $366 million so far to buy the next election. Of that Musk has spent $168 million so far to help elect the odious crook Ken Paxton in Texas who is running behind the young devout Christian legislator James Talarico. Joining us to discuss whether an avalanche of money can buy elections is Jeremi Suri, who holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a professor of history and public affairs. He is the co-host of the podcast “This is Democracy” and the author and editor of a number of books including most recently, Civil War by Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy.
A Brave Young Exiled Russian Journalist and the Filmmaker of MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE
Then with Trump ending sanctions on Russia as Putin bribes him, Kushner and Witkoff to sell out Ukraine by cutting off Starlink and vital intelligence, we look into how Russians are reacting to the war that is coming home and speak with a brave young exiled Russian journalist and a Russian/American filmmaker who has chronicled the last of independent journalism in Russia. Joining us is Julia Loktev, a film director, screenwriter, and video artist. She was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and immigrated to the U.S. at age 9. Her award-winning films include “The Loneliest Planet,” “Day Night Day Night,” and “Moment of Impact,” and her latest documentary is “MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE” which just opened in New York and in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Royal on Friday and will be opening in the first week of November in San Francisco at the Roxy. Also joining us is Valeria Ratnikova, a Russian journalist and news anchor who works at TV Rain covering politics and social issues. She is among the subjects of Julia’s documentary, having been charged as a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.
The Author of Crossing the Red Line: Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza
Then finally, we speak with Akbar Shahid Ahmed, the diplomatic correspondent at The Washington Sun. For his Gaza coverage, he has received a Writers Guild Award and a New York Press Club Award and has twice been named a finalist for the Livingston Award. Based in Washington, D.C., he previously covered foreign policy at The Huffington Post for twelve years and we discuss his new book, just out, Crossing the Red Line: Biden, His Advisors, and Israel’s War in Gaza.