Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at a rally in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2019 (Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)
In a 55-minute special, I joined Times Radio’s Darryl Morris early Sunday to take apart an eventful week, from the death of Alexei Navalny in Russia to the situation in Ukraine to the possibiities and challenges of artificial intelligence — and Beyoncé for a big finish.
Listen to Discussion from 2:05.24
I cut through the headlines to examine why Vladimir Putin’s killing of Navalny, whether through inhumane prison conditions or through assassination, is a sign of uncertainty rather than strength.
See also UPDATES: Alexei Navalny Is Dead, Possibly Assassinated, In A Russian Prison
I apply that analysis to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, where misleading declarations of “stalemate” obscure the wider dimension of not only Kyiv’s resistance but also its success in striking back at Russia.
And after a relatively optimistic view of AI, I get to the heart of the matter: Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” highlighting that soul, rhythm and blues, and country music have always been intertwined.