Gilbert Doctorow : Are There Still Communists in Russia?
Summary
Judge Andrew Napolitano interviews Gilbert Doctorow from Saint Petersburg to analyze recent Russian Duma and local elections. Doctorow argues that while the Kremlin claims near-universal support, actual arithmetic shows United Russia secured only about 36% of eligible voters, a decline from previous years. The discussion covers the nature of the Russian Communist Party, internal government factions, and the strategic shift to an accelerated war effort in Ukraine. Doctorow predicts that Ukraine’s economy will collapse within months due to destroyed infrastructure and export blockades, leadin…
Topics discussed
Intro: On the illegitimate use of force and freedom
Welcome Gilbert Doctoro and election overview
Structure of Russian federal and local elections
Electoral distortions and comparisons to other nations
Analyzing turnout and United Russia support figures
Duma dominance vs. actual public support
Electronic voting, safety concerns, and abuse prevention
Interpreting results and the role of LDPR
Legacy of Vladimir Zhirinovsky and political clowning
Center of power: Presidency vs. Duma
Economic policy, interest rates, and Duma mitigation
The nature of the Russian Communist Party
Constitutionalism and the 1996 election precedent
Factions within the Putin administration
Anti-war parties and the 'Apple' party
EU attitude and gerrymandering comparisons
Putin's approval ratings and public concerns
Shift in war strategy and its electoral impact
Ukraine's economic outlook and winter prospects
Closing remarks and upcoming show segments
Listen ad-free on Castria