The Nicole Sandler Show

Craig Unger is a journalist and NY Times bestselling author of six books, two of which deal directly with his reporting on what led him to conclude that Donald Trump is a Russian asset. I first spoke with Craig in January of 2021 for the release of his book American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and related Tales of Sex Greed, Power and Treachery, a week after Joe Biden was inaugurated and I thought we were done with Trump for good. I reached out to him after last Friday's disastrous Oval Office meeting between the orange dicktator and Ukrainian President Zelinsky when there seemed to be no doubt about Trump's loyalties, and invited him back.

So, Craig Unger joins us live today at the beginning of the show. He has a new book out too, Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of Treason That Stole the White House.

If time permits, we'll get into last night's 100 minutes of madness masquerading as an address by the president (sic) to a joint session of Congress. And a new Randy Rainbow song too...

Jason Leopold has been dubbed the "FOIA Terrorist" by the government. I don't like the word terrorist, so I call him the FOIA Master... He writes the FOIA Files for Bloomberg News, where he continues breaking news. Jason's work is truly important. I caught up with him a few days ago after our last conversation was delayed due to the LA fires.

We have a few minutes left at the end, so I'm also sharing my interview with Craig Unger, author of the book American Kompromat recorded in 2021 when it was released. It's about how Donald Trump is a Russian asset. He'll join us live tomorrow...

Today is Friday, when we get together with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to recap much of what happened in the week leading up to our conversation. We record these shows on Friday mornings here in Arizona/Friday afternoons for Marcy in Ireland.

Today, while we were recording, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelinskyy arrived at the White House to meet with Trump, ostensibly to sign a deal for Ukraine to compensate the US for our help in defending them against Russia. I had the tape-delayed coverage running on a computer screen off to my right. When Marcy and I finished taping, I turned up the volume in time to hear the US president and vice president attack Zelinskyy in an outrageous spectacle that should be the end of this administration.

I watched that surreal scene unfold and then replay for the next couple of hours. We saw President Zelinskyy get in his car and leave the White House.

I'm still in shock.

Although Marcy and I had already recorded the show for today, I knew I couldn't just run it as usual without addressing this sickening, embarrassing moment that history will not look kindly on. I reached out to Marcy who agreed to jump back on the line to start the show live with me so we could address the situation.

I have no idea what will happen next, I just know that it's not a great time to be alive.

Slava Ukraini.