Take no lip: Ben Tóth’s talking point outline will win you every discussion and debate!

I’ve already printed out my copy. Watch the show he co-hosted this week,
Blowback: Exposing Imperial Decline
https://www.youtube.com/@BlowbackExposingImperial-hh8ig
Outline
BATTLEGROUND 404
WAR PROSPECTS BLEAK
– 404: The situation in Avdiivka is extremely critical ( Ukro Pravda )
– 404: Things are going badly for Ukraine – really badly ( Business Insider )
– 404: Ukraine withdraws units from parts of Avdiivka, sends in crack brigade ( Reuters )
– 404: Ukraine set to lose key Donbass city – White House ( John Kirby > Kyiv Independent )
– 404: Ukraine on verge of losing Avdiivka, strategic city long targeted by Russia ( WaPo )
– 404: Syrsky: Ukraine shifts to defense to drain Russian troops ( Kyiv Ind )
– 404: Kiev to be unable to use NATO airstrips for deployment of F-16 planes – Ignat ( TASS )
– 404: President Zelensky signs bill legalizing medical Cannabis In Ukraine ( Forbes )
– RUC: Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov sunk off Crimea, says Ukraine ( UAF > BBC )
– RUC: Seven killed in Ukrainian missile strike on Russia’s Belgorod – governor ( Reuters )
– RUC: Adm.Viktor Sokolov removed from command of the Black Sea Fleet ( RU MoD )
AID LOBBYING
– 404: Elensky calls for House vote on Ukraine aid – who? ( Politico )
– 404: Ukrainian President Elensky invokes Judaism to rally support ( ‘Moscow’ Times )
– EUK: Biden must risk his party’s wrath to secure Ukraine’s future ( Telegraph )
– EUK: Ukraine’s war effort already affected by block on $60bn US aid – Stoltenberg ( Guardian )
– EUK: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron urges US congress to vote for Ukraine package ( Bloomberg )
– USC: US House Democratic caucus Chair warns of possible March Government shutdown ( Newsweek )
– USC: Biden urges house to vote immediately on Ukraine aid – failure is ‘What Putin Is Betting On’ ( RFE )
– USC: Lyndsey Graham, a longtime foreign policy hawk, bows to Trump on Ukraine ( WaPo )
SPACE NUKES!
– USC: House Intel chairman announces ‘serious national security threat’ related to Russia ( CNN )
– USC: The ‘disturbing’ intel roiling the Hill is about Russian nukes in space ( Politico )
– USC: Russia has obtained a ‘troubling’ emerging anti-satellite weapon, W.H. says ( AP )
– USC: White House confirms knowledge of Russian ‘anti-satellite capability’ ( FT )
– USC: Intelligence about Russia puts focus on new US Satellite push ( NYT )
– EUK: Putin’s nuclear arms race could make space the new battlefield ( Times )
– EUK: Putin‘s deadliest weapon yet has been revealed – and the West has no answer ( Telegraph )
NO AID FOR YOU
– 404: US House of Representatives goes on recess without considering Ukraine aid bill ( Ukrinform )
– USC: White House hits Johnson for going on recess without passing Ukraine aid ( The Hill )
– USC: Biden team struggles to reassure Europe that US won’t abandon Ukraine ( WaPo )
– USC: Another government shutdown looms in March as the House heads home ( Yahoo )
AND NOW, MUNICH
– 404: Ukraine‘s Zelensky to sign security pacts with Germany and France ( France 24 )
– 404: Ukraine and Germany forge security cooperation agreement ( Ukro Pravda, video )
– 404: Zelensky to sign security agreement in France, address leaders at Munich conference ( Ukrinform )
– USC: Anxious World leaders descend on Munich – Ukraine doubters / Trump fears dominate ( Foreign Policy )
– USC: Kamala Harris heads to Munich for high-stakes diplomatic trip – and meet Elensky ( CNN )
APPENDIX: MEDIA WARS
Putin Zarubyn interview:
Global fight against Nazi propaganda, regret not starting SMO in 2014, disappointed in Tucker, prefer Biden over Trump
Tucker shorts:
He fell in love with Moscow Kievskaya ( Stalinitsa ) metro station, Russian McDonalds, Russian Auchan supermarket
APPENDIX: THE RUMOR MILL
– 404: Apparently Zaluzhny has joined Poroshenko’s ( European Solidarity ) party membership card shared.
– 404: Slaughter of Selidovo grouping of 3rd assault brigade ( AZOV ) via cluster munitions, no official confirmation.
– 404: Avdiivka is basically a Bakhmut, Mariupol, even Debaltsevo 2.0
APPENDIX: NAVALNY DISTRACTION
– 404: Elensky blames Putin for Navalny’s death as leaders voice outrage ( Politico, EU )
– EUK: Alexei Navalny’s wife says Putin will ‘bear responsibility’ ( Times of London )
– EUK: David Cameron: Hold Putin accountable for Navalny‘s death ( Telegraph )
– EUK: Western officials and Kremlin critics blame Putin and his government for Navalny’s death in prison ( AP )
– EUK: Navalny laughed and cracked jokes a day before his death ( Reuters )
– EUK: Conspiracy theories, repression and sycophancy define Putin’s Russia ( FT )
– EUK: Alexei Navalny: UK and US hit out at Putin over critic’s death in prison ( Guardian )
– USC: Alexei Navalny, Putin’s Most Ardent Critic, Dies in Prison ( WSJ )
– USC: Alexey Navalny, Jailed Activist Who Defied Putin, Dies at 47 ( Bloomberg )
– USC: Kamala Harris decries ‘Putin‘s brutality’ after Navalny‘s death ( Newsweek )
– VIDEO: Navalny’s wife already speaking to Munich Security Conference ( video )
“Russia must answer serious questions regarding Navalny’s death” – Stoltenberg
“The fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, Navalny demonstrated incredible courage”- Sunak
“Navalny is a victim of Russian fascism, will be remembered as the best president Russia ever had” – Sikorski
“Putin fears nothing more than dissent from his own people – a grim reminder of what his regime is all about” – Ursula
“The fear of one man underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built” – Blinken
“Let’s be clear: Putin killed Navalny bc. he was the opposition leader in Russia that Putin feared the most” – McFaul
“The instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny’s demise, direct accusations of Russia are self-exposing” – Maria Z
HOUSE SLAVES IN DISORDER
NATO ANXIETY
– RUC: Russian forces destroy over 15,000 tanks in Ukraine operation, top brass reports ( TASS )
– RUC: Putin visits Uralvagonzavod factory, in Nizhny Tagil ( TASS, videos )
– EUK: Can Europe defend itself? It may have three years to find out ( Bloomberg )
– EUK: US and Europe are desperate to sign weapons deals for Ukraine. They just can’t get started. ( Politico )
– EUK: Russia can withstand years of equipment losses at current levels – report ( IISS > Business Insider )
– EUK: ‘A lot higher than we expected’: Russian arms production worries Europe’s war planners ( Guardian )
– EUK: Yes, Donald Trump’s Putin comments were unhinged – but he’s right to question NATO’s future ( Guardian )
– EUK: The west has not gone far enough in sanctioning Russia – can’t help Ukraine outproduce it ( FT )
– EUK: France and Germany can’t agree on how to fight Europe’s wars ( Politico )
– EUK: Europe wants to stand on Its own, militarily. Is it too little, too late? ( NYT )
– USC: A self-absorbed America means disorder for the World – Edward Allen ( Foreign Policy )
– USC: Trump’s awful truth: the US can go it alone – Europe cannot ( FT )
NATO PROVOCATO
– EUK: How Britain is rehearsing a NATO war with Russia – completely open about it! ( Times )
– EUK: NATO chief rebukes Donald Trump and announces record defense spending ( Guardian )
– EUK: Germany will spend nearly €72b on defense this year, highest in history ( FT )
– EUK: NATO’s frontline nations are digging 1,000 bunkers. Will it deter Putin? ( Times )
– EUK: Russia to double military presence along NATO border, Estonia warns ( FT )
– EUK: Moscow laying groundwork for Moldova invasion, warn ‘experts’ – ISW ( Telegraph )
– USC: US secretary of state assures Western Balkans of support for path toward EU integration ( AP )
RECESSION UNION
– EUK: UK economy fell into recession at the end of 2023 ( BBC )
– EUK: Britain suffers longest hit to living standards since records began ( Telegraph )
– EUK: Inflation has sent German pay back to 2016 levels, study shows ( Bloomberg )
– ASO: Japan slips into recession allowing Germany to overtake as world’s third largest economy ( CNN )
context: Recession list = UK, Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, Moldova, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Japan
WHEN IN HOLE, KEEP DIGGING!
– EUK: EU sees no need to extend deal on Russian gas transit via Ukraine ( Reuters )
– EUK: Von der Leyen calls on EU to subsidize defense production ( FT )
– EUK: UK Post-Brexit watchdog ‘ready’ to investigate flood of cheaper Chinese EVs ( Guardian )
– EUK: EU proposes sanctioning North Korea for sending Russia missiles ( Bloomberg )
– USC: The plan to make Russia pay for Ukraine‘s weapons – from fucking Bill Bowder ( ABC )
CONTRADICTIONS GALORE
– EUK: Debt, migration, green deal – why von der Leyen‘s time is up ( Focus DE )
– EUK: Euroclear warns against G7 plan to backstop Ukraine debt with Russian assets ( FT )
– EUK: Why Hungary is again blocking the latest round of Russia sanctions – because China!! ( FT )
– EUK: Elections threaten to upset Europe’s centrist apple cart – far-left, far-right, ‘eurosceptics’ ( FT )
– EUK: Piotr Zgorzelski warns the mayor of Lviv. “I suggest you drink a glass of water” ( Polsatnews )
– EUK: How the US broke Kosovo and what that means for Ukraine – not good at finishing wars ( Politico )
– EUK: Three pro-Palestine protesters found guilty of terror offense over paraglider images ( Independent )
– USC: Seizing Russian assets: A feel good bill that will absolutely boomerang – Rand Paul ( Resp. Statecraft )
– USC: Did the West ‘crush’ Russia’s economy for invading Ukraine? No ( Responsible Statecraft )
BATTLEGROUND WEST ASIA
THE GENOCIDE
– ISR: Israeli forces storm the main hospital in southern Gaza, saying hostages were likely held there ( AP )
– ISR: IDF rehab center forecasting another 16,000 wounded this year ( TO Israel )
– ISR: Netanyahu warns Putin that Iran wants to destroy 6 million jews ( Bloomberg )
– ISR: More than half of Israelis suffer from psych. problems – no money or therapists ( Jpost )
– ISR: Palestinian arrests in Westbank exceeds 7,000 since 7 October ( rights groups > Cradle )
REACTIONS
– WEA: UAE ( Qatar, Kuwait, Oman ) restrict US ability to launch retaliatory airstrikes against Iran proxies ( Politico )
– WEA: Erdoğan makes rare Egypt visit as talks continue over Gaza ceasefire deal ( Guardian )
– WEA: Egypt ditches US Dollar in trade with the Bloc ( BRICS news )
– WEA: Egypt builds Walled Enclosure as Israeli offensive looms ( WSJ )
– WEA: Azerbaijan planning ‘full-scale war’, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan warns ( AFP )
– WEA: Indian-made Israeli ‘killer’ drones set to make their way to Gaza ( MEE )
– WEA: Gas pipeline explosion in central Iran caused by sabotage – no loss of life ( Mehr > Cradle )
– WEA: IRGC simulates destroying Israeli F-35 hangars with ballistic missiles ( IRNA )
– USC: US won’t punish Israel for Rafah op that doesn’t protect civilians – Sources ( Politico )
– USC: US probes Israeli strikes that killed civilians in Gaza ( WSJ Exclusive )
– USC: Mike Pompeo dances with IDF soldiers near Gaza border ( video )
– EUK: Pressure mounts on Israel not to attack Palestinians‘ last Gaza refuge ( Reuters )
– RUC: China demands Israel halt military operations in Rafah ( mFA statement > Cradle )
PERIPHERY: AFRICA
– AFR: South Africa deplores Israel for ignoring ICJ verdict on Gaza ( FM > Cradle )
– AFR: South Africa’s foreign minister seeks extra security due to threats after Israel genocide case ( AA )
– AFR: Nigeria to join BRICS, sell crude Oil in local currency, not USD ( Channels TV )
– RUC: Moscow announces second high level Russia-Africa summit ( Sputnik )
THE HEGEMON
ELECTIONS
– USC: After fighting Ukraine aid, Trump says Biden will ‘give’ Ukraine to Putin ( NYT )
– USC: Trump eyes NATO makeover, hurried peace in Ukraine if elected ( Bloomberg )
– USC: Democrats unveil new hip hop task force to tackle racial inequity ( The Hill )
– USC: West Virginia AG urges Harris to invoke 25th Amendment to remove Biden ( The Hill )
– RUC: Putin says he prefers Joe Biden over Donald Trump in US election ( FT )
ECONOMY
– USC: Boeing employee reveals manufacturer has taken shortcuts ( Simple flying )
– USC: US Porsche, Bentley and Audi imports held up over banned Chinese part ( FT )
– USC: Uber, Lyft drivers strike across US, demanding fairer pay ( Reuters )
– USC: US House to vote on Biden’s LNG pause Friday, White House defends move ( REuters )
– USC: Apple fans are starting to return their Vision Pros ( the Verge )
– USC: To save money, maybe you should skip breakfast ( WSJ )
– RUC: Putin says Russia is close to creating cancer vaccines ( Reuters )
PERIPHERIES: NORTH / SOUTH
– USC: Canada refuses to extradite wanted Nazi ( RT )
– LAT: Venezuela suspends UN H/C and H/R activities in country, 72 hours to leave ( FM statement )
THE HEARTLANDS
CHINA
– RUC: China preparing for ‘protracted’ war – learning from Ukraine – think tank ( Nikkei )
– RUC: Beijing condemns Taiwan after two Chinese fishers die in speedboat crash ( Guardian )
– RUC: Hollywood is out, Chinese movies are in ( GT )
– USC: US Air force announces major shakeup to prep for war with China ( Defense One )
– USC: US to deploy 5 aircraft carriers in western Pacific in show of strength to China ( SCMP )
– USC: Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to meet Friday at Munich Security Conference ( Politico )
– USC: Forced labor still haunts China‘s Xinjiang – Zenz – report finds ( Politico )
– EUK: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron to pressure China over Red Sea attacks ( Telegraph )
PERIPHERY: ASIA
– ASO: Palau’s president raises threat of pivot to Beijing if US funds are delayed further ( SCMP )
– ASO: As Japan pledges more aid to Ukraine, is Tokyo turning into an ATM for a war-torn nation? ( SCMP )
– ASO: Mr Xi, only change will help China weather the storm – LOL ( Japan Times editorial )
– ASO: Godzilla minus the United States – a film about anxiety of American abandonment ( The Atlantic )
– ASO: Former general linked to human rights abuses claims victory in Indonesian presidential election ( AP )
– ASO: Ex-army strongman Prabowo Subianto claims victory in Indonesian presidential election ( CNN )
context: Political and military family, son-in-law of Suharto, westernized, ultra-rich
APPENDIX : Legend
USC = United States + Canada
EUK = Europe + United Kingdom | 404 = Ukraine
WEA = West Asia, formerly Middle East | ISR = Israel
ASO = Asia + Oceania
AFR = Africa
LAT = Latin America