This podcast is for paid members. If you would like to join our community at 25% off the annual price for the first year, please do so here or click the link below. You will receive invites to our special guest ‘Speakeasy’ zoom forums, our weekly wellness happy hours, access to all Bette print and podcast archives, and our private community chats. Our next ‘Speakeasy’ is 7/2, 4 pm PT, with ex-fed Martin Sheil. And our next Happy Hour is 7/4, noon PT.
A fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to warn the public; they thought it was a joke and applauded. He repeated it; the acclaim was even greater. I think that's just how the world will come to an end: to the general applause of wits who believe it's a joke.—Soren Kierkegaard
The following is an excerpt from this podcast, based on my print story ‘Dead Clown Walking’…
It’s important to note in my Byline Supplement report with war correspondent Zarina Zabrisky, who spent 15 months reporting from Ukraine, she said this:
Putin wants immortality: to be written in history as a great leader. For that, he wants to build an empire. Rebuild the USSR. He was always pretty clear about it. Ukraine is the first step. If he is not stopped, Russia will devour many smaller countries. If Republicans win, if Trump is president again, we will end up with a totalitarian mafia empire.
If we manage to stop this, Russia will not be able to sustain itself and will dissolve into smaller regions. This area will threaten the world for a long time, no matter what, due to its collective mentality. The rapid climate change is not playing in our favor and might be weaponized or accelerated by the Kremlin. Nuclear disaster is not out of the picture at all.
It is important to note that President Zelensky warned that Russia was threatening to blow up the Kakhovka dam seven months before Russia blew up the dam.
“When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.”
—Maya Angelou
I am reflecting on all this tonight, because the reports coming from Zaporizhia nuclear power plant are increasingly alarming. Luke Harding in the Guardian is reporting Moscow is scaling back its presence, and told staff to leave.
‘Vatnik Soup’ creator Pekka Kallioniemi just wrote on Twitter:
Pirkanmaa region in Finland has started distributing iodine tablets to pregnant women and to children under 3-years old.
It's probably a preparation for the possible catastrophe event at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been mined by the Russians.
“You can’t vote out the mafia,” wrote Sarah Kendzior on Twitter tonight. “That people won’t admit this crisis is, in fact, a mafia state crisis is a huge part of the problem.”
“Will we survive if we keep falling for Ruschist trolls,” wrote Stephen Douglas just now in his ‘Disinfolklore’ substack.
Will Russian trolls survive if we start slaying them. We have the ability to fight disinformation — we have truth.
As much as Putin may hope for immortality, mortality has other plans.
Putin was not going to live forever anyway. It is true that you now have a dead man in charge of a Russian political party.—Timothy Snyder
I dream the future, and I often carry images from my dreams into the world as a wake. And yesterday morning as I awakened, I saw an image of Putin lying in state, dressed as a clown.
A girl can dream.
💭
🤍
****
Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. Some of you prefer making subsidizing donations via venmo, and it’s always greatly appreciated. Thanks to a generous donor, we just gave away six annual memberships! If you wish to gift a membership, you can do so by donating to the ko-fi or venmo accounts, and indicate it’s for a gift, or do so here.
Also, a private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous@gmail.com. 🥹
Registration for our next Bette Dangerous ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom for paid members on Sunday, July 2, 4 pm PT with Martin Sheil can be found here. Also be on the lookout for an invite to our weekly Bette’s Happy Hour wellness checkin for Tuesday, July 4, which will be at noon PT. Expect fireworks!
🤍
“I say a silent prayer of thanksgiving as I walk upon the earth.”-Audrey Peterman.
“May the viral hope for truth and humanity wash away the chaos of these years.”-S.C., Bette community member
“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, that can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
“Nothing but blue skies from now on…”-Irving Berlin
🤍
Bette Dangerous Podcast Ep46 - Dead Clown Walking