YouTube will load up to 40 percent more slowly on desktop computers in Russia by the end of this week and up to 70 percent slower by the end of next week, according to Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein, who heads the State Duma's Information Policy Committee. In a Telegram post on Thursday, Khinshtein said the slowdown is a “consequence of the …

By Otis Landerholm

Update: Andrey Torgashov’s wife says that he is not the man injured in the explosion. According to her, a different person was in the car, and Torgashov is fine. Kommersant reported that due to the “identity of the injured person,” police are investigating the possible involvement of Ukrainian special services. Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to t…

Moscow residents are set to receive a one-time payment of 1.9 million rubles ($21,777) upon signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, according to the city’s administration. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin signed the related decree. The administration clarified that this payment will be available to those who pass selection starting from July 23,…

A Kazan court sentenced Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to 6.5 years in prison after a secret trial on July 19, The Associated Press reported on Monday. Citing records from the Supreme Court of Tatarstan and court spokesperson Natalya Loseva, AP reported that Kurmasheva was convicted of “spreading false information” about the Russian mi…

Russia’s Digital Development Ministry said on Friday that the country’s airports were operating normally without any disruption from the flawed software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike that is crashing Windows computers around the world. “The situation with Microsoft once again highlights the importance of foreign-software import subs…

Former Ukrainian lawmaker Iryna Farion was shot in the head on Friday outside her home in Lviv. Farion later succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital, doctors told the news outlet RBC-Ukraine. She was 60 years old. Iryna Farion, May 8, 2023 Commenting on the attack (before news of Farion’s death), President Zelensky said all available res…

Russia carried out an aerial attack on the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Friday, according to local authorities and the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that a Russian missile hit a playground next to an apartment building. He said at least three people were killed by the strike. According to local media, one of …

By Otis Landerholm

A Russian court has sentenced Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, according to Russian state media. Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen, was arrested last year while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg and has spent nearly the last 16 months in Moscow’s Lefortovo remand prison. Gershko…

The Russian government paid soldiers and their families between 2.75 trillion and 3 trillion rubles ($31 billion–$33.9 billion) in salaries and compensation payments between July 2023 and June 2024, according to a new estimate by the policy group Re:Russia. This is equivalent to 1.4–1.6 percent of the country’s expected GDP in 2024, as well as to 7…

What happened? On July 8, Russia’s Interior Ministry published a draft law aimed at “strengthening administrative measures for foreigners who pose a threat to public order.” The proposed legislation doubles the number of offenses for which a foreigner can be deported from Russia. How is deportation defined? Deportation is an administrative penalty.…

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

By Otis Landerholm

Uncover the UK's strategic leap in defense spending under PM Rishi Sunak's leadership. Join Eric Cochran in The Sandstorm Podcast for a compelling analysis that uncovers the impact on NATO, global security, and Western unity. Tune in for insightful, right-of-center commentary that cuts to the heart of today's geopolitical shifts. Don't miss this ep…

Join host Eric Cochran in The Sandstorm Podcast as we delve into the gripping Arizona rancher case that's challenging perceptions of self-defense and border security. This episode unpacks the mistrial's impact on a community torn between fear and justice. Tune in for a thought-provoking journey through the legal and emotional landscapes of the mode…

Explore the pivotal role of Chinese-American voters in San Francisco's unexpected move towards the political center. Join Eric Cochran on The Sandstorm Podcast for an in-depth analysis of this seismic shift, examining the implications for the city's upcoming mayoral race, local policies, and the broader democratic narrative. Tune in for a story of …

Join Eric Cochran in a riveting episode of The Sandstorm Podcast as we delve into the UNRWA controversy, exposing the clash between humanitarian aid and political bias. Discover the implications of compromised neutrality on the future of peace education and Israeli-Palestinian relations. Tune in for an insightful blend of analysis and thoughtful de…

Dive into The Sandstorm Podcast as Eric Cochran explores the UK's contentious immigration debate, examining the human element and political stakes of the proposed Rwanda deportation law. Join us for an in-depth analysis that bridges history, policy, and the personal stories at the heart of this global challenge.…

By Otis Landerholm

Join Eric Cochran on The Sandstorm Podcast as we dissect Major General Aharon Haliva's resignation from Israeli military intelligence. Dive deep into a tale of responsibility, strategy, and the ripple effects on global politics. Tune in for a right-of-center perspective on leadership and accountability in times of crisis.…

In this episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran examines the recent pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and other college campuses, discussing the implications for free speech, antisemitism, and the future of higher education. Cochran offers insights and opinions on the university administration's response and the broader cu…

Exploring the growing trend of companies cracking down on employee activism in the workplace. From Google's firing of protesting workers to Starbucks' legal battle with union affiliates, we examine the legal, practical, and ethical dimensions of this new corporate pushback. Are businesses right to set boundaries around on-the-job activism, or are t…

Dive into "The Aluminum Crossroads" episode of The Sandstorm Podcast with Eric Cochran. Explore the deep impact of China's market strategies on Michigan's aluminum sector, the role of local industry in the global economy, and the future of American manufacturing jobs in an increasingly competitive landscape. Join us as we unravel the intricate blen…

In this explosive episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran dismantles the "Green New Deal for Public Housing" proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Cochran exposes the astronomical costs, misguided priorities, and economic illiteracy behind this socialist scheme, arguing that it will only perpetuate cycles of…

In this penetrating episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran takes you deep inside the United Auto Workers' high-stakes campaign to organize the Mercedes plant in Alabama. Fresh off a historic victory at Volkswagen in Tennessee, the UAW has set its sights on the Heart of Dixie, sparking a fierce debate over the role of unions in the 21st…

In this provocative episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran takes you inside the explosive debate over TikTok's future in the United States. With the House voting to effectively ban the app unless its Chinese owner divests, the wildly popular platform finds itself at the center of a high-stakes geopolitical showdown. Cochran explores th…

In this explosive episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran takes you to the frontlines of the battle raging at Columbia University and across American higher education. When a group of pro-Palestinian students erected an encampment on Columbia's iconic campus, they sparked a firestorm that would end in mass arrests, suspensions, and a na…

In this urgent and insightful episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran dives deep into Niger's stunning decision to expel U.S. counterterrorism forces, a move that threatens to upend the fight against Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Sahel region of Africa. With vivid detail and expert analysis, Cochran explores the high-stakes geopolitical ches…

In this gripping episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran takes you inside the dramatic House vote on a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and more. With Speaker Mike Johnson's leadership on the line, the bill's passage marks a critical test for American resolve in the face of global threats. But it also exposes deep rif…

Innocence clinic director Craig Trocino looks at flat fees for capital crime representation. Recorded April 11, 2024.By University of Miami School of Law

In this gripping episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran unravels the shocking tale of Victor Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador who led a double life as a Cuban spy for over 40 years. Discover the depths of Rocha's betrayal, the potential damage to national security, and the urgent lessons this case holds for counterintelligence in the mo…

In this episode of The Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran dives deep into the challenges facing America's biggest banks as they grapple with the fallout of higher-for-longer interest rates. From shrinking profit margins to the specter of a looming recession, Eric explores the complex dynamics at play in the banking industry and the wider economy.…

In this episode of the Sandstorm Podcast, host Eric Cochran analyzes the mounting tensions between Iran and Israel, as Tehran threatens to retaliate for an alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria. With the U.S. deploying warships and Iran poised to strike, the Middle East teeters on the brink of a potentially devastating conflict that could engulf the e…