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Longform, big-picture, detailed analysis of world events, politics, policy, & more with depth & context you won't find anywhere else.
Transcend the noise with an academic approach to news coverage from independent analyst, consultant, & historian Brian Frydenborg.

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ONE MILLION content views as of January 1, 2023!!! Thank you to readers & an appeal for support

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FEATURED STORIES

The Post-Putin World Will Be So Much Better than This One
The Post-Putin World Will Be So Much Better than This One
Offensive Smensive: 8 Reasons Why Russia’s Expected Offensive Cannot Succeed
Offensive Smensive: 8 Reasons Why Russia’s Expected Offensive Cannot Succeed
Russia’s Pyrrhic Advances at Soledar Near Bakhmut Setting Up Ukrainian Counteroffensive, Not Russian Victory
Russia’s Pyrrhic Advances at Soledar Near Bakhmut Setting Up Ukrainian Counteroffensive, Not Russian Victory
Biden’s and Democrats’ Historic Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied: Midterms Edition
Biden’s and Democrats’ Historic Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied: Midterms Edition
A ONE MILLION Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
A ONE MILLION Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
An Urgently Needed Definition of “Fascism” as the West Fights It Anew at Home and Abroad
An Urgently Needed Definition of “Fascism” as the West Fights It Anew at Home and Abroad
Russia-Ukraine War Settles into Predictable Alternating Phases, But Russia’s Losing Remains Constant
Russia-Ukraine War Settles into Predictable Alternating Phases, But Russia’s Losing Remains Constant
Elon Musk Is Not Fighting for “Free Speech” or Transparency on Twitter, But He Is a Lying Partisan: An Exhibit
Elon Musk Is Not Fighting for “Free Speech” or Transparency on Twitter, But He Is a Lying Partisan: An Exhibit
Winter War in Ukraine: Seeing Through the Blizzard of Bad Takes
Winter War in Ukraine: Seeing Through the Blizzard of Bad Takes
The Hard Voter Data Indicating Democrats Will Outperform the Polls and Hold Congress: In Data (and Women) We Trust
The Hard Voter Data Indicating Democrats Will Outperform the Polls and Hold Congress: In Data (and Women) We Trust
Capturing the Unique Inspirational Quality of Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia via Two Writers
Capturing the Unique Inspirational Quality of Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia via Two Writers
This Is the Beginning of the End of the War
This Is the Beginning of the End of the War
Why Putin Has Doomed Himself with His Ukraine Fiasco
Why Putin Has Doomed Himself with His Ukraine Fiasco
Thoughts on the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Thoughts on the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II
I Saw This War Could Be Putin’s Undoing All the Way Back in Early March
I Saw This War Could Be Putin’s Undoing All the Way Back in Early March
Russian Army Collapses—and Revolution—Near-Certain as Russia Loses War: When/Where Harder to Predict
Russian Army Collapses—and Revolution—Near-Certain as Russia Loses War: When/Where Harder to Predict
Why Is Russia Losing on 3 Fronts? Math (the Short Answer)
Why Is Russia Losing on 3 Fronts? Math (the Short Answer)
A (Half-Million) Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
A (Half-Million) Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
The 5 (English) Accounts to Follow on Russia’s Ukraine War
The 5 (English) Accounts to Follow on Russia’s Ukraine War
Ukrainian Prudence Meets Russian Limitations: Explaining the Current Pace and Nature of Russia’s War on Ukraine
Ukrainian Prudence Meets Russian Limitations: Explaining the Current Pace and Nature of Russia’s War on Ukraine
The West’s Humanitarian Response to Ukraine Should Inspire Repetition, Not Envy
The West’s Humanitarian Response to Ukraine Should Inspire Repetition, Not Envy
How Ukraine War Will Likely Go Rest of 2022, or, Kherson: The Beginning of the End for Russia
How Ukraine War Will Likely Go Rest of 2022, or, Kherson: The Beginning of the End for Russia
Russia’s Defeat in Ukraine May Take Some Time, But It’s Coming and Sooner Than You Think
Russia’s Defeat in Ukraine May Take Some Time, But It’s Coming and Sooner Than You Think
Debunking One of the Worst Arguments Against Increasing Support for Ukraine
Debunking One of the Worst Arguments Against Increasing Support for Ukraine
A Plea to Disney for Coherence and Quality Control in Star Wars (and More Finesse with Politics)
A Plea to Disney for Coherence and Quality Control in Star Wars (and More Finesse with Politics)
THE THREE MAPS SHOWING WHY UKRAINE IS WINNING AND RUSSIA IS LOSING (and why is isn’t even close)
THE THREE MAPS SHOWING WHY UKRAINE IS WINNING AND RUSSIA IS LOSING (and why is isn’t even close)
Media Keeps Portraying Democrats and Biden as a Mess, Ignoring Data Proving that Could Not Be Further from Truth
Media Keeps Portraying Democrats and Biden as a Mess, Ignoring Data Proving that Could Not Be Further from Truth
A Flurry of Telling Parallels Between the 1939-1940 Soviet-Finnish Winter War and Russia’s 2022 Ukraine War
A Flurry of Telling Parallels Between the 1939-1940 Soviet-Finnish Winter War and Russia’s 2022 Ukraine War
Moscow’s 1939 Finland Hubris Repeats Itself in Ukraine in 2022
Moscow’s 1939 Finland Hubris Repeats Itself in Ukraine in 2022
How Delusions of Phantom Fascists Duped Stalin in 1939 and Putin in 2022
How Delusions of Phantom Fascists Duped Stalin in 1939 and Putin in 2022
“Banderites”: What Russia Really Means When It Calls Ukraine Nazi and Fascist
“Banderites”: What Russia Really Means When It Calls Ukraine Nazi and Fascist
A Brief History of Russian and Soviet Genocides, Mass Deportations, and Other Atrocities in Ukraine
A Brief History of Russian and Soviet Genocides, Mass Deportations, and Other Atrocities in Ukraine
A Terrifying Comparison Between Putin and Stalin
A Terrifying Comparison Between Putin and Stalin
A Super-Short Guide to Why Ukraine is Kicking Russia’s Ass in Putin’s Ukraine War
A Super-Short Guide to Why Ukraine is Kicking Russia’s Ass in Putin’s Ukraine War
How Ukraine Can Take Back Crimea from Putin’s Reeling Russian Military
How Ukraine Can Take Back Crimea from Putin’s Reeling Russian Military
Ukraine Will Easily Destroy or Sideline Russia’s Navy with Game-Changing Anti-Ship Missiles
Ukraine Will Easily Destroy or Sideline Russia’s Navy with Game-Changing Anti-Ship Missiles
The Real Context News Podcast #9: Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, on Democracy & War in Ukraine (2022 Nobel Peace Prize-Winner!)
The Real Context News Podcast #9: Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, on Democracy & War in Ukraine (2022 Nobel Peace Prize-Winner!)
Time for the Russian Army and Russian People to Revolt and Overthrow Putin
Time for the Russian Army and Russian People to Revolt and Overthrow Putin
Putin’s Zombie Russian/Slavic Ethnonationalism Is Utterly Banal
Putin’s Zombie Russian/Slavic Ethnonationalism Is Utterly Banal
How Best to Penetrate Putin’s Media Iron Curtain in Russia? Dead Russian Troops
How Best to Penetrate Putin’s Media Iron Curtain in Russia? Dead Russian Troops
On Casualty Counts in Russia’s War on Ukraine
On Casualty Counts in Russia’s War on Ukraine
A Look at Putin’s Disgraceful, Heartless, Barbaric Treatment of Russian Soldiers and Their Families
A Look at Putin’s Disgraceful, Heartless, Barbaric Treatment of Russian Soldiers and Their Families
Putin’s NATO Narrative Is Bullshit
Putin’s NATO Narrative Is Bullshit
How to Lose Nations and Alienate People, by Vladimir Putin
How to Lose Nations and Alienate People, by Vladimir Putin
Why Is Putin Doing All This Now?
Why Is Putin Doing All This Now?
January 6 Heralded Simple Yet Brutal Dichotomy of America that Defines Our Current Era
January 6 Heralded Simple Yet Brutal Dichotomy of America that Defines Our Current Era
On Christianity, Ancient Rome, History, and Memory: A Christmas Season Reflection
On Christianity, Ancient Rome, History, and Memory: A Christmas Season Reflection
A BIG F**KING DEAL: Biden’s Infrastructure Bill in Historical Perspective
A BIG F**KING DEAL: Biden’s Infrastructure Bill in Historical Perspective
9/11, Afghanistan, and the “War on Terror”: The Long View (& the Tragic One)
9/11, Afghanistan, and the “War on Terror”: The Long View (& the Tragic One)
The Real Context News Podcast #8: Col. T. X. Hammes, USMC (Ret.), on Strategic Failure in Afghanistan
The Real Context News Podcast #8: Col. T. X. Hammes, USMC (Ret.), on Strategic Failure in Afghanistan
The Kabul Airlift in Light of the Berlin Airlift: Surprising Parallels and Important Lessons
The Kabul Airlift in Light of the Berlin Airlift: Surprising Parallels and Important Lessons
The Real Context News Podcast #7: Col. Steve Miska, U.S. Army (Ret.) on the U.S. Withdrawal & Our Duty to Our Afghan Allies
The Real Context News Podcast #7: Col. Steve Miska, U.S. Army (Ret.) on the U.S. Withdrawal & Our Duty to Our Afghan Allies
The Urgent Questions About Cyberwarfare We Are Not Even Asking (But Must)
The Urgent Questions About Cyberwarfare We Are Not Even Asking (But Must)
The U.S. Should Weaponize Europe’s Oil and Natural Gas Markets in an Economic Offensive Against Russia
The U.S. Should Weaponize Europe’s Oil and Natural Gas Markets in an Economic Offensive Against Russia
Already in a Cyberwar with Russia, NATO Must Expand Article 5 to Include Cyberwarfare
Already in a Cyberwar with Russia, NATO Must Expand Article 5 to Include Cyberwarfare
Wading into Israel and Palestine Quicksand, Biden Offers a Diplomacy 101 Class for All
Wading into Israel and Palestine Quicksand, Biden Offers a Diplomacy 101 Class for All
Death, Stupidity; Rinse, Repeat: What Is New, What Is Old in Latest Israeli-Palestinian Tragedy
Death, Stupidity; Rinse, Repeat: What Is New, What Is Old in Latest Israeli-Palestinian Tragedy
The Iran Natanz Attack Sorta Happened in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (and in a way instructive for us all!)
The Iran Natanz Attack Sorta Happened in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (and in a way instructive for us all!)
Trump Impeachment Trial Shockingly Makes Shocking Insurrection Dramatically More Shocking
Trump Impeachment Trial Shockingly Makes Shocking Insurrection Dramatically More Shocking
Trump’s Impeachment Trial Exceedingly Simple: No Excuse Not to Convict
Trump’s Impeachment Trial Exceedingly Simple: No Excuse Not to Convict
The Real Context News Podcast #6: Georgia’s Secretary of State Raffensperger & Deputies Sterling, Fuchs on Election Integrity & Georgia Elections
The Real Context News Podcast #6: Georgia’s Secretary of State Raffensperger & Deputies Sterling, Fuchs on Election Integrity & Georgia Elections
The History of Russia’s Cyberwarfare Against NATO Shows It Is Time to Add to NATO’s Article 5
The History of Russia’s Cyberwarfare Against NATO Shows It Is Time to Add to NATO’s Article 5
To Save the Republic, Trump and Trumpism MUST Be Defeated Now and Biden Must Take Office in January
To Save the Republic, Trump and Trumpism MUST Be Defeated Now and Biden Must Take Office in January
Biden 291, Trump 247: My Election Day Electoral College Map
Biden 291, Trump 247: My Election Day Electoral College Map
As America Votes, UK’s Russian Election Interference Report Should Be a Wake-Up Call to America
As America Votes, UK’s Russian Election Interference Report Should Be a Wake-Up Call to America
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SPECIAL REPORTS

PUTIN'S WAR ON UKRAINE

RUSSIA-NATO CYBERWAR

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Post-Putin World Will Be So Much Better than This One
The Post-Putin World Will Be So Much Better than This One
Offensive Smensive: 8 Reasons Why Russia’s Expected Offensive Cannot Succeed
Offensive Smensive: 8 Reasons Why Russia’s Expected Offensive Cannot Succeed
THE TWO MAPS SHOWING WHY RUSSIA’S BAKHMUT CAMPAIGN IS UNDENIABLY A MISERABLE FAILURE (including Soledar)
THE TWO MAPS SHOWING WHY RUSSIA’S BAKHMUT CAMPAIGN IS UNDENIABLY A MISERABLE FAILURE (including Soledar)
Russia’s Pyrrhic Advances at Soledar Near Bakhmut Setting Up Ukrainian Counteroffensive, Not Russian Victory
Russia’s Pyrrhic Advances at Soledar Near Bakhmut Setting Up Ukrainian Counteroffensive, Not Russian Victory
Biden’s and Democrats’ Historic Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied: Midterms Edition
Biden’s and Democrats’ Historic Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied: Midterms Edition
A ONE MILLION Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
A ONE MILLION Milestone, a Thank You, and an Appeal
An Urgently Needed Definition of “Fascism” as the West Fights It Anew at Home and Abroad
An Urgently Needed Definition of “Fascism” as the West Fights It Anew at Home and Abroad
Russia-Ukraine War Settles into Predictable Alternating Phases, But Russia’s Losing Remains Constant
Russia-Ukraine War Settles into Predictable Alternating Phases, But Russia’s Losing Remains Constant
Elon Musk Is Not Fighting for “Free Speech” or Transparency on Twitter, But He Is a Lying Partisan: An Exhibit
Elon Musk Is Not Fighting for “Free Speech” or Transparency on Twitter, But He Is a Lying Partisan: An Exhibit
Winter War in Ukraine: Seeing Through the Blizzard of Bad Takes
Winter War in Ukraine: Seeing Through the Blizzard of Bad Takes
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