Putin and Trump; first, SEPTA’s problems

Guests: Jim Saksa, Yuval Weber, Daniel McCormack

President Trump has long praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising many eyebrows in in the government and among international policy experts alike.  His latest controversial comments regarding President Putin on Sunday’s interview with Bill O’Reilly further enhanced the narrative that Trump has an affinity for the Russian autocrat. On today’s show, we examine the leadership of Vladimir Putin, the nature of Trump’s fascination with him, and what the foreign policy implications are. We’ll talk with YUVAL WEBER, assistant professor at Harvard University’s Davis School for Russian and Eurasian Studies, and with DANIEL McCORMACK, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics. But first, we’ll hear about the recent infrastructure problems plaguing SEPTA when we speak with PlanPhilly’s JIM SAKSA.