Stephen Kotkin: Putin, Stalin, Hitler, Zelenskyy, and War in Ukraine | Lex Fridman Podcast #289

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Lambda: lambdalabs.com/lex - Scale: scale.com/lex - Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil - ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free - ROKA: roka.com/ and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order 2:19 - Putin and Stalin 13:09 - Putin vs the West 36:01 - Response to Oliver Stone 47:07 - Russian invasion of Ukraine 1:26:35 - Putin's plan for the war 1:34:33 - Henry Kissinger 1:40:28 - Nuclear war 1:51:01 - Parallels to World War II 2:13:47 - China 2:21:55 - World War III 2:29:24 - Navalny 2:33:41 - Meaning of life

I think this complement could be taken the wrong way, but these interviews remind me of Charlie Rose. Minimalist studio, no distractions, interesting guests, calm delivery of thoughtful questions. Lex is definitely filling a space that needs to be filled. Well done

I'm glad Joe Pesci became a historian. He's a damn good one now!

I would love for this guy and Professer, John Mershiemer to have a Russia, Ukraine, debate on the Lex Fridman podcast.

Mearsheimer debating Kotkin would be pretty interesting. Perhaps with Oliver Stone and Neil Ferguson acting as their respective wingmen. Then we'll get Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey Sachs to do a post-debate analysis. Okay, now I'm just getting silly.

Would be very interesting to hear a conversation between Mearsheimer and Kotkin.

As an 80 years old Dane living in Denmark on a small Island called Fejoe, I am trilled to listen to this interwiev. IT gives me an outwiev og the greater political situation. I am indeed thankful for this posibily.

This is fucking terrifying. The idea that this dude should be respected for anything is crazy. Where he's not just speculating wildly, he's straight up lying. If this is the crazy level to which these people will lie and manipulate narratives about shit that is happening now that we can see with our eyes, imagine the historical shit that was lied about to this degree or even worse because there was no internet to hold them accountable back then.

This man is a Nuland - US State Deptt spologist. I wish we could have more empathetic podcasts that give us a glimpse of the late Stephen Cohen's views on Russia.

Lex, plese have one more interview with Stephen Kotkin now (Sep 2022). I think it'd be so interesting to see his evolved view few more months in the war.

Having an interview with Stephen Kotkin and Oliver Stone to discuss Russia in such a short time period is a major achievement. I'm not sure exactly how to put it, but it can't be understated just how much insight we received in such a short time period.

Can you have on Kotkin and Mearsheimer, together. Would be interesting.

Great insight and summary by Stephen Kotkin! Please bring him back to do an update, as a year has passed. Thank you Lex.

Me, a Chinese, listening to him talking about China at 1 AM in the morning. I've watched all your clips about China and communism

this man's way of expressing himself is amazing, the cadence of his words is full of security

I don't mind this podcast but I really wish YouTube would stop putting him as the next in line on autoplay every God damn time

The greatest interview that I have hear since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine..hats off to you both...

Take a drink every time Stephen says “Lex”. You’ll have a 2-day hangover.

Having watched the Oli Stone interview, I have to say I really appreciate the diverse perspectives you have on the show, Lex. Great stuff

It's high time mr Kotkin came back to the show! It would be very informative to hear his opinion on the ongoing war and the latest developments.