Valentine’s Day, Chornobyl & Unhinged Matchmaking

Life feels like it’s on fire—literally and figuratively. As Ukrainians, we navigate war, politics, and daily chaos. But to stay sane, we sit on this couch every week, unpack what’s happening in the world and our lives, and now… you’re invited to the conversation.

In this episode:
💘 Valentine’s Day – Dating in a war zone, matchmaking disasters, and why Masha may (or may not) have a date.
☢️ Chornobyl & Security in Europe – Russia hit a nuclear power plant with a drone. What does that mean for Ukraine and global security?
🌍 Trump, America & Europe’s Breakup – Why the Munich Security Conference felt like a global “it’s not you, it’s me.”
🤔 What Would You Say to Your Younger Self? – A viral trend making us question… would younger us even like us today?

Instagram/tiktok/youtube
Masha - masha.go.round
Yulia - yewleea


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What advice would you give your younger self? What’s one quote that keeps you going? Your 5 star reviews really help us get out there!

🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives into the world, media, and our very questionable personal lives.

Transcript

(0:00) Lately the world has been feeling like it's a little bit on fire. (0:04) And as much as we would love to just move to safe, (0:06) faraway islands, we live in Ukraine and work in media. (0:09) So in order to stay sane and decompress, we gather on this couch every week and talk about (0:15) everything that happened in our private lives and in the world.

(0:18) And now we invite you to join this conversation. Welcome to Unmasking. (0:22) Today we're going to talk a little bit about, obviously, (0:25) Valentine's Day because it has just passed.

And also... (0:30) Chernobyl and just security in Europe and America. What's up with that? (0:34) I mean, Trump things, honestly, we're just going to talk about Trump in Europe and, (0:38) oh my god, I'm so excited. (0:40) I mean, who isn't talking about Trump at the moment? The shit is turning crazy.

(0:45) Let's stick to Valentine's Day for now. (0:46) Let's stick to Valentine's Day. I have Valentine's Day pants.

(0:49) You do have Valentine's Day pants. I was going to wear, like, (0:52) Valentine's Day-ish inspired earrings, but then I saw your pants and I was like, (0:55) you know what, that might be a little too much. (0:57) So what did you do? (0:58) Oh, you know what I did on Valentine's Day.

(1:01) Well, tell us. (1:03) Well, so, I mean, I went out, like, you know, actually this is kind of wild(1:07) because I think that every single relationship I've ever had ended before Valentine's Day.(1:12) So I've only celebrated Valentine's Day, like a handful of times.

(1:15) And I have a special disdain for this holiday. (1:17) Not because, like, oh my gosh, look at these people in love, right? (1:20) But because, like, I would have a really bad, like, (1:23) devastating breakup right before Valentine's Day, like a month or a month and a half. (1:27) So obviously I'm not recovered by then.

(1:29) So for me, like, Valentine's Day, even if I have, like, a good relationship, (1:32) it's really not that deep. (1:34) I just want, like, I just want to, like, watch a movie maybe in bed and, like, (1:38) I don't know, I want to spend time with the person. (1:44) I want to, I want to spend time with the person.

(1:47) Do I want to, like, go out and do bouquets? (1:49) No. (1:49) So this year I went out to a bar with a bunch of people. (1:55) Fantastic.

(1:55) And right at that point, you texted me complaining about the fact (2:00) that you're done with men, one man in particular. (2:04) Yeah, my Valentine's Day was going rough. (2:07) It was a long day.

(2:11) I mean, yeah, I mean, it ended up being a very, very long day. (2:16) But before that, though, you texted me. (2:19) And the thing is, like, Masha, you should know, you should know this by now,(2:22) that, like, I don't take these things lightly.

(2:24) And if you're complaining and telling me that I need to find you a man, (2:26) it's not going to be like, oh, yeah, I'll look out. (2:28) It's going to be like, now, I'm going to go find you a man now.(2:32) What happened is I, you know, I was messaging my friends saying that, (2:36) you know, all this stuff is happening with this guy that I was talking to.

(2:41) And that kind of came to an end. (2:43) So now I'm back on the market and I do not trust my choices anymore. (2:46) So somebody should choose for me.

(2:47) I made a joke. (2:49) Yulia took it seriously. (2:50) She came back to me within, like, 20 minutes.

(2:52) She's like, I got you a date. (2:54) You should have known that that's what I was going to do.(2:59) Next minute, literally the next day, (3:03) Yulia creates a group chat with me and this man where she's like, (3:08) well, you guys thought you were going to forget, but I didn't.

(3:11) First of all, it was called a very cringe introduction. (3:14) And it had two, like, little sparkly things in it. (3:17) Because, well, I see, like, the thing is you weren't there the night before, (3:20) but it was more so like an ode to him.

(3:24) Because to be fair, I was sitting in front of this man, right? (3:27) And his friend and a man that, you know, next to me. (3:32) And we were, like, discussing it. (3:33) And I was just kind of like, oh, maybe that guy or maybe that guy.

(3:35) And then I was like, wait, is that guy single? (3:37) And he's like, yeah. (3:39) And he knows both of you, right? (3:40) So he was like, actually, they could be a good match. (3:43) And I literally, I didn't even wait.

(3:45) I look at this man who's sitting across the table from me. (3:48) I'm like, so in the spirit of unhinged conversations, are you single? (3:53) And what was his answer? (3:54) Well, he looked mortified because, you know, there was a situation. (3:57) And I was like, I'm literally asking for a friend.

(4:00) I kept doubling down on it throughout the night, to be fair. (4:02) Because, like, I noticed that the guy that I was there with (4:07) was, like, so mortified at some point. (4:10) He was like, you know, your matchmaking skills terrify me.

(4:13) And I was like, that's my design. (4:14) Anyways, so I kept doubling down on it because he was obviously mortified. (4:18) I think at that point, both me and, well, I obviously knew that it was funny for me.

(4:23) But I think, like, the man that I found for you (4:25) also realized that I was just trying to, like, do this on purpose. (4:29) And yeah, so the only mortified person was now the guy to the right of me. (4:32) And it was funny.

(4:34) Also, you know him, so you know exactly him. (4:35) No, it's pretty funny. (4:37) So now I supposedly have an agreement for a date somewhere on the weekend.

(4:42) But we'll see. (4:43) So for now, it's friendly. (4:44) Well, we're supposed to check in on Friday.

(4:47) No, I mean, to be fair. (4:49) Okay, he did say, like, maybe 25 times that, well, (4:54) I'm down to meet her as friends and see where it goes. (4:57) Because I think I was putting so much pressure on it that it was, like, cringe.

(5:02) But, well, he's not a baby. (5:03) He's 35. (5:04) I did make sure of that, too, because he looks like he's 19.

(5:07) And, like, mind you, an hour after this conversation had already happened, (5:10) I was like, how old are you? (5:12) He's like, yes, I know I look 19. (5:14) I'm 35. (5:14) I was like, okay, good.

(5:15) Because he knew exactly why I was asking. (5:17) He's like, I already set this whole thing up.(5:20) And I was like, whoa, holy grail.

(5:22) I love that you decided to check his age after you set this up. (5:25) Well, because to be fair, I just realized that, like, (5:27) the average age of the people in the room was, like, 30, you know?(5:29) So, like, there could not have been any chance that he would not be 30. (5:33) But it's like, he is Chinese American.

(5:37) And those jeans, those jeans don't look good. (5:39) They look like, they look very young for a long time. (5:41) I mean, yeah, I hate that.

(5:43) Yeah, we don't have that. (5:44) I mean, also, the war is aging me drastically. (5:46) Like, I think I've aged, like, three years.

(5:48) He's lived here through the war and before the war. (5:50) Actually, you know what I realized? (5:51) I didn't realize this before. (5:53) But he took a lot of very, very famous pictures that were all over the media.

(5:58) You're now, like, really triangulating this poor person that I don't even know (6:01) that I'm going on a date with him. (6:03) Yeah, but we're not going to show the pictures. (6:06) Obviously, we're not going to show the pictures.

(6:08) Well, if you work out, you know, we'll bring him in the room (6:10) and everybody can meet the famous photographer. (6:14) I love how, like, I took all the pressure off of my dating life (6:16) by putting it on your dating life. (6:18) Which is not happening because I will tell you what I was doing for Valentine's Day.

(6:22) Just to put it in perspective, I don't know what was happening in Ukraine (6:24) this year for Valentine's Day, but Kyiv was going nuts. (6:28) There was crazy traffic. (6:29) Everybody was wandering around with flowers.

(6:32) Like, it was just, it made me happy because it kind of felt similar (6:35) to the way it was before the full-scale invasion. (6:38) But at the same time, I just was not expecting it. (6:40) And then also, we got this huge snowstorm towards the end of the day.

(6:44) Well, I went to work. (6:45) I was feeling really great. (6:46) And then over the night, Russia hit Chernobyl, a nuclear power plant, with a drone.

(6:53) And we got news that there was this press tour for journalists to go and report on that.(6:58) And since I was already at Chernobyl before for the travel show that I was working. (7:03) You have no plans for Valentine's Day.

(7:04) Yeah, I had no plans for my Friday night and Valentine's Day. (7:07) So my editor was like, you're going. (7:10) And I was hoping I'm not going to make it because it was like last minute and la la la.

(7:14) So I had to rush home and then rush to Chernobyl. (7:16) Chernobyl is like two hours away from Kyiv. (7:20) And it's right now, people can't go there because of the war.

(7:24) Only kind of journalists can. (7:26) And it's like extra checking. (7:28) There's a bunch of checkpoints.

(7:29) There's a lot of checking your documents and stuff. (7:33) And yeah, it was just a crazy day.(7:35) It was a crazy day.

(7:36) It was very cold. (7:37) I was all wet. (7:38) There was a lot of journalists.

(7:39) But I got very close to the new safe confinement that covers the fourth nuclear power plant,(7:45) which before I wasn't that close. (7:46) So I got to look at the drone. (7:48) I got to, yeah, hang out in Chernobyl again.

(7:51) And then I got home at like around 11. (7:53) Radioactive, radioactive. (7:56) Well, yeah, I can say that, you know, (7:57) who needs romance if you can get some radioactivity for Valentine's Day? (8:01) So that was my Friday.

(8:04) But yeah, Yulia organized me a date for next week. (8:06) I mean, listen, but to be fair, I sacrificed. (8:09) Oh, I didn't.

(8:09) I mean, like, I took my Valentine's Day to find you a man. (8:14) If that is love, it is greatly appreciated. (8:17) I don't know what is.

(8:18) But do you think dating? (8:20) So I kind of interrupted you. (8:22) No, I was just going to say that, you know, (8:23) I was telling the story to my aunt who knows me very well. (8:26) And I was telling her and she's like, oh, (8:27) but Masha should have known that this wasn't a suggestion.

(8:30) Masha should have known the outcome of this was going to be five minutes later. (8:35) You were going to bring a poor man like a sacrificial lamb to her and be like, (8:39) I found one. (8:42) That's how I want, honestly, men to come into my life.

(8:45) Just like sacrificial lamb. (8:46) It's on you. (8:47) But after the story, you know how many women have my friends have approached me and been like, (8:51) you know, you need to do this for me.

(8:52) And I'm like, Gabby, you live in New York. (8:53) Yeah, it's a bit hard. (8:54) I can't send you a man.

(8:55) I love how I'm like, how many women, Gabby? (8:58) Well, hi to my other best friend. (9:02) Anyways, yeah, you were saying? (9:03) I wanted to ask you, like, in your opinion, (9:06) do you think dating in Ukraine has changed with full scale? (9:10) Because I was thinking about that on Friday, on my long, long ride to Chernobyl, how, (9:16) I mean, I know that, you know, my attitude towards dating has changed because there's (9:20) from one way, there's a lot of uncertainty.(9:22) You know, like if you're dating a Ukrainian man who could be mobilized, (9:24) he could be already serving.

(9:25) And that's scary. (9:27) I mean, you go without contact for a little while and like it's intense, right? (9:32) And then if you have a chance to leave Ukraine, they don't. (9:37) And then foreign guys, they come and they go.

(9:39) And then they all say they're serving. (9:41) It's just, it's quite complicating. (9:42) It's also like a very small pool of people.

(9:45) Well, because we kind of date English speakers. (9:48) That's what I'm saying. (9:49) Like English speakers is a very small pool of people like you.

(9:52) I'm glad we haven't crossed over yet. (9:55) Yeah. (9:57) In this particular era in time, yet kind of sounds a little sad for me.

(10:04) But anyways, like, well, I've said this before, but I really like this, you know, (10:10) this phrase that I invented and I'm giving myself credit for it is that you can literally (10:14) fit them in a swimming pool, in a public pool. (10:16) Like this is how many like English speaking eligible people that are here. (10:19) Because to be fair, and I don't mean to say this to be like demeaning in any way, (10:22) but like most foreigners that come here are military servicemen.

(10:26) And they're mostly military servicemen that can no longer serve in their country, (10:30) which means that they have PTSD and they're just coming here because they can no longer(10:35) live without a war zone. (10:36) So it's not like they're necessarily very, you know, like, not like datable. (10:41) I'm just saying that, like, I don't think the majority of them is who are here for fighting, (10:46) because I mean, there's a lot of demining work.

(10:48) There's a lot of like, you know, business side and like military and (10:52) advising and blah, blah, blah. (10:54) But also in general, a lot of foreigners that do come here, well, first of all, (10:56) like 80% of foreigners that come here are scammers. (10:59) Like, and I'm like, I'm not even like, I'm saying this so openly.

(11:02) I don't think 80 yet again. (11:03) I feel like I don't want to, there are a lot of people who come here for their own personal (11:09) issues. (11:10) Yeah.

(11:11) No, you should, you should also check me on this because I'm like so dramatic, you know, but. (11:14) No, I just don't want like, like there's a lot of amazing people, you know, (11:17) like who sacrificed their safety and came to Ukraine to report because they're genuinely (11:21) lovely.(11:22) There's genuinely like two types of people.

(11:24) Right. (11:24) And it's like one type of people is people who run towards something and people who run (11:28) from something. (11:29) And there is a lot of people that run from something.

(11:32) And also then like, but then the other, but then from the percentage of other people that(11:36) are here that are English speaking from other countries that run towards something and they're (11:39) generally good people. (11:41) It's like, you don't really like leave your life behind and like move to a different country, (11:45) to a war zone if everything is okay. (11:46) Right.

(11:47) So it's some sort of reinvention. (11:49) FYI, both you and I ran away from our lives towards the war zone. (11:54) So just saying.

(11:55) Yeah. (11:55) I mean, to be fair, everything was okay in my life, but by the time that I did run away (12:00) here, it's been like a year of full-scale invasion. (12:03) And I felt like I was living Ukraine through the computer screen and my bedroom.

(12:07) And I like was, I stopped socializing. (12:09) I stopped doing things. (12:10) So like everything wasn't okay any longer.

(12:12) But I mean that like, you know, a lot of people who come here, especially to do a lot of like(12:16) dangerous work, it's like, they're already going through a lot of stuff. (12:19) And like, they're already like reinventing themselves and going through like a lot of (12:21) things mentally, obviously. (12:23) So it's not necessarily the time that you want to date someone, because even if they're (12:26) like a good person, they're not in that right state of mind.

(12:30) Might not be in the right place. (12:31) Yeah. (12:31) And a lot of people do come here for like a short period of time.

(12:34) Would it be like three months? (12:35) You are lucky with that. (12:37) I am very lucky with that. (12:38) Would it be a year? (12:39) Would it be three months? (12:40) Because even if it's a year, right, if they're planning for sure to be coming back home, (12:43) they probably don't want to have like a really long-term serious relationship.

(12:47) Because at this point in my life, I don't know where I'm going to be in five years. (12:50) But for the next foreseeable future, I'd like to be in Ukraine. (12:53) Like I have my work that I like here.

(12:55) I have a lot of friends here. (12:55) I have my family here. (12:56) And I would like to continue doing the work that I do about, you know, covering Ukraine.

(13:00) Well, I mean, to be fair, like I can't really say anything like, oh, Masha, like all of (13:04) the men that you date are like running away. (13:06) Because like, not from you, from Ukraine. (13:09) Well, because they all... (13:10) I have a dream that one day I'm going to make a foreign man move to Ukraine just for me.

(13:14) Like, I think for like... (13:16) That's such a reverse card. (13:19) I just really... (13:20) Yes, that's funny. (13:21) I like that.

(13:22) But also it's the fact like, I think I should get like a medal from Zelensky. (13:27) It's like Masha is bringing men to Ukraine. (13:30) Okay, first of all, all the men that you wanted to bring to Ukraine are still not here.

(13:34) So like... (13:35) That's what I'm saying. (13:36) That's a dream. (13:37) I'm working towards it.

(13:38) I've tried multiple times. (13:39) I have failed. (13:40) But then you have to bring multiple to get a medal for like Repopula.

(13:43) Anyways. (13:44) I am trying. (13:45) But, you know... (13:46) I'm doing my part, Julia.

(13:48) I'm doing my best. (13:49) I know you're doing your best. (13:50) I do find it funny though, because like, you know, when you move to the US, everyone is (13:53) always like, oh, are you trying to find a husband for a green card, right? (13:56) Like the amount of foreigners here, like people don't know this, but Ukraine's immigration (14:00) laws are so bad.

(14:02) They're pretty bad. (14:03) And there's a lot of guys who are like, I'm looking for a perfect Ukrainian wife. (14:08) There's a lot of creepy dudes.

(14:09) Dude, yeah. (14:10) It's like harder, I think, to get a Ukrainian citizenship or like residency or like whatever (14:15) than it is like German. (14:16) And German is pretty hard.

(14:17) So it's like so funny because in Ukraine for the first time when I moved here with the (14:21) full-scale immigration, I felt so funny. (14:24) Yeah, because it's men who want to marry you to get a citizenship in Ukraine, not like, (14:29) you know, people who are like, oh, these Ukrainian girls, they just want to like... (14:32) I'd marry somebody for a citizenship. (14:34) I mean, we need more people.

(14:40) I would not marry anybody for visa. (14:42) Do not even message me. (14:44) Exactly.

(14:47) Oh, I don't know why, but I just want to share this with you. (14:50) Recently, a man has messaged me on Instagram and he said, and I'm assuming it was a joke, (14:54) but I was deeply offended. (14:56) He's like, I would offer your mother seven goats and two cows for your hand in marriage.

(15:03) And I was like, I would be worth at least a herd of cows and like three alpacas. (15:09) Like I, I, I, I refuse. (15:14) So I happen to know a thing or two about how these negotiations work because when I was... (15:18) How? (15:19) I was in Egypt when I was seven and my dad was offered seven camels for me.

(15:23) And apparently seven camels is like top-notch proposition. (15:27) So seven camels. (15:29) Okay.

(15:30) How does the economy with camels work? (15:32) Like, do they grow in price or are they losing in price over time? (15:36) Because you were seven. (15:37) So I'm assuming like, how does the economy work? (15:39) But also, yeah, this was like way back in 2001. (15:42) So like maybe now camels are depreciating.

(15:44) Exactly. (15:45) I don't know. (15:46) Exactly.

(15:47) They drink a lot of water. (15:48) The water is kind of scarce. (15:49) Maybe they're gaining.

(15:50) I don't know. (15:52) Masha, I don't know anything about the camel economy. (15:55) But your Valentine's day in Chernobyl, you're radioactive.

(15:58) My Valentine's day, looking for a Valentine for you. (16:01) What a fantastic little situation we found ourselves in. (16:05) I am kind of like jealous that you went to Chernobyl.

(16:08) I actually had, you know, I'm surprised that Cave Independent wasn't approached. (16:13) Well, Masha works at Cave Independent as a video producer. (16:18) As somebody who makes videos, I don't know.

(16:21) Yeah, I mean, you have an undefined role that you do a lot. (16:24) And you're a very valuable person. (16:25) Okay.

(16:26) I'm saying this as if I work at Cave Independent. (16:28) It sounds like you're hired. (16:31) But yeah, so like I had Chernobyl message me.

(16:36) And by that, I mean the Chernobyl press comms office. (16:39) And they were like, hi, so I got your contact from like a PR person, right? (16:44) And we need this footage from United24 from their trip to Chernobyl. (16:49) And I'm like, I think they assumed that I work for United24 because I did.

(16:53) Yeah, because I did a lot of videos. (16:55) And I was like, but I mean, like, I have an in.(16:58) So I was like, I'll ask.

(17:00) And then oddly, like I did get literally a fax link to the footage this morning, (17:06) which I was like, wow, wow, that's okay. (17:07) Thank you. (17:08) Thank you.

(17:09) But I sent it to them. (17:10) And I was kind of like, oh, well, I wish I went to Chernobyl for a press tour. (17:15) Because like, I don't know, it's just.

(17:17) I mean, it was fun. (17:18) It was my first like proper press tour. (17:20) But I was kind of not disappointed, but kind of like they took us to this drone.

(17:25) It was like 25 of us of like people who are filming. (17:27) And all these dudes who've been working like in media for probably a little longer than me, (17:31) like some of them were like, you know, old dudes from TV. (17:34) They literally pushed me away with all their cameras towards the drone.

(17:38) And we were taken to this kind of like secure part. (17:41) So we all came in together. (17:43) We all are going to come out together.

(17:45) So I just stood in the back, waited for all these dudes to film this drone. (17:48) Then I went and filmed it with my little phone. (17:50) They all looked at me like I'm nothing.

(17:53) And then they had to wait for me to film because like. (17:56) I was like, yeah, you all guys rushed and we're pushing each other, getting angry. (18:00) And then I just waited for them to finish doing their work.

(18:02) Did my little work, filmed my little silly vertical videos. (18:07) And I feel really good about myself. (18:08) I'm also joking when I say about vertical videos, (18:11) just because I think there's still this weird stereotype, (18:15) especially like in journalism, I guess, world in the media world.

(18:18) That like anything that's not like filmed with a camera, (18:20) like TV professional, like all that stuff. (18:23) It's not real, you know, reporting. (18:25) But I think the main point is for people to learn, learn about what's happening, (18:30) because I saw so many comments, people being like,(18:32) oh, obviously it was a Ukrainian drone.

(18:34) It wasn't. (18:35) Why would Russia do it, especially like now that they're talking about peace deal? (18:40) And I'm like, well, first of all, realistically, (18:43) both for Russia and Ukraine, it would be pretty idiotic to blow up (18:46) Chernobyl nuclear power plant because it's really close to it. (18:49) It's really close to Belarus border.

(18:51) It's quite close to Russia. (18:52) It's a bad location and depends where wind blows, pretty much. (18:56) That's the area that's going to be affected.

(18:58) Because if Chernobyl... (19:01) Chernobyl still can blow up. (19:03) It's not going to blow up the way it could have in like 1983, 1983, 1986. (19:10) Thank you.

(19:11) 1986. (19:12) I should know this. (19:14) But it still could be quite bad for Europe, for Russia and for a lot of other countries.

(19:20) But Munich security, that happened this weekend. (19:23) That actually brings... (19:25) Chernobyl actually brings this to Munich security conference. (19:28) But I wanted to ask something, because like, (19:29) since you were there and it was when the sarcophagus was damaged, (19:33) can you explain like to me and obviously to anyone who's like (19:36) going to be inevitably listening to us, I'm like, two people.

(19:41) Like, what's the... (19:43) How does the confinement keep it safe? (19:46) Do you know?(19:46) I mean, don't quote me on, you know, like very intense physics. (19:50) But I'm sure they like walked you through it, like, right? (19:52) Well, they didn't really, but because I dug around on the topic. (19:56) So yeah, I can talk about this.

(19:58) So, you know, there was the power plant number four that blown up in... (20:03) Reactor number four. (20:03) Reactors. (20:04) Thank you.

(20:05) Reactor number four, that the explosion happened, (20:08) that the infamous explosion that was really, really bad. (20:11) It's considered one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.(20:14) And so they right away after the explosion, like within two months, (20:19) they created a new confinement that was covering, you know, (20:23) the radiation that was just going everywhere.

(20:25) And then in 2017, a bunch of countries came together (20:29) and created the new safe confinement, which is this big ass arc, (20:33) which is for you to understand how big it is, (20:34) it's bigger than Coliseum in width, (20:36) and it's taller than a Statue of Liberty in height. (20:40) And so they built it and then they like pushed it over and enclosed it. (20:44) And I don't remember how much it was, (20:47) but it's a very expensive project (20:49) that a bunch of countries in Europe collaborated on, (20:51) because it's not just Ukraine's safety, (20:53) it is safety of many other countries.

(20:55) A lot of the world, yeah. (20:57) So the drone damaged that top new safe confinement.(21:00) So there is still one confinement between that and like the actual radiation, (21:05) but there's still dust that has radiation in it.

(21:08) And that now is technically exposed. (21:11) So they've said at that point that radiation levels were fine, (21:15) but they pretty much don't know how much worse it's going to get, (21:18) because this was supposed to work for 100 years (21:20) until they figure out how to like disassemble it safely. (21:23) But now who knows how long it's supposed to work (21:25) and how much money it's going to take to actually fix it.

(21:29) Repair it, yeah, because there were like fires for three days afterwards, right? (21:32) I saw that there was, yeah, that it was like, (21:34) there's still something on fire or like... (21:36) Well, there wasn't anything on fire when we were there (21:37) because there was pretty bad snow.(21:40) But there wasn't any fire inside. (21:42) There was a fire inside originally when the explosion happened (21:44) because like the drone fell in.

(21:48) But what I thought was really interesting, what I learned, (21:52) they don't shoot drones down over the nuclear power plants. (21:56) Oh, yeah. (21:56) Which, I mean, duh.

(21:58) But what they use, they use kind of like REB. (22:02) Electronic warfare. (22:03) They use electronic warfare to... (22:04) Disable them.

(22:05) Yeah, to disable them or like pretty much turn them around a different direction. (22:08) But because this drone was flying so low, they didn't see it. (22:10) So it ended up flying into the USF confinement.

(22:13) I mean, it kind of makes sense not to shoot something. (22:15) Because like taking something down means... (22:16) Because if they fall down, they explode onto something. (22:18) Yeah, but also like taking something down means an explosion in the sky.

(22:22) I think like we don't talk enough about like, you know, (22:24) when targets are disabled and all of the rockets were intercepted (22:28) or all of the drones were intercepted. (22:28) Yeah, that means their biggest rockets are still falling from the sky. (22:32) Just like their bits are falling.

(22:33) There is like a missile hitting the drone or something hitting the drone, right? (22:37) So that's a boom. (22:38) And then all the debris and all of these parts, which are huge. (22:41) Because have you like seen how big Shahids are? (22:43) Those things are like... (22:44) That one wasn't Shahid.

(22:44) That one was something else. (22:46) Like it wasn't ginormous. (22:47) I can put some video here.

(22:50) Yeah. (22:51) But yeah, it was... (22:52) But in general, these drones are like huge. (22:54) They're pretty big.

(22:54) And like Shahids, for instance, are like three people tall. (22:56) You know, it's crazy. (22:57) Like a three average man tall.

(23:00) It's wild. (23:01) And so like, yeah, all of this debris and it's metal. (23:03) This debris falls somewhere.

(23:05) And obviously like it can hit a power line. (23:06) It can hit like a gas storage facility, like literally anything. (23:09) So yeah, so that's really bad.

(23:11) Which is funny because I think Munich Security Confident... (23:15) Confidence. (23:16) Conference actually happened like right on Valentine's Day and... (23:20) Yeah, it was 14th to 16th.(23:21) So, you know, I... (23:23) My conclusion of this is Europe breaking up with the United States.

(23:27) And I find it so funny because it happened on Valentine's... (23:30) It's like such a double...(23:31) You know, it's a weird sort of thing. (23:34) But do you think this is actually what's happening? (23:36) Like, do you think in a way there's the relationship between America and Europe? (23:39) Oh yeah, 100%. (23:40) Separating forever now? (23:41) Well, not forever, but like...(23:42) Well, we don't know how long Trump is going to be in power, right? (23:44) Because he's doing a lot of like fascist moves.

(23:46) And Elon on Twitter literally agreed to someone... (23:49) I don't know if you saw that, but the other day Elon on Twitter (23:53) literally agreed to someone who was describing how a government coup works. (23:58) And he was like, oh, this is how a government coup works. (24:01) Referring to what Elon is doing.

(24:03) And he was like, yes. (24:05) I wonder if it was Timothy Snyder because he just wrote a really cool sub stack. (24:10) And I was reading about it today and he did a great job explaining(24:12) like what's happening with Elon.

(24:14) And he literally was like... (24:15) Elon quote replied to that. (24:17) Yeah, and like what Timothy Snyder was saying, he was explaining that like (24:22) there is a coup when people come and like take over the government (24:25) or there's a silent coup when people come in and just take control of (24:28) the systems that run the government, which is kind of what's happening.(24:31) Yeah, the judicial system.

(24:32) It's basically Trump and Elon are saying... (24:34) Well, Trump posted the other day...(24:36) But Elon also doesn't have any political power. (24:38) He was not chosen to be in power in any way. (24:40) So he cannot be controlled because people in politics, right? (24:44) They respond to people who chose them, right? (24:48) There is some sort of control of power.

(24:51) And when you were not chosen, there's no way to keep you in check. (24:54) Yeah, checks and balances. (24:56) Well, he was appointed by Trump, but then like, you know, (24:58) MAGA Republicans are like, well, the judges were appointed too.

(25:01) It's like, yeah, but they have an act. (25:04) They serve specific positions in order to get there. (25:07) And they have to do like a bunch of tests and like, you know... (25:10) Not Brett Kavanaugh though.

(25:12) I don't know enough about that. (25:13) But you know, like to become a judge, you still have to pass some things. (25:16) Well, in Trump's first term, he confirmed Brett Kavanaugh, (25:19) who is like an accused rapist.

(25:23) And I mean, there is a lot, you know, he's a white guy with a lot of power. (25:26) But anyways, I also want to take this moment to tell the people that (25:29) if you're watching this and you like it, you love it, (25:32) your love is in the air, Valentine's Day. (25:34) You want to share your love.

(25:36) Yeah, give us that love and please love the video, (25:40) you know, with the big heart button. (25:41) I wish that there was like an edit that did like... (25:48) Looking to our producer and editor here. (25:50) But yeah, please do like this video and also send it to a friend, your mom,(25:55) I don't know, maybe your boyfriend, your... (25:59) You know what? (26:00) Just like the video, send it anywhere you feel like sending it.

(26:03) And don't forget to subscribe to this channel (26:05) because, you know, we will be here every week. (26:07) And if you want to see us, obviously, you want your notifications on (26:11) so you don't miss us. (26:12) And obviously, you want to be here too.

(26:14) Why would you not want to be here? (26:16) To know what's happening and to hear what is happening in our personal lives as well. (26:21) Because both sides of our lives are equally as turbulent. (26:25) Well, but I also feel like our personal lives are so interconnected to politics(26:29) because not only do we live in what basically feels like the start of World War III zone.

(26:33) Yeah. (26:34) Because, you know, I saw this photo, (26:36) I actually posted it on my story today on Instagram. (26:40) Yeah, and it was basically like a photo of Munich in World War II.

(26:44) Like, it was basically Munich, World War II, Munich today. (26:47) And it was a photo of Slovakia with like annexed territories (26:50) that were allowed to be taken by Hitler. (26:52) And then Ukraine with the territories that Trump wants to give Russia.

(26:56) But like, OK, the reason why I personally think that Europe is (27:00) so breaking up with the United States is because there is no longer the same vision. (27:07) Trump, like, even taking aside the fact that no one in Europe likes him, (27:10) like, I don't know, there are Americans that voted for him that fully believe (27:14) that people are scared of him in Europe and they respect him. (27:17) Like, no one likes him.

(27:18) Everybody thinks he's fucking crazy. (27:19) I think people are, you know, like people value America's power (27:22) because America is, America for the longest time was a very powerful country (27:27) that set the tone for the entire world. (27:29) But it is shifting.

(27:30) Yeah, but there is also this thing where America is a very powerful country (27:33) with a powerful military and a lot of military production (27:36) that always had the right sort of, and a lot of people can argue with me on that. (27:40) I know that. (27:41) But it's like they were helping Europe.

(27:43) They were a strong ally and they were a consistent ally. (27:46) Now America is a threat because there is a volatile president. (27:50) There is a psychotic man who is, I don't know, sending rockets to space, (27:54) literally overthrowing the government.

(27:56) And has way too much control over a lot of personal data. (27:59) Yeah, exactly. (28:00) Like, we don't know what's happening with AI.

(28:03) Like, there's just way too much power that people have. (28:05) And like, there is a lot of like, you know, human rights are being taken away. (28:09) There are all these crazy executive orders.

(28:11) In general, it's a very volatile situation. (28:13) And that volatile situation has the largest amount of nukes on the planet. (28:15) Also, the biggest military industrial complex.

(28:19) Didn't we recently, you know, like every year, (28:21) they check like how much closer we're getting to the end of the world. (28:24) Didn't we get another second closer recently? (28:27) We did. (28:27) And I think we've gotten like 15 seconds, like over 20 seconds in the last like five years.

(28:32) So we're not doing well. (28:34) Yeah, we're not doing too hot right now. (28:36) But that, yeah, that scares me.

(28:39) I mean, but I honestly think so selfishly, right? (28:43) It's good for Europe to stand away from the US and stand on its own two feet. (28:48) Because for Ukraine, for instance, and you know, I mean, (28:51) for me, it's such a like dichotomy sort of situation. (28:54) Because I've lived in America for 14 years.

(28:56) I love it as my home. (28:57) So I have two homes. (28:58) It's both Ukraine and the US.

(29:00) And when I moved to Ukraine, I moved because I felt like I was watching everything crumble. (29:04) And I couldn't do anything. (29:05) And I was far away.

(29:06) Now I'm watching it crumble in the US. (29:07) And I can't do anything. (29:09) And I'm far away.

(29:09) But I'm also a green card holder. (29:10) And to be fair, I really don't want to be arrested at JFK and sent to Guantanamo. (29:15) Because there was also this new thing that came out recently.

(29:18) And I'm only going to give it a minute. (29:19) Because honestly, we can talk about it some other time. (29:21) But like, the government basically is expanding its power to check on immigrants.

(29:26) And like, they need to make, basically, if you dumb it down, it's like if you don't agree(29:30) with the government, and you're an immigrant, and you're a green card holder, and we know (29:33) that you don't agree with the government, we can feel free to do whatever we want.(29:36) It sounds very Russia-esque. (29:38) Yeah.

(29:39) So it's kind of like, I mean, obviously, at this point, I have a digital footprint (29:43) of like, talking my real opinions and ideas about Trump. (29:47) And it's like, OK, sure, like, you can deport me, right? (29:51) But like, they're not just going to deport you. (29:53) They're going to send you to Guantanamo Bay.

(29:55) And it's kind of like, or that El Salvadorian prison that they were just going to. (30:00) And it's for like, gang criminal. (30:02) I mean, the prospect of any of this is just ridiculous.

(30:06) Yeah. (30:06) And it's a country that's known for its freedom of speech. (30:10) And like, that's what Ukraine was setting as an example in many ways, when we're fighting (30:16) for our freedom of speech, starting from 2014 and even before.

(30:20) I heard someone say today, well, actually, not someone, but there is this podcast, well,(30:25) not podcast, it's a YouTube channel. (30:27) It's called Silicon Valley, Silicon Curtain. (30:31) And Jonathan Fink is the host of that channel.

(30:33) Actually, shout out to him. (30:35) He's a good friend. (30:36) But he and Anna from Ukraine, this other Ukrainian YouTuber, were talking.

(30:40) And he said, basically, that, you know, Ukraine is closer to what America thinks it is than(30:45) America is today. (30:46) Yeah. (30:47) Or, and Ukraine is also closer to... (30:48) In values.

(30:49) In values and in everything going on with the government and everything, freedoms of speech (30:53) and like, sort of all of that stuff. (30:54) Because to be like, to look at it realistically, like, human rights in Ukraine, some people (31:00) can also argue because men and mobilization, right, but are going up because... (31:03) We're not talking about specifically, like, yeah, wartime.(31:07) Yeah, like, LGBTQIA rights are going up.

(31:11) They're moving. (31:11) Like, we are getting to Istanbul conventions and different conventions for the rights of (31:15) women. (31:16) Ukraine is in top 10 of global, like, index of giving.

(31:20) So, like, our volunteer movement is quite high. (31:22) And digitization, too. (31:23) So, it's like... (31:24) But we also jumped, like, ridiculous amount.

(31:26) Like, in 2010, we were, like, 150th. (31:29) And in 2022, we were in, like, second place.(31:32) So, now we're within the first 10.

(31:34) So, I mean, we're doing quite well. (31:35) Well, volunteering is a very big part of our existence right now, especially because of (31:38) the situation we're in. (31:40) But, yeah, it's kind of... (31:41) I mean, it's crazy.

(31:42) For me, it's very crazy because it's like both of my homes are kind of being torn apart(31:46) right now. (31:47) One is being invaded by a fascist regime and the other one is becoming a fascist regime. (31:53) And, like, what really drives me crazy, right, is that what America is becoming today is (31:57) what we're fighting against in Ukraine today.

(32:00) So, it's kind of like... (32:01) Who's going to fight America? (32:01) Yeah. (32:03) Well, Europe. (32:03) I mean, honestly, this is... (32:04) Well, one of the things that, like... (32:06) You know when people are like, oh, my God, Ukraine is just going to get flushed because (32:09) Trump is going to say so.

(32:10) It's like, you don't understand the world dynamics. (32:13) Like, if the US decided to drop Ukraine and it was under a government that wasn't volatile (32:18) and people trusted and knew that they were doing this with good intentions or, like, (32:22) Europe knew that this was done for, like, Europe's security, sure. (32:25) But Europe knows that this is not... (32:27) This is against Europe's interests, against Europe's national security.

(32:30) I've said it so many times at work, actually. (32:32) But because Putin thought that Ukraine was weak and Ukraine is not going to be protected, (32:35) that's why he acted in 2022 after his experience in 2014, right? (32:38) So, if he thinks and sees that Europe is weak, America doesn't give a fuck, all of these (32:44) things are happening, then why is he not going to keep moving?(32:49) Exactly. (32:50) Like, what about Lithuania that has that old nice bit of Russia there? (32:54) Well, Zelensky was just saying in Munich, right, that Russia is preparing a second invasion.

(32:58) But my whole point is that, like, Europe and the US today are not aligned. (33:03) No.(33:03) Like, at all.

(33:04) As in, like, it's looking this way. (33:06) And there is now an emergency meeting of European heads about Trump and about America. (33:12) Because, like, I mean, they're terrified.

(33:15) Europe is terrified. (33:16) But, I mean, Trump has been saying it since last year. (33:19) I remember making a video about it exactly a year ago.

(33:22) He said, if I become a president, if NATO is invaded, I'm not going to do a thing. (33:28) He said it a year ago. (33:30) Like, he had never been hiding that opinion.

(33:33) Not even that, like, I mean, that's his opinion. (33:36) I think the issue is that, like, a lot of world leaders were hoping that it was going (33:40) to be the same thing as last time, where he was saying a bunch of bull and then, like, (33:44) not necessarily acting through on it. (33:46) But now there are no, like, there are no checks and balances.

(33:49) There's nothing stopping him. (33:50) He kind of just, like, spits on courts and, like, ignores their decisions. (33:54) And then goes on Twitter and goes, like, this is what I was going to say, like, 20 minutes (33:57) ago, is that he posted on Truth Social or, like, Twitter, I don't know.

(34:02) One of those crazy things. (34:04) One of the far-right things. (34:06) He posted on there and he said something, like, it was from either Napoleon, yeah, it (34:12) was Napoleon Bonaparte's quote.

(34:14) Oh, wow. (34:14) Yeah, little man with a big ego. (34:19) And he posted this quote that was basically, he who saves his country cannot, like, can't (34:27) cross the law or something like that.

(34:29) I mean, the quote should. (34:31) So, pretty much, you can do whatever the heck you want.(34:33) Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(34:33) As long as you're for the greater good. (34:35) Because you're saving your country, you're not breaking the law. (34:38) Oh, he who's saving his country is not breaking the law or cannot break the law or something (34:42) like that.

(34:43) And I was, like, eh, eh, Handmaid's Tale much. (34:47) Because I feel like every time I wake up and I look at things, I'm just, like, we're in (34:52) Handmaid's Tale. (34:53) And, you know, my TikTok keeps sending me stuff from Handmaid's Tale.

(34:56) I've been saying it since 2019. (34:59) I've been saying it for a while too much. (35:01) But it's, like, at this point, I'm in this predicament where I'm, like, is it sending (35:04) me Handmaid's Tale because these are signs? (35:07) Or is it sending me Handmaid's Tale because TikTok knows that I'm just, like, constantly (35:12) talking and thinking about it? (35:13) It's, you know, actually, it's a great mixture.

(35:15) It's between Love Island UK that I don't even watch and Handmaid's Tale. (35:19) I've watched, like, one, no, two seasons. (35:21) Okay, guilty pleasure, I'll admit.

(35:22) I've watched season five and season ten. (35:24) But it's not like I actually religiously watch it. (35:26) I've watched two seasons.

(35:28) And then, like, there is the most current season. (35:30) And the people from season ten and season five are there. (35:33) So, like, I've seen them before because it's, like, a reunion, a little star thing.

(35:36) Yeah. (35:36) And so my feed on TikTok is literally Love Island and Handmaid's Tale. (35:42) And, like, scenes from both.

(35:43) But in a way, this is exactly what's happening with people, you know? (35:47) There's a part of people, depends, like, what they were doing before. (35:50) But there's a part of people who are so scared and so overwhelmed and so just, (35:55) yeah, terrified of what's happening and feel so powerless and weak (35:58) against all this new cycles that are terrifying. (36:02) Like, each next one seems to be worse than the previous one.

(36:06) So they seem to hide and pretend, like, you know, I'm not gonna do anything. (36:10) I'm just gonna YOLO it. (36:11) And I kept seeing this song come up on my TikTok literally since the beginning of this year.

(36:15) It's, like, oh, God. (36:19) Radioactive. (36:20) No, no, not that one.

(36:22) It was, it doesn't matter. (36:24) But it was kind of like, I don't give a fuck. (36:26) Like, it's just that energy has been kind of penetrating, I feel, like, social media.

(36:30) Or the other side of people who are fighting, right? (36:32) Or doing something. (36:33) Oh, my gosh. (36:33) And the other side of people, actually, the women's right.

(36:35) It's, like, Labor. (36:37) You know that song Labor? (36:42) No? (36:43) Like, all day, every day, therapist, mother made, no? (36:46) Yeah. (36:47) Okay, that one.

(36:47) Let's not make Guess This Song a part of this video. (36:51) Why not? (36:51) We're a multifaceted duo here. (36:57) Yeah, multifaceted.

(37:00) So, oh, yeah, I was gonna say that. (37:04) That's actually a good point. (37:04) It's, like, it's a very good, it's a very good contrast.

(37:07) And it's also a very good parallel. (37:09) Because kind of, I feel like life is like this right now.(37:11) It's, like, on one hand, on the one hand, you have Love Island.

(37:14) Which is, like, basically, like, a mindless show, right? (37:17) So you're, like, trying to live your life. (37:18) You're, like, buying some clothes, maybe some jewelry. (37:20) You know, you're, like, going out for coffee.

(37:22) You're, like, trying to date. (37:23) You're, like, trying to, like, have... (37:26) Trying to date.(37:27) You're trying to have a life.

(37:27) It's okay. (37:28) The man will text you. (37:29) I'm not that desperate.

(37:31) I come off very desperate. (37:33) I actually just... (37:33) No, you're not that desperate.(37:34) But it's just, like, I... (37:36) Listen, I... (37:36) No, I just want to say, like, yeah, like, our life is like that.

(37:39) I brought you a date on a silver platter. (37:40) I appreciate that. (37:41) I will let you know how it goes.

(37:43) Do invite me to your... (37:44) If I'm not made of honor... (37:45) I thought you were gonna say, do invite me to that date. (37:47) And I was, like, no, sorry. (37:48) You already did part of the introduction.

(37:50) No. (37:51) No. (37:53) I was gonna make a joke and say, like, (37:55) oh, I'm gonna sit there with a newspaper, (37:56) which is actually something I did when I was, like, 14.

(38:00) To annoy my friend. (38:01) Yeah, it was... (38:02) Please don't do that. (38:02) No, I'm not gonna do that.

(38:04) I'm not 14, Masha. (38:05) I think I've come a long way. (38:06) And that pool of people that is a dating pool is very narrow.

(38:09) And we don't want to come across as the crazy ladies. (38:12) Because then everybody will know that we're the crazy ladies. (38:15) Well, I mean, like, to be fair, (38:17) no one really has, like, an experience dating me in Ukraine, (38:21) except for, like, two people.

(38:23) And both of them are effing, you know... (38:28) I think we'll... (38:29) I will be quiet for this one. (38:31) We'll save it for another... (38:31) I have made a presentation. (38:34) Dating 2023 wrapped.

(38:37) Did not do for 2024. (38:39) But yeah, I will be quiet. (38:40) No, my gosh, Masha, you know, like, (38:43) at least you didn't have a man, like, (38:44) run away to his home country, knock someone up, (38:47) then have them miscarry, (38:48) and then just sort of, like, decide that you're never gonna find out.

(38:50) There was something with the cord there, too. (38:53) With the cord? (38:53) Wasn't he, like, not being... (38:56) I don't know. (38:57) There's so many rumors, you know, like... (38:59) Yeah, there's a story for the future there.

(39:01) I know, but it was just like... (39:02) It was... (39:03) Like, the thing is, like, it's not even hurtful. (39:04) It's insulting. (39:05) But anyway, so this is Love Island.

(39:06) And then the other part is Handmaid's Tale, (39:08) where there's, like, (39:09) Chernobyl Munich security conference, (39:11) Trump taking over the government. (39:13) Like, dude, my entire YouTube feed (39:15) is videos of how Hitler took power in Germany. (39:18) Yeah.

(39:19) It's... (39:19) I mean, a lot of people are coming to a realization of, like, (39:22) that they should have learned history better before. (39:24) Because... (39:25) Oh, yeah. (39:25) I mean, they're like, oh my god, is this how it happens? (39:28) And you're like, yes, we've been through it.

(39:30) Yeah, your rights... (39:31) It has happened before. (39:32) When your rights are being taken away, (39:33) it's not immediately concentration camps. (39:36) Your rights are being taken away by you being silenced, (39:39) by media being silenced.

(39:40) Like, the fact that the Pentagon now excluded MSNBC, (39:44) CNN, NPR, PBS, (39:47) all of these, like, very respected news outlets (39:52) from being on, like, the roster of Pentagon,(39:55) and they now can't go there is... (39:56) But what about... (39:57) Like, for me, a big moment was... (40:00) I mean, just a random example, (40:01) AP being banned from White House briefings (40:04) because they would not call... (40:06) The Gulf of Mexico. (40:07) The Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. (40:09) Yeah.

(40:10) And that just really reminded me (40:10) of the early full-scale invasion, (40:12) when Russia was like, (40:14) you media cannot call it the war, (40:16) you have to call it the special military operation. (40:19) How is this any different? (40:20) It's not. (40:21) And that's the thing.

(40:22) It's the media... (40:22) Because the way that they did it, right? (40:24) And they said it themselves, (40:25) is they're basically punishing news outlets (40:27) who are not following their agenda and their narrative. (40:31) Because it's like this... (40:33) Oh my gosh, she's so annoying.(40:34) I keep forgetting her name, (40:35) but like the blonde woman (40:36) who is now the press secretary at the White House, (40:38) with the worst makeup on the planet.

(40:40) But anyways, yeah, no, it's just so bad (40:42) that even I noticed (40:43) and I don't know how to do makeup, let's face it. (40:46) But she was like, (40:47) yeah, well, in this administration,(40:49) and this administration basically made it a point (40:52) that it is called the Gulf of America,(40:53) the body of water, blah, blah, blah, blah. (40:55) It's called the Gulf of America.

(40:57) What about the red and white and blue land? (41:01) Did you hear about that? (41:03) Red and white and blue land unit. (41:05) Sorry, buddy. (41:06) But also, just imagine the world in 10 years.

(41:09) Teachers are being made obsolete by AI. (41:13) Americans in America learn geography(41:15) very different from anybody in the world. (41:17) Americans in America, (41:19) geography looks very different from Russian geography, (41:22) because Russia is like, well, that's Russia.

(41:24) And the Americans are like, (41:25) that's red and white and blue land, (41:27) that's Gulf of America. (41:28) And then everybody else is like, oh my God. (41:31) Yeah, but that's like the whole point.

(41:33) You know, like, I mean, (41:34) the fact that he wants to buy Greenland (41:36) and Denmark has already been like nothing, right? (41:38) And also it's, this is like, this is invasion. (41:41) This is imperialism. (41:41) But I'm sorry, but red, white and blue land.

(41:45) It's like, yee-haw, this is red, white and blue land. (41:48) We're going to send all the rednecks there (41:50) and we're going to repopulate it with the, (41:52) with the, with ethnic Americans. (41:55) And it's like, what? (41:57) I don't know.

(41:58) Also like the whole ethnic Americans thing, (42:00) like questioning Native American birthright citizenship. (42:04) I'm sorry, like this is, this is funny, (42:06) but it's not funny. (42:07) No, it's not funny.

(42:08) It's just becoming so absurd (42:09) that it should not be a part of our conversation. (42:13) You know, this was this trend going around TikTok (42:15) being like, oh, if I would meet my younger self, (42:17) I would say blah, blah, blah. (42:18) Like our conversation would be this.

(42:20) And I keep thinking about it (42:21) and I don't even know what we would talk about. (42:23) I mean, I would slap her silly for speaking Russian for sure (42:27) and be like, start practicing now, baby, (42:29) because we're not speaking this language in five years. (42:31) But I also would be like, (42:33) I don't even know what to tell you.

(42:34) It's not going to get better. (42:36) Like it's just progressively going to get worse. (42:38) And every time you think it's going to get better, (42:39) it's going to get worse.

(42:40) But also how do you tell your younger self? (42:42) Because like, I would want to know about this ahead of time (42:44) and I'm ahead of time, right? (42:46) So I could do something beforehand. (42:49) It's like, I would want to be prepared, (42:50) but it's like, what do you tell your younger self to do? (42:52) Because like, how would you stop this? (42:54) Or how would you get other people to believe you (42:56) the magnitude of it? (42:57) Because when I think about it and it's like, (42:58) oh, what would you have told your younger self (43:00) like five years ago? (43:01) I mean, I was my younger self (43:03) and there was the Trump Biden election. (43:06) And eight years ago, there was another, (43:09) there was a Trump Hillary election.

(43:10) And I was already telling all of my friends (43:11) and people around me, all of these things.(43:13) I just didn't have a TikTok platform (43:14) to like megaphone it through, right? (43:16) But I was saying this thing from the very beginning. (43:18) Like I've seen the flags.

(43:21) I've seen the red, red, red flags (43:22) because I come from Ukraine (43:23) and I know what a hostile government takeover looks like. (43:27) I know what a megalomaniac looks like.(43:29) I know what kleptocracy is.

(43:31) And I know what an oligarchy is. (43:32) And you're putting an oligarchy in power (43:34) who's going to destroy this country. (43:36) And then suddenly you have all of these people(43:37) that are making minimum wage (43:39) and complaining about prices and gas and stuff like that (43:41) being like, well, he's gonna love us.

(43:43) Like he don't give a fuck about you, Joe. (43:46) You know? (43:47) Yes. (43:48) Sorry.

(43:50) Today's been great for your improv. (43:53) Oh, this is therapy. (43:54) But I don't know.

(43:54) I think we should be probably starting to wrap up. (43:57) But I just want to say that I feel like lately (44:02) I've been avoiding social media as much as I can. (44:05) Even though it's really hard because it's my work.

(44:07) But a lot of videos that I've been seeing (44:10) makes me want to make a video (44:11) of literally like looking into a camera and saying (44:15) why do I feel like you want me to die? (44:18) Like as a Ukrainian, (44:20) why do I feel like everybody in the world would be happier (44:24) if we all die and Ukraine would not exist? (44:26) Because they're like, oh, we have to give you so much money. (44:28) But see, like, I haven't made videos on TikTok at all (44:32) in like, I think a month, because for me, (44:34) I wake up and I want to do that. (44:35) But also as an American woman,(44:37) because I was a woman in America for 14 years (44:40) and an immigrant, I want to say that too.

(44:43) And like, I worry for both of these countries so much. (44:46) It's like, for me, it feels like I'm being torn in two (44:48) because both this home is, you know, (44:52) and then that home is...(44:57) Where do you go from here? (44:59) You, I will share with you and the quote that... (45:03) You go to Zoloft. (45:04) You go to antidepressants.

(45:06) But no, on a serious note, (45:07) I want to share with you something (45:08) that really helped me last year when I moved to Ukraine. (45:11) This quote that I think of often now, (45:14) the biggest mistake is to do nothing (45:16) when you can only do a little. (45:18) Yeah.

(45:18) And that's what we keep doing. (45:20) We just do our best. (45:21) We do as much as we can.

(45:22) And I think as long as everybody keeps doing what they can, (45:24) there's a chance that we're not going to wake up (45:27) in World War III with the fascists (45:29) running a bunch of countries. (45:30) Well, and another quote is, (45:32) if you are wondering what you would have done (45:35) in 1930s Germany to prevent it, (45:38) this is exactly what you're doing today.(45:40) Because, you know, I want to have like a big red line here (45:43) and be like, you're here.

(45:45) You're here. (45:45) Yeah, you have a chance to write history now. (45:47) It's just that people don't take it as seriously (45:49) because we have Wi-Fi and TikTok and jokes (45:51) and all of this stuff.

(45:52) But like, it's serious. (45:53) Drones are scary. (45:54) Like, it's no guns, boom, boom.

(45:57) But like, there's a lot of drones. (45:58) Yeah, but it's also politically like we're here, you know, (46:01) and it's, um, and it is what it is. (46:03) And this is why we're here every week to talk about this.

(46:07) But Masha, why don't you ask our lovely, (46:10) probably one person audience to subscribe to our channel? (46:15) Our dear subscriber, whoever you are (46:18) who is watching this video, (46:20) we're very grateful that you're still here. (46:22) If you enjoyed it, make sure to like, write a comment. (46:25) What would you tell your younger self five years ago? (46:27) Actually, yeah.

(46:28) Or what quote keeps you going? (46:30) Both of these answers would be very helpful.(46:33) And yeah, we will see you next week. (46:35) Yeah, see you next week.