Judging Freedom Ray McGovern : What Is Trump’s Russia Strategy?
Jan 26, 2026
Ray McGovern, a former CIA analyst turned intelligence critic, offers sharp commentary on U.S.-Russia ties and arms control. He examines New START stakes, risks if the treaty expires, Russian military rebuilding, quiet diplomacy in Abu Dhabi, and how perceptions of U.S. weakness and domestic defense interests shape policy.
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Federal Policing Sparks State Sovereignty Concerns
- The show opens by condemning federal overreach and documented abuses by federal agents in domestic policing.
- Judge Andrew Napolitano and Ray McGovern discuss judicial orders forcing federal preservation of evidence and state sovereignty concerns.
Simple Extension Could Prevent Arms Race
- Extending New START by a year would immediately reassure Russia and preserve limits on deployed strategic warheads and delivery systems.
- Ray McGovern argues Trump only needs to say "yes" to avoid a dangerous renewed arms race and reassure Moscow.
START Keeps Strategic Arsenals In Check
- The New START caps deployed strategic warheads at 1,550 per side and reduced far larger Cold War arsenals.
- McGovern warns expiration risks a costly buildup driven by Congress and defense contractors, undermining strategic stability.