The Delingpod: The James Delingpole Podcast

Edward Slavsquat

Feb 13, 2026

Edward Slavsquat, writer and long‑time Russia resident (pen name of Riley Wagaman), shares vivid stories from life in Russia. He talks about media narratives, propaganda and perception management. He discusses everyday Russian society beyond headlines, the war’s messy consequences, and why power and elites behave similarly everywhere.

01:43:44

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ANECDOTE

Human Toll Of Russia's COVID Response

Russia suffered a major population decline in 2021 and healthcare was heavily restructured to fight COVID.
Elderly and chronic patients were often sidelined and put into isolated 'red wards' with poor outcomes.

insights

INSIGHT

Both Sides Play The Same Game

Global elites on both sides play the same coercive game and present narratives to justify power.
Supporting one geopolitical faction often means backing the same system of exploitation in different colors.

insights

INSIGHT

SMO Made The Strategic Problem Worse

The special military operation (SMO) worsened the Kremlin's original problems by accelerating NATO integration of Ukraine.
The war has deepened the permanent split between Russia and Ukraine and made reconciliation far harder.

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Why the pen name Edward Slavsquat

04:20 • 50sec

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How Edward first moved to Russia

05:11 • 2min

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James's first impressions of Russia

06:54 • 3min

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Is it wrong to love Russia?

09:33 • 3min

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Russians' suspicion of the state

12:33 • 4min

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Russia and Western elites compared

16:19 • 45sec

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Sputnik V and the vaccine narrative

17:03 • 4min

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How Russia enforced COVID measures

20:44 • 2min

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Where Russians resisted COVID rules

22:43 • 5min

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Putin's autonomy and merchant mentality

27:16 • 3min

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Russia's energy riches and domestic limits

30:11 • 3min

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Middle-class life and bureaucracy in Russia

33:01 • 3min

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Are elites all playing the same game?

36:14 • 10min

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The SMO: why Edward opposed it

45:49 • 6min

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Longer war worsens Kremlin goals

52:19 • 5min

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Why Russia hasn't ended the war decisively

56:51 • 4min

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NATO munitions on Russian soil and normalization

01:01:16 • 4min

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Spiritual elements and Orthodoxy in Russia

01:05:25 • 2min

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From believer in the system to skeptic

01:07:50 • 7min

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How power compromises leaders

01:14:40 • 9min

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Being unwelcome: Edward's exit from Russia

01:23:40 • 4min

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Why ordinary people bear the cost

01:28:04 • 5min

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Freedom, safetyism and generational change

01:33:17 • 7min

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Final thoughts and advice on visiting Russia

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

Watermelons

James Delingpole

James Delingpole's "Watermelons" (2024) exposes the deceptive tactics employed by climate alarmists. The book unveils how political activists, green campaigners, and others fabricated the 'global warming' crisis. Delingpole meticulously details their sinister plan to control resources and reshape society. The updated edition includes new chapters that further illuminate the climate alarmists' manipulative strategies. This insightful work challenges the prevailing narrative and encourages critical thinking about environmental issues.

#118

• Mentioned in 160 episodes

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy

Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.

#483

• Mentioned in 63 episodes

That Hideous Strength

C. S. Lewis

Published in 1945, 'That Hideous Strength' is the final book in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The story takes place on Earth and follows the character Mark Studdock, a young sociology faculty member at Bracton College, as he becomes entangled with the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N. I. C. E. ), a sinister organization with totalitarian ambitions. The novel delves into themes of faith, doubt, and the struggle between good and evil, featuring characters from the previous books in the trilogy, including Elwin Ransom. It critiques the dangers of logical positivism and the erosion of moral values, drawing parallels with other dystopian works like George Orwell's '1984'.

James talks to Edward Slavsquat, writer, commentator, and long-time Russia resident about what the Western media consistently gets wrong about Russia, war, and power. From propaganda and perception management to everyday life beyond the headlines, this is a conversation about narratives, truth, and why reality is rarely as simple as we’re told.

Edward’s Substack: https://substack.com/@edwardslavsquat

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How environmentalists are killing the planet, destroying the economy and stealing your children’s future.

In Watermelons, an updated edition of his ground-breaking 2011 book, James tells the shocking true story of how a handful of political activists, green campaigners, voodoo scientists and psychopathic billionaires teamed up to invent a fake crisis called ‘global warming’.

This updated edition includes two new chapters which, like a geo-engineered flood, pour cold water on some of the original’s sunny optimism and provide new insights into the diabolical nature of the climate alarmists’ sinister master plan.

Purchase Watermelons by James Delingpole here:
https://jamesdelingpole.co.uk/Shop/

↓ ↓ ↓

Buy James a Coffee at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jamesdelingpole

The official website of James Delingpole:
https://jamesdelingpole.co.uk

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