EVER READY: According to the Russian news agency TASS, Sergey Naryshkin, the director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) says he is ready to meet with his new U.S. counterpart, CIA Director John Ratcliffe. That’s if – he stressed – Ratcliffe shows an interest in getting together. “We are always ready for talks,” Naryshkin said. TASS asked if the SVR and CIA had remained in contact in recent years. “We have an official representative in Washington, while the Central Intelligence Agency has its official representative in Moscow,” was the reply. Operators are standing by.
NOT THE KIND OF ENDORSEMENTS YOU WOULD WANT: Russian Media Monitor, Julia Davis, posted a clip of State TV talking head Vladimir Solovyov and friends speculating about the cabinet level confirmation process in the U.S. Solovyov asked an onset U.S. expert “But when will our boy be appointed to head the FBI?” (Speaking of Kash Patel.) Rubbing his hands, Solovyov added “we like him a lot.” His guest said “we like Hegseth a lot too. He’s great at throwing axes” (Referring to an incident on Fox News years ago.) With a grin, the TV host bantered, “I want to see Kash Patel turn the FBI into a museum of political repressions the very next day.” The contributor predicted that both Patel and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi will be confirmed. “Kash will catch them, Bondi will prosecute them. Solovyov then asked “What about our girl?” (likely referring to DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard.) But the unidentified political prognosticator dampened the mood by saying that she may not get there (confirmed as DNI) and thus would get the ax.
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