President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting about the war in Ukraine. But will the country Russia invaded have any say into how it ends? A Russia expert explains how Putin’s time in the KGB has prepared him for this moment and why he will likely consider the meeting a success before it even begins. 
Guest: Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief 
Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. 
Host: David Rind 
Producer: Paola Ortiz 
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 
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What Trump’s DC Takeover is Really About

Starting August 2, 2026 all new episodes can be found over in the ⁠CNN 5 Things feed.⁠  Search "CNN 5 Things" wherever you get your podcasts.



You’ve been overwhelmed with headlines all week – what's worth a closer look? One Thing takes you beyond the headlines and helps make sense of what everyone is talking about. Host David Rind talks to experts, reporters on the front lines and the real people impacted by the news about what they've learned – and why it matters.