The Kremlin has used the unfolding war in Iran to frame the United States as a reckless "wild elephant" sowing global chaos. Highlighting the destruction of U.S. bases and the "crusading" religious fervor of U.S. military leaders, Russian state media openly contrasts Donald Trump's "Middle Eastern catastrophe" with Vladimir Putin’s "special military operation" in Ukraine; whereas the American effort is depicted as an idiotic and aimless video game, Russia’s campaign is portrayed as a measured, well-planned, and unalloyed success. With potential windfall oil profits now added as a bonus thanks to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, these television broadcasts paint Russia as an island of stability in an increasingly turbulent world.

In this episode, Andy Kuchins and Chris Monday unpack how Vladimir Putin and Russian elites understand the wo ...