geoff: From the reported death of outspoken Putin critic alexei navalny to Donald Trump latest legal blow we turn to the analysis of brooks and Capehart. President Biden said today there is no doubt that Vladimir Putin's government is behind the death of alexei navalny. What is your reaction and assessment. >> It was shocking because of who navalny was in terms of opposition. A well-known opponent of Vladimir Putin but also because of the timing. The Munich security conference is happening right now. It is the most important gathering of national security and foreign policy leaders from around the world. And the announcement of navalny 'S death came a few hours before vice president Harris was supposed to speak which was known. Mrs. Navalny was there to do a panel with former secretary of state, held re-clinton. We had been listening to Donald Trump's saying, if nato does not pay its bills then Russia can do whatever it wants. This ends in an incredible -- this sends an incredibly chilling message to the world that Vladimir Putin probably feels very emboldened. And when there is a major candidate running for president of the United States saying what he is saying, Vladimir Putin probably feels confident that may be come November he will have a friend in the white house. Geoff: We heard Andrew Weiss say earlier that there is a suggestion that the U.S. Will be locked in a confrontation with Russia for years to come. >> Vladimir Putin is an expansionist and an authoritarian. From Jimmy Carter until about George W. Bush, foreign policy felt it was important to champion democracy. After our we have stopped. The Democrats -- after Iraqi we stopped. We are not going to invade countries but we should be on the right side of history. As for Vladimir Putin, he is who he says he is. The Ukraine is a start, the Polish people are worried for a reason. In retrospect it looks terrible that we did not give the Ukrainians every military system we did eventually when they had momentum. Geoff: Russia is reportedly developing space-based capability to take out satellites with a nuclear weapon. How will this affect the ongoing debate on the hill about Ukraine eight -- Ukraine aid? >> I would hope it would change hearts and minds and the political dynamic that I don't see it changing anything. The characters up there are unmoved by fax. They are unmoved by America's role in the world. They are unmoved by what it means and why it is imperative that the U.S. Fulfill its commitments but also fulfill its commitments to Ukraine. Maybe they don't care because president Biden says what is happening in Ukraine is a war between democracy and autocracy. At some point they will face the realization that if Ukraine falls, then they will talk about Poland or Estonia or the other baltic states. I would hope the idea of a nuclear space weapon would turn them around but not with these folks. Geoff: Will this help focus the minds of congress? >> I am impressed with the amount of action. Members of the house, there are two different coalitions and they have two different approaches. One is a skinny bill. Another section says if we can get concessions from Democrats on immigration that let people remain in Mexico while awaiting asylum claims, we will give them the whole foreign aid package. There is still a lot of momentum. I'm a little more optimistic. Geoff: David Weiss charged Alexander smirnov with lying about president Joe Biden and his sons business dealings with the Ukrainian energy company burisma and it undercuts a major piece of the Republicans impeachment query >>. >>In a perfect world the chairman would say, we are done here. Our chief person is caught lying to the FBI. When you ignore the fact send you are devoid of shame, you can do whatever you want. What we are hearing from the chairman is we are going to forge ahead. I am the dower one at this table when it comes to congress particularly the Republican majority but I don't -- it might change the conversation around the table but it won't change anything in terms of the course of action already underway on the hill. Geoff: Is your view equally as dower? . No. What we've seen with ocean or novel case where he was clearly lying. -- What we have seen with the smirnov case where he was clearly lying -- the legal system does not work with nonsense. You have to have evidence. You can make claims but they are tested. Oh geoff: The judge has ordered former president trump and his companies to pay more than 300 $50 million in a civil fraud case. A major financial blow but also to his persona building has brand on building a successful businessman. >> And he -- as a result of these court cases he is still making money. Every time there is a ruling or a judgment against -- against him, there goes a fundraising email asking for money for his campaign. I can't remember if it is his daughter in law who says we will use every dollar we have in defending Donald Trump. You hit on the key thing -- this judgment hits at his idea of himself, a very wealthy man. It is why he went to all of those hearings when he didn't need to be there because that to him is the existential threat. We will find out if he does have a half million dollars to put up to fulfill this judgment. When you add on the 83 point something million dollar judgment in the E Carol case. We are about to find out if he has the money. Geoff: A half a yen dollars is real money. -- A half a billion dollars is real money. >> I think people can understand -- the guy had three sets of books. The bankers >>. The irs books. And he must've had the real books. People can understand that is fraud. And if he has to pay the money, I think that will be bad. If he cannot come with the money in this case they will start seizing assets. Imagine what that will do to the trump psychology. And then he cannot be a businessman in New York state for three years. This is the family business. The family got kicked out of the family business. This -- these are all psychologically derailing things for Donald Trump. Geoff: And you have a judge rejecting his bid to toss the hush money case. Looking at the totality, what will the net effect of this be? >> He is going to be in a courtroom. We will go from the theoretical to the real. I am looking forward to it because the dude needs to be held accountable in a court of law. Geoff: Have a good weekend. Good to see you.
