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The "Bank Shot" Edition

Lauren Zalaznick

Jun 25, 2023

Dear all,

Happy last week of Pride month! I am looking forward to July, hoping it is rebranded as “Summer” because I am about to light another fire at our lovely beach house where it is certainly not Wintery but seems stuck in a Spring groove.

I’m not a very good military history student nor do I understand how the technicalities or even broad strategies of war work. Nor am I a “Kremlinologist.” But I am struck by this sort of twist/betrayal in the Russia/Ukraine war narrative where now these Wagner mercenaries have turned on Putin & Pals and staged a semi-coup, but then backed down.

What I wonder about is whether, since the Wagnerians are, um, “mercenaries,” whether someone paid them a lot of money to reverse course and maybe “pretend” to do a coup and take over Russian cities and then not push it so far. Like maybe it’s cheaper to pay them a few hundred million bucks than to keep sending billions of dollars worth of tanks and guns and stuff? Like, do you have to sign a contract as a mercenary that says oh I won’t take money from another mercenary-employer? Like a “no poach” agreement? With paid killers?

I have signed some tough and restrictive contracts in my life but actual money-for-coup-attempt was not a part of it as far as I know. Although I’m the one that doesn’t have the big corporate job anymore so maybe the whole boardroom coup thing just escaped me.

I haven’t given you a media round-up lately and now I’m overwhelmed. I basically turned away from series after Succession and Barry and have watched a movie a night. All kinds of movies. I’m overwhelmed and not good at remembering but I will attempt to make a list and go over it next week. Perfect for continuing chilly July 4th indoor festivities!

Stay tuned.

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