First episode of 2026, and we’re doing what any sensible people would avoid: bad confidence and strong opinions.

We start with a quick “year that was” round, pulling out the under-the-radar Russia stories from 2025 that mattered more than the headlines: why the most interesting political signals came from the regions, not Moscow; how sanctions reshaped Russian wine and the craft beer scene; and the domestic tourism boom, from Dagestan and Kaliningrad to a surge in trips to Crimea and the growing obsession with wellness breaks and nature travel.

Then we move into a hot take-off. Each of us brings three predictions for 2026, from near-guarantees to properly ridiculous long shots, and the other two have to argue why they’re wrong. Expect arguments about the 2026 Duma election, sanctions relief vs growing absurdity, rouble strength as a warning sign, housing pressures, elite reshuffles, direct flights, and whether 2026 brings a major political pivot or more of the same.

This podcast is an independent project and does not represent the views of our employers or affiliated institutions.