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Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Desperate Putin brainwashing TODDLERS with cartoons starring baby Trump to indoctrinate kids ‘as early as possible'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWISTED Putin's brainwashing programme has plunged to new depths with a dystopian propaganda cartoon aimed at toddlers. The animated kids' show uses toddler versions of world leaders to plant pro-Putin and anti-Western sentiments before kids can even walk or talk. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 16 Sandpit features animated versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim (top left to bottom right) Credit: Telegram 16 A gentle, wide-eyed Putin with a bear and a ship symbolising the Black Sea Fleet Credit: Telegram 16 Putin's propaganda machine targets children to boost support for his faltering war Credit: Alamy Putin's chief propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, spearheaded the new show called Sandpit. The producers say its aim is to "instil patriotism from an early age" and teach Russian infants to "discuss geopolitics". A 30-second trailer posted on Solovyov's Telegram account shows toddler versions of Putin, Trump, Macron, Musk, Erdogan and Kim Jong-un chatting on a video call. At one point, Kim tells Macron he shouldn't be allowed to hang out with the others because 'you're always with your grandma' - a jibe at the French president's wife, Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior. When Trump asks why their call is taking place on a Russian video app, Putin fires back with a jab at Western technology: 'Because your Skype cut out, that's why.' Speaking to The Sun, Dr Alasdair McCallum, a Russian propaganda expert at Australia's Monash University, says: "The Sandpit cartoon is taking things to new extremes. "You have these quite bizarre AI-generated cartoons aimed at toddlers. "The aim is to indoctrinate from as early as possible - before they can even walk.' Dr McCallum thinks the message in the trailer couldn't be more obvious. He explains: 'The idea is that Russia is strong and the West is weak, so Trump, Macron and Musk are depicted as goofy and incapable of making strong decisions, whereas the little toddler version of Putin is very strong and composed.' Inside Putin's chilling 10-year plot to build army of West-hating 'child zombies' to prepare for war with Nato Putin, whose face appears kind and calm, is shown wearing a crisp white judo uniform. Next to the Russian president sit a teddy bear, a symbol of national identity, and a black toy ship, representing the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. Meanwhile Kim, who is currently sending troops and weapons to back Putin's war in Ukraine, comes across as missile-mad, gripping a toy rocket tightly with both hands. Towering missiles also loom in the background of the dictator's room - which, with its lack of windows, resembles a bunker. And to drive the point home further, Kim's email address - BigBadaBoom@ - is a blatant nod to explosions, paired with the mock domain of North Korea's capital. Erdogan, whose email address is LuxuryTurkey@ is also portrayed in a wildly exaggerated style. Wearing the traditional fez, the Turkish president appears against an ornate, Ottoman-inspired backdrop. While presidents like Erdogan and Macron show cracks of anxiety, Trump and Musk grin smugly. The businessman-turned-president sits in a gaudy room, while the Tesla CEO appears fixated on his toy car. The cartoons even have their own avatars: Putin is a bear with a red star, Kim is a mushroom cloud and Trump is the pope blessing worshippers. Many of the references will sail right over kids' heads, Dr McCallum admits, but he says they serve the additional aim of shocking the rest of the world. He explains: 'A lot of Russian propaganda has a kind of shock element to it. "This is why you often see extreme messages about the amount of nukes they could drop on Britain.' He believes the timing of the show's launch is far from a coincidence. UK intelligence revealed in early June that Russia has suffered huge war losses, with about one million of its own soldiers either killed or wounded in the war in Ukraine since February 2022. 16 Sandpit aims to 'instil patriotism from an early age', according to its producers Credit: Telegram 16 A missile-mad Kim Jong-un is shown holding a toy rocket Credit: Telegram 16 A distressed Macron is teased over his older wife Brigitte, who is called his 'grandma' Credit: Telegram 16 Putin has ramped up propaganda aimed at children Credit: AP "They need to replenish that manpower, they have to try to indoctrinate them early,' says Dr McCallum. But he finds it hard to imagine any of Solovyov's eight privileged, Western-educated kids - born to three different women - dying on the front line in Donetsk. "It's always the lower echelons of society that get fed into this propaganda mill and then go to fight and die,' he adds. Sandpit comes as the Kremlin ramps up efforts to target children - both Russian and Ukrainian - with state propaganda. At Russia's Victory Day parades, prams are turned into cardboard tanks and babies are dressed in tiny army uniforms. Youth groups like Yunarmiya, along with school visits featuring war veterans, actively expose kids - even as young as preschool age - to the world of weaponry and military culture. While boys are targeted with militaristic messaging, girls are fed pro-natalist narratives, pushing them toward motherhood and care-giving roles, says Dr McCallum. Teenage girls are reportedly paid as much as £1,000 to have babies in more than 10 regions across Russia, including Oryol and Yaroslavl in the west, and Kemerovo in Siberia. A TV show previously called 'Pregnant at 16' - intended to discourage teenage pregnancies - was rebranded as 'Mama at 16' in January. Each episode now opens with the more optimistic phrase "I'm expecting a child" instead of the former "I'm pregnant". The channel that airs 'Mama at 16' also broadcasts similarly themed shows like 'Supermum', 'Maternity Ward Days', 'Call Me Mum' and 'Mama at 45'. Its website reads: 'Yu is a reality show network about the most important things for a young woman: family, children, mother-in-laws, mums, friends and, of course, love.' 16 Russian President Vladimir Putin and leading TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov Credit: East2West 16 Who is Vladimir Solovyov? VLADIMIR Solovyov is a leading TV presenter and pro-Putin propagandist. Born in 1963 to a Jewish family in Moscow, he has hosted the prime-time show Evening with Vladimir Solovyov on state channel Russia-1 since 2012. Known for his staunch support of Putin's policies, Solovyov has been a vocal advocate for Russia's war in Ukraine. On the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Solovyov was sanctioned by the EU and banned from entering its member states. Solovyov at the time said: "Today is the day that a righteous operation was launched for the de-Nazification in Ukraine." In August 2022, following proposals by some EU countries to ban tourist visas for Russians, Solovyov even suggested missile strikes on Berlin, Paris, London and Brussels. At school, children face mandatory weekly lessons called 'Conversations about Important Things', where patriotism is drilled in and dying for the Motherland is glorified. The course was introduced in September 2022 - eight months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In September 2023, new history textbooks were distributed across Russian schools that glorify Russia, omit criticism of Stalin and portray the West as aggressors. Children are taught that Ukraine is a 'Nazi state' and that Russia's invasion is justified - no different to Putin's claim that it's 'a question of life and death, the question of our historic future as a people'. Dr McCallum explains: 'A central element of Russian propaganda is that Russia and ethnic Russians were the sole victors over Nazism and that Ukraine is an artificial Nazi state. "But this doesn't gel with the reality of a Jewish president [Zelensky] and support from European countries." 16 Russian children enrolled in the Youth Army are seen trying on gas masks Credit: Reuters 16 The Kremlin is trying to boost support for its military among children Credit: Reuters 16 Solovyov is a leading figure on Russia's state-run TV, where he regularly calls for the destruction of the West Credit: East2West More Russians are rejecting Putin's propaganda Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Russians do not rely solely on state-controlled TV. Dependence on state TV dropped sharply from around 90 percent to just over 60 percent from 2013 to 2021, according to the Atlantic Council. Meanwhile, over 85 percent of Russians are said to have internet access. Despite increased Kremlin censorship, independent platforms like YouTube and Telegram remain accessible in Russia. Many people also use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions. The majority of Russians still back the war in Ukraine, according to the latest 2025 surveys from Levada Center, Statista, and VCIOM. But the data reveals a growing appetite for peace talks. Younger generations, in particular, show lower support for the conflict compared to their elders. However, experts warn that public surveys on Russian support for the war should be taken with a pinch of salt, as censorship and fear of repercussions can dictate people's responses. Over 500 Russian teenagers have been arrested at anti-war rallies since 2022, according to human rights group OVD-Info. One of them, Arseny Turbin, was just 15 when he was arrested and accused of joining the Freedom of Russia Legion - a group made up of Russian citizens fighting alongside Ukraine. He was also charged with distributing leaflets critical of Vladimir Putin and the war. Arseny was sentenced to five years in a youth detention centre in November last year - where he remains to this day. 16 A classroom of Russian children in Moscow 16 A Russian boy examines an AK-74 Kalashnikov assault rifle at a military exhibition 16 A Russian military officer accepts flowers from a girl during Victory Day parade Credit: AFP 16 The reality show 'Mama at 16' has been criticised as encouraging girls to become teen mums
NBC News
8 hours ago
- NBC News
Thom Tillis' exit shakes up the battle for the Senate as key races take shape
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis' surprise retirement announcement has shaken up not only North Carolina's Senate race, but also the broader fight for the majority in the chamber heading into next year's midterm elections. Democrats face a difficult task of netting four seats to win the Senate majority. Aside from battleground North Carolina, the party's top pickup opportunity is in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator representing a state that former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024. But the five-term incumbent has proved difficult to unseat. And beyond that, Democrats would need to win races in traditionally red states, in addition to holding a handful of swing-state seats. But with Tillis now declining to seek a third term, Democrats are starting to see a clearer, if still uphill, path to the majority. 'If Democrats want to take back the Senate, it starts in North Carolina,' said Morgan Jackson, a veteran Democratic consultant in the state. The Democratic fields in North Carolina and Maine are still taking shape, and decisions from potential contenders could come in the next few weeks after a new fundraising quarter kicked off on Tuesday. Candidates often launch campaigns early in a quarter in hopes of posting a big fundraising number right out of the gate. In recent days, Republican Scott Brown launched a Senate bid in New Hampshire, while former Democratic Rep. Colin Allred announced he is running in Texas. Tar Heel State shake-up Tillis' exit now means the Republican field in North Carolina is in flux, with all eyes on a potential contender with the same last name as President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters Tuesday that his daughter-in-law Lara Trump 'would always be my first choice' to run for Senate in North Carolina, her home state. Some Tar Heel State Republicans said potential candidates would likely defer to Lara Trump if she decides to run. 'The Trump lane is the path to victory. If your name's Trump, you got a pretty good advantage,' said Republican strategist Jonathan Felts. A former Republican National Committee co-chair, Lara Trump told Fox News Radio on Monday that she is considering a run, noting that she passed on running for Senate in North Carolina in 2022 and in Florida earlier this year. 'It is something that, if it works out and the timing works and it works for my family, it is absolutely something that I would consider doing,' she said. Doug Heye, a former RNC spokesman and North Carolina native, said Lara Trump 'has the right of first refusal.' 'If she wants the nomination, she's in the driver's seat,' Heye said. 'If she doesn't, this process could be wide open.' Other potential candidates include current RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, the former chairman of the North Carolina GOP. 'It's fair to say that he is open to it, but he is going to take direction from the president and the White House,' said one Senate GOP strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly about private deliberations. First-term Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., is also considered a potential candidate, though he posted on X that he would back Lara Trump if she runs. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday that he is also considering a Senate run, but he has been focused on passing the president's sweeping domestic policy bill. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., was considered a potential candidate, but he announced on Tuesday that he remains focused on leading the National Republican Congressional Committee. On the Democratic side, former Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel is in the race, but many members of the party are waiting to see if former Gov. Roy Cooper decides to jump in. 'Gov. Cooper continues to strongly consider a run for the Senate and he'll decide in the coming weeks,' said Jackson, a Cooper adviser. Jackson said Tillis' exit has not affected Cooper's deliberations, noting Cooper's decision 'has always been based on a personal decision of what is the best way to serve the state and the people. And that calculation has not changed.' Other key matchups take shape The Democratic field is also still in flux in Maine. Collins' spokespeople did not return a request for comment on her plans, but she told CNN in May, 'It's certainly my inclination to run and I'm preparing to do so,' adding that she has 'not made a formal announcement because it's too early for that.' Jordan Wood, a Maine native who served as former California Rep. Katie Porter's chief of staff, is in the race on the Democratic side. Maine state House Speaker Ryan Fecteau and former state Sen. Cathy Breen told the Portland Press Herald in May that they were considering runs. And Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, told the Bangor Daily News that he is also weighing a run for Senate. But Democrats are largely waiting on Gov. Janet Mills to make a decision on a Senate run. Mills, who cannot run for re-election due to term limits, has not closed the door on challenging Collins. But she told the Maine Trust for Local News in April, 'I'm not planning to run for anything. Things change week to week, month to month, but at this moment I'm not planning to run for another office.' Democratic Senatorial Campaign Chairwoman Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told NBC News last month that she was confident her party would have formidable candidates in both Maine and North Carolina. She also did not rule out taking sides in primaries to boost the strongest candidate. Republicans, meanwhile, are looking to expand their 53-47 majority by targeting Democratic-held seats in Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff is the only Democrat running for re-election in a state Trump won last year, since Michigan Sen. Gary Peters is retiring. And Republicans are bracing for a primary fight in the Peach State after Gov. Brian Kemp passed on running. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., and state Insurance Commissioner John King are already in the race, and the field is expected to grow. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., told NBC News on Wednesday that he is seriously considering a run and would make a decision 'in the near future.' Derek Dooley, a former football coach at the University of Tennessee with personal ties to Kemp, is seriously considering running and has met with key Georgia donors and Republican officials in Washington, D.C., according to a Georgia GOP strategist familiar with Dooley's deliberations. It remains to be seen whether Trump and Kemp will work to back the same candidate in the primary. Trump and Kemp met in mid-May, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed to NBC News. The meeting was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which noted that Trump and Kemp did discuss the Senate race. GOP leaders have already taken sides in the primary in Michigan, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., backing former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost a close Senate race last year. But Rogers could still face a primary, with Rep. Bill Huizenga considering a run. Democrats will also have a contentious primary in the open-seat race, with Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, former state House Speaker Joe Tate and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed all running for the nomination. But Democrats have coalesced around a candidate in New Hampshire, with Rep. Chris Pappas running to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Brown, a former ambassador and former Massachusetts senator, may not be the only Republican candidate to jump into the race. State Sen. Dan Innis has also said he is considering a run.
The Herald Scotland
9 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Gen Z takes being American for granted
In the 2025 iteration of this poll, a staggering 92% of Republicans were "extremely" or "very" proud to be American, whereas just 53% of independents and 36% of Democrats reported feeling the same. Until 2016, Democrats and Republicans remained rather similar in their patriotism, with both reaching values above 80% before the election of President Donald Trump. However, modern patriotism among Democrats is dependent on who is in the White House, rather than any genuine love of America. During the time that Joe Biden was in the White House, Republican pride in being American bottomed out at 84%. Over the same period, Democrats rose to a peak of just 62%. One significant driver of this decline is Generation Z, born between 1997 to 2012, whose patriotism lags far behind previous generations. Just 41% of Gen Z is extremely or very proud to be American, and among young Democrats, that falls to just 24%. Partisanship is getting in the way of patriotism for Democrats Being proud to be American has absolutely nothing to do with being proud of our current leaders. In their fluctuations in pride depending on who is in the White House, Democrats have lost sight of this. I am one of the most critical people of our government out there, and I think of that as being borne out of my patriotism. Criticizing the government when it does not strengthen America's foundational principles is a patriotic act. My fellow columnist Rex Huppke has the right idea. "We can love this country and loathe the people in charge," he wrote in a recent column. "We can be simultaneously proud of this country and embarrassed of the things being done in its name." Tell us: This Fourth of July, are you proud to be an American? | Opinion Forum Now, obviously, I am no Democrat, but it saddens me that this same principle apparently does not hold for many of them. To many Democrats in modern times, it seems as if their love for this country is contingent on their preferred candidates being in power. Interestingly, this seems to be a problem unique to Democrats. While some Republicans seemingly faltered in their patriotism over the previous four years, they did not see the massive swing between the Biden and Trump presidencies that Democrats saw over the same period. This is all evidence of the fact that Democrats have attached their pride to a political movement, rather than to a love of America's founding principles. For some, this is a problem of them simply being blinded by partisanship. For others, however, it marks a much deeper problem. America's failures to live up to her founding principles at times are not evidence of those principles being bad; they are evidence of human nature being imperfect. Gen Z doesn't know how good we have it Much of Gen Z has been captured by the progressive left, many of whom do genuinely believe that America's institutions and system of government need to be torn down completely. These revolutionaries are responsible for the complete lack of patriotism among Gen Z. Opinion: Senate just passed Trump's Big Beautiful Bill - and made it even uglier Gen Z doesn't realize how lucky we are. We live in the greatest country and in the greatest time in history. There is no collective group that has it better at any point in history than we do right now. Many will disagree with me on this point, but they are mistaken. There is no place better constructed to safeguard your individual liberties than here. While we are very obviously imperfect in that goal, no other nation on earth is better equipped to pursue liberty through the freedoms that our Constitution protects. Tearing down the system that has led to such a wonderful place would be a mistake. Within a framework designed to preserve liberty is the best place to enact whatever political change it is that you want, unless your goal is not liberty. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Those who advocate against America's foundation might feel entitled - in the sense that they believe it is the job of government to provide for them - have taken the freedoms that we have for granted or are delusional about how good others have it. I do not know how to solve the problem of restoring patriotism to those who have lost it. I am sympathetic to the frustrations young Americans have with the state of our politics, and I am hopeful that Gen Z will learn that they are better off trying to change this country, rather than destroy it. America is a wonderful place, and you would do best to fight for your political causes within her structure of liberty, rather than attempting to tear it down. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
