31 Comments
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Bob and Gayle's avatar

Sure wish this was a written piece. Cannot adequately express my distaste for interviews rather than essays. I know that's not the popular view; I just don't like being talked at.

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Kory's avatar

I also struggle with videos. I read much faster than the watching. And transcripts that include every "um" and repetitious stammer are cumbersome, too. I really miss being able to just read things.

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Coelle Baskel's avatar

I agree....there's so many reasons why 'reading' a piece is better than 'listening'. Subscribers could be in situations where there are others 'around' that wouldn't appreciate hearing it...yes, I know there are ear buds and headphones out there, I'm not a fan of those either. You can absorb more when reading and go back over the text...just easier to go at 'your pace' rather than listening to dialog.

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Marcia King's avatar

I’m with you. I can read faster than watch and MUCH prefer transcripts or articles to videos

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René Roberts's avatar

At least offer a transcript the next day.

I want to support these journalistic efforts, but when they’re all in video it’s difficult.

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Kory's avatar
Jun 3Edited

I believe there's a transcript link under the video next to the "Share" link, and it's there as soon as the video is posted.

I've been using the transcripts, but reading every single vocalization really bulks up the text with obstacles.

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Nona Faurnonce's avatar

Yes, also when someone writes an article they usually think out carefully what to say and what the important points are. When people talk, that doesn't happen so much.

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Traveling Tumbleweed's avatar

Right at the top where you see the like bubble (heart) them comment bubble, then restack bubble keep going to the right you will see a share bubble then a Transcript bubble. If you click on that it opens a page for reading. Something for everyone. I enjoy hearing these conversations. Creates a face with the words. Enjoy.

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Robin D's avatar

The transcript is up there. I prefer reading transcripts too.

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Nona Faurnonce's avatar

Yes! Among other things, it tends to take a lot longer to listen to a rambling video than to read a well-thought-out, concise article.

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Irena's avatar

Mr. Mak said "this is all sorts of lessons, not only for Ukraine, but also for the United States. Hey, can we achieve similar outcomes for less money? Do we really need all these bells and whistles for everything that we do?" Definitely something to think about when it comes to budget cuts and reappropriations. As for Ukraine, I am rooting for it and applaud its ingenuity. It's not waiting for the U.S. to do something which is smart given how unreliable and not trustworthy the White House is.

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Diane's avatar

What a charming, well-spoken young man along with the ever-wonderful Jen. And it doesn’t hurt one bit that the news is a win for the Ukrainians!

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Denise Wallace's avatar

I subscribe to Tim Mak’s Counteroffensive on Substack. He is a great journalist who is in Kiev.

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Michelle Jordan's avatar

Great reporting! We would never get this from MSM.

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Elizabeth K. Baker's avatar

Excellent interview. It is so refreshing to see and hear the speakers. I really appreciate these videos.

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Katherine Cram's avatar

Fabulous reporting - both information and perspectives. I think the interview format explores nuances and complexities of situations that I might not catch in a written dialogue - which I would tend to skim except for certain parts.

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Wade Newman's avatar

Thank you Tim for your ongoing informative journalism and analysis!

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Susan Brace's avatar

I really like the video interviews as a break from constant reading. I enjoy hearing people's voices and seeing their expressions.

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Sally Buechel's avatar

I agree. I love Jen's videos in particular. She moves things right along with lots of substance and very little fluff. Its always a treat to get to "meet" the interesting guests.

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Connie's avatar

Congratulations to you Ukraine.

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Claudia L Shambaugh's avatar

Thank you for the restorative clarity in this segment. Good news, excellent coverage.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

I have thought for some time that Ukraine was in need of a "Crossing the Delaware" moment. I cheer the Ukrainians' achievement.

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Karl Kolesnikoff's avatar

Some points not strongly made. There was help within Russia to make this happen. It is a great deal of local help and support to carry out the movement of trucks with the drones. Indicates that there is a certain amount of collaboration internally with Russian dissenters; especially over long distances. Drones are the new warfare for the modern age, much like tanks and machine guns had on WWI. The use of creative responses by an underdog on its home territory against a greater external threat (Russia) has proven out in the past to be very successful. One of the reasons USA had to depart Vietnam and the Bush-bully war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Carolyn Wilhelm's avatar

Wasn’t there an international group that helped this project?

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Denise Wallace's avatar

Great interview. I actually prefer the video. Both journalists are great in print and video .

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Grace Doolittle's avatar

Excellent discussion! Yes, Putin has no interest in stopping this war and Trump just enables him

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Nona Faurnonce's avatar

Since the topic has come up, I want to add that I often skip the videos, just completely skip them. It's because there's only so much time to read about everything going on. It may be the content producers prefer videos because they can just get up there and talk, not spend time on thinking and proofreading and such. But it's the opposite for me as a viewer. The videos take more time than reading does. Consequently, I usually don't watch the videos, and usually don't even read the transcripts, assuming I can see where the transcript is posted right away. So, there is a price to pay at both sides of this, I suspect.

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