Uncover the hidden forces shaping our world.
Zev applies his skills gained as a journalist and news executive for 30 years to give viewers and listeners an unparalleled view of events changing our world. 
Narativ is Where Truth Lives.

Exclusive: Two MPS charged with high treason in Ukraine; Hunter laptop was really data distributed by Giuliani and Bannon, and Mike Johnson's Russian benefactor is Putin's arms supplier.
The impeachment proceedings against President Biden that are now ramping up in the House have an alarming origin story - a network of Russian spies.
Over the last several years, Russian intelligence agencies like the GRU have been working diligently behind the scenes to craft a narrative about supposed Biden family corruption in Ukraine. Their goal? To damage Biden's presidency and tilt the scales toward a Trump return to power in 2024.
Two Ukrainian members of parliament, Andrei Derkach and Oleksandr Dubinsky, were recently arrested on treason charges for running a multi-million dollar election interference campaign to spread allegations about the Bidens on Russia's behalf. Both men met with Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani in 2019 to push claims about Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings.
Yet the GOP is still basing its impeachment push on the very same Russian-backed Hunter Biden narrative. They continue lying about "evidence" of Biden wrongdoing that does not actually exist. And it's working - polls find a majority of Americans now wrongly think Biden did something illegal.
But here's the kicker: The so-called "laptop" full of Hunter Biden's emails is likely just a sophisticated hack of his iCloud account. Both Giuliani and Steve Bannon disseminated hacked data that intelligence experts believe originated from Russian intelligence to discredit the Bidens.
In other words, impeachment is being fueled entirely by a years-long Russian spy plot. Yet Republicans continue perpetuating this propaganda operation because it serves their political interests, no matter the damage done to America's democracy.
The man now pushing impeachment in the House, new Speaker Mike Johnson, has suspicious ties to Russia himself. Johnson accepted campaign donations from Russian oligarch Konstantin Nikolayev, who supplies weapons for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and previously handled exposed Russian spy Maria Butina in the U.S.
Johnson took Russian money even while accusing Democrats of being soft on Russia. His former ally Liz Cheney labeled him "a collaborator" for his continued perpetuation of Trump's election lies after Jan. 6th. Now we know he's gotten in bed with Kremlin-connected Russians too.
By pursuing impeachment based on Russian disinformation, Johnson is serving Putin's interests - not America's. He is undermining our democracy and aiding election interference yet again. The presence of this kind of Russian "collaborator" at the very top ranks of U.S. power is a threat unlike we've ever seen.
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Narativ with Zev Shalev (Audio)

SPECIAL REPORT: Russian Spies Behind Biden Impeachment Push

This podcast episode originally aired May 3 2022, the same day as the leak of a controversial Supreme Court opinion that indicated Roe v. Wade would soon be overturned.
Before Leonard Leo was a household name, he was on Narativ’s radar and he became the main focus of our coverage the day a Supreme Court opinion leak about Roe v. Wade would be overturned, eliminating federal abortion rights protections.
Eric Garland was my guest that day. We discussed the implications of this bombshell and delve into the decades-long effort by conservatives to reshape the judiciary and set the stage for such a reversal. Central to this strategy has been Leonard Leo, a religiously-motivated lawyer and operative embedded in powerful legal networks like the Federalist Society and the Council for National Policy.
Leonard Leo's Influence
Though not a high-profile public figure, Leonard Leo has played an outsized role coordinating the conservative legal movement's long term plans. Guided by extreme Catholic notions of “natural law,” Leo leveraged his positions within the Federalist Society, the Council for National Policy, and other networks to place ideological allies in key positions. He is also an influential member of the secretive, ultra-conservative Catholic order the Knights of Malta, which bridges his advocacy with international power centers in the Vatican and beyond. Most notably, Leo facilitated over $30 million dollars in Koch brothers donations to reshape George Mason University's law school using his influence on their board. The ultimate goal was to groom Supreme Court justices sympathetic to rolling back liberal decisions on issues like abortion rights. Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett were all vetted and promoted by Leo before their controversial nominations and confirmations.
Response to Roe v. Wade Leak
The hosts react to realization of Leo’s goal to overturn Roe v. Wade with deep concern regarding legitimacy, given foreign meddling in recent appointments and new evidence indicating corporate capture of the judicial nomination process. More broadly, this episode encapsulates long building progressive fears that a hijacked Supreme Court could severely erode civil rights protections, privacy rights, and other pillars of equitable governance in America, jeopardizing stability and social cohesion. However, the hosts ultimately express hope that lawful accountability and democratic participation can restore rule of law and integrity to the Republic.

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From The Archive: Leonard Leo and the Christian Nationalist Capture of SCOTUS

Secretary of State Antony Blinken quietly slipped into Israel on Thursday for meetings in Ramallah and Jerusalem to further a bold proposal that may result in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Blinken believes the ongoing hostage releases and ceasefire talks provide a diplomatic opening for a long-lasting peace. 
Blinken outlined his proposal in a speech Thursday night.
Israel must improve the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza “in immediate, tangible ways.”
Israel must provide Palestinians with a credible path toward statehood.
The US will propose “practical steps” that can be taken to this end.
A “revitalized” Palestinian Authority will govern a united West Bank and Gaza.
The government in Ramallah must reform, end corruption, and promote a free press.
My guest on this week’s podcast is investment banker and Middle-East policy expert Rick Petree. His diplomatic roots, operational experience, and nuanced knowledge make him an ideal expert to assess Blinken’s gambit. 
As Rick and I were speaking, the final 8 hostages to be released by Hamas under the 4-day ceasefire - were in transit back home to Israel after 55 days in captivity. 120 Israelis have been freed, 75 remain in captivity.
We discuss how the crisis presents an opportunity for peace and how both Palestinian and Israeli public opinion seem increasingly receptive to dialogue and compromise after decades of failed security doctrines. 
Furthermore, the potential spoils of vast offshore gas reserves discovered between Israel and Gaza suggest possible shared prosperity if political cooperation can be achieved. 
No naïve optimism is warranted. And yet Blinken’s maneuverings hint that behind the hostage tragedy, economic incentives, and weariness of violence, a cautious hope burns for progress between historic enemies. The ingredients for peace may be aligning if key leaders can seize the moment.
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Blinken's Gambit: Can He Turn A Hostage Crisis into Mideast Peace?

BREAKING: The House will hold a third vote this week to expel Congressman George Santos in the wake of a damning ethics report accusing him of brazen fraud and theft. Santos remains defiant, saying: "If they want to send me home...God bless their hearts."
Tonight, we unpack the shadowy world of George Santos.  This episode has been digitally re-edited and remastered.
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There are many red flags that Santos could be a foreign spy. His lies suggest he's hiding his true identity. Spies often have criminal histories to help them operate - Santos is accused of fraud in Brazil and running a Ponzi scheme in the U.S. He's fabricated his entire background - no one knows where he was really educated. He has suspicious foreign funding ties to a Russian oligarch close to Putin. The layers of deception raise spy suspicions.
George Santos: A Trump Fanatic
Santos is cut from Trump's cloth - an obnoxious superfan. He outrageously claimed his house was ransacked just for attending a Trump party. Like Trump, he's an audacious liar.
George Santos: A Hidden Drag Queen?
There's evidence Santos once performed in drag as "Kitara Ravash" in Brazil under his alias "Anthony Devolder." As Republicans attack drag events, the irony of Santos potentially being a drag queen is striking.
The Russian Oligarch Backing George Santos
Santos has funding ties to sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who operates as a Putin delegate and allegedly runs an Israeli-Russian spying operation. Vekselberg's cousin Andrew Intrater, representing his business interests, donated thousands to Santos and groups supporting his Congressional bid.
The GOP Leadership's Support for George Santos
Despite his outrageous lies, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has refused calls to expel Santos, valuing his one-vote majority over integrity. But damning new allegations make his removal inevitable.
Conclusion
The questions surrounding Santos and his foreign backers raise serious unanswered questions about threats to national security. His imminent expulsion comes as no surprise.
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