russia and nbc news international affairs analyst. michael, it is great to have you. there is a lot to try to understand here. i guess the first, what do you make of this arrangement here? there, it is asymmetrical undoubtedly. but both brittney griner and victor bout are effectively celebrities in their respective countries. russians, it appears, know a lot about viktor bout. and he is more known there than he is here obviously. and the way that brittney griner is an important asset if you will in terms of american culture and sports. what do you make of the deal? i support the deal, i think it is fantastic that brittney griner is coming home. these are held calls i was in the government. i was at the white house when he was convicted, victor bout. you asked about the abomination officials. i am one of them. this guy is a really really bad guy. as you rightly hinted that, probably connected to the intelligence services. and they have been trying to get him out ever since i was at th
i guess the first, what do you make of this arrangement here? there, it is asymmetrical undoubtedly. but both brittney griner and victor bout are effectively celebrities in their respective countries. russians, it appears, know a lot about viktor bout. and he is more known there than he is here obviously. in the way that brittney griner is an important asset if you will in terms of american culture and sports. what do you make of the deal? i support the deal, i think it is fantastic that brittney griner is coming home. these are hard calls i was in the government. i was at the white house when he was convicted, victor bout. you asked about the abomination officials. i am one of them. this guy is a really really bad guy. as you rightly hinted that, probably connected to the intelligence services. and they have been trying to get him out ever since i was at the white house. when i was a u.s. ambassador to russia, putin has wanted him out for a long time. the biden team, and ultimately
there is a lot to try to understand here. i guess the first, what do you make of this arrangement here? there, it is asymmetrical undoubtedly. but both brittney griner and victor bout are effectively celebrities in their respective countries. russians, it appears, know a lot about viktor bout. and he is more known there than he is here obviously. in the way that brittney griner is an important asset if you will in terms of american culture and sports. what do you make of the deal? i support the deal, i think it is fantastic that brittney griner is coming home. these are hard calls i was in the government. i was at the white house when he was convicted, victor bout. you asked about the abomination officials. i am one of them. this guy is a really really bad guy. as you rightly hinted at, probably connected to the intelligence services. and they have been trying to get him out ever since i was at the white house. when i was a u.s. ambassador to
outside. former president bill clinton will be here, cecily tyson, many friends of hers. stevie wonder, smokey robinson all on the program today and we just got our hands on the program that guests are greeted with to see this beautiful picture of aretha franklin and inside just an incredible collage of photographs spanning so many different portions of her life, her career. and you see this incredible bio of how her life spans and how she touched the lives in music, politics, civil rights, american culture and sports. and two guests i have that with me right now can help tell their personal stories of how she personally touched their lives, gospel singer shirley cesar and former detroit pistons star nba great isaiah thomas. i know your hearts are so heavy