Ignore Candace Owens. Putin’s Russia is a failing kleptocracy Popular podcaster Candace Owens visited Russia and praised its Christian heritage on social media, claiming Western media lies about the country. This mirrors previous visits by figures like Tucker Carlson. However, the article contends that contemporary Russia employs “Christian expression” as a cynical pose, with only about 6% of Russians attending religious services weekly.

• Candace Owens visited Russia and praised its Christian expression, stating Western media lies about the country.
• Tucker Carlson previously visited Russia and made similar positive remarks.
• Owens shared pictures, possibly from the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, celebrating national glories.
• The article argues that contemporary Russia uses “Christian expression” cynically, with low weekly religious service attendance.
• A 1985 conversation between Gorbachev and Mitterrand described the USSR as a “third-world country with nuclear weapons.”