After spending 3 1/2 years in a Russian prison for bringing a small amount of medical marijuana into Russia, Pennsylvania-born international schoolteacher Marc Fogel landed on US soil this week and was greeted by President Trump and a group of government officials and lawmakers at the White House.
Standing next to the president in the Oval Office, Fogel—a history teacher—invoked Winston Churchill's famous phrase, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few," saying that in his case, "Never has one owed so much to so many." He spoke of "the superorganism of people that came to my support," mentioning his fellow Pennsylvanians, and his family & friends.
Indeed, Fogel's release is a testament to the power of activism, starting with his 95-year-old mother Malphine, who met with Trump when he spoke in Butler, PA last July, just before he was shot in the ear by a gunman before he could say Marc's name onstage. Fogel's sisters, other family members, friends and former students mounted a sustained campaign to have Marc designated as "wrongfully detained" in the way that WNBA star Brittney Griner was before the Biden administration secured her release for the same "crime" that Fogel committed in exchange for arms dealer Victor Bout.
Also contributing to the effort were PA lawmakers, who passed a Senate resolution calling for Fogel's release and kept up the pressure, including questioning presumptive Secretary of State Marco Rubio at his confirmation hearing. On their side was the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, which published a series of articles and opeds calling for Marc's release, as did the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as well as local papers in the Butler area and the school paper from Marc's alma mater, Indiana University of PA.
Some think the turning point came via the "Make A Marc" art exhibit that I got to attend in my hometown of Pittsburgh in April 2023. Pittsburgh-based artist Tom Moesser, reading about Marc in a local paper, noticed that his attorney was Sasha Phillips, a painter he knew from local art circles. He reached out and together he and Phillips planned the show, at which over 100 local artists contributed portraits of Marc to put a face on him and his plight.
Supporters then took some of Marc's portraits to Washington, DC for a protest in July 2023 outside the White House. This made for some beautiful visuals in national press outlets like the Washington Post, which up until then had omitted Fogel from lists of detainees overseas. Meanwhile, Malphine sued the administration for their failure to designate Marc's detention as "wrongful," making him eligible for more diplomatic channels towards his release. As a result of that suit, just before Biden left office, Fogel was finally granted that designation.
The Right-Wing media took notice, painting the Biden administration's inability to secure Marc's release as a weakness, while attacking Trump's opponent Kamala Harris for her past prosecutions of marijuana crimes. When Fogel was omitted from the Biden/Harris hostage deal that released Evan Gershkovich and others, he was devastated, and press accounts were blistering.
Trump, who expressed support for marijuana legalization during his campaign (after meeting with and accepting contributions from major multi-state cannabis operations, one with ties to Russian oligarchs), has just named as his DEA chief Terrance Cole, the worst kind of marijuana prohibitionist. And his just-confirmed cabinet picks RFK, Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard backed off their former stated support for legalization during their confirmation hearings. Kennedy now says he'll defer to the DEA on the rescheduling question, after the matter got snarled up in court filings before the Biden administration could make it happen.
Marijuana Moment, another news outlet that championed Fogel's cause, ran the headline, Trump Welcomes Return Of Medical Marijuana Patient Freed From Russia At White House, Without Mentioning U.S. Cannabis Prohibition. “I’m overjoyed that Marc Fogel is free and that he, like Brittney Griner before him, is no longer facing severe punishment or being used as a political pawn over cannabis,” Morgan Fox, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment. "However, the Trump Administration—like the Biden Administration before it—would seem to be taking a ‘Russian prison bad, US prison good’ approach to cannabis consumers by spending political capital to secure the release of high-profile prisoners in foreign lands but not freeing more federal cannabis prisoners here, and aggressively urging Congress to deschedule and regulate cannabis,” he said.
Trump was tight-lipped about what the US gave Russia in exchange for Fogel's release on the night he came home, saying only it was "not much....they were very nice." It was presented as Russia showing goodwill toward peace in Ukraine. The next day, it came out that the US would be releasing Russian "cybercrime kingpin" Alexander Vinnik, reportedly "the owner and operator of one of the world's largest currency exchanges, allegedly instrumental in facilitating the transfer of billions of dollars for criminals across the globe, supporting drug trafficking rings, ransomware attacks and the corruption of public officials." Vinnik's sentencing in California was scheduled to take place in June, ABC News reported.
Reason magazine and other outlets noted that Russia's strategy of targeting Americans for arrest to gain leverage in prisoner swaps continues. Still detained is American citizen Ksenia Karelina, a ballet dancer who was arrested in January 2024 during a visit to see her grandmother in Russia, where she was born. Law enforcement reportedly flagged Karelina at the airport after noting she had a U.S. passport; the Federal Security Service searched her phone, found a $51.80 donation she made in the U.S. to a pro-Ukraine charity, and arrested her for "petty hooliganism." She was ultimately sentenced to 12 years in prison after that charge was later upped to treason. [Update: Fox News now reports that Karelina is "in transit," which may mean she will be released.]
And this news just hit via Politico: A 28-year-old American was arrested at Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport on Feb. 7 after airport security found cannabis gummies in his luggage. The man—who was not named in state media reports—explained he had been prescribed the gummies by a doctor in the United States. He was taken into custody and charged with drug smuggling, with a potential prison term of five to 10 years. [UPDATE 2/17: It's now being reported that Kalob Byers has been released. This must be bittersweet news for Fogel.]
Meanwhile, folks can stop by the Butler, PA Arts Center tomorrow evening (Feb. 15) for the 7 PM unveiling of the updated 96'' tall fifty-artist collaboration of Marc Fogel's portraits, now fittingly named “HOME” (pictured).
UPDATE 2/18: I was just thinking the whole thing reminded me of that time the Iranian hostages were released within 24 hours of Ronald Reagan taking office, after clobbering Jimmy Carter with his inability to get them released. Only later did it come out that Reagan's minions had made a deal to sell arms to Iran, in exchange for cocaine smuggled from Nicaragua and dumped into inner cities in LA. No wonder Trump keeps telling us it's "not appropriate" to say if he's spoken to Putin, or what they might have talked about.
"The deal Donald Trump brokered with Russia to release American school teacher Marc Fogel on Tuesday was, in fact, a prisoner swap—even though the president had tried to suggest otherwise," the post begins. It continues, "I’m thrilled that Marc Fogel has been released after his unjust imprisonment. But while we’re celebrating his return, we need to take a closer look at the cost.
First, the lying part. When asked what we gave up in the exchange, Trump said that Fogel's release did 'not [cost] much' and that this was merely a show of good faith from the Kremlin."
"Why not be transparent right up front with the American people?" Kareem wondered. "Maybe because of his past hypocrisy.
When President Biden secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison (despite Trump proclaiming he was the only one who could do that), Trump complained that the cost was too high: 'Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs? Just curious because we never make good deals, at anything, especially hostage swaps. Our ‘negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us! I got back many hostages, and gave the opposing Country NOTHING – and never any cash. To do so is bad precedent for the future. That’s the way it should be, or this situation will get worse and worse.'"
Kareem then addressed Ukraine and the fiction that the Fogel exchange was a show of good will from Putin. "Immediately after the exchange, Trump touted his phone call with Putin where they discussed ending the war with Ukraine. Following that phone call, newly confirmed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quickly announced that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO, which would then obligate member countries to defend them, and that Ukraine should not expect their borders to return to pre-war status. (Following strong backlash, Hegseth backtracked somewhat.) What did America get in exchange for these massive concessions? Nothing."
He then nailed the shot, a verbal skyhook if you will: "Trump, however, whose Musk-run rampage through the government (while banning pennies and paper straws), got a publicity win of having his photo taken with a grateful hostage.
Meanwhile, our European allies are reeling from Trump’s betrayal of them in order to cozy up to Putin.…Trump’s eagerness to give away so much, to weaken our allies and in turn, our country’s security—both physical and economic—does not bode well for our future prosperity. He’s already proven to be a bad negotiator who can be taken advantage of. Given Republicans cowering in their corners as they confirm unqualified and dangerous Trump appointees, America’s only hope is the court system designed to curtail would-be dictators. Given that SCOTUS is Trump-sympathetic, maybe our best hope is to vote out Republicans in Congress so they don’t have the majority anymore."
CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER - Brittney Griner abruptly cancelled her appearance at the Women Grow cannabis conference in Maryland after a strange note found in her hotel room was considered threatening to her. Griner never said Fogel's name despite the similarities in their cases and her advocacy for other foreign prisoners. This would have been her first appearance at a pro-marijuana-legalization event.
I tried to get Kareem to advocate for Griner after she called her marijuana use medical (as he had), and he posted a video of them shooting hoops and comparing the size of their hands after she came to play in Arizona where he lives. Instead, he posted a thoughtful piece questioning the value of celebrities publicizing hostages during negotiations for their release.
Meanwhile, Fogel has passed his medical tests and (it seems) State Dept. debriefing in Texas and has returned to his family in Pennsylvania, which has asked for all to respect his privacy at this time. It reminds me of when, during the Vietnam War, I wore a POW bracelet with a prisoner's name on it all through high school, and when the prisoners were released, we were asked to do the same.
UPDATE 2/22: Trump has picked Sean Curran, who lead his personal security detail during the campaign and rushed stand him up at the Butler rally after shots rang out, as director of the Secret Service. According to the New York Times, Curran is "an unusual pick for Secret Service director, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. As a current agent who does not work at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, he is leapfrogging many positions to become director." Curran "will take the helm of an agency that has been the focus of several investigations since the assassination attempt in July."
The markets tumbled today after Trump instituted his tariffs, ostensibly and disingenuously to stop the flow of fentanyl over borders. Just before the speech, MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle brought up the shadowy figure
of special envoy Steve Witkoff, who negotiated Fogel's release and flew him home in his private plane. Witkoff, a real estate mogul, just sold a $600
million property, Ruhle said.
Trump opened by praising his own election results, causing Congressman Al Green (D-TX) to be ejected after he loudly objected to his claim of a voter mandate. He played his greatest hits, like calling immigrants "murderers, drug dealers, gang members and people from mental health institutions," later twice adding child predators into the mix. He went on a rampage against Mexican cartels, which he has declared terrorist organizations, bragging that imposing tariffs had inspired Mexican officials to turn over 29 cartel leaders, including the supposed killer of DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, whose 1985 murder may have been the worst kind of friendly fire.
"We must protect police," said the man who mass pardoned insurrectionists who attacked police on Jan. 6, 2021. "Our justice system has been overturned by radical left lunatics," he declared. Meanwhile, yesterday's news was, "Top FBI official forced out after questioning Trump pursuit of agents who investigated Jan. 6" (along with, RFK Jr.’s Solution for Measles Outbreak Has Health Experts Horrified).
He blamed Biden for egg prices, and read long lists of cuts to supposedly fraudulent programs or payments while Democrats held up paddles saying, "False," "Save Medicaid," and "Musk Steals." When Musk was introduced, Elizabeth Warren, who protested the dismantling of the agency she put into place to oversee government spending, looked at her phone with a bemused smile. Trump later called her out as "Pocahontas" when Democrats applauded aid to Ukraine. Also breaking today was this story: Musk has inside track to take over contract to fix air traffic communications system, while Elon wined about at his brilliant Mike Meyers imitation on SNL.
Trump left the introduction of Marc & Malphine until near the end of his 90-minute-or-so speech, using it to segue into the story of the Butler rally that happened the day he met Malphine, just before a sniper shot at him. With the family of firefighter Cory Comparatore, who was killed that day, standing to applause, he actually said, "I believe I was saved by God that day to Make America Great Again."
He then closed with some historical references for a patriotic moment, pledging to make the US the best and "most dominant" nation ever, capping a speech where he also pledged to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland, and plant the American flag "on the planet Mars and even far beyond."
"Our country will be woke no longer," Trump intoned. That's the truth, for now at least. Some pundits think our Democracy will only hold up for another six months under the current administration. With the balance of power completely unbalanced, it might not even take that long. [UPDATE: Amy Coney Bryant and other judges are standing up for our Constitution. There may be a glimmer of hope.]
UPDATE 3/21/25: There may be a bit of whitewashing going on of Marc's marijuana use. At the faux SOTU, Trump called Fogel "innocent" and now the right-wing Tribune Review, who championed his cause, is saying he only "allegedly" carried cannabis into Russia (in a story about Fogel getting a warm reception at a Pittsburgh Penguins game, where Fogel wore a No. 71 Evgeni Malkin Penguins jersey and was presented with a jersey bearing the No. 25).
It's sad to me that the injustice of our marijuana laws isn't part of the discussion about Fogel's case. In one of the first pictures taken after he was released, he's shown kissing a glass of whiskey. I'd have greeted him with a joint. I wonder if he will get the opportunity to use medicinal marijuana again to treat his ongoing back problems, which were surely exacerbated by his long imprisonment. It's legal to do that in Pennsylvania, and the governor there wants the state to benefit from recreational legalization that neighboring states have been cashing in on.
Of course I would never ask Marc to be a spokesperson; he's been through enough. As Dylan sang about Medgar Evers, we're all only pawns in their game anyway. Comments on the Penguins' tweet welcoming Marc home ran from, "Made possible by President Donald J Trump. be sure to thank your president, you shitlibs," to, "Wearing the jersey of a person who supports the regime that captured and abused him in the first place. Talk about Stockholm syndrome." An ill-informed response read, "Stockholm is in Sweden, not Russia." Malkin, who is Russian, announced his membership in the PutinTeam social movement in November 2017, and supported Putin in the 2018 election.
In 2024, Evers was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. In 2025, as part of a series of anti-DEI deletions by the U.S. Department of Defense, a profile of Evers was deleted from the Arlington cemetery website.
Adam Schiff spoke on Kimmel the other night about the climate of fear among universities, the press, law firms, and companies being intimidated into taking a Trumpian line, as "there seems to be an arsonist's glee in watching things burn." Conservative commentator David Brooks said tonight on PBS that the question he hears most around Washington these days is is, "How much does private security cost?" as people at agencies and colleges are intimidated by a gang of what Brooks described as cruel right-wing elitists. "Turns out, it costs a lot," Brooks joked. Yeah, like our democracy.
UPDATE 4/8/25 - Fogel threw out the first pitch at the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener. When PA Senator Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland county) tweeted about meeting Marc there, comments were blistering, since Ward has voted against medical marijuana patients' rights and has blocked recreational use legalization in Pennsylvania. "Nice, Kim Ward! Would you have Mr Fogel arrested if he possessed #Marijuana at the game?" one commenter wrote.
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