NEWSLINK: “Putin made a lot of promises to Russians on his call-in TV show. Now, he’s delivering.” – Washington Post/David Filipov, Natalya Abbakumova

“… The event, called ‘Direct Line,’ is carefully staged to show that Russia’s head of state, who probably will  seek a new six-year term next March, understands his people — and can solve their problems — better than ­anyone. …”