On today’s Direct Impact, guest host Ben Swann delves into a provocative statement from a US senator who sparked outrage by calling the recent heavy casualties in the Russia-Ukraine conflict “beautiful.” The show then shifts focus to US politics with a look at Donald Trump’s extended online chat with Elon Musk, where Trump took aim at both the current administration and the Ukraine situation. Also on the agenda are the massive protests in Serbia over a proposed lithium mine, with geopolitical expert and Serbian resident Nebojsa Malic joining to unpack the country’s intricate political landscape and the growing unrest.