Zelenskyy addresses Congress, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie talk 'Babylon': 5 Things podcast

On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: Zelenskyy addresses Congress amid cheers, pledges of support

Ukraine's president gave a moving speech to Congress, but will he get the aid he feels his country desperately needs? USA TODAY Congress Reporter Candy Woodall has the latest. Plus, USA TODAY World Affairs Correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard talks about a new home for some fleeing Russians, a House committee report shows the IRS failed to conduct 'mandatory' audits on Trump tax returns, Israel’s designated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has formed a new government, and Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie talk about working together as 'Babylon' hits theaters this weekend.

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Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Taylor Wilson:

Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and this is 5 Things you need to know Thursday, the 22nd of December 2022. Today, a recap of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress. Plus, where Russians escaping Putin's war are finding a new home, and we have the latest on Trump's tax returns.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed Congress last night praising the two country's unity and pushing for even more support as Russia's invasion reaches nearly a year.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

Our two nations are allies in this battle, and next year will be a turning point, I know it, the point when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom, the freedom of people who stand for their values.

Taylor Wilson:

His visit to Washington comes as President Joe Biden and Congress reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, including nearly $2 billion for the Patriot air defense system. Congress is also set to pass another $44 billion in Ukraine aid through the omnibus spending bill expected to pass this week. For more on Zelenskyy's address, I'm now joined by USA TODAY Congress Reporter Candy Woodall. Candy, thanks for joining me.

Candy Woodall:

Thank you.

Taylor Wilson:

What were some of Zelenskyy's big talking points last night?

Candy Woodall:

He had several standing ovations. What seemed to get the most nods in the chamber and claps was when he actually thanked American families for their support and their fight and Ukraine's fight for democracy and freedom.

His visit came at an interesting time as well. It was the 300th day of the conflict, the Russian attack in Ukraine. It also comes at a crucial time when Congress is deliberating the omnibus, which is the spending bill that funds the federal government, and part of that includes another $44 billion in aid to Ukraine. That debate is hitting some snags.

So Zelenskyy is thanking lawmakers and he's thanking American families and he's thanking President Biden, he's also asking for more help. He told them that this money is not charity. He told them this is an investment in democracy and freedom. He also warned them that Russia would go after other American allies, that it was only a matter of time, and so it's key to stop Russian attacks now in Ukraine.

Taylor Wilson:

Candy, what's the long-term plan here? There's obviously a new Congress next year. Was President Zelenskyy making a long-term pitch for sustained support?

Candy Woodall:

He tried to paint this picture that, despite all the scenarios - as he said, gloom and doom - that Ukraine is still alive and kicking. Basically trying to tell these lawmakers, "Hey, these investments work." He seemed confident that he could work with the Republican House and the Democratic Senate.

Taylor Wilson:

We know Democrats overwhelmingly support this kind of aid for Ukraine. Where do Republicans stand right now, Candy?

Candy Woodall:

Republicans were very supportive of Ukraine until recently, really, when some of the members in the right flank of the GOP have started requesting an audit. They want to know more about exactly how this aid has been spent. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, he has said that Republicans, when they take control, would not just sign a blank check to Ukraine anymore. So there seems to be some tightening of the purse strings within the Republican Party. They say their priorities are reducing inflation and helping Americans here at home.

Taylor Wilson:

Candy Woodall covers Congress for USA TODAY. Thanks so much.

Candy Woodall:

Thank you for having me.

Taylor Wilson:

You can read more about Zelenskyy's visit to Washington on USATODAY.com.

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Russians escaping Putin's war on Ukraine are finding a new home in the country of Georgia. Producer PJ Elliott spoke with USA TODAY World Affairs correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard to find out how they're being received.

PJ Elliott:

Kim, thanks for jumping on with 5 Things.

Kim Hjelmgaard:

Thanks for having me.

PJ Elliott:

You recently took a trip to the country Georgia to speak to some of the many Russians who have recently migrated or taken refuge. How many Russians are we talking, and what's the main reason for their exodus? Are they draft dodgers?

Kim Hjelmgaard:

The estimates on these Russians that have left the country, they're a little fluid, and they're mostly kind of pieced together from different countries where Russians have visa-free access, like Georgia, like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, some of the other former Soviet republics. But we think, we think the best guess estimates are somewhere around 200,000 to 300,000.

PJ Elliott:

What did they tell you about how they feel about the war in Ukraine? Are they able to speak freely in Georgia rather than being in Russia?

Kim Hjelmgaard:

Georgia, it's a democracy, so it does not have the restrictions... nothing like the restrictions that you'd find in somewhere like Russia in terms of restrictions on speech and what you can say about the government. But the Russians that go there, and the ones that I encountered anyway, were people in their 20s mostly who feel quite disenfranchised from what's going on now in Russia, but they also don't quite know how to express or what to do about it. So they leave for somewhere like Georgia where Russians have visa-free access. That's an important point. Russians don't have visa-free access to a whole lot of places, certainly not in Europe or the United States. So they've been going to this place to express their discontent with the war, but also frankly because it suits their own interests and cause. They can live there for up to a year and escape some of these kind of pressures to take part in this war.

PJ Elliott:

What kind of reception are the Russians getting from the Georgians? Because about 15 years ago, these two countries were at war.

Kim Hjelmgaard:

That's one of the interesting things about this location is that Russians have been fleeing their own country for somewhere like Georgia, which at least notionally represents more of a neutral space for them. However, Georgia has its own complicated relationship with Russia. They fought a war in 2008, as you mentioned. 20% of Georgia is actually occupied by the Russian military. They have a kind of fraught history from when they were both part of the Soviet Union. There's a lot of different forms and types of tension that goes back quite a few years. In some ways, Georgia, at least at the 30,000-foot view, represents... it's almost analogous to what happened in Ukraine.

So in Georgia, I think people are very much concerned that there might be a part two to this Russian aggression in Georgia, and maybe not now or next week or next month, but over the next several years there could be another scenario where Russian forces decide to re-invade or take more of this territory. So there's a lot of ambivalence. Georgians are extremely hospitable people, and so they've warmly welcomed these Russians, but at the same time they're also eyeing them a little bit wearily, wondering what this all means possibly in the long run.

PJ Elliott:

Kim, thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

Kim Hjelmgaard:

Sure, thanks for having me.

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Taylor Wilson:

The IRS failed to audit former President Donald Trump's federal tax returns for his first two years in the White House. That's even though an IRS program states that the returns are subject to mandatory review, according to a new report from the House Ways and Means Committee. Trump filed taxes in 2017 for the previous two years, but the IRS didn't start audits on the filings until 2019. The report found that the tax agency started its audit on the same day the committee sought Trump's tax returns and related audits. Trump paid $1.1 million in federal income taxes during the first three years of his presidency and none in his last year. According to the committee, he reported income losses of $4.8 million that year. The committee plans to release Trump's tax returns to the public, though it's still not clear when that'll happen.

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Designated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that he has successfully formed a new coalition. The move will lead to his return to power as head of the most right-wing Israeli government ever to hold office. The coalition could alienate large chunks of the Israeli public and raise conflict with Palestinians, while also leading to tensions with the United States and parts of the Jewish American community.

His new security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was once convicted of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization. And Netanyahu's running mate, Bezalel Smotrich, is a West Bank settler who believes Israel should annex the occupied territory. Netanyahu was previously Israel's longest serving prime minister, serving a total of 15 years. He's currently on trial for alleged corruption. But he and his partners are expected to push through a series of laws to change the country's judiciary and potentially clear him of all charges.

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With the Christmas weekend almost here, so, too, are a bunch of new movies hitting theaters tomorrow. One of them is "Babylon," a comedy drama set in 1920s Hollywood from director Damien Chazelle, previously known for "Whiplash" and "La La Land."

Babylon trailer:

Taylor Wilson:

For more, USA TODAY Movie Critic Brian Truitt caught up with the stars, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

Brad Pitt:

I thought there were a handful of actors that he should have cast before me, but I wasn't going to pass it up because I'm a Damien Chazelle fan and a Margot Robbie fan.

Margot Robbie:

And we finally got to act together.

Brad Pitt:

Our third film together-

Margot Robbie:

Third film and now-

Brad Pitt:

... and we finally got a scene together.

Margot Robbie:

Yeah, just the one.

Brian Truitt:

When you were filming that scene, what was that like? Did you know where to look? Because it looked like there was-

Brad Pitt:

(Laughs) Did you know where to look.

Brian Truitt:

There was so much. Was it going around you?

Margot Robbie:

Keep your eyes up.

Brian Truitt:

Where do you not look? Where do you look?

Margot Robbie:

You can't even look up. There was even people on balconies.

Brad Pitt:

That's true. It's true.

Margot Robbie:

It's like, no matter where you looked. You know what's funny? You get so desensitized really, really quickly. The first takes, yeah, everyone runs in with the robes and everyone covers up. By the third, fourth, fifth take, and definitely by the third, fourth, fifth day there was no covering up anymore. You're just completely desensitized to the nudity.

Brad Pitt:

It's true, it's true. But Jean Smart had the best line. How did she describe it?

Margot Robbie:

She said, "Don't bend over and don't back up."

Brad Pitt:

Something like, "Don't sit down and don't back up."

Brian Truitt:

You mentioned it. You both are big stars of this era of Hollywood. Do you think you would've cut it in the 1920s and '30s?

Brad Pitt:

Ah-

Brian Truitt:

Both of you?

Brad Pitt:

That's a fair question. It's such a different vernacular than performing today. Truthfully, I'd kind of dismissed it. I hadn't really given it much credence till this film came along, because the acting style is so big. You have to indicate so much. We've gone the way of Brando and De Niro since. But going back to see them, there's great charm and great fun to them and great beauty.

Taylor Wilson:

You can find more on movies premiering this weekend in the Entertainment section on USATODAY.com. You can find 5 Things every morning of the year right here wherever you're listening right now. I'm back tomorrow with more of 5 Things from USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zelenskyy visits Congress, 'Babylon' hits theaters: 5 Things podcast