This final note today, in which we turn to the Op-Ed page of the New York Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin aired his views on Syria there today. Which is fine, free press and all that.

The interesting bit? The Kremlin’s American PR firm Ketchum arranged the whole thing. According to ProPublica and Ketchum’s latest filings, Russia paid $1.3 million for their professional services for the period ended in May of this year.

Mr. Putin did not get paid, by the way, for the piece.