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When it comes to the Russian government, there's really only one name that counts. Of course we're talking about President Vladimir Putin. So even though, as of today, Russia has a new prime minister, it's still really all about Putin. We've got NPR's Lucian Kim with us from Moscow to explain what's happening there. Hi, Lucian.

LUCIAN KIM, BYLINE¹: Good morning.

MARTIN: All right. The entire Russian government resigned. Can you just explain what is happening? Explain the changes that apparently² Putin is proposing.

KIM: Sure. I think it's good to look at sort of the sequence of events. I mean, Putin yesterday delivered his annual state of the nation address, and he said there were a lot of urgent changes that he wanted to implement³ — changes to the Constitution. Just a few hours later, the whole Russian Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, unexpectedly resigned. And then — if that wasn't surprising enough, Putin then nominated the head of the tax service as the new prime minister.

So in some ways, it looks like the news is the Russian government resigns. But I would...

MARTIN: Right.

KIM: ...I think the real news is Putin lays the groundwork for staying in power indefinitely.

MARTIN: Huh — OK. So let's talk more about this first. A name you just said is going to be familiar to some people — Dmitry Medvedev. He used to be the president, and then he was the prime minister. And now he's out.

KIM: Well, first of all, he's very unpopular. And in some ways, he's scapegoat⁴ No. 1 for all the economic hardship that Russians face today. So you know, Putin, by getting rid of Medvedev, maintains a certain aloofness⁵ as the leader in charge of the way Russia is seen in the rest of the world. Medvedev here is taking the fall for Putin, and it also helps Putin make the — sell the point that something is actually changing in Russia.

What's interesting about Medvedev's fate is he's going to be called — named the deputy head of Russia's — the Russian Security Council. What's surprising is this job doesn't even exist formally, so it kind of shows there has been some hastiness and there's an element of surprise in this. There's a lot of speculation⁶, of course, what this new position for Medvedev means. Does this mean he's being retired⁷ for good? Or does it mean that he's just being kind of put in this holding position so that Putin can, you know, kind of pull him out later if he needs him in a few years?

MARTIN: And it was widely understood that even when he was president, it was Putin who was really pulling the strings⁸.

KIM: Yes, exactly.

MARTIN: What more can you tell us about the person who is the new prime minister?

KIM: Well, his name is Mikhail Mishustin. This is not at all a household name. I think even just yesterday, most Russians would not have been able to tell you who he is. He is seen as a technocrat⁹. He has a reputation as a good manager. And really, he's implemented¹⁰ one of the successful changes in Russia. He's made the Russian tax service one of the most advanced in the world. He's done that by bringing digital technology to tax collection. I think what's also significant is his name is not well-known, and so this is not some ambitious highflier.

MARTIN: So the question is, how much is this really going to change how Russia is run? I mean, Putin was in charge before. Now the government's changed. Putin is still in charge.

KIM: Well, if the Russian stock market or the exchange rate of the Russian ruble are any kind of indication, the market is not at all worried. The fundamentals of Russian governance aren't changing. Putin has only shown quite clearly how he plans to stay in power. In many ways, what's happening now should be looked at as sort of a technical adjustment. Everybody expected Putin to stay in power, and now he's sketching¹¹ out how he will do it.

MARTIN: All right. NPR's Lucian Kim from Moscow. Thank you. We appreciate it.

KIM: Thank you.

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

4 scapegoat   

n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊

参考例句：

• He has been made a scapegoat for the company's failures.他成了公司倒闭的替罪羊。
• They ask me to join the party so that I'll be their scapegoat when trouble comes.他们想叫我入伙，出了乱子，好让我替他们垫背。

5 aloofness   

超然态度

参考例句：

• Why should I have treated him with such sharp aloofness? 但我为什么要给人一些严厉，一些端庄呢？ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
• He had an air of haughty aloofness. 他有一种高傲的神情。 来自辞典例句

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

9 technocrat   

n.技术人员，技术官僚

参考例句：

• He is a distant technocrat who is unable to connect with ordinary voters.作为一个冷淡的技术官僚，他不能做到与普通选民息息相通。
• Jack Lew,the new budget director,is the quintessential technocrat.新预算主管杰克·卢就是一个典型的技术官僚。

10 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

11 sketching   

n.草图

参考例句：

• They are sketching out proposals for a new road. 他们正在草拟修建新路的计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "Imagination is busy sketching rose-tinted pictures of joy. “飞舞驰骋的想象描绘出一幅幅玫瑰色欢乐的场景。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险