Why was Tucker Carlson's Putin interview the first time Americans heard the Russian viewpoint?

Alex Castellanos : Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin was the first time Americans heard the Russian view.

He says Americans are dangerously unfamiliar with Russia and this ignorance is putting U.S. at risk.

He asks: How does our involvement in Ukraine serve our vital national interests and what, exactly, is the desired end state for U.N. strategy? Castellanus: Time for defending borders while ignoring our own is over.

Fewer than 0.2 percent of American high school students receive any amount of Russian language instruction.

The result is an ingrained ignorance of Russia among Americans among Americans .

After 1,100 years , Russia is not going anywhere, and neither are we.

America needs new leadership who can talk with Russia , says Julian Zelizer .