Zack, Jenn, and Jen Kirby look at how authoritarianism has become internationalized, through the lens of two recent news stories: 1) Fox News host Tucker Carlson choosing to broadcast his show from Hungary this week; and 2) a Belarusian Olympian in Tokyo seeking asylum out of fear of punishment by the Lukashenko regime after she criticized her coach on social media. They discuss what happened in both of those cases, as well as what the events tell us about the ways authoritarian governments are expanding their international reach, by developing ties with like-minded influential figures in other countries and by threatening — and, in some cases, kidnapping or even assassinating — dissidents abroad.

References:

Zack on why Tucker Carlson’s trip to Hungary matters.

Why US conservatives admire Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

How Hungary’s democracy died.

The Belarusian Olympian who would not go home.

Here’s the transcript of Belarusian officials pressuring Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya.

Freedom House’s report on the rise of “transnational repression.”

Hosts:

Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox

Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox

Jen Kirby (@j_kirby1), foreign and national security reporter, Vox

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