logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
10m 8s

Putin's Hold on Power

NPR
About this episode
A week on from an aborted uprising, Vladimir Putin is still standing. But for how long? The brief rebellion, launched by the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, marked the greatest challenge to Putin's rule since he came to power, 23 years ago.

The mercenary leader is now in exile in Belarus and no charges are being filed against him or his followers. So where does that leave Putin, who has a reputation for being ruthless with his enemies?

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
What are the implications of a shrinking supply of U.S. missiles?
After months of war with Iran, the United States is facing a new challenge: stockpiles of some precision missiles are almost depleted, NPR has learned from a U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.In this episode, we hear more about the implications o ... Show More
10m 52s
Apr 2026
What can Montgomery Alabama teach Americans about Civil Rights?
The landscape of Montgomery, Alabama is a monument to Civil Rights, but is America losing touch with the lessons of that movement?Montgomery, Alabama was the setting for much of the battle for Civil Rights. As the country celebrates its 250 anniversary, NPR’s Debbie Elliot went t ... Show More
9m 52s
Aug 3
Can AI can help job-seekers facing one of the hardest obstacles?
While there’s a lot of fear right now about AI taking people’s jobs, AI could actually help people get jobs – including those with some of the most significant barriers to employment.Tens of millions of Americans have some kind of criminal history. And helping those with low-leve ... Show More
7m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Wagner mutiny: What’s next for the war and Putin’s Russia?
President Putin's hold on power in Russia has been shaken following a brief mutiny over the weekend led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the private military group Wagner. An apparent deal between Putin and Prigozhin has the Wagner leader now exiled to Belarus. Joining host Nial ... Show More
20m 24s
Jun 2023
Putin: Wagner boss “betrayed” his country
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to project an image of strength as he faces the biggest threat ever to his authority. Is Putin still in danger of losing power? Plus, where is Yevgeny Prigozhin? There is no confirmation that the Wagner chief made it outside Russia as th ... Show More
44m 14s
Jun 2023
Putin’s chef spoils the broth: mutiny in Russia
<p>Yevgeny Prigozhin, nicknamed “Putin’s chef”, leads the Wagner Group of mercenaries fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. He had lambasted Russia’s military leaders for months, but the mutiny he <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/06/24/wagner-rebels-turn-aga ... Show More
27m 14s
Jun 2023
Putin’s chef spoils the broth: mutiny in Russia
<p>Yevgeny Prigozhin, nicknamed “Putin’s chef”, leads the Wagner Group of mercenaries fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. He had lambasted Russia’s military leaders for months, but the mutiny he <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/06/24/wagner-rebels-turn-aga ... Show More
27m 14s
Jun 2023
Ukrainecast: Is Russia on the verge of a coup?
President Putin decries "betrayal" and "treason" after a dramatic challenge by the chief of the Wagner mercenary force, Yevgeny Prigozhin.Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, security correspondent Frank Gardner and broadcaster Gabriel Gatehouse try to make sense of a moving and murky ... Show More
25m 41s
Jun 2023
A 36-Hour Rebellion in Russia
<p>An armed rebellion in Russia over the weekend stunned the world and amounted to the single biggest challenge to President Vladimir V. Putin’s rule since he came to power 23 years ago.</p><p>Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times, talks about the man ... Show More
28 m
Jul 2023
Russia After the Rebellion
<p>Last month, a rebellion inside Russia left lingering questions about what really happened and about what the ramifications would be for President Vladimir V. Putin.</p><p>Anton Troianovski, the Moscow bureau chief for The Times, discusses what Mr. Putin has done since the muti ... Show More
30m 24s
Sep 2023
Vladimir Milov: Could Putin outlast his enemies?
Stephen Sackur speaks to former Russian deputy energy minister Vladimir Milov, who once served Vladimir Putin. Now he’s a die-hard opponent of Russia’s premier, living in exile and trying to rally a Russian resistance movement. But from the battlefield to the economy, could Putin ... Show More
23m 43s
Jul 2020
What does Putin want?
President Vladimir Putin has been in power for 20 years. The Russian people have been voting on a change to the constitution that could keep him in the Kremlin until 2036. While world leaders and opponents struggle to second guess him, some objectives appear to be clear: stabilit ... Show More
24m 2s