33:T4f5,

The introduction laws cracking down on supposed foreign agents has become a common tactic for autocratic leaders. Activists in Georgia, who oppose the introduction of such a law, refer to theirs as “the Russian law”. They see it as moving their country closer to Putin, and away from the West.

Last week, as Georgia’s parliament prepared to vote on the law, Heidi Pett travelled to Tbilisi, the capital, to meet opposition leaders and find out why they are so afraid. What she discovered was a group being beaten, bruised, and left worried for their personal freedom—wondering, once the dust settles, what the day after tomorrow will bring.

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34:T48f,This week on the show, as the war in Ukraine marks two years since Russia's invasion, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski joins Fareed to discuss Donald Trump’s comments about letting Russia “do whatever the hell they want” with NATO countries that don’t “pay [their] own bills” and what Ukraine’s war effort would look like without US support. Then, El Salvador was the most dangerous country in the world, now it’s safer than the US. American Quarterly Editor-in-Chief Brian Winter fills Fareed in on the person in charge of that transformation, Nayib Bukele, and how it came at great cost to human rights and rule of law. Next, Dara Horn, author of "People Love Dead Jews", discusses with Fareed how the war in Gaza has led to a rise in antisemitism and "Why the Most Educated People in America Fall for Antisemitic Lies" (as her recent article for The Atlantic was titled). Finally, Fareed looks at what appear to be stunning results of Indonesia’s recent Presidential election. GUEST: Radoslaw Sikorski @sikorskiradek, Brian Winter @BrazilBrian, Dara Horn @DaraHorn, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices35:T475,What’s it like to live next to the world’s worst neighbour: Vladimir Putin’s Russia? In 2024, pro-democracy Georgians are beaten for resisting their pro-Moscow government from enacting a Putinesque “foreign agents” law. Poland is rearming against the Russian threat, and the Baltic states of the former USSR are subjected to hybrid warfare from their former occupiers. Yet instead of terrorising Europe, is Putin’s aggression uniting it behind ideals of democracy and mutual support? Polish historian Karolina Wigura tells Gavin Esler how Russia’s belligerence is turning Poland towards the West. And Russian Studies expert and RUSI fellow Natia Seskuria explains Georgia’s unprecedented pro-EU protests. Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices36:T456,While the Russian parliament proudly voted through its disputed annexations, the Ukrainian counter-offensive has been continuing, including the symbolic recapturing of the key eastern town of Lyman.The BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale, who’s just returned to the frontline in the Donbas, gives us his verdict on another dramatic turn of events in the country. Russian political scientist and anti-war campaigner Grigory Yudin talks to us from Moscow and explains what impac

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili