logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
42m 27s

The Bear On The Doorstep – Poland, Georg...

PODMASTERS
About this episode
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 oc ... Show More
Up next
Today
Appetite for corruption – How Trump is letting kleptocrats destroy the world
Trump has opened the doors to kleptocrats the world over as he launches a new era of corruption the likes of which we’ve never seen. Oliver Bullough, writer of the Coda Story newsletter as well as the author of Butler to the World: How Britain Became the Servant of Tycoons, Tax D ... Show More
39m 9s
Jul 3
Inside the battle for truth – with Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins
From ‘alternative facts’ to political lies to the disinformation that courses through social media, the ‘post-truth’ phenomenon threatens the foundations of democracy. Politicians and ideologues are ramping up mistrust in our institutions using unchecked digital media. How can we ... Show More
50m 49s
Jun 12
Shadow war – Can Britain face down the Russian threat?
Launching the UK’s latest strategic defence review, Keir Starmer pledged renewed spending on defence and vowed “everything we do will add to the strength of NATO”. Yet as NATO secretary general Mark Rutte calls for members to increase spending further to five percent of GDP on se ... Show More
29m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
Masha Gessen on Putin’s 'Profoundly Anti-Modern’ Worldview
For Western audiences, the past few weeks have been a torrent of information about what’s happening in Russia and Ukraine. Daily updates of Russian military advances. Horrifying videos of buildings exploding and innocent civilians being killed. Announcements of increasingly sever ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2021
Putin vs. Navalny and the geopolitics of the Russia Protests [E201]
Russia has been headlining the past week with massive unrest, riots, the arrest of thousands due to the arrest of Navalny. Everyone is picking sides . . . but the story is far more complex that it would seem. It isn't a clear "good vs evil" story. It is more of a, "what came firs ... Show More
48m 24s
Feb 2024
Russia’s threat to Europe
How much of a threat would Russia pose to Europe if its invasion of Ukraine was successful? Given recent remarks by the US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, does Europe have the firepower to defend itself without the aid of the US? Gideon discusses these questions w ... Show More
18m 1s
Mar 2022
Fiona Hill on the War Putin Is Really Fighting
Vladimir Putin was looking for a swift invasion that would halt Ukraine’s drift toward the West, reveal NATO’s fractures and weaknesses and solidify Russia as a global power. In response, the West threatened moderate sanctions, but ultimately showed little interest in stepping be ... Show More
58m 36s
Jul 2022
What do Russians think of the war in Ukraine?
Five months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, we have heard President Vladimir Putin’s claim on the country and his pledge to fight Nazis there but what do Russians think? We hear from some voices you may not have heard from before: one Russian "Super Putin" fan and creato ... Show More
22m 45s
Mar 2022
How Putin’s war is reshaping Europe’s alliances
Europe has been united by opposition to Putin’s war in Ukraine, but will this new found unity last and will Russia be permanently isolated? Gideon talks to Alexander Stubb, former prime minister of Finland, about how the conflict is reshaping Europe’s alliances with the rest of t ... Show More
18m 51s
Feb 2022
Russia Makes Moves Against Ukraine
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing two breakaway republics in Eastern Ukraine and sent troops to the region. On Tuesday, President Biden called the move "the beginning of a Russian invasion" and announced a new set of sanctions. While Russia's ... Show More
14m 2s
Jun 2023
Les citoyens russes dans la tourmente
La société russe, ballotée par de nombreux bouleversements, dont le dernier en date et non des moindres, cette rébellion de la milice Wagner et de son chef Evgueni Prigojine. Nous allons analyser à chaud quel impact peut avoir cette défiance envers le pouvoir. Les troupes rebelle ... Show More
48m 29s