x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Eastern Front

Ensuring the balance of power in Europe has, since the inception of our republic, been a core security interest for the US. Today, and for the entire post-Cold War period, the challenges to the European peace have emerged along the line running roughly from the Baltic to the Black Sea. This is what we call the Eastern Front. Our goal in this podcast is to better inform the American people about what’s going on there. Join us, Iulia Joja and Dalibor Rohac every week on in our discussions on what’s

news politics

All Episodes

36:14

What's on the Agenda for the 2023 NATO Vilnius...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/06/02

From July 11-12, Lithuania is scheduled to host the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius. According to Lithuanian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mantas Adomėnas, the summit's success will be predicated on three principal dimensions: (1) Ukraine's NATO prospects, (2) defense of the eastern flank, and (3) defense spending. On this week's episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia explore these principals with Adomėnas and discuss what a NATO arrangement might look like for Ukraine. Does the

en

40:01

Bakhmut: The "New Berlin"? (with Kateryna Stepanenko)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/05/30

On May 21, Russian forces declared victory in Bakhmut after nearly a year of battle, marking their first seizure over a major city since Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the summer of 2022. While Russian propagandists have likened the victory in Bakhmut to the Fall of Berlin, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) argue that Bakhmut actually lost its (limited) strategic significance back in September. On this week's episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with

en

48:22

Putin vs. Prigozhin: A Race for the Russian Military...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/05/24

Yevgeny Prigozhin is a unique figure among Russian President Vladimir Putin's tight circle of power players. He has no official position within the Kremlin, but controls a network of influential state-backed media outlets and serves as the de-facto head of the Wagner mercenaries. As Putin begins to lose his credibility with the Russian people, is Prigozhin proving to be a formidable threat? On this week's episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with returning guest, Frederick

en

38:52

The View from Germany, Pt. 2 (with Amb. Christoph...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/05/08

Over a year into German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's famous Zeitenwende speech calling Russia's invasion of Ukraine a "historic turning point" in Germany's defense policy and pledging €100 billion in increased military spending, many in Washington have criticized Scholz for not following up on its implementation. In this week's episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Amb. Christoph Heusgen, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, to discuss all things Zeitenwende; both

en

28:31

The View from Germany, Pt. I (with Franziska Brantner)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/05/03

On March 25, 2022, roughly a month into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Franziska Brantner, German parliamentary state secretary for economic affairs and climate action, made a case for European sovereignty in a piece for the European Council on Foreign Affairs. In particular, Brantner called for EU investment in military capabilities, cyber security, energy independence, and economic reinforcement. On the first episode of a two-part series analyzing Germany's evolving role in the EU since the

en

28:13

To Crimea or Not To Crimea: That is the Question,...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/04/27

Now that spring has sprung, Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive is predicted to be just around the corner. With Russian resources gradually depleting, additional US resources potentially on the line, and China watching with beading eyes, there is increased pressure for the Ukrainians to mount a successful attack. On this week's episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle and Iulia bring back retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, senior advisor for Human Rights First, to forecast what we can expect from the

en

28:05

So, What About NATO?

The Eastern Front ·

2023/04/24

On April 20th, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—his first since the start of the Russian invasion—and reaffirmed Ukraine’s rightful place in NATO. Indeed, as the NATO summit in July nears, Ukraine’s potential membership is firmly on the table. On this week’s episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia consider questions related to NATO integration: What can the West continue to offer Ukraine in

en

28:11

Belarus and Russia: An Unhappy Marriage (with Franak...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/04/18

In 2020, Belarus experienced the largest anti-government demonstrations in its history following the fraudulent re-election of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. While ultimately stymied by regime authorities, the protests were the closest Belarus has come to a democratic revolution. In 2023, just a year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Belarusians believe a Ukrainian victory might pave the way for Belarus to finally have its moment. On this week’s episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle,

en

31:29

Old Pentagon Documents and a New Ukrainian...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/04/14

On the heels of French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to China to dissuade Xi Jinping from supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a series of leaked classified Pentagon documents with sensitive details about the war—including the alleged critical state of Ukraine’s army—made the rounds on social media. To what extent have the documents compromised Ukraine’s position in the war? Might the leaks inadvertently elevate US and European support for Ukrainians as they prepare for an

en

48:09

The Future of the Visegrád Group (with Wojciech...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/03/30

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, nationalism had been on the rise in Poland. However, the war has slowly led to a shift in the country’s politics, with Poland taking in millions of Ukrainian refugees and supplying weapons to Ukrainians on the frontlines. On this episode of The Eastern Front, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia speak with Wojciech Przybylski, editor-in-chief of Visegrad Insight and president of the Res Publica Foundation, to discuss key questions concerning the future of Poland and the

en

39:33

Finland's Defensive Strategy Against Russia, with...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/03/28

As Finland finalizes its NATO bid, Adm. Juhani Kaskeala (ret.), former chief of defense of the Finnish Defense Forces, joins The Eastern Front to discuss how Finland defends itself against Russian aggression. Adm. Kaskeala explains that Russia primarily threatens Finland’s undersea communication cables and sea trade lanes, requiring the Baltic state to prioritize maritime security and create credible coastline and air defenses. Drawing from Adm. Kaskeala’s experience, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia ask

en

53:08

Is Defending Ukraine an American National Interest?

The Eastern Front ·

2023/03/24

As the Russian invasion now surpasses its one-year mark, a growing number of Republicans say the United States is providing too much support to Ukraine. Just last week, Florida Gov.—and presidential hopeful—Ron DeSantis argued that getting involved in a “territorial dispute” between Russia and Ukraine is not in US national interests and that policymakers should instead focus on “vital” issues at home, including US competition with China. This raises the questions: What are US interests in Ukraine,

en

38:26

From the Peace Dividend to War in Europe (with Brig....

The Eastern Front ·

2023/03/10

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iuliaare joined by Danish Brig. Gen. Carsten Rasmussen (ret.) to discuss Denmark and other European countries’ evolution from enjoying the post–Cold War “peace dividend” to scrambling to fortify their militaries after Russia’s invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.Brig. Gen. Rasmussen explains how Russia fooled the world (and itself) into believing it could win the war against Ukraine in a short timeframe and shares insights on the Russian military’s strategic, operational, and

en

41:24

Preserving, Celebrating, and Promoting Ukrainian...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/03/03

Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia are joined by Yuliia Fediv,executive director of theUkrainian Culture Fund and CEO of Hromadske, an independent Ukrainian media organization. Fediv explains that culture includes perceptions about Ukraine, its values, and its people, and she outlines Ukraine’s cultural resurgence since gaining independence from the Soviet Union and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Fediv proposes that Ukraine has “two battlefields”: the war with Russia and the war with the old

en

51:01

One Year Later: Continuing to Support Ukraine in Its...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/02/25

In celebration of The Eastern Front’s one-year anniversary, Giselle, Dalibor, and Iulia convened at a DC Eastern European staple, Supra, to assess what lays ahead for the Russia-Ukraine War. The co-hosts discuss whether US support is enough to set up Ukraine for victory, the fear of Russian escalation, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s leadership, and Ukraine’s integration into NATO, among other issues that continue to plague the war as it enters the end of its first year.Show notes: Click here to

en

47:41

Special Edition: Eastern Front & American Purpose...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/02/24

This special edition episode features audio from Russia’s War on Ukraine at Year One, a virtual event co-hosted byThe Eastern Frontand American Purpose on February 21. Gen. Philip Breedlove (ret.), Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges (ret.), and Adm. Jamie Foggo (ret.) combine their experience from the Air Force, Army, and Navy in a single discussion for the first time. Show notes: “February 21: Russia’s War on Ukraine at Year One ft. Gen. (ret.) Philip Breedlove, Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges, and Adm. (ret.) Jamie

en

42:39

One Year of War (with Frederick W. Kagan)

The Eastern Front ·

2023/02/23

Giselle,Dalibor, and Iuliaare joined by podcast regular, Frederick W. Kagan, senior fellow and director of AEI's Critical Threats Project, to reflect on the war one year following Russia's invasion.Kagan recounts Russia's significant losses, re-examines misconceptions aboutUkrainian counter offensives, and considers when we will likely witness the next Ukrainian counter offensive. Kagan also discusses China and Iran's support forRussia, specifically how the two may support Russia's depleting defense

en

36:50

Navigating Russia's Information Environment (with...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/02/13

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Mark Krutov, acorrespondent for Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty's Russian Service. Based on his two decades of experience reporting on Russia, Krutov discusses the media environment in Russia, Russian conscription and mobilization, the Kremlin's narrative about the war in Ukraine being a proxy war against the West, the process of reporting during wartime, and the role of Russian nationalism in the Kremlin's messaging through state media, cultural

en

47:39

Germany & European Neoidealism (with Dr. Benjamin...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/02/06

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Dr. Benjamin Tallis, Senior Research Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss all things germane to Germany's "zeitenwende" and the concept of European "neoidealism" (a term coined by Tallis). Tallis outlines where zeitenwende stands today, a year after its announcement. Tallis notes that Germany has "moved at the speed of shame" by making impressive strides in changing its energy policy towards Russia, yet Germany still has a long way

en

43:14

The Optimism & Pessimism toward Zeitenwende (with...

The Eastern Front ·

2023/01/23

Giselle, Iulia, and Dalibor are joined by Bill Kristol, Editor-at-Large of The Bulwark. Given his recent trip to Germany, Kristol discusses the progress of "Zeitenwende" since German Chancellor Olaf Scholz first announced it in early 2022. Kristol unpacks political opposition - within Germany, across Europe, and in the US - to perceived German hesitance to properly supporting Ukraine. Kristol outlines potential impacts of German "foot-dragging" when it comes to supporting Ukraine yet maintains some

en

201 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS NewsHour

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci