The Lincoln Project29 Juli 2025

Killing the Press: Russia's Early Red Flags

Russian expats, anti-authoritarian journalists, and co-authors Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan join Rick this week to share their heroic story of fleeing Russia in order to give the rest of the world a picture of how people within the country reacted to the war in Chechnya (and now the invasion of Ukraine), how the death of journalism paved a path for state-run misinformation channels, and what the future looks like, structurally, once Putin eventually dies in the future. The militaristic system that Putin shaped is primed for yet another dictator to step into power, and although Russians remain hopeful to one day be able to return their government back to the people, this realistically won't happen for many generations...until the country is finally repaired. Their book 'Our Dear Friends in Moscow' describes a "broken generation" in Russia, and how their friendships back home broke apart over the Putin's actions in Ukraine and the Russian state's condemnation of the West. Coming from a real life encounter with authoritarianism, Andrei and Irina warn us about how it became that way and where we are on that trajectory.

•

You can find Irina Borogan @irinaborogan on X, and Andrei Soldatov @AndreiSoldatov on X. Also, please check out Irina & Andrei's newest book 'Our Dear Friends in Moscow' wherever fine books are sold!

Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.

Join the fight with the Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow LP on X at @ProjectLincoln.

If you'd like to help us continue our critical work, visit https://action.lincolnproject.us/helplp to make a difference.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(600)

James Carville on America at 250: How the Hell Did We Get Here?

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a handful of revolutionaries bet everything on an idea no one thought would survive a decade — a country that governs itself, with no king and no crown. So how the hel...

30 Juni 40min

250 Years of Presidents: From Washington to… THIS?

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a handful of revolutionaries bet everything on an idea no one thought would work: a country that governs itself, with no king and no crown. This week, Rick Wilson is j...

30 Juni 41min

Trump Straight-Up LOST IT in the Senate— the Knives Are OUT

Trump barged into the Senate this week to throw his weight around — and instead came UNGLUED on national television. This week's Elephant in the Room is the meltdown for the history books: Trump SCREA...

26 Juni 37min

The DOJ Is Now Just Trump’s Anger Management Program

Trump promised to restore law and order. Instead, critics argue he’s turned the Department of Justice into a weapon of political revenge, selective accountability, and loyalty tests. This week, Rick W...

23 Juni 35min

Versailles: The L Heard Round the World

This week’s Elephant in the Room is Trump’s humiliation at Versailles. After months of threats, chest-thumping, and promises of strength against Iran, Trump arrived claiming leverage and left defendin...

19 Juni 37min

RFK Jr.'s Marry, F*ck, Kill List

RFK Jr. let a worm crawl into his brain and eat part of it, dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park, sawed the head off a whale and bungeed it to his car — and somehow still talked his way into running...

16 Juni 51min

Everything Is Going Great. Please Stop Looking.

Trump promised we'd all be “sick of winning.” Well, congratulations America—we finally made it. Inflation is climbing, the economy is wobbling, tensions with Iran are escalating, Congress is spending ...

12 Juni 27min

Noem’s Dominatrix Spills the Tea

For years, MAGA Inc. has sold America a fantasy: faith, family, values, and a steady stream of lectures about how everyone else is ruining the country. Then reality shows up with a crowbar. In this ex...

9 Juni 36min