"The Hunt for a Green October" w/Dr. Leon Aron, Russia Expert & Senior Fellow at AEI

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Following a visit to Capitol Hill last week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine) made one final push to Congress in hopes of preventing Ukraine fatigue. This week, the government is on the verge of a government shutdown, and many members of Congress have made their intentions clear about whether or not they will support more funding as we head into October. To help us sort through all of this we spoke with Dr. Leon Aron, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He studies Russian domestic and foreign policy, US-Russia relations, and the economic, social, and cultural aspects of Russia’s post-Soviet evolution. We dive deep into the complex web of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the geopolitical factors at play.

We kick things off by discussing the mysterious return of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, to Ukraine. Who's really pulling the strings behind this mercenary group, especially after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a key figure in Putin's invasion strategy? We also delve into the role religion plays in Russia's military actions, examining how the Russian Orthodox Church influences public opinion and policy. And Will wonders how come the Budapest Memorandum isn't making headlines despite Russia's blatant violation of it?

Dr. Aron, who shares his incredible journey from Moscow to the United States and offers a unique perspective on Russian and American politics. Dr. Aron sheds light on the evolving landscape of Russian domestic politics since the fall of the Soviet Union and the key factors driving these changes. We also explore the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in shaping both public opinion and policy in Russia. This episode is packed with insights that will help you understand the intricacies of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Wagner Group's activities in Africa, and why it's crucial for Americans to be informed about Putin's motives as we send aid to Ukraine.

Guest Bio:

From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Aron was a governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the operations of several international broadcasting outlets, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. From 1990 to 2004, he was a panelist on “Looking from America” (Gliadya iz Ameriki), a weekly Voice of America Russian-language radio and television show. Dr. Aron has taught at Georgetown University and was the recipient of the US Institute of Peace’s Peace Fellowship.

Dr. Aron is also a prolific writer and editor, and his books include Roads to the TempleMemory, Truth, Ideas, and Ideals in the Making of the Russian Revolution, 19871991 () (Yale University Press, 2012), in which he details and analyzes the intellectual and moral revolution that precipitated the end of the Soviet Union; Russia’s RevolutionEssays 19892006 () (AEI Press, 2007); and the first indepth biography of Boris Yeltsin, YeltsinA Revolutionary Life () (St. Martin’s Press, 2000).

Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She DoesWhy Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org

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