Democracy! The Podcast

One year into Russia’s war on Ukraine, we take a look at how Ukrainians are preparing for life after war, their relentless optimism and their deep dedication to keeping the wheels of justice rolling, in this fourth and final episode of the limited series, “Defending Democracy: Ukraine”.

On the morning of February 24, 2022, Russian troops blasted Kyiv with heavy artillery and missile strikes focusing their assault on several main targets, including Boryspil International Airport.  While apparently intending to overtake the capital city quickly, Russian troops, instead, retreated after weeks of difficult fighting.  Today, home to 3.6 million people, Kyiv remains a hotly unwon part of Russia’s wide-scale military campaign. In “Defending Democracy: The Battle for Kyiv ”, we take a closer look at all that lies there, the damage that has been done, and the dangers that still exist.

By definition, a “democracy” thrives or dies according to the will of the people, and in Ukraine, it’s the people who have made all the difference.  In the second episode of this in-depth miniseries, “Defending Democracy”, we look at the Ukrainians and what they have endured to maintain a modern, democratic society in the midst of Russia’s attack.

In February 2022, Russian military forces launched a wide-scale attack on Ukraine, escalating the conflict in the Eastern part of the country which began in 2014 and sparking the largest refugee crisis on the European continent since the end of World War II. In the first of this four-part in-depth miniseries, “Defending Democracy: Ukraine Under Fire”, we take a look at the fight for freedom.

Brought to you with support from USAID, Democracy! The Podcast is returning soon! Tune in and gain a stronger understanding of how a consortium, made up of the three leading US development organizations, the IFES, the IRI, and the NDI, come together to support citizens of emerging democracies all over the world. 

As the rise of corruption, authoritarian power and nefarious interference takes hold in many countries the power of the press has been challenged throughout the globe.  In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we’ll examine the role media plays in sustaining a free and independent society, and why the bad guys always take first aim at the press corps.   

While the explosive growth of digital and social media has increased universal access to information over the past several years, nations with nefarious intent, including Russia and China, can now sow seeds of chaos and confusion more easily than ever. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we’ll focus on the threat malign influence and disinformation present to stable societies and democracies everywhere.

All over the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned countless lives upside down, disrupted hundreds of elections, and challenged our status quo of what we typically expect democracies to deliver. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we’ll take a closer look at the impact COVID-19 has had on democracy.

Across the planet, people under the age of 30 make up the largest youth count in history.  Yet, despite the reality that many face significant threats to their happiness and livelihoods, youth and the next generation offer some of the brightest spots across our horizons.

On this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we take an in-depth look at what happens when women win.  Featuring special guest 64th US Secretary of State and Chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group, the Honorable Dr. Madeleine Albright, as she speaks out on some of the most urgent issues facing women around the world today and shares some of her best behind the scene stories as the US’s first top woman diplomat.

From the shocking assassination of their president to a deadly earthquake and the crush of Covid, Haiti has dominated the headlines the past several months.  But on this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, find out why the media doesn’t always get the story about Haiti right, and why the news isn’t all bad for the Caribbean’s 2nd largest island.

Ukraine’s 30-years of statehood has been a series of highs and lows towards a stable democracy. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we are joined by all three of the consortium’s members to talk about the power of their partnership. Then the Mayor of Kyiv, the Honorable Vitali Klitschko, sits down with Adrienne to discuss how his years in the boxing ring prepared him to fight for democracy.

The Northern Triangle, made up of Northern Central America countries including Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, has faced many challenges when it comes to building strong, resilient democracies. However, civil society organizations, citizens and election bodies continue to fight for good governance.

Irregular migration is a global crisis responsible for critical health, economic, security, and citizenship issues everywhere. In this episode of Democracy! The Podcast, we dive headfirst into the issue of immigration in Guatemala as we talk to a few who have witnessed the problem first-hand.

At the heart of democracy lies peace, security and resilience, and for some countries, these qualities are the toughest to come by.  So where does a nation even begin when trying to build a strong, resilient and lasting democracy?