Sep 29, 2026 · 1h 17m
Authoritarian power faces pressure in Washington and Moscow
Amanda Carpenter and Evan Gershkovich: Trump's and Putin's Authoritarian Projects
The episode connects threats to democratic accountability in the United States with the personal and political costs of repression in Russia.
- 1Trump’s election claims and executive-power theories remain dangerous even as parts of his governing machinery falter.
- 2Evan Gershkovich describes how Russia fabricated his espionage case and used his imprisonment as a bargaining instrument.
- 3Both conversations reject complacency about authoritarianism, whether it appears through state repression or democratic personality cults.
Don't miss
Gershkovich describes the calculated conditions of his 500-day imprisonment and the guilt of knowing he was more likely to be exchanged than many fellow prisoners.
The brief
Tim Miller and Amanda Carpenter argue that Trump’s election-fraud campaign and executive-power ambitions remain dangerous, even as weak databases, departures, and political failures expose limits in the administration’s machinery.
Their discussion turns to congressional oversight, appropriations, alleged corruption, and impeachment, asking whether lawmakers can constrain executive power when officials obstruct investigations and refuse accountability.
Evan Gershkovich recounts his arrest in Russia, a fabricated espionage case, and 500 days in Lefortovo prison, where authorities maintained legal theater while treating him as a bargaining chip.
After release, Gershkovich describes the difficulty of recovering ordinary life and processing trauma, while explaining how repression has narrowed the space for Western journalism in Russia.
The episode closes by resisting easy theories about Russia or its people, linking Putin’s authoritarianism to the broader danger of political loyalty, charisma, and democratic complacency.
Featuring
Mentioned
Russian Federation
1984Books & mentions
This Cursed Beautiful Land: A Russian Story
Gershkovich’s memoir expands the episode’s account of reporting, repression, captivity, and Russia’s political culture.
Everything Was Forever Until It's No More
Alexei Yurchak’s study offers context for the episode’s discussion of Soviet legacies and Russia’s political transformation.
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.