Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight — Episode: American War Correspondent Phil Ittner

In this episode, host TA Mullis speaks with Phil Ittner, an American war correspondent with more than two decades of experience covering conflicts around the world — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Georgia and Ukraine. Now based in Kyiv, Ittner discusses the moral and historical battle lines between democracy and authoritarianism that define the 21st century.

Together, they explore journalism’s role in an age of disinformation, the impossibility yet necessity of striving for objectivity, and the philosophical divide between free societies and autocratic ones. Ittner reflects on his years reporting from Moscow during the rise of Vladimir Putin, his time on the front lines of Maidan and the 2022 invasion, and his belief that Ukraine represents a global line in the sand.

The conversation delves into:

• Journalism as a vocation and moral duty
• Why “objectivity” is impossible but essential to pursue
• The failure of Western media to explain Ukraine’s fight and identity
• Russia’s imperial mindset and its parallels with Britain’s colonial past
• How democracy’s greatest strength is its willingness to try, fail, and try again
• The meaning of liberty, individual rights, and participation in shaping society
• Why autocracy always collapses into violence and decay

Ittner closes with a warning to dictators: power without participation always ends in ruin — and a reminder that, despite its flaws, democracy remains humanity’s best hope.

Phil Ittner’s Work:
🎥 On the Edge — YouTube: Phil Ittner
🌐 Website: philipittner.com

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American Azov: Vegas — The Firefighter Who Joined Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Vegas, an American firefighter and medic who left Texas to join Azov’s International Battalion in Ukraine.

From pulling people out of burning buildings to pulling wounded soldiers off the zero line, Vegas shares his journey from civilian life in the United States to the front lines of Ukraine’s war for survival.

He explains what compelled him to risk everything, how he went from medic to assault soldier, and why he believes the battle for Ukraine is part of a much larger global struggle between dictatorship and democracy.

Vegas speaks candidly about:

• The moment he decided to go to Ukraine
• What it’s really like fighting on the zero line
• How the war is reshaping Ukraine’s military and mindset
• The reality of drone warfare
• What the West still doesn’t understand about the scale of this conflict
• How Ukraine changed his view of America, patriotism, and freedom

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation with a man who traded comfort for conviction — and found purpose fighting for the ideals that define democracy itself.

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In this episode, host we speak with Nick Soutter — American author, philosopher, and journalist behind In Time Media and the dystopian novel The Water Thief. 

Soutter has spent years dissecting the moral and political decay of democratic societies and the slow rise of corporate authoritarianism.

Together, Theo and Nick explore the erosion of democracy in the United States and across the Western world, from the Trump phenomenon and “pay-to-play” corruption to the creeping power of corporations like Musk’s and Thiel’s techno-feudal empires. Soutter argues that what we are witnessing is not just political backsliding, but the birth of a system where private power supplants public will — echoing the warnings of his own fiction.

This wide-ranging conversation delves into:

• Why democracies are faltering and how complacency has become our greatest enemy.
• The transformation of capitalism into neo-feudalism.
• The psychology of authoritarianism and why ordinary people are drawn to strongmen.
• The failure of modern media, education, and marketing in defending truth.
• What the “No Kings” protests mean for the future of democracy.

Soutter leaves us with a grim but galvanising message: the arc of history may bend toward progress, but only if we keep fighting to hold it there.

📘 Nick Soutter’s book: The Water Thief
🎧 His show: In Time Media

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In this episode, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks from Kyiv with Knight, a British volunteer serving in Ukraine’s Azov International Battalion.

Knight explains why he left the United Kingdom to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, how he copes with fear and loss on the front line, and why he considers this war a just and necessary struggle. He describes daily life within Azov, the realities of combat in the Donbas, and the misconceptions surrounding the unit.

The discussion ranges from the practical and psychological demands of frontline service to the wider meaning of democracy and freedom in wartime. Knight also reflects on the motivations of foreign volunteers, the failures of Western support, and the moral divide between democratic and authoritarian states.

Topics Covered

• Why Knight volunteered to fight for Ukraine
• Life and danger on the front lines in the Donbas
• Coping with fear, trauma, and combat stress
• What Ukraine needs from its allies
• The reality of Azov compared to Russian propaganda
• The mindset and unity of foreign volunteers
• Reflections on democracy, freedom, and dictatorship

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In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Oleg Magaletsky, a Ukrainian investor, strategist and one of the founders of the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum.

Oleg argues that true and lasting peace in Europe will only be possible through the decolonisation and disintegration of the Russian Federation. From the Caucasus to Siberia, dozens of captive nations remain under Moscow’s control. Their natural wealth is exploited and their people are used as expendable soldiers in wars of imperial expansion.

The conversation explores how the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum connects independence movements with Western policymakers, and why the West must stop fearing the breakup of Russia. Oleg explains how a smaller, post-imperial Russia would make the world more stable, and outlines the urgent need for a coordinated strategy to support the peoples still living under Moscow’s rule.

He discusses:

• Why peace in Europe depends on the collapse of Russian imperialism
• How Russia remains the last colonial empire in Europe
• The growing alignment of authoritarian states in a new axis of dictatorship
• Lessons from the fall of the USSR and Yugoslavia for managing the risks of Russian fragmentation
• His journey from the Maidan Revolution to global political activism
• What democracy and freedom mean when both are under assault

Oleg also reflects on the moral responsibilities of the free world and the importance of individual agency in defending open societies.

Key Themes

• The Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum
• Decolonisation and self-determination in the Russian Federation
• The axis of authoritarian states
• The role of Ukraine in defending democracy
• Disinformation and Kremlin influence
• Civic courage and personal responsibility

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In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Lieutenant Colonel Andrii “Djakonda” Koval, head of the Unmanned Systems Battalion “Kondor” of the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade Bureviy in the Ukrainian National Guard.

Djakonda and his soldiers are on the cutting edge of modern warfare—fighting with drones and robotic systems that have reshaped the battlefield from the front line to hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres into enemy territory. From reconnaissance and FPV strike drones to robotic ground vehicles delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded, Kondor’s work is redefining how wars are fought.

📌 Support the Kondor Battalion

Djakonda and his unit rely on donations for drones, vehicles, electronics, and supplies. Listeners can support directly by contacting the Kondor Battalion via social media (X, Instagram) to donate equipment or funds.

They are currently in need of a new engine for a pickup truck. Listeners can donate

HERE

We discuss:

• How drones have fundamentally changed the course of the war.
• The integration of AI into military decision-making and what the future of combat looks like.
• The birth and growth of Ukraine’s unmanned systems battalions since 2022.
• Why motivation for Ukrainian soldiers is not a question of morale but of survival.
• Why Djakonda believes Europe must wake up, support Ukraine, and prepare for Putin’s wider ambitions.
• His vision of democracy, freedom, and what’s at stake if Ukraine falls.
• The role of volunteers, donors, and international support in sustaining Ukraine’s fight.

Djakonda also shares his own journey from a student-soldier in 2017, to programmer, and back into uniform as a commander of one of the most innovative battalions in Ukraine’s defence.

This is a first-hand look into the future of warfare and the human determination behind it.

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In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Rosie Cecil — head of strategic partnerships for Mission Ukraine UK and a medic/ambulance driver with Mobile Medical Rescue (MMR). For three years, Rosie has volunteered in Ukraine, supporting frontline medics, delivering vehicles and aid, and driving into danger zones to evacuate the wounded.

We discuss her journey from delivering generators to war-torn villages in 2022 to running medical evacuations in the “grey zone” today. Rosie reflects on the realities of drone warfare, the deliberate targeting of medics and civilians, the trauma faced by Ukrainians, and why international volunteers remain vital to Ukraine’s survival.

She also shares hard-earned lessons on courage, coping with fear, and the values that drive her to return again and again. From Xinjiang to Turkmenistan, Rosie has seen dictatorship up close — and explains why democracy, however flawed, is still worth defending.

Topics covered:

• Rosie's path into volunteering in Ukraine after the 2022 invasion.
• Supporting frontline medics with vehicles and supplies.
• What it’s like driving medevac ambulances under drone threat.
• The “grey zone” and “death zone”: life on the edge of the front.
• Targeting of medics, ambulances, and civilians as war crimes.
• Trauma, resilience, and coping strategies for volunteers.
• Crowdfunding a modern war: the crucial role of civilians and NGOs.
• International support and morale for Ukrainian soldiers.
• Dictatorship vs democracy: lessons from Ukraine, Xinjiang, and Turkmenistan.
• Rosie's message to dictators and their supporters.

Resources & links mentioned:

• Mission Ukraine UK
  
  
• Mobile Medical Rescue (MMR)
  
  
• Come Back Alive Foundation – supporting Ukraine’s defenders

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On this unique episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with LK, a Hong Kong artist, puppeteer, playwright, and dissident now living in exile in France.

LK’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and defiance. We discuss how art can resist silence, the dangers and power of puppetry and object theatre, and the struggle to create freely under censorship. LK opens up about leaving Hong Kong in 2019, the wave of repression that followed the National Security Law, and the transnational threats they and their family continue to face.

We also explore:

• How art and activism intersect—and why LK insists on keeping them apart
• What it means to live in exile, and the difficulty of building a new “anchor” in a foreign land
• The unique role of Hongkongers in Ukraine, Taiwan, and the global fight for democracy
• Why freedom of speech and human rights are not luxuries, but basic survival needs

In one of the most powerful parts of the conversation, LK reflects on Hong Kong’s 2019 movement, the sacrifices made, and what democracy and human rights mean at their core. Their message to dictators is short, sharp, and unforgettable.

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In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, I speak with Dr Mark Clifford President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, journalist, academic, and author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Jimmy Lai.

Mark spent nearly three decades in Hong Kong, working as editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post and The Standard, and serving on the board of Apple Daily. He witnessed the city’s democratic flowering under Governor Chris Patten, its crushing under Beijing’s National Security Law, and the imprisonment of his colleague and friend Jimmy Lai who is now in solitary confinement for over 1,700 days.

We discuss:

• Clifford’s journey from journalist to activist.
• Jimmy Lai’s courage and why he knowingly risked prison for freedom.
• The CCP’s “United Front” playbook and how it spreads authoritarian influence abroad.
• Why Hong Kong is a “canary in the coal mine” for China’s global ambitions.
• How South Korea and Taiwan prove democracy fuels prosperity.
• Why journalism and truth-telling are vital weapons against authoritarianism.
• China, Russia, Iran and North Korea’s growing coordination and what it means for democracies.
• The battle for hearts and minds: why young people are losing faith in democracy, and how we can win them back.

Dr Clifford also shares updates on Jimmy Lai’s ongoing trial a “kangaroo court” with handpicked judges and why sanctions so rattle Beijing.

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In this very special episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we are honoured to speak with General David H. Petraeus: former CIA Director, Commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and one of America’s most respected military leaders.

Across a remarkable career at the highest levels of military and intelligence service, Petraeus has had a front-row seat to the great struggles between democracy and dictatorship; from the Cold War to counterinsurgencies in the Middle East, and now to the rise of authoritarian powers in the 21st century.

In this wide-ranging conversation, General Petraeus reflects on:

• His path from a childhood near West Point to leading U.S. forces abroad.
• How democratic values were tested throughout the Cold War and beyond.
• The methods authoritarian regimes use to maintain power: coercion, propaganda, and control.
• Why deterrence and alliances remain essential in confronting Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
• His candid assessment of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and lessons from strategic successes and failures.
• What young people disillusioned with democracy should demand of their leaders.
• The importance of service, mission, and values and why soldiers really fight.

From the battlefield to the CIA, from Iraq to Ukraine, Petraeus shares unique insights into the global contest between autocracy and democracy and why he still believes free societies will prevail.

🔑 Key Parts:

• Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. Quoting Churchill
• History is back with a vengeance
• Deterrence rests on capabilities, and the will to use them; both must be clear
• Soldiers don’t fight for democracy in the moment, they fight for the man or woman on their left and right

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💬 Question for you:
Do you agree with Gen. Petraeus that deterrence and alliances are the key to keeping democracies safe, or do democracies need a different strategy in facing today’s autocrats?

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