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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