The Cable

With the rise of mostly right-wing populism around the globe, democracy is in retreat. Last year, more countries became less free than freer for the 13th consecutive year, Freedom House says. Larry Diamond, one of the world's leading scholars of democracy, joins Greg to explain what he calls a "global democratic recession," his new book Ill Winds, and why he believes we may be approaching a new progressive era.

In Russia, people have taken to the streets in their largest numbers in years to protest the barring of opposition candidates from local elections next month. The scope and brutality of the crackdown has marked a new level of repression. Journalist Karina Orlova talks to Greg about what it says about the Kremlin's direction and Russia's current political climate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a cold war against the West to boost his popularity at home and legitimize his inner circle's appropriation of Russia's state industry. Anders Aslund joins Greg to discuss his new book,Russia's Crony Capitalism, in which he investigates how many tens of billions are being stolen, where they're going and what effect it's having on democracy and rule of law around the world.

Greg Satell—author of the new book Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change—talks to Greg about what's behind successful political movements, and Susan Corke raises some democratic breakthrough moments amid backward slide in Central Europe.

It's no secret Russia is using campaigns of influence to confront Western democracies and their allies. But it's also intensively seeking to undermine one of its own closest allies: Belarus. Greg speaks to the country's leading opposition politician, Andrei Sannikov, about what's going on in Belarus. Then he's joined by Olga Zakharova, Uladimir Kobets and Jonathan Katz to discuss a new report detailing what they say is a major Kremlin campaign to coerce the country to give up its independence.

Moldova is under fresh leadership following a serious political crisis this month when the oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc tried to force the new government out. The country's richest man, he had captured government institutions for his own purposes, ultimately uniting the pro-Russian Socialist Party and pro-European ACUM bloc against his ruling Democratic Party. But can the ideologically opposing partners deliver on their promise to root out the country's deep corruption and establish democratic institutions and rule of law? Victoria Bucataru, Stephan Gligor and Jonathan Katz join Greg to discuss the start of a new political era for Moldova and what's at stake for Russia and the West.

Poland's nationalist Law and Justice Party has attacked democratic institutions, the judiciary and the free press and sought to criminalize criticism of Poland's role in the Holocaust. Still, the country's democracy remains more robust than Hungary's, and even critics back a US military cooperation agreement that would put more troops in Poland to deter Russia. Harlan Mandel discusses press freedom, then Irena Lasota makes the case that Western observers hold a simplistic view of Polish politics. Susan also joins Greg to discuss the Globsec security conference, the Czech Republic, Moldova and the Russian reporter Ivan Golunov.

Last year, Petr Marki-Zay won election as mayor of a medium-sized Hungarian city, defeating the candidate from Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party after pulling off the feat of uniting all other opposition parties behind him. He went on to found the movement Hungary for All to replicate his success across the country. He and co-founder Zoltan Kesz join Greg to discuss their strategy.

Last year, Petr Marki-Zay won election as mayor of a medium-sized Hungarian city, defeating the candidate from Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party after pulling off the feat of uniting all other opposition parties behind him. He went on to found the movement Hungary for All to replicate his success across the country. He and co-founder Zoltan Kesz join Greg to discuss their strategy. Greg and Susan also discuss last week's European Parliament elections and a new congressional resolution on Hungary.

Voters across the European Union go to the polls next week to elect representatives the European Parliament. The elections come at a pivotal time, with right-wing parties seeking to build on their national successes in a number of countries, part of the populist wave sweeping the continent. Erik Brattberg, director of the Carnegie Endowment's Europe Program, joins Greg to discuss predictions, the elections' significance and how they're likely to affect the European agenda. And Greg and Susan discuss Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's meeting with President Trump in Washington and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Russia.