The Cable

The election of the comic actor Volodymyr Zelensky as Ukraine's president is prompting widespread speculation about the country's future. Can the brand-new politician finally tackle the country's massive corruption as he promises or will he become a tool for financial oligarchs? Can he help resolve the conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east? And how long will he remain popular with Ukrainians? Jonathan Katz of the German Marshall Fund talks to Ukraine Analytica editor Hannah Shelest and Chatham House's Anna Korbut about the role of the media, the conduct of Ukrainian democracy and how it shaped the elections. Also, Greg talks to Susan about Hungarian President Viktor Orban's planned meeting with President Donald Trump next week. And a few voices from a talk on Capitol Hill this week on NATO, security and democracy.

Journalists are under mounting pressure not only in countries like Russia and China but also Western democracies. PEN America's Tom Melia talks to Greg about the threat from fake news, social media and rising autocrats ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. We also hear from journalists Emily Schultheis, Anastasia Kirilenko, Roman Badanin, Karina Piser and Karine Orlova about their work and what the date means to them.

With populism driving the political narrative across Europe, especially Central Europe, what do the region's generations of future leaders think about it? The National Democratic Institute's Zuzana Papazoski talks to Greg about a public opinion poll tracking the views of young people in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. First, Greg speaks to David Kramer about who is Ukraine's new president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are a bulwark against Russian attempts to undermine democracy and stability in Europe. Why did they follow different paths than other former Soviet republics of Eastern Europe since becoming independent in 1991? Greg speaks to Freedom House's director in Lithuania Vytis Jurkonis about that and the challenges they all face from Kremlin aggression and corruption with the rise of nationalist populism. Greg also talks to Susan about Notre-Dame, Hungary and Ukraine.

The fatal stabbing of the liberal mayor of the Polish city Gdansk earlier this year sounded alarms about the effects of hate speech by populist politicians. Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur joins Greg to discuss that and others threats to democracy in Europe, and what Congress and ordinary Americans must do to push back against the White House by shoring up the transatlantic alliance.

As NATO marks its 70th anniversary this week, the world's preeminent military alliance faces threats from the backsliding governments of some member states as well as attacks by US President Donald Trump. Former NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow joins Greg to discuss the danger to the alliance from inside, as well as its external challenges from Russia, China and elsewhere, and how NATO must adapt in the future.

First, Susan and Greg discuss other events of the past week, including elections in Ukraine and Slovakia and the latest in Brexit madness.

Ukraine faces a pivotal moment with a presidential election next week, the first since the events surrounding the 2014 Maidan revolution. Evelyn Farkas and Jonathan Katz of the German Marshall Fund join Greg to discuss the leading candidates, corruption, Russian aggression and what the West must do. A major battleground between the Kremlin and Western democracies, Ukraine remains a litmus test for the liberal world order's commitment to the common values of democracy and self-determination.

Transatlantic Working Group Director Susan Corke and host Gregory Feifer start by discussing the latest Brexit developments, Congressional resolutions on Russia and Hungarian President Viktor Orban's standoff with the European People's Party group.

Then Zselyke Csaky of Freedom House joins Greg to explain Hungary's downgrading from "free" to "partly free" in this year's Freedom in the World Report. Why is the authoritarian Orban popular? Why is the opposition weak? What must Western democracies countries do to discourage democratic backsliding?

Transatlantic Working Group Director Susan Corke and host Gregory Feifer start by discussing recent developments, including a new Brookings report on the rise of illiberal states, protests in Montenegro and more evidence of Russian money-laundering.

Then Amanda Sloat of the Brookings Institution joins Greg to explain the uncertainty over the looming March 29 date for Britain's exit from the European Union. With shifting positions in parliament and the government, will the deadline be extended? Could there be a second referendum? What are the technical issues and stakes, deal or no deal?

Will postponing the date for Brexit change anything? Host Gregory Feifer and Transatlantic Democracy Working Group Director Susan Corke discuss the latest developments along with Sunday's elections results in Moldova, when the pro-Moscow Socialist Party won the most votes but not enough for a majority.

Then the Brookings Institution's Bill Galston joins Greg to talk about the nature of populism. Populist nationalist parties in Europe on the left and right have more than tripled their support in the last two decades, winning enough votes to put their leaders into the governments of 11 countries and challenging the established political order. But does that mean liberal democracy is really facing a crisis or simply experiencing part of a regular cycle?