Escalation

Mar 30 2025 68 ep. 52 mins 6.9k
Escalation Podcast artwork

The War in Ukraine has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and left entire cities in ruins. It’s a human tragedy on an unimaginable scale. But beyond the death toll and destruction, the conflict represents something even larger: a flashpoint in the ongoing battle between democracy and authoritarianism, sovereignty and imperialism. Escalation is a gripping narrative podcast that delves deep into the complex and often fraught history of the relationship between the United States and Ukraine. Co-produced by Goat Rodeo and Lawfare, this eight-episode series unravels the decades of diplomacy, political scandals, and high-stakes decision-making that shaped this alliance, now tested by the largest land war in Europe since World War II. This is the feed for Lawfare Presents. A home for limited run series and specials from Lawfare and Goat Rodeo.

Produced by Goat Rodeo.

www.goatrodeodc.com

Lawfare

www.lawfaremedia.org/

This series is made possible by the generous support of DeleteMe. To learn more about DeleteMe, visit www.joindeleteme.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Escalation Ep 6: Nothing Else Matters

Mar 30 2025 56 mins  
In 2019, the relationship between The United States and Ukraine faces one of its biggest tests during a phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The resulting scandal makes Ukraine a toxic issue for some lawmakers in the US Congress, where Ukrainian veterans are still trying to generate support for the war to this day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

BONUS: Conversation with Evelyn Farkas

Mar 30 2025 24 mins  
In this bonus episode of Escalation, you'll hear our conversation with Evelyn Farkas, who is the Executive Director for The McCain Institute, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia in the Obama Administration. Farkas describes the US government's reaction to the invasion of Crimea, and discussions over aid to Ukraine. Hosted on Acast.

Escalation Ep 5: Resets

Mar 24 2025 50 mins  
When Ukraine’s Russia-backed president refuses to sign a deal with the European Union, millions of Ukrainians take to the streets to force him out. Then the West watches as Russia invades Crimea and parts of Eastern Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Conversation with Mary Sarotte

Mar 22 2025 25 mins  
In this bonus episode of Escalation, we're bringing you an extended cut of our conversation with Mary Sarotte, a NATO Historian and International Relations Expert at John Hopkins University. Mary tells us about NATO's history and origins, it's strange relationship with Russia, and Ukraine's murky status in the alliance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Escalation Ep 4: The Worst of Both Worlds

Mar 17 2025 39 mins  
A dirty presidential campaign in Ukraine culminates in an attempted assassination and ‘The Orange Revolution,’ where Ukrainians stop The Kremlin’s attempts to rig the election. Years later at a NATO summit in 2008, The United States and European allies concoct a high-risk plan to protect Ukraine going forward.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: Conversation with Daria Kaleniuk

Mar 15 2025 25 mins  
In this bonus episode of Escalation, we're bringing you a conversation with Daria Kaleniuk, a Ukrainian anti-corruption expert and activist. Daria tells us about Ukraine's history with corruption, the roots in the Soviet system, and the country's efforts to fight it. Stay tuned each week for the next chapter of Escalation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

Escalation Ep 3: Us vs. Them

Mar 10 2025 38 mins  
By the late 90’s, Russia is reverting back to its corrupt, authoritarian ways and Ukraine begins to slide backward with it. In Ukraine, that corruption will lead to a gruesome murder and cover-up. While in Russia, that corruption will destroy any hopes for an emerging democracy. But after 9/11, The United States is solely focused on the fight against terrorism. About Escalation:I

BONUS: Extended Conversation with Mariana Budjeryn

Mar 08 2025 26 mins  
In this bonus episode of Escalation, we're bringing you an extended conversation with Mariana Budjeryn, a Historian and Senior Research Associate at Harvard and an expert on Ukraine's denuclearization. Stay tuned each week for the next chapter of Escalation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Escalation Ep 2: No Guarantees

Mar 03 2025 41 mins  
Newly-independent Ukraine has inherited thousands of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union. So The United States, Russia and Ukraine craft a high-stakes deal to disarm Ukraine in exchange for national security protection. But has Washington held up their end of the bargain? Or has Ukraine been betrayed?About Escalation:In this narrative series from Lawfare and Goat Rodeo, Es

BONUS: Extended Conversation with Fiona Hill

Mar 01 2025 22 mins  
In this bonus episode of Escalation, we're bringing you an extended conversation with Russia expert and diplomat Fiona Hill. Stay tuned each week for the next chapter of Escalation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.