Spotlight: Dissidents

Maryan Zablotskiy, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, talks about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the role of the U.S. in supporting democracy and freedom.

Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, talks about the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia’s continued bombardment and illegal occupation of Ukraine, and what America’s role is in helping Ukraine fight back against the Putin regime.

Katerina Sergatskova is the Co-founder of the 2402 Foundation. She discusses her own childhood growing up on the Crimean Peninsula, her experience as a journalist covering conflicts in Crimea and the Donbas Region, and her work as a part of the 2402 Foundation in training and equipping journalists to cover the illegal Russian War in Ukraine.

Oleksandra Matviichuk is the head of the Center for Civil Liberties. She discusses her decades-long commitment to defending human rights in Ukraine, the Maidan uprising, the ongoing war with Russia, the documentation of war crimes, and the importance of international support for Ukraine. Matviichuk emphasizes the need for justice and accountability for war crimes and the role of ordinary citizens in supporting democracy and human rights.

Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Coordinator for the Free Russia Foundation, talks about her husband Vladimir’s journey from documentary filmmaker to Russian dissident to political prisoner.

Sir William Browder is the Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign. He discusses his extraordinary journey from a capitalist in Russia to a leading figure in the fight against corruption and human rights abuses. Browder recounts the tragic story of his lawyer, Sergey Magnitsky, who was tortured and killed in a Russian prison after uncovering a massive fraud involving the Russian government. This led to the creation of the Magnitsky Act, a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at holding human rights violators accountable.

On this episode of Reaganism, Rachel Hoff sits down with Grace Jin Drexel to discuss the pressing issue of religious freedom, particularly focusing on the persecution faced by Christians in China. Grace shares her personal journey and her father's story, Pastor Ezra Jin, who has been imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party for his religious activities. The discussion delves into the challenges of practicing Christianity in China, the evolution of Zion Church, and the broader implications of religious persecution. Grace emphasizes the importance of global awareness and advocacy for religious freedom, urging the international community to support those facing persecution. Rachel and Grace conclude by reflecting on the universal right to believe freely and the ongoing struggle for religious freedom worldwide.

Tong Yi, a Chinese human rights advocate, participated in the 1989 student protests in Tiananmen Square, and is a survivor of a Chinese labor camp.

Sebastien Lai is the son of Jimmy Lai, a renowned Hong Kong media entrepreneur, writer, and pro-democracy campaigner, who founded Next Digital and Apple Daily, the popular independent Chinese language newspaper in Hong Kong which was forcibly shut down in 2021. Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned in Hong Kong since December 2020.

Dr. Rana Siu Inboden, a senior fellow with the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at The University of Texas at Austin, discusses China and its human rights abuses. She also talks about China’s attempt to co-opt U.S. liberal international human rights regimes and institutions to promote its illiberal human rights agenda.

Pro-Democracy Hong Kong dissident Frances Hui serves as the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation. Frances discusses her democracy activism which she has been involved in since her teenage years and what the ongoing fight for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong entails.

Dr. Mark Clifford serves as President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong and is the author of the book, “The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, and China’s Most Feared Critic.” He discusses Jimmy Lai’s early life in China, his rise as a successful entrepreneur, and his eventual transition into media, where he became a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party, the role of Lai's media outlets during the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, and the international response to his imprisonment.

Venezuelan democracy activist and dissident Leopoldo López serves as the National Coordinator for Voluntad Popular. He discusses the autocratic Maduro regime in Venezuela, the global network that helps support dictatorial regimes around the world, and the ongoing fight for freedom and democracy in Venezuela.

On this episode of Reaganism, Rachel Hoff sits down with Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and human rights activist. The discussion delves into the ongoing protests in Iran, sparked by economic distress and the brutal enforcement of compulsory hijab laws, which have evolved into a broader revolution against the Islamic Republic. Masih shares her personal experiences and insights into the regime's oppressive tactics, the international community's response, and the critical role of women's rights in the fight for freedom. Her testimony underscores the urgency for global solidarity to support the Iranian people's quest for a secular democracy.

Nilofar Ayoubi is an Afghan activist, journalist, and entrepreneur who escaped Afghanistan shortly after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. She discusses the situation for women in Afghanistan today, her personal story, and the prospects for the future of Afghanistan.

On this episode of Reaganism, guest host Rachel Hoff sits down with Jamie Fly, CEO of Freedom House, to discuss Freedom House's annual "Freedom in the World" report. The report found that the world is experiencing its 20th consecutive year of democratic backsliding. Jamie and Rachel discuss the trends contributing to this backslide and also identify some glimmers of hope and countries moving against the trendlines. Rachel and Jamie conclude the conversation by discussing a strategy for reimagining US efforts to turn the tide back toward advancing freedom and liberty in the world.

On this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Policy Director Rachel Hoff is joined by Damon Wilson who is the President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). They discuss the organization’s origins, its connection to President Reagan, and its ongoing mission to promote democracy worldwide. They discuss the importance of supporting grassroots movements, the definition of democracy, and the relationship between U.S. interests and democracy promotion. Wilson addresses criticisms of NED, the impact of U.S. foreign assistance policies, and the need for transparency and accountability in their operations.