Tug of War

Latest Episodes:

Unearthing the Horror in Bucha Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

For the past few days, the world has reacted in horror to the shocking images coming out of Bucha, Ukraine: dead civilian bodies in the streets, many with hands tied, and mass graves containing hundreds of unarmed people. Some believe the atrocities may even be a tipping point in the conflict with Russia. After visiting Bucha, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned peace talks with Russia would be difficult. CNN international correspondent Phil Black talks about why such brutality is part of Russia’s playbook, the response from the West, and how this could impact future negotiations.

This episode contains graphic descriptions of war.

Recorded on April 5, 2022.

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Escape from Mariupol Apr 03, 2022

Show notes

The city of Mariupol has been under near-constant bombardment since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Anyone still left in the crumbling city has been dealing with no electricity and a lack of food for weeks. In this episode, we catch up with CNN Senior International Correspondent Ivan Watson, who has been talking to people who have made the dangerous journey out of Mariupol. We hear their stories and examine how the invasion has strained relations between Ukrainians and people they know in Russia.

This episode contains graphic descriptions of war.

Recorded on March 31, 2022.

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Is Russia Shifting Strategy? Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

After the latest round of in-person talks between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow said it would “drastically reduce” military activity around two major Ukrainian cities. However, many experts remain skeptical about this strategy shift and believe peace could still be a long way off. CNN Senior National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt lays out what both sides are looking for in negotiations and examines President Biden’s unscripted comments about regime change in Russia. He also tells us about a Ukrainian hotline being used by Russian families trying to locate their loved ones on the battlefield.

Recorded on March 29, 2022.

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Christiane Amanpour on Red Lines and War Crimes Mar 27, 2022

Show notes

Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine has left widespread destruction in some of the country’s major cities. But as Ukrainians fight back, there are fears that Vladimir Putin could escalate the conflict by using even deadlier weapons. In this episode, CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour talks about why Vladimir Putin’s strategy isn’t working as well as he had hoped. She also examines the war crimes allegations leveled against Putin and breaks down how battlefield losses could backfire in Moscow.

Recorded on March 25, 2022.

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Can NATO End This War? Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches its one-month mark, President Biden joins other world leaders in Brussels, Belgium for a NATO summit where he hopes to sustain the Western alliance. The stakes are high, as the world will be watching closely and Ukraine is especially eager to know how far the alliance will go to deter Putin's advance. CNN’s White House reporter Natasha Bertrand has been reporting from NATO headquarters in Belgium and will discuss what to expect from Biden’s visit, how drones may complicate his response, and what a possible stalemate in Ukraine might mean for the rest of Europe.

Recorded on March 22, 2022.

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Why is Swan Lake Playing on Russian TV? Mar 20, 2022

Show notes

As Russia’s unprovoked destruction and targeting of civilians wreaks havoc across Ukraine, Russian citizens have been hearing a different story entirely. That’s because Putin is also waging a war on his own people through a merciless effort to crack down on independent media and dissent. Hear how one TV station used a ballet to make a point. Anderson Cooper talks to CNN’s International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson about the current state of Russian media, disinformation, and what 30 years of reporting on Russia has led him to believe about Putin’s next moves.

Recorded on March 17, 2022.

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What Happens to the Millions Who Are Fleeing Ukraine? Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia’s invasion. Many are escaping though Poland, which borders the west of Ukraine. Anderson Cooper talks to CNN’s Sara Sidner who has been reporting from the region for the past several weeks. They discuss what she’s witnessed there — from the incredible generosity of the Polish people to blatant discrimination when it comes to people of color trying to reach safety to the weaponization of the term “fake news”.

Interview recorded on March 11, 2022.

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"Russia does wars very differently" Mar 13, 2022

Show notes

As Russia continues its violent assault on Ukraine, it has also unleashed an assault on the truth. CNN’s Anderson Cooper talks with International Security Editor Nick Paton Walsh who has been covering the conflict in southern Ukraine. They discuss the struggles of covering a war when one side is deliberately lying about the reality on the ground and his approach to talking to people experiencing the worst moments of their lives.

Recorded on March 11, 2022.

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Bearing Witness With Anderson Cooper and Clarissa Ward Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

CNN reporters in Ukraine have witnessed countless horrors since the Russian invasion began. But they’ve also seen incredible moments of kindness and perseverance from Ukrainians as the war rages on around them. Anderson Cooper and Clarissa Ward, both currently on the ground in Ukraine, discuss what it’s like to bear witness to war, when to keep reporting and when to help the people in front of you, and why they keep coming back to it. Recorded on March 8th, 2022.

This episode contains potentially sensitive content.

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Inside the Targeted Capital Mar 06, 2022

Show notes

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already taken an immense human toll. CNN’s Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance offers an inside look into the devastation and his conversation with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Chance reflects on how this conflict is different than others he’s covered, Zelensky’s decision to remain in Ukraine, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Chance, who is based in Moscow, also wonders what kind of Russia he’ll return to.

Recorded on March 4, 2022.

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