Daniel Twining, President of the International Republican Institute, joins host Gary Marx for a wide-ranging conversation about Ukraine, Russia, China and the growing competition between democratic and authoritarian powers around the world.

Fresh off a trip to Ukraine, Twining describes what he witnessed during a visit to Kharkiv and near the front lines, including the rapidly changing nature of drone warfare and the continuing danger facing Ukrainian civilians.

The conversation also examines new sanctions targeting Russia and its trading partners, the role China plays in supporting Moscow, and what the war could mean for deterrence elsewhere—including a potential conflict over Taiwan.

Twining also discusses the International Republican Institute’s work supporting democratic institutions around the world, what future elections in Ukraine could look like, Russian influence in countries including Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, and whether NATO is prepared for continued Russian aggression.

Finally, Twining reflects on the resilience he witnessed firsthand in Ukraine and why he believes the outcome of the war will have consequences far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

00:00 — Russia, China & the Stakes for Ukraine
00:19 — Introducing Daniel Twining
01:49 — Twining Returns From Ukraine
03:13 — Russia Escalates Its Attacks
05:23 — Inside Kharkiv & the Drone War
08:11 — New Sanctions Against Russia
10:40 — Ukraine's Future Elections
15:11 — IRI's Democracy Work Beyond Ukraine
17:10 — Is NATO Ready for Russia?
20:41 — Deterrence, Ukraine & Taiwan
23:06 — Russian Influence & China
24:05 — Sanctions, China & Ending the War
26:00 — Twining's Message From Ukraine
28:00 — Closing

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

The war in Ukraine is increasingly connected to conflicts and strategic competition far beyond Eastern Europe.

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx is joined by Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, to examine the growing connections between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea—and what those relationships mean for Ukraine and U.S. foreign policy.

Berman discusses Ukraine’s expanding defense technology capabilities, the pressures created by competing demands for air defense and munitions, and the challenges facing U.S. efforts to negotiate with Vladimir Putin.

The conversation also examines sanctions against Russia, efforts to pressure Russia’s energy sector, Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign, and how Moscow has transformed its economy to sustain a prolonged war.

Finally, Berman explains why he believes Russia’s wartime economic model could have implications beyond Ukraine and argues that any strategy for isolating Moscow must account for the international partnerships helping Russia sustain its war effort.

00:00 — Introducing Ilan Berman
01:26 — Connecting Ukraine, Russia, Iran & China
04:19 — Ukraine's Defense Technology & the Middle East
06:30 — Air Defense, Patriots & Ukraine's Needs
07:54 — U.S. Negotiations With Russia
12:10 — New Sanctions Against Russia & Iran
17:47 — Economic Pressure & Russia's Reintegration
21:19 — Ukraine's Deep Strikes Inside Russia
24:04 — Russia's War Economy & the Risk Beyond Ukraine
26:00 — Battlefield Momentum & Prospects for Negotiations
29:23 — Isolating Russia and Its International Partners

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

The conversation with Liz Schrayer and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dick Newton continues as host Gary Marx examines what the war in Ukraine means for the future of American leadership.

In Part Two, Newton draws on his military career to explain why American hard power must work alongside diplomacy, economic engagement, foreign assistance, and strong international partnerships. Schrayer discusses the coalition supporting Ukraine and makes the case for viewing Ukraine through the lens of U.S. national security, economic interests, and American values.

The conversation also explores Ukraine’s rapid development of drone warfare and what the United States can learn from its defense industrial base. Newton examines the accelerating role of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence on the battlefield, while Schrayer discusses critical minerals, economic cooperation, and the strategic challenge posed by the growing alignment among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

Finally, Schrayer and Newton discuss NATO, the importance of continued American leadership, and what they believe the United States and its allies must do to help Ukraine achieve a lasting victory.

00:00 — Hard Power, Soft Power & American Leadership
05:01 — Building Support for Ukraine
09:21 — What America Can Learn from Ukraine’s Drone Revolution
13:29 — AI, Autonomous Drones & the Future of Warfare
15:25 — Russia, China, Iran & North Korea
16:26 — Critical Minerals & the U.S.-Ukraine Economic Partnership
18:29 — Why American Leadership Still Matters
19:50 — NATO’s Future & the U.S. Role
23:10 — Remembering a Friend & Advocate for Ukraine
27:44 — What Comes Next for Ukraine?
30:40 — American Values & the Case for Ukraine
32:32 — Closing Thoughts

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

What does the war in Ukraine mean for America’s security—and what happens if the United States disengages from the world?

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx is joined by Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dick Newton, a member of USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council, for a wide-ranging discussion about Ukraine, American global leadership, and the growing cooperation among U.S. adversaries.

Newton examines how Ukraine has survived years of Russian attacks and transformed modern warfare through drones, emerging technology, and rapid battlefield innovation. The conversation then turns to North Korea’s support for Russia and what its involvement in Ukraine could mean for security far beyond Europe.

Schrayer discusses American public opinion toward Ukraine and argues that support for Kyiv should be understood not as charity, but as an investment in U.S. national security. She and Newton also examine diplomacy with Moscow, continued U.S. military support, sanctions, and the relationship between the war in Ukraine and the strategic challenge posed by China.

The conversation ultimately asks what “peace through strength” means in the modern world—and why military power, diplomacy, economic pressure, international assistance, and strong alliances must work together to achieve a lasting peace.

00:00 — Liz Schrayer & Lt. Gen. Dick Newton
03:06 — How Ukraine Defied Expectations
05:41 — CIA Diplomacy with Moscow
10:28 — North Korean Troops & Russia’s War
14:13 — The Growing Coalition of U.S. Adversaries
18:33 — Where Americans Stand on Ukraine
22:54 — Sanctions, NATO & the Battle of Wills
25:24 — U.S. Weapons & Ukraine’s Air Defense
29:03 — What “Peace Through Strength” Really Means
31:21 — Military, Economic & Diplomatic Power

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

What is it like reporting from Kyiv as Ukraine marks 35 years of independence in the middle of war?

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx is joined by Shelby Wilder, Newsmax foreign correspondent, journalist, and documentary filmmaker, reporting from Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day. Wilder describes a capital that remains defiant and proud even as Ukrainians face some of the most dangerous conditions since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Wilder recounts how she first entered Ukraine as a freelance journalist in 2022 with little more than her protective gear and a seat aboard a humanitarian cargo flight—and how Ukraine eventually became a major focus of her career.

The conversation covers:

• Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day and the mood in Kyiv
• Wilder’s journey from freelance journalist to Newsmax foreign correspondent
• Ukraine’s internal political tensions and calls for wartime elections
• Interviewing President Zelenskyy at the Chernobyl nuclear site
• Reporting through blackouts, missile attacks, and brutal Ukrainian winters
• The human stories and resilience that keep Wilder returning to Ukraine

Wilder also reflects on interviewing Zelenskyy one-on-one, pressing him for answers about U.S. support, and why some of the most important stories of the war are not about military strategy or geopolitics, but ordinary Ukrainians trying to raise families, attend school, and live their lives under extraordinary circumstances.

00:00 — Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day
01:42 — The Mood in Kyiv
04:23 — How Shelby Wilder Became a War Correspondent
07:58 — Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Politics & Wartime Elections
12:02 — Political Tensions Inside Ukraine
16:18 — Elon Musk, Starlink & Ukraine
19:06 — International Support on Independence Day
21:52 — Interviewing Zelenskyy at Chernobyl
26:44 — Reporting Through Ukraine’s Brutal Winters
30:10 — Shelby’s Path into Journalism
31:23 — Pressing Zelenskyy for Answers
33:15 — Why Ukrainians Continue to Fight

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

What is everyday life really like for Ukrainians living within reach of Russian drones and missiles?

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx sits down with freelance writer Will Fleeson, who has spent more than nine months reporting from Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion, to discuss what he witnessed during his latest reporting trip near the front lines.

Fleeson describes traveling through areas covered by anti-drone netting, speeding down roads to reduce the risk of attack, and using a handheld device capable of detecting when a drone has a vehicle in its sights. He also shares the stories of Ukrainian civilians who continue working, worshiping, exercising, and raising families despite living under the constant threat of attack.

The conversation covers:

• Life inside Ukraine’s expanding drone “kill zone”
• Churches and humanitarian groups serving frontline communities
• Russian double-tap strikes and attacks on civilians
• The indoctrination and forced assimilation of Ukrainian children
• Civilian resilience and everyday life during wartime
• Protests, corruption reform, and democracy during the war

Fleeson also recounts visiting a church near the front that was badly damaged by a Russian strike shortly after he left—and how its congregation continued its work, including holding a baptism amid the destruction. The conversation offers a firsthand look at not only the dangers Ukrainians face, but their determination to continue living their lives in the middle of war.

00:00 — Life under Ukraine’s drone nets
00:35 — Introducing Will Fleeson
01:50 — Reporting near Ukraine’s fortress belt
03:21 — The changing battlefield and civilian toll
04:19 — Inside the drone “kill zone”
05:26 — How Fleeson reports near the front
07:40 — The risks of frontline reporting
09:21 — Anti-drone nets and life under constant threat
11:01 — Seeing his own vehicle through a drone feed
12:59 — How Ukrainian civilians keep living
14:44 — Churches serving frontline communities
16:48 — A Ukrainian church damaged by a Russian strike
19:07 — Resilience amid destruction
20:15 — How double-tap strikes work
22:34 — Ballistic missiles and Ukraine’s air defenses
25:16 — Ukrainian children in Russian summer camps
28:29 — Democracy and protests during wartime
33:39 — Fleeson’s travel writing and Lake Ohrid
35:42 — Closing thoughts

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

Do Americans really want the United States to retreat from the world?

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx sits down with Rachel Hoff, Policy Director at the Ronald Reagan Institute, to examine the Institute’s 2026 summer survey and what Americans actually believe about U.S. foreign policy, NATO, Ukraine, and America’s role on the global stage.

Hoff discusses polling showing strong support for American international engagement and the principle of “peace through strength,” including surprising findings among younger self-identified MAGA Republicans. The conversation also examines NATO, support for defending allies, U.S. weapons for Ukraine, European-funded weapons purchases, and what Americans believe a potential end to the Russia-Ukraine war should look like.

The conversation covers:

• American support for global leadership and “peace through strength”
• What younger MAGA Republicans actually think about foreign policy
• Public support for NATO and defending NATO allies
• American attitudes toward weapons and support for Ukraine
• What Americans believe a just end to the war could look like

Hoff also explains how partisan politics can influence foreign-policy attitudes while broader support for American leadership remains remarkably resilient.

00:00 — Introduction
01:08 — Rachel Hoff’s background growing up in Japan
04:17 — The Reagan Institute’s 2026 summer survey
05:34 — Do Americans want greater global engagement?
07:12 — What younger MAGA Republicans actually believe
10:02 — How the Reagan Institute conducts its polling
13:49 — Reagan, Trump & “peace through strength”
16:23 — Partisanship and American global leadership
18:10 — Foreign policy vs. domestic spending priorities
20:05 — What Americans think about NATO
23:23 — American support for Ukraine
26:32 — European-funded U.S. weapons for Ukraine
29:34 — How Americans think the Ukraine war should end
32:06 — Russia, Ukraine & America’s allies and enemies
34:18 — Is America still a “shining city on a hill”?
36:09 — Where to find the Reagan Institute polling
36:50 — Closing

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/

Has the war in Ukraine reached a turning point?

On this episode of Peace and Power Ukraine, host Gary Marx welcomes back former U.S. Ambassador Gregory Slayton, Chairman of Slayton Capital and author of Portraits of Ukraine: A Nation at War, for a wide-ranging conversation on Ukraine’s battlefield momentum, growing economic pressure on Russia, and why Slayton believes Vladimir Putin is increasingly running out of options.

Ahead of his return to Kyiv for Ukrainian Independence Day, Slayton discusses the upcoming second edition of Portraits of Ukraine and the importance of helping Americans better understand Ukraine’s history, culture, and fight for freedom. The conversation then turns to sanctions, Russia’s struggling economy, Ukrainian strikes against Russian infrastructure, and the growing pressure the war is placing on ordinary Russians.

The episode covers:

• Slayton’s upcoming return to Kyiv and Portraits of Ukraine
• New sanctions and increasing economic pressure on Russia
• Ukraine’s long-range strikes and Russia’s energy infrastructure
• Protests, democracy, and religious freedom in Ukraine
• Growing problems within the Russian military
• Why Slayton believes Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment in the war

Slayton also explains why he sees Ukraine’s democratic resilience and continued European support as signs of strength, and argues that battlefield losses, economic strain, and declining military effectiveness are increasingly putting Russia on the defensive.

00:00 — Russia’s growing battlefield problems
00:31 — Ambassador Gregory Slayton returns
01:16 — Returning to Kyiv for Independence Day
05:17 — Portraits of Ukraine
10:00 — New sanctions against Russia
13:00 — Does Ukraine now have the advantage?
15:20 — Russia’s economy and oil industry
17:34 — Bringing the war home to Russia
20:06 — Protests and democracy in Ukraine
22:17 — Religious freedom and Russian propaganda
24:09 — Has the war reached a turning point?
25:49 — Problems inside the Russian military
27:50 — Ukraine, Kyiv, and Ukrainian culture
30:04 — Why Ukrainians continue to fight
31:35 — Closing thoughts

Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@PeacePower_FNW

Follow us on social media

X: @PeaceAndPower_

Instagram: peaceandpower_ukraine

LinkedIn: Peace & Power Podcast

TikTok: peace.power.ukraine

Find more at Washington Signal

Your source for policy, national security, and investigative journalism.

https://washingtonsignal.com/