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Artwork for The Power Vertical Podcast by Brian Whitmore
Ukraine
Russia
NATO
European Union
United States
Vladimir Putin
Donald Trump
Democracy
Georgia
Volodymyr Zelensky
Pokrovsk
Atlantic Council
China
Abduction Of Children
Moldova
North Korea
Trump-Putin Phone Call
Military Analysis
Kremlin Narratives
Disinformation

The Power Vertical Podcast by Brian Whitmore covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today. Brian Whitmore is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center and Russia and Eurasia Specialist and Assistant Professor of Practice at the Charles ... more

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Artwork for The Power Vertical Podcast by Brian Whitmore

Latest Episodes

WAR AND INNOVATION - HOW UKRAINE REVOLUTIONIZED CIVIL DEFENSE by The Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies and Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Mikhail Zygar, author of the bestselling books All The Kremlin's Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin, War and Punishment: Putin, Zelensky, and the Path to Russia's Invasion ... more

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore looks at this military revolution with former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodniuk and Michael Carpenter, who served in the administration of former President Joe Biden as the NSC'... more

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore breaks it all down with James Sherr, an Honorary Fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security and an Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institu... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Kofman
Military analyst
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; War on the Rocks; Russia Contingency Podcast
Episode: VIBES, REALITY, AND WAR
John Sipher
Former CIA officer; senior fellow at Atlantic Council; founder of Spycraft Entertainment
Atlantic Council; George Mason University; Spycraft Entertainment
Episode: UKRAINE'S ASYMMETRICAL ADVANTAGE
Michael Weiss
Veteran journalist; author and investigative reporter
Foreign Office (Substack); New Lines Magazine; The Insider
Episode: GRU UNIT 29155 & THE 'HAVANA SYNDROME'
Katya Pavlevych
Founder of Forget Us Not, a civil society coalition advocating for the return of Ukraine's abducted children, and an advisor on children's issues at Razom for Ukraine.
Forget Us Not, Razom for Ukraine
Episode: RUSSIA’S WAR ON UKRAINIAN CHILDREN
Andreas Umland
Analyst at the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Episode: RUSSIA’S WAR ON UKRAINIAN CHILDREN
Peter Dickinson
Editor of the Ukraine Alert blog at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and publisher of Business Ukraine and Lviv Today magazines.
Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
Episode: ZELENSKY'S RESET
Serhiy Kudelia
Professor of political science at Baylor University and a close observer of Ukrainian affairs.
Baylor University
Episode: ZELENSKY'S RESET
Andriy Zagorodniuk
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister and Chairman of the Center for Defense Strategies
Center for Defense Strategies
Episode: HOW UKRAINE WINS THE WAR
Laura Thornton
Deputy Director for Global Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute, with experience in pre-election monitoring in Moldova
McCain Institute
Episode: THE BATTLE FOR MOLDOVA

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 322 ratings
  • Weird nose sounds

    I enjoy the podcast but the last few episodes have had weird nasal sounds it’s driving me mad I can’t listen to it anymore.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ben230Harry
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Great podcast

    I always enjoy this podcast—Brian and his guests are experts on the region. The topics are timely and relevant, the discussions invariably interesting and engaging. Don’t always agree with all the opinions but always find them thought provoking

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PDX 97206
    United Statesa year ago
  • Valuable and informative

    Excellent topic (& guest) selections by the host. An essential source of information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and hybrid war on democracies worldwide.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grantas Binghi
    United States2 years ago
  • 5 Star Source of information about Russia

    I’ve been listening to the power vertical since May 2022. Whitmore and his guests are extremely knowledgeable about Russia. Thank you so much for doing this podcast. I hope and pray for a free independent Ukraine and a free Russia as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    North Central Pa Reader
    United States2 years ago
  • Consistently great content— no show notes

    PLEASE put the name of the guests in the show description or episode title. Otherwise you have to listen for several minutes of intro before even hearing who is on. Also makes it very hard to refer to past episodes or share without this information being easy to find.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    lvivianka
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality analyses on Russia-Ukraine dynamics and European security.
Guests are consistently expert, though some listeners note audio quality fluctuations.
Insightful and well-informed discussions with strong guest rosters.
A valuable resource for those tracking Kremlin policy and transatlantic security.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

REFLEXIVE CONTROL AND USEFUL IDIOTS - EPSTEIN AND THE RUSSIANS
Q: Can you elaborate on how Epstein might have fit into the Russian tradecraft and whether he could have been an asset, an informal influence source, or something else?
The evidence suggests Epstein could have served as an unwitting or semi-witting conduit of influence, given his access to powerful networks and money flows; while not definitively proven as a formal asset, the data points indicate potential usefulness to Russian interests in money laundering, governance connections, and personal leverage, warranting further professional investigation.
GRU UNIT 29155 & THE 'HAVANA SYNDROME'
Q: What are the implications for U.S. intelligence and policy if these activities are real?
If these activities are real, they amount to acts of war or coercive tactics that undermine trust and safety for CIA officers abroad. They would necessitate stronger protective measures for personnel, reevaluation of norms around deterrence and response, and potential strategic shifts in how the U.S. counters Russian aggression and conducts covert operations.
GRU UNIT 29155 & THE 'HAVANA SYNDROME'
Q: Could you explain what's Havana syndrome and how your investigation has evolved the understanding of it?
Havana syndrome is a misnomer for what appears to be anomalous health incidents affecting U.S. personnel, with symptoms and biomarkers suggesting traumatic brain injury. The investigation, in collaboration with 60 Minutes and Der Spiegel, points to Russian actors linked to GRU units and outlines circumstantial but compelling evidence, including geolocation of operatives, biomarkers, and covert communications, challenging the view that the phenomenon is purely environmental or psychosomatic.
RUSSIA AND THE EMERGING WORLD ORDER
Q: Do you see factions developing or clans developing around this issue of how to deal with this new version of America?
Zygar notes that the Russian bureaucracy is dysfunctional and there aren't factions in the usual sense, as the elite largely shares Putin's cynical view of Americans.
RUSSIA AND THE EMERGING WORLD ORDER
Q: Is Russia getting what it wants from this administration? Or is this just a case of be careful what you wish for?
Zygar argues that Putin doesn't ultimately want peace in Ukraine, as it contradicts his interests, and that he's using negotiations to control the narrative.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- A geopolitical deep-dive show focused on Russia, Ukraine, European security, and transatlantic strategy, with expert guests from think tanks, government, and academia. Episodes frequently analyze Moscow's policy moves, hybrid warfare, drone capabilities, and Western responses, often weighing European autonomy versus reliance on U.S. leadership. The conversations are data-driven and policy-oriented, offering clear takeaways for listeners interested in defense, diplomacy, and international power dynamics.

- Noteworthy strengths include high-caliber guest rosters, strong scholarly and policy guidance, and a consistent emphasis on European resilience, deterrence, and alliance coordination. The show tends to connect real-world events to strate... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. In Moscow's Shadows
2. Russian Roulette
3. War on the Rocks
4. Ukraine: The Latest
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 237 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Michael Kofman
2. John Sipher
3. Michael Weiss
4. Katya Pavlevych
5. Andreas Umland
6. Peter Dickinson
7. Serhiy Kudelia
8. Andriy Zagorodniuk

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