Former Ambassador McFaul Dives Deep in Live Q&A on Russia and Democracy

Michael McFaul, a leading voice on Russian politics and democratic resilience, recently held a live question-and-answer session to discuss the Kremlin’s continued efforts to undermine democratic institutions worldwide. Moderated by Jennifer Monaghan, the session invited paid subscribers to engage directly with McFaul, whose experience as US Ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration places him at the center of understanding authoritarian overreach.

The session covered a range of topics, from the Kremlin’s manipulation of elections to the broader implications of Putin’s aggressive foreign policy. McFaul emphasized the urgency of confronting disinformation campaigns and the erosion of democratic norms, both in Russia and within Western democracies vulnerable to similar tactics.

While the event was exclusive to subscribers, the full recording is now publicly accessible, offering a rare, candid glimpse into the strategies authoritarian regimes use to weaken democratic accountability. McFaul’s expertise sheds light on how these global patterns connect to domestic threats in the United States, underscoring the importance of vigilance and resistance.

This Q&A is part of McFaul’s ongoing effort to engage directly with the public through platforms like Substack, combining AI-assisted content delivery with human editorial insight. It reflects a broader trend of experts bypassing traditional media gatekeepers to speak truth to power in real time.

For those tracking authoritarianism, election interference, and democratic backsliding, this session is a must-watch. It reinforces why understanding and exposing these threats is critical to safeguarding democratic integrity at home and abroad.