A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia

In this special episode, we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by revisiting the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute’s November 2024 report, “A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia.” The report features insights from top conservative thought leaders on how the United States should confront the Russian threat. The authors importantly remind us that Russia remains one of the U.S. and its democratic allies’ most destructive adversaries, and assert that U.S. leadership and robust involvement — not isolationism and withdrawal — are essential to countering Russia and protecting American interests.

You can read the Vandenberg Coalition and McCain Institute’s report here.

(0:00) Introduction

(2:12) Threat to Democratic Values by Peter Berkowitz 

(7:34) Threats to the U.S. Homeland by Brian Cavanaugh

(14:20) The China-Russia Relationship by Dean Cheng

(24:07) Strengthen U.S. Geo-Economic Strategy by Matthew Zweig 

(35:50) Bolster U.S. Military by Mark Montgomery 

(43:32) Secure Ukraine by Rebeccah Heinrichs

(49:14) Continue the Freedom Agenda by Daniel Runde

(55:50) The Path Forward by Stephen Biegun