In this episode, A'ndre speaks to Professor Yoshiko Herrera about the Russian state, its people, and autocratic leader, Vladimir Putin. Professor Herrera begins by breaking down how she understands Russia  and why it is not a democracy and how the turbulence of the 1990s helped cement Putin's power. She also addresses whether or not the Russian people prefer "strongman" leaders and how glimmers of democracy exist, particularly online. The conversation then moves to Russian identity and history, noting how Putin's revisionism has been used to justify authoritarianism at home and invasion abroad. The episode concludes with the Professor's analysis fo Russia's war against Ukraine, its costs, and what a post-Putin Russia may look like.