Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight

TA Mullis
  • 0.0 (0)
  • POLITICS

A 'Dictators v Democrats' program https://tamullis.substack.com/  Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis Patreon: patreon.com/DictatorsvDemocrats Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/vsTNKRvy Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.  From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.  But, there are those who resist.  In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.  We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Chemical Warrior: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, Theo Allthorpe-Mullis is joined by Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE, one of the UK’s leading authorities on chemical weapons and modern deterrence. Drawing on more than three decades of service and frontline experience, Hamish reflects on why he joined the British Army, what service means in a democracy, and how Syria shaped his understanding of power, responsibility and Western failure. The conversation moves from the broken “red lines” of 2013 to their consequences today, examining how inaction over chemical weapons emboldened authoritarian regimes and reshaped Russian behaviour in Ukraine. The discussion also covers the confirmed use of chemical agents on the Ukrainian battlefield, the risks of escalation, and what a credible Western response would look like. From NATO deterrence and Article 5, to national resilience, military service and the quiet erosion of democratic confidence at home, this is a wide-ranging and unsparing look at the world as it is, not as we would like it to be. Show Notes Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE on growing up in a family shaped by military service and why he chose the ArmyWhat “service” actually means in a democracy, and why serving the nation is not the same as serving a governmentSyria as the defining experience: witnessing chemical warfare, civilian suffering, and Western reluctance to actThe failure to enforce the chemical weapons red line in 2013 and how it shaped Putin’s calculationsWhy Syria matters to Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Europe more broadlyRussian aggression and the long shadow of Western hesitationThe use of chemical agents in Ukraine, including chloropicrin and riot control agents delivered by dronesHow chemical weapons are being used tactically to force Ukrainian soldiers out of trenchesThe risk of escalation to more lethal nerve agents, and why the taboo is weaker than many assumeWhat a credible response to chemical weapons use would look like without crossing the nuclear thresholdNATO, Article 5, and whether deterrence still holds in an era of ambiguity and hybrid warfareEurope’s readiness, defence spending, and the question of seized Russian assetsWhy authoritarian systems are still widely misunderstood in the WestDemocracy’s internal vulnerabilities, from political extremes to public disengagementAdvice to young people considering military service, and to societies reluctant to prepare for warWhy strength and preparedness remain the best way to prevent conflictA final message to dictators and authoritarians, and the limits of trying to “buy off” ideologuesSupport the show

    50 min

  2. DEC 12

    Jenny Chan: The Pacific WW2 Historian

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with Jenny Chan, historian and co-founder of Pacific Atrocities Education, about the overlooked history of the Asia–Pacific theatre of the Second World War and its impact on today’s geopolitics. Jenny explains how her grandmother’s experience under Japanese occupation shaped her interest in history, and why much of the Pacific War remains absent from Western education. She discusses the thirty million deaths across Asia, the fall of Hong Kong on “Black Christmas”, and the strategic decisions that allowed many Japanese wartime figures to avoid justice after 1945. The conversation also explores how authoritarian fanaticism emerges, how democracies sometimes compromise on their values, and why honest historical memory is vital for defending free societies today. Topics Covered • Family history and personal motivation Jenny’s grandmother, wartime Hong Kong, and the loss of the family’s fortune during the occupation. • Why the Pacific War is forgotten Western-centric teaching, focus on Hitler, and a lack of coverage of the Asian continent’s devastation. • Unit 731 and wartime atrocities Biological experimentation, comfort women, and how key perpetrators avoided prosecution. • Post-war geopolitical choices Cold War alliances, immunity deals, and the rehabilitation of wartime elites and corporations. • Fanaticism and failed civilian control Military dominance in pre-war Japan and the collapse of moderate voices. • How democracies respond to brutality Operation Paperclip, moral compromises, and long-term consequences. • Historical memory and revisionism The dangers of online denialism, extremist nostalgia, and why younger audiences seek deeper history. • Modern Asia–Pacific tensions Japan’s rearmament, China’s military build-up, and rising risks around Taiwan. • Democracy, freedom and peace Jenny’s reflections on why peace is essential to preserving democratic values. Support the show

    59 min

  3. NOV 29

    Ji Hyun Park: The North Korean Defector - Why We Fight

    Send us a text In this episode, T. A. Mullis speaks with Ji Hyun Park, who escaped North Korea twice and went on to rebuild her life in the United Kingdom. (Sorry for the delay, recent family bereavements have left my schedule all out of whack) Park describes her childhood under the Kim dictatorship, the famine, and the complete control the regime holds over information and daily life. She explains her first escape to save her younger brother, her experience of human trafficking in China, and the Chinese government’s practice of returning North Korean refugees to the regime. She gives a clear account of the labour camp she was sent to after repatriation, including forced labour, hunger and the treatment of repatriated pregnant women. She then recounts her second escape with her son, the journey through China and Mongolia, and her arrival in Britain in 2008. Park reflects on rebuilding her life, learning English, raising her family and eventually entering public life as a Conservative Party candidate. She speaks about what motivates her, the values she associates with democracy, and her concerns about rising authoritarianism. Main topics covered include: Life under the Kim dictatorship and the impact of total controlEscaping North Korea twice and surviving trafficking and imprisonmentChina’s role in returning refugees to the regimeRebuilding a new life in the United Kingdom with her sonWhy she entered public life and what motivates her workThe values she associates with freedom and democracyHer warning about rising authoritarianism and why democracy must be protectedJi Hyun Park’s book: The Hard Road Out: One Woman’s Escape from North Korea https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Road-Out-Womans-North/dp/1785787079 This conversation offers a rare first-hand account of life inside a totalitarian state and what it takes to build a future in a free society. Support the show

    1h 17m

  4. NOV 21

    General Ben Hodges - Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we speak with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, for a wide-ranging and unusually candid conversation about the state of democracy, the duty of military leaders, the future of Ukraine’s defence, and the global challenge posed by modern autocracies. General Hodges reflects on the oath he took, how its meaning evolved across his career, and why he believes that oath is under greater strain today than at any time in his service. He discusses the pressures facing serving officers, the erosion of norms inside American civil-military relations, and the emerging patterns of authoritarian coordination described by Anne Applebaum. The conversation moves from U.S. internal challenges to the war in Ukraine, where Hodges sets out: • why Ukraine’s victory matters strategically to Europe, the U.S., and global security • how Russia’s “grey zone” tactics shape the conflict • what he believes Ukraine’s theory of victory now is • the critical role of long-range strike capability, air defence, and defence-industrial innovation • how Ukraine must address manpower, training culture, and leadership development • lessons U.S. and European militaries should be drawing from the war We also explore the values at stake: freedom and democracy. Hodges speaks frankly about what these terms mean: trust, responsibility, and the struggle to keep institutions healthy. The episode closes with two key questions: • What can ordinary citizens do to defend democracy? • And what message does General Hodges have for dictators, and for those who enable them? This is one of the most comprehensive and sober assessments yet on the global contest between democratic systems and authoritarian regimes. About General Ben Hodges Ben Hodges is the former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe (2014–2017), a West Point graduate, and one of the leading Western voices on European security and the war in Ukraine. Support the show

    1 hr

  5. NOV 14

    Zarina Zabrisky - The American in Kherson

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host T. A. Mullis speaks with Zarina Zabrisky, an American war correspondent and filmmaker reporting from the frontlines of Kherson, Ukraine — a city living under daily Russian drone and artillery attacks. Zabrisky, who has spent a decade documenting Russia’s hybrid war against the West, reveals the horror of what she calls a “human safari” — Russia’s use of FPV drones to hunt civilians for sport. She discusses the collapse of truth in the AI age, the Kremlin’s psychological warfare against democracies, and why she continues to risk her life to tell these stories. Together, they explore: Life and survival in Kherson under drone siegeThe UN’s findings that short-range drone attacks are war crimesRussia’s mastery of psychological and information warfareHow AI and disinformation are eroding democratic resilienceThe meaning of freedom and democracy through the eyes of someone who escaped totalitarianismZabrisky’s documentary Kherson: Human Safari is available free at KhersonHumanSafari.com You can find more of Zabrisky’s work at Byline Times and Euromaidan Press Guest Links: Website: KhersonHumanSafari.com Support the show

    56 min

  6. NOV 7

    Phil Ittner: The American War Correspondent

    Send us a text Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight — Episode: American War Correspondent Phil Ittner In this episode, host TA Mullis speaks with Phil Ittner, an American war correspondent with more than two decades of experience covering conflicts around the world — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Georgia and Ukraine. Now based in Kyiv, Ittner discusses the moral and historical battle lines between democracy and authoritarianism that define the 21st century. Together, they explore journalism’s role in an age of disinformation, the impossibility yet necessity of striving for objectivity, and the philosophical divide between free societies and autocratic ones. Ittner reflects on his years reporting from Moscow during the rise of Vladimir Putin, his time on the front lines of Maidan and the 2022 invasion, and his belief that Ukraine represents a global line in the sand. The conversation delves into: Journalism as a vocation and moral dutyWhy “objectivity” is impossible but essential to pursueThe failure of Western media to explain Ukraine’s fight and identityRussia’s imperial mindset and its parallels with Britain’s colonial pastHow democracy’s greatest strength is its willingness to try, fail, and try againThe meaning of liberty, individual rights, and participation in shaping societyWhy autocracy always collapses into violence and decayIttner closes with a warning to dictators: power without participation always ends in ruin — and a reminder that, despite its flaws, democracy remains humanity’s best hope. Phil Ittner’s Work: 🎥 On the Edge — YouTube: Phil Ittner 🌐 Website: philipittner.com Follow Dictators v Democrats  🔗 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DictatorsvDemocrats  🔗 Substack: dictatorsvdemocrats.substack.com 🎧 Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms 🐦 Twitter/X: @TheoAMullis Support the show

    1h 5m

  7. OCT 31

    Vegas: The American Azov Assault Medic

    Send us a text American Azov: Vegas — The Firefighter Who Joined Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks with Vegas, an American firefighter and medic who left Texas to join Azov’s International Battalion in Ukraine. From pulling people out of burning buildings to pulling wounded soldiers off the zero line, Vegas shares his journey from civilian life in the United States to the front lines of Ukraine’s war for survival. He explains what compelled him to risk everything, how he went from medic to assault soldier, and why he believes the battle for Ukraine is part of a much larger global struggle between dictatorship and democracy. Vegas speaks candidly about: The moment he decided to go to UkraineWhat it’s really like fighting on the zero lineHow the war is reshaping Ukraine’s military and mindsetThe reality of drone warfareWhat the West still doesn’t understand about the scale of this conflictHow Ukraine changed his view of America, patriotism, and freedomThis is a raw, unfiltered conversation with a man who traded comfort for conviction — and found purpose fighting for the ideals that define democracy itself. “The number one threat on the front right now is drones — and number two, three, four, and five are drones.”  “Ukraine is safer at war than the US is at peace.”  “Fighting for Ukraine is the purest form of Americanism I’ve ever known.” Support the show

    1h 15m

  8. OCT 24

    Nick Soutter: The American Philosopher

    Send us a text In this episode, host we speak with Nick Soutter — American author, philosopher, and journalist behind In Time Media and the dystopian novel The Water Thief.  Soutter has spent years dissecting the moral and political decay of democratic societies and the slow rise of corporate authoritarianism. Together, Theo and Nick explore the erosion of democracy in the United States and across the Western world, from the Trump phenomenon and “pay-to-play” corruption to the creeping power of corporations like Musk’s and Thiel’s techno-feudal empires. Soutter argues that what we are witnessing is not just political backsliding, but the birth of a system where private power supplants public will — echoing the warnings of his own fiction. This wide-ranging conversation delves into: Why democracies are faltering and how complacency has become our greatest enemy.The transformation of capitalism into neo-feudalism.The psychology of authoritarianism and why ordinary people are drawn to strongmen.The failure of modern media, education, and marketing in defending truth.What the “No Kings” protests mean for the future of democracy.Soutter leaves us with a grim but galvanising message: the arc of history may bend toward progress, but only if we keep fighting to hold it there. 📘 Nick Soutter’s book: The Water Thief 🎧 His show: In Time Media Support the show

    1h 6m
See All (32)

About

A 'Dictators v Democrats' program https://tamullis.substack.com/  Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullis Patreon: patreon.com/DictatorsvDemocrats Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/vsTNKRvy Democracy is at war. We can see the forces rallied against it: autocratic states like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, techno-aristocrats, religious fundamentalists and populist demagogues.  From the trenches of Ukraine to the halls of power in the US, democratic, free values are under determined assault.  But, there are those who resist.  In 'Why We Fight' we talk to those who claim to be defending democracy; that's everyone from soldiers, protestors, activists, religious leaders, industrialists and politicians.  We find out who they are, what drove them to take up the struggle, what their work is and why their idea of democracy is worth fighting for.

Information

You Might Also Like