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. JAN 23

    The Uyghur Journalist: Mamatjan Juma

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we speak with Mamatjan Juma, a veteran Uyghur journalist and one of the most important voices documenting China’s repression in Xinjiang. For nearly two decades, Juma reported for Radio Free Asia’s Uyghur Service, helping to expose the reality of mass internment, forced labour, family separation and the systematic erasure of Uyghur identity. His reporting was among the first to bring credible, source-based evidence of the camps to the outside world — long before governments were willing to name them for what they were. That work came at a devastating personal cost. Like many Uyghur journalists, Juma has seen members of his own family targeted by the Chinese state, a reminder that authoritarian power does not stop at borders and does not distinguish between professional reporting and collective punishment. We discuss how independent Uyghur journalism has survived under extraordinary pressure, how Beijing wages transnational repression against exiled journalists, and why the closure of trusted outlets makes new initiatives like the Uyghur News Network more vital than ever. This conversation is not only about Xinjiang. It is about truth under dictatorship, the fragility of press freedom, and what democracies lose when crimes against humanity are allowed to fade into the background noise of global politics. Episode bullet points Who Mamatjan Juma is and why his journalism mattersHow early Uyghur-language reporting exposed the internment campsThe personal cost of reporting on Xinjiang from exileChina’s use of intimidation, surveillance and family punishmentTransnational repression beyond China’s bordersThe collapse of legacy platforms and the rise of new Uyghur mediaHow journalists verify information under total state controlWhat democracies risk by looking away from XinjiangSupport the show

    57 min

  2. JAN 16

    The Anonymous Donor to Ukraine

    Send us a text In this special and unusually candid episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we speak to an anonymous American investor who has privately channelled close to half a million dollars into Ukrainian frontline units fighting Russia’s invasion.  At his request, this interview is audio-only and his voice has been altered.  Our guest explains what drove him, as a private citizen, to step far beyond conventional charity and into direct support for military units. Drawing on first-hand relationships with Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers, he outlines how crowdfunding, “angel investors”, and rapid private procurement have become decisive factors on the battlefield. From drones and electronic warfare to logistics and innovation, he describes how Ukrainian units increasingly function like start-ups, adapting faster than traditional military supply chains ever could. The conversation goes beyond hardware. We discuss Bucha and occupied territories, the moral calculus of inaction, and why he believes delays and half-measures translate directly into civilian suffering. He addresses the legal and ethical objections often raised in the West, arguing that they collapse when confronted with mass atrocities and imperial aggression. The episode also tackles the information war. Our guest explains how Russian propaganda exploits religious, political and cultural divisions in the United States and Europe, and why Ukraine, in his view, represents a clearer moral line than many past conflicts.  He speaks openly about faith, freedom, responsibility, and why he believes Ukraine’s fight is inseparable from the future of democracy in the West. Support the show

    1h 3m

  3. JAN 9

    Jakub Kalensky: Building Europe's Information Fortress

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, we speak with Jakub Kalenský, one of Europe’s leading experts on disinformation, hybrid threats, and information warfare. Jakub is Deputy Director at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki and a former senior figure behind the EU’s flagship EUvsDisinfo initiative. For over a decade, he has worked at the sharp end of efforts to expose and counter authoritarian influence operations, particularly those originating from the Kremlin. We explore how modern disinformation campaigns actually work, why repetition and scale matter more than persuasive narratives, and why democracies remain structurally vulnerable in the information space. Jakub lays out his “four lines of defence” for countering disinformation, from detection and data collection to deterrence and punishment, and explains why Western governments consistently underinvest in this fight. The conversation also examines how artificial intelligence is accelerating information warfare, enabling mass content production, micro-targeting, and more sophisticated language use — while also offering potential defensive tools for democracies. We discuss the role of social media platforms, the limits of free speech arguments, and whether the information space should be treated as critical national infrastructure. Finally, we turn to values: democracy, freedom, and why Ukraine has become the defining frontline in the global struggle against authoritarianism — not just militarily, but informationally. This is a wide-ranging, unsparing look at one of the most consequential and least understood battlefields of our time. Support the show

    53 min

  4. JAN 2

    Cdr Lance McMillan - The Navy and the News

    Send us a text In this episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We are joined by Commander (Ret.) Lance McMillan, a former US Navy officer with more than 25 years of service and a regular contributor to independent US media on defence, security and global affairs. Lance reflects on growing up across multiple countries during the Cold War, witnessing stark inequalities and contrasting political systems, and how those experiences shaped his instincts about power, authority and the role of the state. He discusses his father’s career in US intelligence, the realities of that world behind the myths, and how proximity to diplomacy and espionage influenced his worldview. The conversation explores Ukraine’s theory of victory, the limits of military power, and why war termination theory suggests that negotiated settlements rarely emerge before true war-weariness sets in. Lance offers a frank assessment of Russia’s maximalist objectives, Ukraine’s strategic dilemma, and the security risks inherent in territorial compromise. Attention then turns to the United States itself. Lance outlines his concerns about democratic backsliding, the erosion of institutional norms, and the growing influence of oligarchic and ideological power blocs. He examines voter suppression, political polarisation, and why trust in American democracy is weakening both at home and abroad. The episode also looks at the transatlantic relationship, Europe’s move towards defence autonomy, and how democratic allies respond when US leadership becomes unpredictable. From Ukraine to Washington to Venezuela, this is a wide-ranging conversation about power, democracy and what happens when political systems begin to hollow themselves out. Support the show

    1h 19m

  5. 12/19/2025

    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

  6. 12/12/2025

    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

  7. 11/29/2025

    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

  8. 11/21/2025

    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
See All (36)

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