President Biden's Foreign Policy Report Card on Europe: A discussion with Dr. Nola Haynes on WNBA Star Brittney Griner, Russia, and Ukraine (Part 2)

When the morning news broke to the world that WNBA Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia, it brought the invasion against Ukraine up close and personal to the Black community. The WNBA Star, age 32 at the time, was detained in Russia on February 17, 2022, for allegedly possessing cannabis oil in her luggage after arriving in Moscow from New York City. Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, along with a host of celebrity friends like Lebron James, pressured the Biden Administration to bring Griner back home, adding an international spotlight to her case. On August 4, 2022, she was sentenced to nine years in prison following weeks of a long trial. Black America poured out their frustrations on social media criticizing President Biden's slow efforts to negotiate her release with Russian President, Vladimir Putin as there were concerns of her personal safety given that she was both black and lesbian. Griner's case was even more complicated given that her negotiation was during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More importantly, how would Griner's prisoner swap affect U.S. national security? In this episode, Alexanderia Haidara talks with Dr. Nola Haynes to discuss the implications of Griner's case, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the geopolitical shifts with China.

Dr. Nola Haynes

⁠Dr. Nola Haynes⁠ is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is an academic, policy writer, and advocate. Her interests center on emerging threats, WMD in space, strategic competition, and intersectionality. Recently, Dr. Nola was named one of the top 50 leaders in national security and foreign affairs by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Diversity in National Security (DINSN). She is the former Director of the West Coast chapter of Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) and sits on several boards, including the Women's Caucus for the International Studies Association communications team (WCIS), Foreign Policy board for the American Political Science Association (APSA), and ISA West. She is a Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) member and an alumnus of the WestExec Advisors mentoring program. As a Pacific Council on International Policy member, Dr. Nola works as an Ops Coordinator to help resettle Afghan allies with Evacuate Our Allies (EOA) and is a policy advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act. Dr. Nola has over ten years of experience working in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and is a proud New Orleans native.

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