War, Inflation, and Putin's Paranoia: has Russian Public Opinion Begun to Shift?

War, Inflation, and Putin's Paranoia: has Russian Public Opinion Begun to Shift?

Author: CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies May 15, 2026 Duration: 41:10
Max and Maria welcome back Dr. Sam Greene, professor of Russian Politics at King's College London, to discuss the state of Russian public opinion today, and whether domestic conditions have begun change given the state of the economy, war, and reports of increasing paranoia in the Kremlin. 

Dive deep into the political landscape, historical currents, and rich social fabric of a vast and consequential region with Russian Roulette. This podcast from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program is guided by hosts Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya, who bring their expertise to nuanced conversations that move beyond headlines. Each episode delves into the forces shaping Russia and the diverse nations of Eurasia, unpacking everything from foreign policy and internal power dynamics to cultural shifts and societal transformations. You'll hear insightful analysis and engaging discussions with a range of experts, offering listeners a clearer understanding of the complex challenges and opportunities within the post-Soviet space. Produced by Tina Dolbaia and Nick Fenton, the podcast consistently provides context and depth on a part of the world where history is always present. For anyone curious about the intricate politics, compelling stories, and human experiences that define this area, this series serves as an essential guide, making sense of a region that often seems enigmatic from the outside.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Russian Roulette
Podcast Episodes
The Ukrainian Defense Industry and Europe’s Untapped Arsenal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:35
Max and Maria welcome back Elina Ribakova to discuss her latest piece in Foreign Affairs, exploring the Ukrainian defense industry and its potential capacity to help Europe secure its own defense. More from Elina in Fore…
The History of Russian Feminism with Julia Ioffe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:48
Max and Maria are joined by journalist and author Julia Ioffe to discuss her recent book, Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy. Motherland is available now from HarperCollins Publ…
How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy. This conversation was recorded on March 25, 2026…
BONUS EPISODE: What the Iran War Means for Russia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:44
Max sat down with Michael Kimmage for a rapid fire session running over the potential implications of the ongoing war in the Middle East for Russian foreign policy. This conversation was recorded on March 19, 2026.
Transnational Corruption in Foreign Policy Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:10
Max and Maria spoke with Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon about how authoritarian and illiberal governments leverage transnational corruption as part of their foreign policies and global strategies. This conversation wa…
Eric Ciaramella on How Europe Can Arm Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace returned to the show to discuss his recent article with Sophia Besch on the ways that European states can support Ukraine militarily without the involveme…
Four Years of the War in Ukraine (Live Event) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:42
Max and Maria spoke with Hanna Notte, JP Gresh, and Michael Kimmage at a live CSIS event marking the four-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This conversation was recorded on February 23, 2026.…
Ukraine's Ongoing Energy Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:49
Max and Maria were joined by Andrian Prokip and Tim McDonnell to discuss the relentless Russian bombardment of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and what this means for average Ukrainians trying to survive the winter mont…
Adam Entous on U.S.-Ukraine Relations in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:06
Max and Maria spoke with Adam Entous of The New York Times on his in-depth investigation exploring the Trump Administration's policies towards Ukraine in 2025. This conversation was recorded on January 7, 2026. "The Sepa…