How A Strange Group of Heroes Defeated Russia

Breaking History

The Free Press

History

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ronald Reagan’s speech in front of the Berlin Wall in 1987 is legendary for its six simple words: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” And two years later the wall fell. In another two years, the Soviet Union came crashing down. Many factors led to these moments. Among them: the failures of communism, the bravery of dissidents, and America’s role in challenging the “evil empire,” at least that’s what Reagan called it. The dissidents—many languishing in gulags—heard America. They heard President Reagan. And many lived long enough to see their tyrants topple. One of them even went on to lead Czechoslovakia, the country that jailed him. His name was Václav Havel. In today’s Breaking History, Eli Lake argues that Havel’s experience as a playwright and dissident helps explain how plain truths defeat communist lies. Eli also compares Reagan's Cold War politics with Trump’s approach to Vladimir Putin. This comparison is more pertinent than ever after the showdown in the oval office on Friday. Before any talks, Trump and his team made it clear that Ukraine would not get back the territory stolen by Putin. Trump excluded Ukraine from the negotiations, and accused Volodymyr Zelensky of being a dictator—a comment he now denies. Then, on Friday, Zelensky showed up to the White House to sign the critical minerals deal. The deal would give the U.S. access to half of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in perpetuity. In exchange, Zelensky wanted security guarantees. Trump said no. The Romans would recognize this as tribute. The Mafia would call it protection money. Eli unpacks all of this and so much more. Thanks to our sponsors: https://welcome.chaiflicks.com/lake/ Go to groundnews.com/BreakingHistory to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and stay fully informed on today’s biggest news stories. CREDITSProducer Greg CollardExecutive Producer Alex Miller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is what it sounds like, when the good guys win.
0:04.5	The Berlin Wall can no longer contain the East German people.
0:08.3	Czechoslovakia today became the latest of the countries of Eastern Europe,
0:11.6	once held so tightly in the Soviet grip,
0:13.8	to throw off its hardline communist yoke.
0:16.4	Lithuania proclaimed that it had returned to the status it enjoyed
0:19.9	up until the Soviet Red Army invaded in 1940.
0:23.8	1989, 1992, 1992, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania. These are the victims of Soviet communism
0:34.5	breaking free of an evil empire.
0:40.2	On the right side of history stands America.
0:44.2	In the landfill of history lies the Soviet Union.
0:47.2	Today, this all feels like a distant memory.
0:51.1	Not just because the Russian bear is once again on the prowl,
0:54.9	but also because the American president has gone from lofty ambition.
0:59.5	Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.
1:02.4	To hostile aggression.
1:07.8	Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. I'm not telling you. Because you're in no position to dictate that. Remember that you're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel. You're going to feel very good. You're going to feel very good and very strong. You're right now not in a very good position. You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,
1:28.2	and he happens to be right about it. From the very beginning of the war, you're not in a good position.
1:33.3	It's not Donald Trump's fault that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, and it wasn't on his watch,
1:39.0	that Vladimir Putin renewed the invasion in 2022. But the end of this war, much like the end of the Cold War, is going to tell us a lot about
1:46.8	who we are as a nation.
1:50.7	Before any Russian concession, before any talks began, Trump and his team made clear that Ukraine
	...

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