Julia Ioffe and Clarissa Ward on Putin, Russia and the Women Fighting For A Better Future (Part One)

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 11 January 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Russian-born journalist Julia Ioffe is one of America’s most influential voices on Russia-US relations, reporting on Putin’s regime for over 15 years. Her new book, Motherland – which has been longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award for Non-Fiction – tells the stories of the many women who have shaped modern Russia, from feminist revolutionaries to the fearless members of Pussy Riot and Yulia Navalnaya. In December 2025, Ioffe joined CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward to share her insights on life inside Putin’s Russia and the possibilities for political change. She explored the history of modern Russia through the lives of its women, from the Bolshevik revolution to the present day, shining a spotlight on the remarkable women who, with enormous courage, defy Putin’s regime and are fighting for a better future for their country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:47.7	at Accardo.com. Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet. I'm producer Mia Serenti. Today's episode is part one
0:56.8	of our recent live event with award-winning journalist Julia Joffey. Yofi joined us at the Kieln Theatre
1:03.0	in London to discuss Putin, Russia and the women fighting for a better future. One of America's most
1:09.9	influential voices on Russia-U.S. relations, Yoffey has reported on Putin's regime for over 15 years.
1:16.6	Her new book, Motherland, which was long listed for the 2025 National Book Award for nonfiction,
1:22.6	tells the stories of the many women who have shaped modern Russia, from feminist revolutionaries to the fearless members of Pussy Riot.
1:30.3	A warning that this episode contains some strong language.
1:34.3	Let's join our host, Clarissa Ward, CNN, Chief International Correspondent, now with more.
1:40.3	Hi, everyone.
1:43.3	And thank you so much for, I noticed that the heavens literally opened and it's an absolute deluge.
1:49.0	So we appreciate you being here and we will make it well worth your while.
1:54.0	I am selfishly, ridiculously excited to be here on stage tonight with Julia Yoffi, who is a journalist who I've
2:02.9	been pretty much obsessed with for, I don't know, like 15 years.
	...

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