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Hi, Bill Crystal here. Welcome to Bulwark Takes. Very pleased to be joined by David Pressman,

a lawyer and human rights activist, diplomat. Most importantly for us,

our ambassador to Hungary, from mid-2020, I think, to the end of the Biden administration,

January 2025. Really a terrific ambassador. I've seen a lot of them over the years. I really spoke up

for American interests and values, but also for the dissidents and for, well, for freedom and for democracy in Hungary itself.

You've gotten some quarrels with Orban and the Urbite administration, which you handed yourself with dignity, but also didn't back down at all.

So that was great.

You know, I've talked about, I'll just say this and then we'll talk about what happened, but I've talked a fair number of Hungarian dissidents and

opposition figures who've come through Washington in the last few years, also elsewhere in Europe

in 2023 and 24. And they've all expressed admiration for you, but also I'm a gratitude for the

fact that you kept the flag flying there

during pretty difficult years, I guess, for the Hungarian Democratic, Swaldi, Democratic opposition.

I mean, they had lost that election in 2022 before you got there, I think, right? And then,

and they were sort of feeling like they might never be able to defeat Orban, and he was tightening

control. And so I really, they, they were grateful for what you did. And so am I. So thank you for joining me today. Well, thank you so much, Bill. I really, coming from you, that means an enormous amount. So I appreciate that. Well, I think it's well deserved. So let's talk two things, two topics I thought. What happened really in Hungary? You have such a granular and deep understanding of the country and the politics there. Who was doing what? And what do we watch from over here, Miss? And then secondly, let's talk a little bit about lessons for America, but you've also spoken about that and written about that since you came back. But you were there?

How surprised for you?

...