BACK STORY WITH DANA LEWIS

Send us Fan Mail This episode brings you a fascinating discussion that challenges you to rethink your understanding of the crisis between Ukraine and Russia. Featuring our esteemed guests, Oleksandra  Matviichuk, a human rights war crimes investigator, and Richard Gowan from the International Crisis Group, we shed light on the importance of shifting the narrative from 'helping Ukraine not to...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why more than 300 London Met police officers decided to protest by refusing to carry firearms? Are you intrigued by the intricate labyrinth of laws, ethics, and emotions surrounding police use of lethal force? This episode of Backstory with Dana Lewis discusses this complex issue. We welcome Tony Long, a former Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Officer and auth...

Send us Fan Mail On Back Story this week host Dana Lewis examines where does the West truly stand when it comes to Iran's volatile human rights scenario, particularly concerning women? This thought-provoking question sets the tone for our in-depth conversation with Azadeh Zabeti, from the Committee of Anglo-Iranian Lawyers. We shine a light on the distressing state of the women's movemen...

Send us Fan Mail Buckle up as we dive into the murky waters of international politics with our esteemed guest, former CIA intelligence analyst Sue Mi Terry, and Professor Robert English. This episode takes you to the heart of the surprising alliance between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. We dissect the possible implications of this event, the potential impact...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges tells host Dana Lewis he expects a breakthrough is coming in Ukraine's counter attack against Russia. And journalist Fred Weir on Putin's grip on power in a fragmented inner circle of the Kremlin. It's not the iron grip you think it is. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On this week we explore the Ukrainian counter offensive and questions of long term support for Ukraine, if it's unable to crack the Russian occupation and take back seized land. A wide ranging discussion with Int. Crisis Group Alissa De Carbonell, also a former Moscow based Journalist like host Dana Lewis who was based in Russia for 12 years. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On Back Story this week we speak to former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who says in the wake of an attempted coup by Wagner, President Putin is dramatically weakened and predicts his time is over soon. And Soufan Group's Jason Blazakis on calls for Wagner to be deemed a terrorist organization so  Governments can cutoff it's funding and bring it's members...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story an interview with Jade McGlynn, from the Department of War Studies at Kings College on Putin's Russia. Dana Lewis speaks to McGlynn about how Putin uses politics of the past to frame his war in Ukraine, and campaign for a new Russian Empire.  Some of the methods were used by Soviet leaders of the past.  They are lies wrapped in powerful emotive images of Ru...

Send us Fan Mail This week who are these Russian Nationalists who attacked Russian territories from Ukraine? They have promised more attacks and the overthrow of President Putin and they appear to have backing from  Ukrainian Authorities. Host Dana Lewis  talks to a member of the Freedom of Russia Legion, Ilya Ponomarev who says they were indeed armed by Ukraine and received clearance to attack Ru...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton on Russia and China, and the war in Ukraine. And, Author of Flying In The Face of Fear, fighter pilot Kim 'Killer Chick' Campbell, on lessons learned about life and leadership from the cockpit of an A-10 Thunderbolt over Iraq. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Dana Lewis speaks to UK (Ret) Rear Admiral John Gower, who says Russia is increasing the nuclear threat level as President Putin pledged to move tactical nuclear weapons to neighbouring Belarus. Gower also speaks about why nuclear submarines for Australia are needed, but cautions about why arming those SSNs with cruise missiles,  if indeed the U.S. proceeds with...

Send us Fan Mail Did Russia just mortgage the Kremlin to China? At a 2 day summit in Moscow, Chinese leader Xi and Russian President Putin spoke of their close friendship. Russia isolated by international sanctions because of it's bloody invasion of Ukraine, now counts on China to buy it's oil and gas and possibly provide lethal military aid. On this Back Story Host Dana Lewis talks to U...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Tuft's Univ. Michael Beckley predicts China is going to take the step of providing lethal aid to Russia in it's war in Ukraine. That's despite dire warnings form Western Nations including America.  And Kyiv Post reporter Jason Smart on the information war between Ukraine and Russia, and why opinions matter in sustaining the war effort.  Support th...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story the Wagner Group, meddling in Africa, fighting in Ukraine, who are they? Guns for hire, unleashed by the Kremlin.   We talk to Soufan Center expert Colin Clarke.  And from Kyiv, Life Line Charity's Paul Niland on the war in Ukraine. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Germany has finally announced it will allow Leopard Tanks to be exported to Ukraine. And the U.S. will send a token force of M1-Abrams tanks. This potentially changes the course of the war in Ukraine from holding Russia back, to defeating Russian forces including in the Crimea.  It's a major escalation of the conflict because Europe and America see no way out of this war, but...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story, Dana Lewis has two fantastic guests. (Ret) Major Mike Lyons is a warfare expert and says Ukraine is in trouble without a change of tactics and more military muscle.  And a CIA Station Chief who served the U.S. for more than 3 decades, Douglas London discusses President Putin's and whether his inner circle could turn on him soon? And would Putin use a nucle...

Send us Fan Mail On Back Story this week Dana Lewis talks to the Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Pinchas Goldschmidt who has fled Russia.   He says President Putin has transformed Russia overnight from an authoritarian fascist state into totalitarianism. In his words on the eve before the invasion he went to sleep in Moscow, and woke up on Feb 24 in Tehran.  The Rabbi says religious leaders were told to su...

Send us Fan Mail On Back Story this week an interview with UK (Ret) Rear Admiral John Gower who warns sending Russia mixed messages on what a response to a nuclear weapon might be is setting the stage for disaster. He believes President Putin should understand the west would use nuclear weapons, if Russia used one. Gower says indeed that's what the U.S. President Biden meant when he spoke of...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Dana Lewis talks to sanctions expert Brian O'Toole on the impact of existing sanctions, are they really choking Russia's war machine? And the new EU oil price cap moves that seemed doomed to fail. And we speak to Ian Garner, a historian who studies Putin's new extreme youth movement inside Russia.  Are there parallels with the Nazi youth movement...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story journalist Reena Ninan on American Democracy including the midterm elections, and Trumps 'wet noodle' announcement he wants to run for President again.  And the worst week in Crypto history, as the FTX Exchange collapses with billions of dollars gone and millions of investors out their money. We speak to crypto currency investment managers in London, N...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Ukrainian MP Dmytro Natalukha says sitting at the table with Russia will only bring another cease fire and look where that led Ukraine? There has been an 8 year cease fire since 2014 and Putin will look to rearm and attack Europe again if allowed.  And Former National Security Advisor for the United Kingdom Sir  Mark Lyall Grant on Russia's continued aggres...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story we discuss the Ukrainian ground offensive and Russia's growing desperation as it attempts to bomb cities with missiles.  We discuss Iranian missile transfers with the Soufan Centres Joseph  Shelzi. And is there any chance for peace talks? Any at all?  The International Crisis Group's Program Director for Europe and Central Asia Olga Oliker discusses Ru...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Dana Lewis reflects on Twitter and free speech, and Putin's mirror imaging - another term for his smoke and mirrors -  hiding his intention to take over or dominate former Soviet Countries. And we interview Maria Zolkina in Kyiv, Head of Regional Security and Conflict Studies at DIF, an expert on the Russia-Ukraine war. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story experts say Iran's weeks of unrest mean the regime may be finished. There are rumours of Revolutionary Guard defections. The religious clerics can't cleat the streets and Iranians chant death to the Ayatollah. Back Story's Dana Lewis talks to Ramesh Sepehrad. And the pandemic didn't disappear.  Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigal-Ding is critical...

Send us Fan Mail On this Back Story Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton who has met Russian leader Putin a number of times, says he needs to go. Bolton says the U.S. should not be shy in pushing for regime change in Russia, because at stake is peace and stability in Europe. And, Belarus and its mad dictator Alexander Lukashenko, appears ready to succumb to Russian pressure and wade d...