William Persing (MARS-REERS '18) discusses aspects of the Harriman Institute's inaugural Edward A. Allworth Memorial Lecture, given by Luca Anceschi (University of Glasgow), in a piece titled, "Scholar Contemplates the Limits of Change in Uzbekistan," published by Eurasianet.org.

In this episode of our podcast on Eurasianet, Masha Udensiva-Brenner talks to New Yorker staff writer Adam Davidson about his two investigations into Trump Organization deals in Baku, Azerbaijan and Batumi, Georgia.

This episode is the third in a three-part series that examines real estate and offshore financial activities connected with the post-Soviet region. In part one of the series Udensiva-Brenner spoke to Harriman Institute Director Alexander Cooley about why luxury real estate deals are so susceptible to money laundering operations; in part two, she spoke with Columbia University Journalism School Fellows, Manuela Andreoni and Inti Pacheco, about their investigation into the Trump Organization’s deal in Batumi, Georgia, which contributed to Davidson’s article, “Trump’s Business of Corruption,” published in the New Yorker in August 2017 (Davidson's article about Azerbaijan, "Trump's Worst Deal," was published in March 2017).

Guest:

Adam Davidson writes "the Financial Page" column and contributes larger features and web stories to the New Yorker. Previously, he was the “On Money” columnist and a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. He also co-founded and co-hosted National Public Radio’s “Planet Money,” after serving as the international business and economics correspondent for NPR.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commanding reelection victory — 76% of the vote with 67% turnout — has been described at once as a 'sham' in the Washington Post and as evidence of his 'overwhelming mandate' in the New York Times. The truth is more complicated," writes Timothy M. Frye, Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy, Chair of Columbia's Department of Political Science, on Axios.com.

Kimberly Marten, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Political Science at Barnard College; Director, Program on U.S.-Russia Relations, Harriman Institute, discusses Russian election interference, cyberattacks, and the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK, and the latest round of U.S. sanctions in response to Russian aggressive actions, on KQED San Francisco.