Five Questions with Alexander Vindman

Alexander Vindman became a household name after he blew the whistle on Donald Trump. He ended up testifying before Congress about the July 25th, 2019, phone call between Trump and the new Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, where Trump tried to extort Zelensky into announcing an investigation into Joe Biden, (who Trump thought would prove to be his leading political opponent in the 2020 election), by withholding much needed security aid from Ukraine until Zelensky did him that “favor.” Vindman thought the call was inappropriate and reported up his chain of command, ultimately leading to Trump’s first impeachment in December 2019. Trump retaliated two months later by firing Vindman from his role as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, U.S. Army (Retired), is our guest tonight for “Five Questions.” Dr. Vindman served as the director for European Affairs on the White House’s National Security Council, as well as prior roles including the Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and attaché at American Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. He holds a master’s degree from from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir “Here, Right Matters.” 

There is no one better suited to help us understand international democracy issues that arise in connection with our domestic ones here at home, including how one Senator from Alabama is holding up more than 400 military promotions. And if you find yourself wanting more after reading here, Alexander Vindman has started a Substack newsletter of his own, “Why It Matters,” that you can sign up for here.

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