State Terror and Family Fear: A Conversation with M. Gessen

Jul 23, 2026, 4:00 AM48 min

M. Gessen, opinion columnist at The New York Times and the author of Serial's 2026 show "The Idiot," joins Here & Now host Indira Lakshmanan for a wide-ranging conversation on Russia, Ukraine and the rise of global totalitarianism. Plus, what happens when a reporter turns the lens inward to confront family history and personal memory.

M. Gessen, opinion columnist at The New York Times and the author of Serial's 2026 show "The Idiot," joins Here & Now host Indira Lakshmanan for a wide-ranging conversation on Russia, Ukraine and the rise of global totalitarianism. Plus, what happens when a reporter turns the lens inward to confront family history and personal memory.