The Renew Democracy Initiative and The Next Move are excited to bring you Older/Wiser with Linda Chavez. Linda is a veteran of multiple presidential administrations, author, and columnist.

This week, Linda speaks to Issac Luna (Olvera), a former US Marine who left a comfortable life in Texas to volunteer to serve in the Ukrainian military. Issac reflects on his Mexican heritage, his service in the Marine Corps after 9/11, and his decision to leave it all behind to fight for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Along with his personal story, he and Linda discuss Ukraine’s resilience and America’s role in the war—topics he explores further in his memoir, Reckoning Dreams and Fire: Leaving the American Dream to Fight Russia’s Invasion.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. This month marks one year of The Next Move, and, to celebrate, we’re offering 30% off of premium subscriptions now through the end of April.

Please consider upgrading your subscription—all proceeds go directly toward advancing the work of the Renew Democracy Initiative. Premium subscribers receive invitations to exclusive Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders, early access to podcasts, and other perks.

Your support drives the work of the Renew Democracy Initiative, including bringing political dissidents to meet students, business leaders, and elected officials, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to frontline communities in Ukraine. Click here for an update on our on-the-ground work in Ukraine.

ICYMI: Tune in to last week’s episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

Are American actions and American objectives mismatched in Iran? Professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago joins Linda to discuss the Trump administration’s strategy—or lack thereof—in the war in the Middle East.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. Your support drives the work of the Renew Democracy Initiative, including bringing political dissidents to meet students, business leaders, and elected officials, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to frontline communities in Ukraine. Click here for an update on our on-the-ground work in Ukraine.

ICYMI: Tune in to the second episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

How do immigrants and their children reconcile ties with their homelands and commitment to the United States? RDI CEO Uriel Epshtein joins Linda to discuss his own journey as a first-generation American and the son of Soviet immigrants—and contrasts that story against the controversy surrounding US athlete Eileen Gu’s decision to compete for the Chinese Olympic team.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. Your support drives the work of the Renew Democracy Initiative, including bringing political dissidents to meet students, business leaders, and elected officials, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to frontline communities in Ukraine. Click here for an update on our on-the-ground work in Ukraine.

ICYMI: Tune in to the second episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

Rule of law or rule by law? Linda speaks with Andrew McCarthy, a columnist and former assistant US attorney who led the prosecution of the terrorists behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing for a lawyer’s perspective on the state of America’s constitutional order.

In a world of doomscrolling and daily outrages, Older/Wiser will showcase the big-picture perspective that comes with Linda’s five-plus decades in politics.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. Your support drives the work of the Renew Democracy Initiative, including bringing political dissidents to meet students, business leaders, and elected officials, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to frontline communities in Ukraine. Click here for an update on our on-the-ground work in Ukraine.

ICYMI: Tune in to the second episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

In our latest installment, Linda is joined by Katya Pavlevych, an advocate for Ukrainian children who serves as an advisor at Razom for Ukraine and the founder of Forget Us Not, a non-profit that works to bring home children abducted by Russia.

Linda and Katya discuss the kidnapping and indoctrination of Ukrainian children amid Russia’s war against Ukraine. From mass transfers and coerced adoptions inside Russia to the militarization of youth in the occupied territories, they explore how this conflict extends far beyond territory, to the fight for Ukraine’s identity and future.

In a world of doomscrolling and daily outrages, Older/Wiser will showcase the big-picture perspective that comes with Linda’s five-plus decades in politics.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. Now through March 4, you can save 30% on a premium subscription—just in time for our next exclusive Zoom call, taking place this Wednesday (3/4) at 5pm ET/2pm PT and featuring Financial Times US National Editor Edward Luce and Garry Kasparov for a discussion on the last 50 years in American foreign policy.

Music credit: Marichka

ICYMI: Tune in to the second episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

The Renew Democracy Initiative and The Next Move are excited to bring you Older/Wiser with Linda Chavez. Linda is an author, columnist, and veteran of multiple presidential administrations.

In our latest installment, Linda sits down with Ilan Stavans, Professor of Humanities and Latin American Culture at Amherst College, to discuss the history of mass deportation in the United States. Amid furor over ICE operations, Linda and Ilan trace the current roundup to events during the early twentieth century..

In a world of doomscrolling and daily outrages, Older/Wiser showcases the big-picture perspective that comes with Linda’s five-plus decades in politics.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If you’re not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our community. Now through March 4, you can save 30% on a premium subscription—just in time for our next exclusive Zoom call, featuring Financial Times US National Editor Edward Luce and Garry Kasparov for a discussion on the last 50 years in American foreign policy.

ICYMI: Tune in to the first episode of Older/Wiser:

More from The Next Move:

The Renew Democracy Initiative and The Next Move are excited to launch Older/Wiser with Linda Chavez. Linda is a veteran of multiple presidential administrations, author, and columnist.

In a world of doomscrolling and daily outrages, Older/Wiser will showcase the big-picture perspective that comes with Linda’s five-plus decades in politics.

In our first installment, Linda and The Next Move Managing Editor Evan Gottesman walk through America’s declining standards of leadership. It’s the perfect Presidents’ Day discussion, offering a look at the road to Trumpism from inside the White House.

If you’re a premium subscriber to The Next Move, you are among the first to hear this episode of the Older/Wiser podcast—24 hours before the rest of the world gets to tune in. Early access to this podcast is just one of the ways we’re saying “thank you” for your support. Premium subscribers also receive automatic entry into exciting raffles and contests and invitations to Zoom calls with Garry Kasparov and other pro-democracy leaders.

If your’e not yet a premium subscriber and you’d like to get access to these perks and support our work, there’s never been a better time to join our premium subscriber community. Now through March 4, you can save 30% on a premium subscription—just in time for our next exclusive Zoom call, featuring Financial Times US National Editor Edward Luce and Garry Kasparov for a discussion on the last 50 years in American foreign policy.

More from The Next Move: