After Words Former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty on Understanding Today’s Russia
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Nov 23, 2025 Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow bureau chief and author, shares her decades of experience covering Russian leaders like Gorbachev and Putin. She discusses her deep connection to Russian culture and the transformational shift from Yeltsin’s chaotic politics to Putin’s controlled regime. Jill also reflects on the evolution of Russian media under Putin's grip and how U.S. foreign policy has shaped Russia's post-Soviet trajectory. With insights on Putin’s psychology and Russia's future, she highlights the complexities of understanding today’s Russia.
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Early Lifelong Russian Fascination
- Jill Dougherty fell in love with Russian language and culture as a high school student and pursued it for decades.
- Her personal ties and long visits shaped her reporting and perspective on Russia.
Vodka As Social Ritual
- Jill describes vodka rituals as intimate cultural practices among Russians rather than mere alcoholism.
- Sharing vodka created deep social bonds and had specific traditional rules in gatherings.
Putin Changed Political Culture
- Jill observed a cultural shift when Vladimir Putin replaced Boris Yeltsin: alcohol-centered official meetings gave way to tea and formality.
- She links Putin's personal habits to a broader change in political culture and presentation.
