Larry Bartels, a political science professor renowned for his work on voting behavior, analyzes the rise of right-wing populism in contemporary politics. Sopo Japaridze, a Georgian-American journalist, sheds light on the democratic crisis in Georgia, revealing the aftermath of questionable elections and public protests. They discuss how local and global dynamics shape voter sentiments and the complex relationship between Georgia’s government and its aspirations for EU integration amid rising tensions with Russia.