TGL 16 | Jill Dougherty - From the KGB to the Kremlin: The Rise of Putin’s Power

What is really happening inside modern Russia—and what does it mean for the future of global security? In this episode, veteran journalist and former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty joins the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston to unpack the power dynamics shaping Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its growing impact on the world stage. Drawing on decades of experience covering the Kremlin, Dougherty explores how Russia has shifted from the relative openness of the post–Cold War era to a system increasingly defined by centralized power and strategic control. The conversation traces Putin’s early ambitions—from his student years in Leningrad to his career in the KGB—and how those formative experiences continue to shape his leadership style today. The discussion also examines Russia’s evolving geopolitical strategy, including its relationships with China, Iran, and North Korea, and how these partnerships are reshaping global alliances. From nuclear signaling to hybrid warfare tactics such as cyber operations, sabotage, and election interference, Russia’s actions continue to test the resilience of NATO and Western democracies. Dougherty also analyzes Putin’s current strategic posture amid ongoing tensions involving Ukraine and Europe, highlighting why some experts see his approach as increasingly cautious—and what that may signal about the future of the conflict. For policymakers, students of international relations, and anyone trying to understand today’s rapidly shifting global landscape, this episode offers essential insight into one of the most consequential geopolitical stories of our time. Watch to gain a deeper understanding of Russia’s strategy, the fragile balance of power in Europe, and the risks that could shape international security in the years ahead. Jill Dougherty served as CNN’s Moscow Bureau Chief for almost a decade. She reported on the presidencies of Boris Yeltin and Vladimir Putin, as well as the political career of Mikhail Gorbachev, the first – and last – Soviet president. She covered a number of seminal events in modern Russia, including the collapse of the Soviet Union; the coup against Gorbachev; Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and Maidan Revolution of Dignity; Georgia’s Rose Revolution; Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Dougherty served as CNN White House correspondent for six years, covering the presidencies of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. As Foreign Affairs Correspondent she reported from the U.S. State Department. She served as U.S. Affairs Editor, reporting from Washington, DC. Based in Hong Kong, she was Managing Editor CNN International, Asia-Pacific, in charge of sevenbureaus across the region. She currently is a CNN on-air contributor, commenting on Russia-related issues; Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies; Distinguished Fellow at The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; and Fellow at the Kennan Institute. She has pursued research on Russia and the media as a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government; at the Woodrow Wilson Center; and at the International Centre for Defense and Security in Tallinn, Estonia. Dougherty received her B.A. degree in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and her M.A. from Georgetown University, where she researched Russia’s soft power diplomacy.