Episode 201: The Theater of War: James Verini on Mariupol, Putin, and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival
Episode Summary
What happened at the Mariupol Drama Theater — and what does it reveal about the larger war between Russia and Ukraine?
In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, historian Jason Herbert sits down with acclaimed journalist and author James Verini to discuss his powerful new book, The Theater, an intimate account of the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Together, they explore the siege of Mariupol, the human cost of modern warfare, and the terrifying role propaganda plays in shaping reality during conflict. The conversation moves beyond headlines into the deeper history of Russian imperialism, the contested identity of the Donbas, the rise of Ukrainian nationalism, and why Vladimir Putin’s war may ultimately have forged a stronger Ukrainian nation than ever before.
Jason and James also discuss:
Why the bombing of the theater became a defining atrocity of the war
Russian propaganda and the global information war
The historical roots of the conflict going back to the Crimean War
Volodymyr Zelensky’s transformation during the invasion
NATO, the United States, and the future of global democracy
Whether Putin can survive politically if Russia loses the war
Why Ukraine’s fight resonates far beyond Eastern Europe
Part war reporting, part historical reckoning, and part meditation on democracy itself, this episode examines one of the most consequential conflicts of the twenty-first century — and the people trapped inside it.
About James Verini
James Verini is an award-winning journalist and contributing writer for The New Yorker whose reporting has focused on war, conflict, geopolitics, and human survival in some of the world’s most dangerous places. His work has appeared in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, and Vanity Fair, where he has covered conflicts in Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and beyond.
Verini is the author of The Theater, a powerful account of the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Blending immersive reporting with historical analysis, the book explores the human cost of war, the rise of authoritarianism, and the struggle for Ukrainian identity in the face of Russian aggression.
Known for combining literary storytelling with deeply researched journalism, Verini’s work often examines how ordinary people endure extraordinary historical moments