The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics were supposed to highlight how Russia has become a 21st-century leader in the international community. In reality, they spotlighted how Putin’s rule had encouraged corruption and human rights violations to become the new-old norm.

The Games also drew criticism for Russia’s new “anti-gay propaganda” law, widely seen as license for the government to crack down on gay rights supporters.

In this week’s podcast, Boston College professor Matt Sienkiewicz and The Interpreter’s managing editor James Miller are joined by filmmaker Noam Gonick, who’s documentary “Johnny Weir: To Russia With Love” followed gay athletes and Russian gay-rights activists as the Winter Games unfolded.

Additional links:

– Noam Gonick’s Vimeo page

– Johnny Weir: To Russia With Love

– Interpreter Podcast: Corruption at the Sochi Winter Olympics

– CNN’s GOP Debate Trailer

Click here to hear our previous podcasts. You now also have the option to subscribe to our RSS feed and to follow our podcast on iTunes.

Audio for today’s podcast was edited by Maximillien Inhoff.