Read Part 1: The Combat That Shaped the Debate Over U.S. Aid for Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues, it remains front and center in world headlines and a source of heated debate across party lines in the United States. The American media landscape has turned into a battleground of its own as citizens and politicians wrestle with the implications of U.S. involvement in a far-away conflict. Two high-profile figures on either side of the political aisle — Olivia Julianna, a progressive activist, and the former Democratic congressman, Rep. Tom Suozzi — are leading the surfacing conversation around Ukraine, and America’s role on the world stage.
Julianna and Suozzi provide different views on how the United States should respond to the war, and how the American press should cover it. For this edition of Between Two Worlds, we will dig into their arguments, discuss the role of the media in shaping these debates, and the implications of our divisions on American foreign policy.
Olivia Julianna: A Progressive Voice for Strong U.S. Support
Olivia Julianna is known for her forthrightness on progressive causes, particularly against Russian aggression, in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty. A political strategist and activist, she has emerged as a leading critic of U.S. intervention, arguing that the United States has to take a leading posture to help Ukraine repel the Russian forces.
A Moral Imperative for U.S. Involvement
Julianna also frames the war in Ukraine as a moral issue and not just a geopolitical one. In her view, the United States should protect democratic nations against authoritarian threats. For her, the war is not just about lines on a map or even about military tactics; it’s about the future of democratic values everywhere.
“Ukraine is fighting for democracy, and that’s a fight we must support,” Julianna has said again and again in interviews and public appearances. “If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it will be a dangerous precedent for the world.”
Her perspective is rooted in a deep conviction that failing to act on behalf of Ukraine could encourage other authoritarian regimes, possibly resulting in a global crisis. She has encouraged the Biden administration to deliver larger military assistance to Ukraine, noting that the case to act decisively if to counter Russia’s territorial ambitions couldn’t be clearer.
A Primer on Media and Public Opinion
Julianna’s one core argument is about the role of the American media in shaping public opinion. She thinks mainstream outlets often miss the human cost of the war, fixating too much on army tactics or the political consequences without reckoning with suffering in the text of the conflict.
Julianna calls for a nuanced representation of the war in the media. By focusing on the personal stories of Ukrainian civilians and on the carnage wrought by the Russian invasion, American media could build greater empathy among the public in the United States, she says, and in turn a stronger willingness to support the Ukrainian cause.
“I want Americans to see the faces of the people who are suffering, not just the political ramifications of the war,” Julianna said in an interview this week. “We’re able to have a better framework for public support when we humanize the conflict.”
Activism in Social Media: A New Battlefield in the War
Julianna’s use of platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok has propelled her message to more young people, a generation largely untouched by the old ways of thinking. She’s a media-savvy communicator leveraging the digital landscape to build support for Ukraine, inform the public about the war and push political leaders to do more. Through viral campaigns and targeted posts, Julianna has motivated people to raise their voices — whether it be through social media activism or lobbying lawmakers directly.
In an era when much of the media has the potential to seem distant from the reality of daily citizens, Julianna’s grassroots focus provides a means through which international conflicts can be engaged with personally.
Rep. Tom Suozzi: A Reluctant American Involvement
Unlike Olivia Julianna’s appeal for bolder U.S. support, Rep. Tom Suozzi, former Congressman of New York, argues for a more measured, calibrated approach. Suozzi, a member of the House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, is pro-Ukraine, but is cautious about the extent to which the U.S. should act, especially militarily.
Welcome to the National News, Analysis, and Context
Suozzi’s stance stems from the belief that the U.S. must tread carefully on what was started there, which holds consequences that are global in nature. He has repeatedly articulated the need to aid Ukraine, but also cautioned that doing so could carry risks of its own, including the threat of further direct confrontation.
“Ukraine’s sovereignty is vital, though we must always consider the larger consequences of our actions,” Suozzi wrote in a recent public statement. “On one hand, we have to support Ukraine, on the other, there’s been a risk of escalation, including with a nuclear power like Russia.”
Suozzi advocates for diplomacy and moving the U.S. to work with international partners to bolster Ukraine’s standing while searching for paths to peace. He has warned against the U.S. becoming embroiled in a wider conflict that would result in global instability.
The Media’s Responsibility to Promote a Balanced Perspective
Suozzi is dismissive of how the media cover the war — especially its preoccupation with victories and obliterations on the battlefield. Suozzi believes such coverage can oversimplify the complexity of the regional conflict, creating unrealistic expectations about what the United States can achieve with its involvement.
“The media’s messaging often casts the fight in Ukraine as good vs. evil,” Suozzi argued in an op-ed. “While this narrative is attractive, it doesn’t always correspond with the geopolitical complexities behind the scenes. We need to make sure that our media coverage does not lead to hasty decisions by policymakers.”
For Suozzi, responsible media coverage involves providing adequate context for the conflict, looking at not just immediate results of military actions but also what they might mean in the long term for global security. He wants journalists to provide a broader view so Americans know what’s at stake beyond the headlines.
U.S. Foreign Policy at the Crossroads of Public Opinion and Strategy
Suozzi’s caution is also a product of his larger philosophy on U.S. foreign policy. Public opinion matters, he believes, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration when making policy decisions. In this case, that kind of immediacy is understandable; while many Americans feel strongly about supporting Ukraine, Suozzi contends that the U.S. needs to have a strategic, long-term perspective on the situation.
“Support, for Ukraine, should not depend on popular sentiment,” he added. “We need an exercise in thinking that acknowledges the global balance of power, the risk of escalation, and the future of NATO.”
Mutual Concern: American Foreign Policy and the Power of Media
Olivia Julianna and Rep. Tom Suozzi both understand well the power the American media have over shaping public narratives about international wars. But their views diverge sharply about how the media should go about covering Ukraine.
Empathy and Advocacy Orientation from Julianna
Media, Julianna sees as an influential form of advocacy. She says that media organizations need to focus on the human cost of the war, using personal narrative to make readers feel empathy and take action on behalf of Ukraine. And she hopes media coverage will be effective in pressuring the U.S. government to do more and to seek accountability for Russian aggressors.
Suozzi’s Concern Over Sensationalism
By contrast, Suozzi believes sensationalist media coverage can be detrimental to decision making. He is especially worried that media outlets, in a race for ratings, may oversimplify the nuances of the war and the nature of U.S. involvement.
He calls for some balance there, with the media — who can inform everyone but also create panic — doing just that. Suozzi is cautious about media narratives that demand escalation without thinking through the long-game implications.
Conclusion: Different Perspectives, One Goal
Olivia Julianna and Rep. Tom Suozzi differ on how the United States should respond to the war in Ukraine, but they have one thing in common: Both want to see Ukraine get the aid it needs to fight off Russian aggression. Julianna urges a more hawkish U.S. approach, and Suozzi stresses restraint and diplomacy. But both understand the power of the American media to inform public perception and drive U.S. foreign policy.
This continues to be a polarizing issue for the country, only getting more so as the conflict progresses, causing people in the U.S. to discuss whether the country should intervene or not, and serving as an ongoing conversation regarding how the news we consume influences that decision. As citizens like Julianna and Suozzi continue to push for change, they will be on the right side of history, shaping and defining the agenda regarding new foreign policy directions that make sense for America in the 21st century, whether through grassroots activism or bootstrapped Washington policy efforts that follow the money.
FAQs
1. Where does Olivia Julianna stand on U.S. support for Ukraine?
Olivia Julianna advocates for strong U.S. support for Ukraine, aligning U.S. values with U.S. interests in the fight against Russian aggression and for democracy in Ukraine. She argues that the U.S. needs to take the lead in protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
2. What is Representative Tom Suozzi’s position on Ukraine?
Rep. Tom Suozzi supports American engagement in Ukraine but says that must be balanced with restraint. He maintains that Ukraine does deserve assistance, but that
