>>> DO YOU BELIEVE BRITTNEY GRINER IS A POLITICAL PRISONER?
>> SHE'S BLACK, SHE'S OPENLY GAY, SHE'S A WNBA PLAYER.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BG.
>> THE ONLY ANSWER IS THROUGH PUBLIC OUTCRY.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A DICTATOR.
>> WHY ARE SO MANY U.S. CONSERVATIVES COMING TO HUNGARY?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S DANGEROUS.
>> THE U.S. REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN ALL TALK AND NO ACTION.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE POWER, YOU HAVE TO USE IT.
>> VIKTOR ORBAN IS A PRIME MINISTER WHO HAS USED
UN-DEMOCRATIC TACTICS TO MAINTAIN POWER.
>> SO YOU'RE COMING HERE TO LEARN A NEW CONSERVE
LEARN A NEW CONSERVATISM LEARN A NEW CONSERVATCONSERVATI?
>> IT COULD BE A WINNING MODEL FOR CONSERVATIVES.
[ CROWD SINGING ]
>> WE'RE HERE AT THE TOURNAMENT WHERE SOME OF THE WNBA'S BEST
PLAYERS SPEND THEIR OFF SEASON PLAYING OVERSEAS.
>> NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE WNBA ALSO PLAY
OVERSEAS. BUT THIS YEAR, ONE OF THE TOP
AMERICAN PLAYERS IN THE EURO LEAGUE IS SITTING IN A RUSSIAN
JAIL.
>> ABC NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT WNBA PLAYER AND TWO-TIME SAUCE
GOLD MEDALLIST BRITTNEY GRINER IS DETAINED IN RUSSIA FOR
ALLEGEDLY HAVING VAPE CARTRIDGES.
>> RUSSIA'S MAIN STATE NEWS CHANNEL IS SHOWING THIS PHOTO.
>> Reporter: SEVEN-TIME WNBA ALL STAR WAS ARRESTED ON DRUG
CHARGES IN THE MOSCOW AIRPORT ON FEBRUARY 17th.
HER ARREST CAME JUST AS THE WORLD WAS BRACING FOR THE
INVASION OF UKRAINE. BUT WEEKS PASSED BEFORE RUSSIAN
OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED HER DETAINMENT.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE PLAYED WITH BG OVERSEAS.
AND I WAS SCARED FOR HER.
>> MY STOMACH DROPPED. YOU KNOW, I -- LIKE, I TEARED
UP. IT HIT HARD.
AND IT HIT HARD BECAUSE IT LITERALLY COULD HAVE BEEN ANY OF
US.
>> Reporter: BRIANNE JANUARY AND KAYLA McBRIDE HAVE PLAYED WITH
AND AGAINST GRINER OVER THE LAST DECADE, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
>> WE ARE CONSTANTLY COMING INTO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE HERE BY OURSELVES. IT JUST BRINGS US BACK TO, YOU
KNOW, WHY SHE WAS IN THAT SITUATION.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY SO
MANY WNBA PLAYERS PLAY THERE IN THE OFF SEASON?
>> IT COMES WITH PLAYING PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.
IT'S TO SUPPLEMENT INCOME.
>> THAT'S THE HARDEST THING, SHE FEELS LIKE SHE STILL HAS TO BE
OVER HERE.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BRITTNEY GRINER.
>> EXACTLY, ALL STAR, USA, GOLD OLYMPIANS.
IT'S CRAZY THAT SHE FEELS LIKE SHE STILL HAS TO GO OVER THERE.
>> THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF WE COULD STAY HOME
AND LIVING IN THE WNBA.
>> SLAM DUNK, BRITTNEY GRINER!
>> Reporter: THE AVERAGE WNBA PLAYER MAKES
$120,000 A YEAR IN A CAREER THAT ONLY LASTS A FEW YEARS.
PLAYING ABROAD HELPS THEM MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR EARNING
POTENTIAL. GRINER IS A TOP TALENT, EARNING
THE WNBA'S MAX SALARY OF $228,000.
BUT SHE EARNS $1 MILLION A YEAR. WAS SHE ARRESTED WHILE RETURNING
TO RUSSIA TO PLAY. AT THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, THE WNBA STAYED RELATIVELY QUIET DURING THE
FIRST FEW WEEKS OF HER INCARCERATION.
>> THE WORD AMONG WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE IS THAT THE
PLAYERS SHOULD NOT MAKE A, QUOTE, BIG FUSS.
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT DOING THE
BEST THING TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T COMPROMISE HER COMING
HOME.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN A VERY COMPLEX GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION
WITH RUSSIA, UKRAINE. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GETTING A TON OF
SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND I KNOW THE PLAYERS HAVE BEEN
AMAZING, FOLLOWING THE ADVICE THAT THEY'RE GETTING AND WE'RE
GETTING IN ORDER NOT TO JEOPARDIZE HER SAFETY IN ANY
WAY.
>> Reporter: WITH LIMITED FACTS, THE
MOTIVATION BEHIND GRINER'S ARREST BECAME THE SUBJECT OF
INTENSE MEDIA SPECULATION.
>> WHAT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S JUST NOW DURING THIS WAR
THAT THEY ARE DETAINING HER AND FINDING SOMETHING.
>> THE RUSSIANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR PLANTING DRUGS.
>> A BLACK WOMAN, OVER 6 FEET TALL, OF QUEER IDENTITY, HIGH,
HIGH STAKES FOR BRITNEY. WE HAVE TO GET HER HOME.
>> I THINK THE FACT THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS ESCALATION, THE
DECLARATION OF WAR IN UKRAINE, AND THE AMERICAN RESPONSE TO
THAT, ALL OF THESE CAN EXACERBATE HER CASE.
>> Reporter: KIMBERLY ST. JULIAN IS A RESEARCHER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WHO HAS
STUDIED THE HISTORY OF RACE RELATIONS IN THE SOVIET UNION.
>> DO YOU THINK THE WAY IT'S BEEN COVERED IN THE AMERICAN
MEDIA, THERE WAS KIND OF THIS AUTOMATIC KNEE-JERK REACTION OR
ASSUMPTION THAT SHE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF
HER IDENTITY?
>> WITHIN THE WEEK EVERYONE WAS KIND OF TALKING ABOUT, OKAY,
SHE'S BLACK, SHE'S OPENLY GAY, AND SHE'S A WNBA PLAYER, THEY
KIND OF PUT ALL HER IDENTITIES TOGETHER.
WHAT WORRIED ME, IS SHE'S A POLITICAL PAWN AND THIS IS ALL A
SCAM, AND I'M LIKE, WE CAN'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HER CASE.
THIS SITUATION REQUIRES NUANCE. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID,
WELL, IF THIS WAS TOM BRADY OR ANOTHER FAMOUS WHITE ATHLETE, WE
WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE SENDING IN THE TROOPS.
AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY
CAREFUL WITH HOW IT DEALS WITH AMERICANS THAT ARE IN RUSSIAN
CUSTODY. THE PROCESS HAS KIND OF ALWAYS
BEEN, ALLOW THE RUSSIAN LEGAL PROCESS TO WORK.
>> THE FACT THAT THEY RELEASED HER MUG SHOT AND A VIDEO OF THE
SEARCH AT THE AIRPORT, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT HOW THEY
MIGHT BE HANDLING HER, WHAT MESSAGE MIGHT THEY BE TRYING TO
SEND BY RELEASING THAT?
>> I THINK IT IS PROOF OF LIFE. AND I THINK THE VIDEO OF HER
GOING TO THE COURTROOM, AND YOU SEE SHE'S WELL-DRESSED, SHE'S
CLEAN, HER HAIR IS DONE, ALL THOSE ARE RUSSIA STRATEGIC
RELEASING INFORMATION TO SHOW SHE'S OKAY AND WE'RE NOT
MISTREATING HER. BECAUSE THEY KNOW AMERICAN EYES
ARE ON THEM. SOCIAL MEDIA, BLACK TWITTER HAS
HELPED KEEP PROFILING HER AND THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE NEED TO
REMEMBER. THIS ISN'T A TV SHOW.
THIS IS THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS OF HER EXISTENCE THAT
COULD BE IN A RUSSIAN PRISON CELL.
>> Reporter: THE RUSSIAN LEGAL SYSTEM DIFFERS GREATLY FROM THE
U.S. MOST CASES NEVER SEE A JURY AND
ARE DECIDED SOLELY BY A JUDGE. GRINER WAS ARRESTED UNDER
BROADLY-WRITTEN DRUG LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN AGGRESSIVELY USED TO
TARGET JOURNAL OICHTS TARGET JOURNAL OICISTS AND POLIL
ACTIVISTS AND OFTEN CARRY LENGTHY SENTENCES.
>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT BRITTNEY IS UP AGAINST AS FAR AS
HOW HER CASE WILL PLAY OUT?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
DO YOU BELIEVE BRITTNEY GRINER IS BEING HELD AS A POLITICAL
PRISONER?
>> EVERYTHING BECAME POSSIBLE AS PUTIN DECIDED TO ASSAULT
UKRAINE. TODAY WE SEE A LOT OF
UNPREDICTABLE THINGS. USUALLY
USUA USUALLY, I DO NOT THINK
SEARCHING FOR THEM IN THE LUGGAGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S
HIGH LEVEL SPORT PERSON, THEY DID IT INTENTIONALLY, OBVIOUSLY.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS.
>> WHENEVER AN AMERICAN IS DETAINED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
WE OF COURSE STAND READY TO PROVIDE ANY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE,
AND THAT INCLUDES IN RUSSIA.
>> Reporter: IN 2020, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A CIA AGENT IN
IRANIAN CUSTODY, THE U.S. CODIFIED WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAN
PURSUE THE RELEASE OF ITS CITIZENS BEING HELD ABROAD.
TYPICALLY THE U.S. ALLOWS THE RUSSIAN LEGAL SYSTEM TO RUN ITS
COURSE. BUT ON MAY 3rd, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED GRINER AS BEING WRONGFULLY
DETAINED.
>> THEIR SON WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY RUSSIA BECAUSE OF HIS SERVICE
TO THIS PRESIDENT AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE ONLY OTHER RECENT HIGH PROFILE
DETAINMENTS IN RUSSIA WAS FORMER MARINE TREVOR REED.
>> HE'S REALLY SICK, POSSIBLY AN ACTIVE CASE OF TB, A BROKEN RIB.
WE NEED TO GET OUR SON BACK HOME SO HE CAN GET MEDICAL CARE AND
CAN GET ON WITH HIS LIFE.
>> Reporter: REED WAS ARRESTED IN 2019 AFTER A DRUNKEN INCIDENT
INVOLVING AN ASSAULT ON A RUSSIAN OFFICER IN MOSCOW.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT CALLED HIS TRIAL, QUOTE, THEATER OF THE
ABSURD. OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS OF
REEDS TIRELESSLY CAMPAIGNED FOR HIS RELEASE.
>> I SPENT 14 MONTHS IN MOSCOW FOR MY SON'S TRIAL.
SO WE'VE SEEN THE PRISONS. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AT THE
PRISONS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND NIGHT, PRE-DETENTION
CENTERS, WHICH ARE HORRIBLE, AND THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHERE
SHE WILL BE DETAINED.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S LED TO ANY PROGRESS?
>> WE'RE NOT SURE.
>> WE BELIEVE THE ONLY ANSWER IS A PRISONER TRADE AND THE ONLY
WAY TO GET THAT DONE, ESPECIALLY NOW, IS THROUGH PUBLIC OUTCRY.
>> Reporter: JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE SPOKE, THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION WAS ABLE TO SECURE REED'S FREEDOM IN
EXCHANGE FOR A RUSSIAN HELD IN U.S. PRISON SINCE 2011.
IN A SCENE REMINISCENT OF THE COLD WAR, THE TWO CROSSED PATHS
ON THE CAR MACK ON THE CAR MAK
ON THE CAR TARMAC AS THEY HEAD BACK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
COUNTRIES. GRINER'S WIFE TOOK TO INSTAGRAM
THE DAY REED WAS RELEASED TO CELEBRATE HIS RETURN.
>> THE STRATEGY IS WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE HER SEEM MORE VALUABLE,
TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET HER HOME.
>> WE THOUGHT THE SAME THING, WITH REED HAVING BEEN A
PRESIDENTIAL GUARD. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
SHE'S VALUABLE NO MATTER WHAT BECAUSE SHE'S AN AMERICAN.
>> IT'S UP TO EACH FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL HOW THEY HANDLE THE
SITUATION. WE JUST WANT HER FAMILY TO KNOW,
IT'S NOT THAT WE CAN IMAGINE WHAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH, WE
KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH.
>> IT'S A HORRIBLE THING.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS NOW LEADING AN EFFORT TO SECURE
GRINER'S RELEASE. MEANWHILE, GRINER'S PRETRIAL
DETENTION HAS BEEN EXTENDED AS RUSSIAN INVESTIGATORS PREPARE TO
PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS BEFORE A JUDGE.
WHILE HER FATE REMAINS UNCERTAIN, WE DO KNOW THAT AS
RECENTLY AS 2018, RUSSIAN COURTS HAD A CONVICTION RATE OF OVER
99%. THE CHARGES BEING BROUGHT
AGAINST GRINER CARRY A SENTENCE OF UP TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON.
IF YOU COULD SEND A MESSAGE TO BRITTNEY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO
HER?
>> JUST THAT WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU, WE LOVE YOU, STAY STRONG,
AND THAT WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT SHE FEELS INSIDE, BUT
WHENEVER SHE DOES GET HOME, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR HER,
WHATEVER SHE NEEDS, WE GOT HER.
>> Reporter: THIS IS CPAC, THE LARGEST ANNUAL GATHERING OF
CONSERVATIVES FROM ACROSS THE U.S.
>> 2022 WILL BE THE YEAR THAT BILLIONS OF EVERYDAY CITIZENS
STAND UP TO THE LEFT WING FASCISTS
FASCI FASCISTS.
>> Reporter: MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION
AND WITH MIDTERMS ON THE HORIZON, AN UNLIKELY COUNTRY HAS
BEEN EMERGED AS THE EPICENTER OF A NEW GLOBAL CONSERVATIVE
MOVEMENT. HUNGARY.
>> HERE IN AMERICA, AS WELL AS IN MY BELOVED COUNTRY, HUNGARY,
THEY EMBRACE THE TRUE VALUES OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
GOD, OUR HOMELAND, AND THE FAMILY.
THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE BEFORE.
PROTECTING THE CHILDREN IS WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THE UPCOMING
HUNGARY ELECTION IN EARLY APRIL. CONSERVATIVES LED BY ONE OF THE
TRUE CHAMPIONS OF LIBERTY, A MAN YOU KNOW WELL, PRIME MINISTER
VIKTOR ORBAN.
>> Reporter: VIKTOR ORBAN BECAME PRIME MINISTER IN 2010 AND HE'S
RULED THE COUNTRY GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT HUNGARY CAN ONLY BE
SAVED FROM IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM BY RESTORING
HIS CHRISTIAN IDENTITY.
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
DURING THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS IN 2015, ORBAN IMPLEMENTED THE
HARSHEST ANTIREFUGEE MEASURES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
HE BUILT A BORDER WALL TO PREVENT THEM FROM ENTERING
HUNGARY. HIS TOUGH STANCE ON IMMIGRATION
CATAPULTED HIM INTO THE LIMELIGHT AND MADE HIM A
CONSERVATIVE HERO IN THE U.S. CULTURE WARS.
>> OF THE NEARLY 200 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ON THE FACE OF THE
EARTH, PRECISELY ONE OF THEM HAS AN ELECTED LEADER WHO PUBLICLY
IDENTIFIES AS A WESTERN STYLE CONSERVATIVE.
HIS NAME IS VIKTOR ORBAN.
>> VIKTOR ORBAN HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS, PROBABLY LIKE ME, A LITTLE BIT CONTROVERSIAL
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>> Reporter: NOW RIGHT WING AMERICANS, MANY ON FELLOWSHIPS
BACKED IN PART BY THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT, ARE FLOCKING TO
BUDAPEST, HOPING TO EXPORT THE ORBAN MODEL BACK TO THE U.S.
>> WELCOME TO BUDAPEST.
>> Reporter: STEPHEN SHAW IS ONE SUCH FELLOW, HERE TO STUDY HOW
ORBAN'S GOVERNMENT IS PRESENTING ITSELF AS A DEFENDER OF WESTERN
VALUES.
>> WHY WOULDN'T I WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL
BUILDINGS LIKE THIS THAT REMIND ME OF WHERE I CAME FROM?
>> Reporter: WHY IS THERE AN APPEAL TO THE PAST?
>> FOR MANY PEOPLE, APPEALING TO THE PAST IS IMPORTANT, IT'S
REMINDING PEOPLE THAT YOU COME FROM A GREAT LINE OF PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: WHO ARE THESE GENTLEMEN ON HORSEBACK COMING ON
THE STREET WHO ARE CLEARLY DRESSED LIKE THEY'RE NOT FROM
THIS TIME PERIOD?
>> OBVIOUSLY REENACTORS. IT'S PART OF THAT HARKENING BACK
TO HUNGARIAN TRADITION.
>> Reporter: WHAT IS IT ABOUT BUDAPEST THAT MAKES IT APPEALING
TO U.S. CONSERVATIVES LIKE YOURSELF?
>> HUNGARY IS A PLACE WHERE POLICIES CAN BE PUT INTO
PRACTICE. THERE'S A LOT OF FEELING THAT
TRUMP HAS TALKED A LOT BUT DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO A LOT.
I THINK THERE'S A PERCEPTION IN ORBAN, DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING BUT CONCRETELY DO.
>> Reporter: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THOSE POLICIES THAT YOU WANT
TO TAKE FROM HUNGARY AND BRING BACK TO THE U.S.?
>> FOR ME ONE OF THE MAIN ONES WOULD BE FAMILY POLICY.
A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE
WORLD.
>> Reporter: FOR DECADES, SMALL GOVERNMENT HAS DEFINED THE U.S.
REPUBLICAN PARTY. BUT HUNGARY IS DEMONSTRATING
IT'S EASIER TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATIVE POLICIES WITH THE
FULL MIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT LIKE POPULATION DECLINE WHICH
MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE FACING INCLUDING HUNGARY.
THE ORBAN GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES BY GIVING
STRAIGHT FAMILIES FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO, WELL, MAKE MORE
HUNGARIANS.
THIS WOMAN IS A MOTHER WHO BENEFITS FROM THE FAMILY POLICY.
WITH FIVE CHILDREN OF HER OWN, SHE'LL NEVER PAY INCOME TAX
AGAIN. SHE'S ALSO RUNNING FOR
PARLIAMENT AS A MEMBER OF ORBAN'S PARTY.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IMPORTANT FOR YOU IN YOUR CAMPAIGN?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS
FAMILY POLICY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS
EXACTLY? [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH INCREASING THE
POPULATION THROUGH POLICIES LIKE MIGRATION?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> Reporter: THE FAR RIGHT IDEAS THAT HUNGARY HAS BECOME KNOWN
FOR ARE EXCHANGED HERE AT THIS CAFE, A POPULAR SPOT FOR U.S.
CONSERVATIVES AND THEIR HUNGARIAN COUNTERPARTS.
TONIGHT IS AN EVENT WITH ANOTHER AMERICAN FELLOW IN HUNGARY.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, ROD, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST LIE
THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING AROUND OUR SOCIETY TODAY?
>> I THINK THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ONE IS THE LOSS OF
THE GENDER BINARY, THE IDEA THAT GENDER IS FLUID AND THAT MALE
CAN BE FEMALE, FEMALE CAN BE MALE.
THIS IS A TYRANNY OF MINORITIES.
>> Reporter: HE'S A SENIOR EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE MAGAZINE AND A "NEW YORK TIMES" BESTSELLING AUTHOR.
HIS LATEST BOOK WHICH SLAMS WHAT HE CALLS THE TOTALITARIANISM OF
WOKE CULTURE IN THE U.S., HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED IN HUNGARY.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION OF U.S. SOCIETY?
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A SOCIETY THAT IS ANTI-WOKE, THAT
VALUES FREEDOM OF RELIGION, LIKE THE AMERICAN I GREW UP IN.
>> IF YOU COME TO HUNGARY YOU'LL FIND MUCH MORE RESPECTFUL
HEARING OF YOUR IDEAS HERE IN THIS CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY THAN
BACK IN AMERICA.
>> Reporter: SO CAN I CALL IT A NEW CONSERVATIVISM THAT'S BEEN
CREATED BY THE ORBAN GOVERNMENT?
>> THE TRADITIONAL THINKING IN THE TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO
RON REAGAN IS THAT SMALL GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE WANT.
THAT IS SO OUTDATED. ORBAN IS NOT LIKE THAT.
HE IS A CONSERVATIVE BUT IS NOT AFRAID TO USE THE POWER OF THE
STATE TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN GOALS.
>> Reporter: ORBAN'S SPOKESPERSON SINCE 2015.
>> THE UNRELENTING DEVOTION TO THE NATIONAL COAST IS THE KEY TO
UNDERSTANDING MR. ORBAN'S POLITICAL DECISIONMAKING AND
IMPLEMENTATION. IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT THINGS
BUT IT'S ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT ACTUALLY TO DECIDE AND
IMPLEMENT. IF SOMETHING IS DECIDED, TO BE
ABLE TO EFFECTUATE IT, YOU NEED TIME.
>> Reporter: 12 YEARS IS QUITE A LONG TIME FOR ONE GOVERNMENT,
ONE PRIME MINISTER.
>> 12 YEARS IS A LONG TIME. BUT 20 OR 30 TIMES IS EVEN MORE
MEANINGFUL.
>> Reporter: PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THAT'S AUTHORITARIAN, FOR
SOMEONE TO RULE A COUNTRY FOR THAT WRONG.
>> I CAN TELL YOU OUR PERSPECTIVE IS VERY DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE LESSONS, WE CAN SHARE THESE
LESSONS AND OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM IT.
>> Reporter: FOR ORBAN'S CRITICS, THOSE LESSONS INVOLVE
ERODING DEMOCRACY TO KEEP POWER. HIS GOVERNMENT HAS STACKED
COURTS, CHANGED ELECTORAL LAWS AND TAKEN CONTROL OF STATE
MEDIA. ALTHOUGH THESE CHANGES HAVE MADE
IT VERY HARD FOR HIM TO LOSE, THE OPPOSITION IS BEING
GALVANIZED. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> Reporter: DOES DEMOCRACY EXIST IN HUNGARY RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU MAY NOT CALL IT A DEMOCRACY AT ALL.
YOU MAY NOT CALL IT A DICTATE YOU MAY NOT CALL IT A DICTATOR
YOU MAY NOT CALL IT A DICTAT DICTATORSHIP
DICTATOR DICTATORSHIP, BUT IT'S A REGIME,
ORBAN BUILT UP AN ELABORATE SYSTEM IN WHICH HE CAN NEVER BE
DEFEATED, HE CAN NEVER BE REPLACED, HE WILL ALWAYS RULE.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE MANY U.S. CONSERVATIVES COMING HERE TO
LEARN FROM ORBAN'S STYLE OF GOVERNANCE.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S DANGEROUS.
YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE OF YOUR DEMOCRACY BECAUSE FORTUNATELY
ENOUGH, YOU HAVE YOUR CHECKS AND BALANCES.
IF SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO SWITCH THEM OFF, YOU WOULD ALSO SLIDE
DOWN. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO
HUNGARY. AND I REALLY HOPE THAT YOUR
SYSTEM, THE 200-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, WHICH I
ADMIRE, IS STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND ANY SUCH THREATS.
>> Reporter: NOT ONLY ARE U.S. CONSERVATIVES NOT HEEDING HIS
WARNINGS, THEY'RE EMBRACING THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF
ORBAN'S RULE. THIS HARVARD SCHOLAR IS A SENIOR
FELLOW AT A HUNGARIAN-BACKED UNIVERSITY.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TAKE FROM THIS COUNTRY AND BRING BACK TO
THE U.S.?
>> AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES HAVE SOME ANXIETY ABOUT USING POWER
WHEN THEY HAVE IT, WHICH ULTIMATELY I THINK IS THEIR
UNDOING. ORBAN IS A NOBLE POLITICIAN WHO
HAS THE VISION TO ESTABLISH AND DEFEND HUNGARY AS A TRADITIONAL
CHRISTIAN SOCIETY.
>> Reporter: SHE'S A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE IN EUROPE,
THAT'S UNDENIABLE, AND SHE'S CONTROVERSIAL FOR A CERTAIN
REASON.
>> YES, HE'S CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE HE REJECTS THE
LIBERALISM PART OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY.
AS AN ANTI-LIBERAL, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
>> Reporter: DOES BEING ANTI-LIBERAL MEAN DOING THINGS
LIKE CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION IN YOUR FAVOR?
>> YES, OBVIOUSLY WE SHOULD PASS INTO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
ANYTHING THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY BY OTHER FORMS OF LEGISLATION OR
BY THE SUPREME COURT. AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT RISK
OF HAVING A HIGHLY INTOLERANT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT WING OR
CONSERVATIVE SOCIETY. WE'RE AT RISK OF, BECAUSE WE
ALREADY HAVE, A HIGHLY INTOLERANT LIBERAL SOCIETY.
>> Reporter: WHILE MANY CONSERVATIVES CLAIM TO BE UNDER
ATTACK IN AMERICA, THE ORBAN MODEL IS GAINING STEAM IN THE
U.S. AS POLICIES RELATED TO FAITH AND FAMILY HAVE SPREAD
ACROSS THE FAMILY.
>> GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS HAS PASSED INTO LAW THE "DON'T SAY
GAY" BILL.
>> Reporter: INSTITUTIONS ARE GETTING OVERHAULED IN THE
CONSERVATIVE IMAGE AS WELL.
>> THE DRAFT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S OPINION SHOWS THE COURT
OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE IN A BLISTERING RULING.
>> IT SITUATES THE TRAJECTORY OF THE AMERICAN RIGHT TO MAKE US IN
THE IMAGE OF HUNGARIAN I WILL LIB
L ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACY.
>> Reporter: IT'S THE AFFIRMATION OF ORBAN'S STYLE OF
GOVERNING AND VALIDATION OF THEIR BELIEF THAT U.S.
CONSERVATIVES HAVE SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM HUNGRY.
LEARN FROM HUNGRARY LEARN FROM HUNGRAHUNGARY.
>> A LANDSLIDE ELECTION VICTORY. [ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> THE THREE OF US HERE WERE ALL FROM THE U.S.
IT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT COUNTRY. DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ELEMENTS
OF OR BAN OF OR BBAN'S STYLE OF GOVERNMEN
IN HUNGARY THAT COULD WORK IN THE U.S.?
>> IT WAS DEFINITELY AN INSPIRATION FOR DeSANTIS AND
OTHER GOVERNORS.
>> I THINK THE UNITED STATES COULD LEARN A LOT FROM THAT IN
TERMS OF WATER CONTROL POLICIES, IN TERMS OF MESSAGING.
>> Reporter: WHAT DOES ORBAN'S REELECTION MEAN FOR
CONSERVATIVES IN THE U.S.?
>> IT WILL HEIGHTEN THE AMERICAN INTEREST IN WHAT ORBAN IS DOING.
>> I'M THRILLED, IT'S GOOD TO SEE COUNTRIES LIKE HUNGARY THAT
DON'T HATE THEMSELVES AND DON'T WANT TO DESTROY THE ESSENCE OF
CIVILIZATION.
>> Reporter: SHOULDN'T WE BE MOVING FORWARD TO A TIME WHEN WE
CAN BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE?
>> INCLUSION IS BASICALLY A BULLSHIT WORD WHICH IS USED TO
EXCLUDE TRADITIONAL MALE/FEMALE FAMILIES.
>> THERE'S NO WORLD IN WHICH THE FAMILY AND THE OPPOSITE OF THE
FAMILY CAN COEXIST. IT'S A BATTLE.
ONE OR THE OTHER HAS TO WIN.