SpyTalk - podcast cover

SpyTalk

SpyTalk, Jeff Steinredcircle.com
SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff and Karen J. Greenberg, the podcast features exclusives by SpyTalk’s roster of longtime reporters, news and profiles of US and foreign spymasters, and interviews with policymakers and expert authors. There’s nothing quite like it—a place for experts and laypersons alike, who enjoy national security scoops and insights by SpyTalk's subject matter experts.  For more SpyTalk go to: https://www.spytalk.co/
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Episodes

What’s Going on with Gabbard?

Former senior CIA official Larry Pfeiffer discusses the DNI’s strange behavior with SpyTalk hosts Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff and Karen Greenberg. Larry Pfeiffer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrypfeiffer/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 13, 202650 min

The New Wizards of Espionage

How A.I. is revolutionizing the spies’—and spy catchers’—toolkits. With ex-CIA officer Aaron Brown. Aaron Brown | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-brown-lumbra/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 05, 202651 min

Terror’s Comeback

ISIS and other Afghan-based terror groups are growing stronger, a new UN report says. Expert Colin Clarke explains why. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https...

Jan 31, 202643 min

Battlefield Greenland

Former senior Danish intelligence officer Jacob Kaarsbo talks about Trump’s murky designs on Greenland and NATO. https://jacobkaarsbo.substack.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jan 23, 202645 min

Will the Iranian Regime Survive?

Two prominent Iranian-American journalists, Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post and Hooman Majd of NBC News, say the regime may be losing its grip. Jason Rezaian https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/jason-rezaian/ Hooman Majd https://www.hoomanmajd.com/ Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy S...

Jan 16, 202651 minEp. 192

Gulp of America

CIA in Venezuela, Cuba and Beyond With Luis Rueda https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-rueda-b060a217/ and Peter Eisner https://substack.com/@petereisner Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us fee...

Jan 09, 202640 minEp. 191

Her Grandfather Was a Nazi Spy

Christine Kuehn talks about her shocking discovery in “Family of Spies" Family of Spies https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250344465/familyofspies / Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feed...

Jan 02, 202644 minEp. 190

The House of Secrets

Tom Blanton talks about 40 years of unearthing CIA plots at the National Security Archive. https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/ Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com...

Dec 19, 202553 minEp. 189

Trump’s Antifa Fiction

Top former national security official Josh Geltzer separates fake from real threats. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7...

Dec 13, 202554 minEp. 188

The Pipe Bomb Suspect—and More

Ace investigative reporter Carol Leonnig talks about her latest scoop and new book on Trump’s DoJ, “ Injustice: How Politics and Fear Vanquished America's Justice Department. ” Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener surve...

Dec 06, 202558 minEp. 187

Sidelining the FBI's Spy Hunters

Investigative reporter Ron Kessler and retired former senior CIA officer John Sipher on the GOP plan to give Tulsi Gabbard control of neutralizing spies and terrorists. John Sipher https://www.thecipherbrief.com/ Risking a National Security Disaster by Ronald Kessler https://www.spytalk.co/p/risking-a-national-security-disaster Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twi...

Nov 26, 202547 minEp. 186

Pushing Back on Lawless Venezuela Strikes

Top Democrat Sen. Jack Reed calls Trump threats “off the wall...” Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short ...

Nov 21, 202544 minEp. 185

Has Trump Authorized Assassinations?

Intelligence historians James Risen and Peter Kornbluh on Trump policies and Cold War excesses. More from James Risen https://www.theguardian.com/profile/james-risen More from Peter Kornbluh https://www.democracynow.org/2025/11/7/gunboat_diplomacy Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe...

Nov 14, 202549 minEp. 184

What’s the Covert Action Plan for Venezuela?

Veteran war reporter and Latin America expert Doug Farah throws cold water on Trump’s campaign against Nicholas Maduro. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.c...

Nov 07, 202550 minEp. 183

The CIA's Contrarian

After spending years tracking Al Qaeda, former analyst Gina Bennett talks to SpyTalk about her storied career, her new spy novel and the rising threat of "politicized misogyny." Gina Bennett If Two of Them Are Dead Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://w...

Oct 31, 20251 hr 11 minEp. 182

The Shadow World of Foreign Policy Lobbyists

Ken Vogel talks about his new book, Devils’ Advocates: The Hidden Story of Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and the Washington Insiders on the Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interests. Follow Ken Vogel on Twitter https://x.com/kenvogel Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Subs...

Oct 24, 202550 minEp. 181

How Real is "A House of Dynamite"?

Former White House Situation Room Director Larry Pfeiffer Talks Fear and Facts with SpyTalk. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=...

Oct 17, 202550 minEp. 180

Jake Tapper’s Terror Case Detective Yarn

In a new book the CNN anchor unspools the inside story of a unique terrorism case. Jake Tapper https://x.com/jaketapper Race Against Terror https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Race-Against-Terror/Jake-Tapper/9781668079447 Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack...

Oct 10, 202555 minEp. 179

David McCloskey Strikes Again

The acclaimed spy thriller author and ex-CIA analyst talks about his new novel, “ The Persians ,” set in the clandestine war between Israel and Iran. DAVID MCCLOSKEY Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you...

Oct 03, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 178

America on Trial

John Ryan and his gripping tale of yet more Guantanamo secrets. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short Ho...

Sep 26, 202541 minEp. 177

Revealed: Interrogation Tapes of Saudi Suspect in 9/11 Case

Two British journalists find fresh evidence implicating a key Saudi suspect who escaped U.S. justice. Liz Harris https://lizharris.journoportfolio.com/ https://x.com/lizharris72 Amardeep Bassey Amardeep Bassey’s Profile | Freelance Journalist | Muck Rack The article: Revealed after 24 years, how UK was forced to free 9/11 ‘plotter’ The podcast: The Story | The Times and The Sunday Times Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/Ka...

Sep 19, 20251 hr 12 minEp. 176

Inside the Secret Hostage Talks

Wall Street Journal reporters Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson talk about their new book “Swap” on the SpyTalk podcast. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com...

Sep 12, 202552 minEp. 175

Guerrilla War

24 years after his father’s assassination, anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Massoud vows stepped up resistance to the Kabul regime. But Jon Lee Anderson of the New Yorker sees little path for success. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take o...

Sep 08, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 174

How the US Watched the Shah Crumble

"King of Kings" author Scott Anderson describes how feckless US officials helped usher in the Iranian revolution. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/sta...

Sep 05, 202554 minEp. 172

Top House Intel Dem Plays Hardball with Gabbard

DNI ignored Jim Himes until he warned her on Section 702 Renewal. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short ...

Aug 29, 202545 minEp. 171

Putin to Trump, Nyet

A veteran diplomat dissects Trump's failure to get Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Former Ambassador Daniel Fried, who spent years dealing with Putin's Russia, says it's time for Trump to "stare down" the dictator. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack...

Aug 22, 202543 minEp. 170

Bondi Kills DoJ Domestic Terrorism Unit

Former top unit lawyer Tom Brzozowski provides SpyTalk with exclusive details. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&a...

Aug 16, 20251 hr 4 minEp. 169

Inside the US-Cuba Spy Swap

The secret deal that temporarily suspended the Cold War is revisited by Foreign Policy Executive Editor Dan Ephron and SpyTalk host Michael Isikoff Dan Ephron Spy: The U.S., Cuba, and the Secret Deal That Ended the Cold War Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack ...

Aug 08, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 168

Intel Battle Royale

Former top NSA, CIA & ODNI official Larry Pfeiffer discusses Tulsi Gabbard’s attacks on CIA handling of Russia election report with hosts Jeff Stein and Michael Isikoff Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey wh...

Aug 01, 202552 minEp. 167

Massacre at the FBI

Special Agent Mike Feinberg tells how he was forced out in Kash Patel’s wholesale purge of FBI officials suspected of disloyalty to Trump. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/ Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback. http...

Jul 24, 202555 minEp. 166
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