Trump’s shutdown of Russian war crimes investigations is the focus of former US Ambassador-at-large Stephen Rapp and SpyTalk host Michael Isikoff. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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=Bff...
Apr 29, 2025•40 min•Ep. 154
Former CIA officer Frank Snepp shares a stunning spy story of the Vietnam War’s chaotic end with host Jeff Stein Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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...
Apr 25, 2025•57 min•Ep. 153
Doug Waller talks with Michael Isikoff about his new biography of CIA master spook Frank Wisner, quarterback of the 1953 Iran coup—and so much more. The Determined Spy Douglas Waller Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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.pod...
Apr 18, 2025•53 min•Ep. 152
Pulitzer-winning intelligence historian Tim Weiner discusses the latest wacky—and disturbing—news from inside the Trump administration’s national security team with SpyTalk host Jeff Stein Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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://surv...
Apr 11, 2025•34 min•Ep. 151
Host Michael Isikoff, JFK conspiracies-buster Fred Litwin, and national security analyst Peter Kornbluh dissect MAGA Rep. Anna Luna’s wacky hearing featuring Oliver Stone and other assassination plot zealots. Peter Kornbluh Fred Litwin Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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 sur...
Apr 03, 2025•43 min•Ep. 150
Luis Rueda, once the director of the CIA's Iraq Operations Group, reflects with Michael on the many mistakes the U.S. government made during the war in Iraq-- and the fatal consequences. Luis Rueda Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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. ht...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 149
Sue Miller not only headed CIA Counterintelligence, among other high positions during her 39-year career. She oversaw the agency's controversial assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. And she thinks Trump’s pro-Russia moves should be an ongoing counterintelligence concern. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk o...
Mar 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 148
The star player in Trump’s first impeachment tells Michael Isikoff there will no ceasefire in Ukraine and calls DC prosecutor a “henchman” for launching bogus probe of him and his brother. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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://surv...
Mar 15, 2025•48 min•Ep. 147
Former senior CIA operations official Glenn Corn talks with Jeff Stein about his recent trip to Ukraine and its prospects in a rapidly and radically changing diplomatic landscape Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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...
Mar 07, 2025•36 min•Ep. 146
Former US NATO envoy and Army General Doug Lute discusses JD Vance insults of allies, administration abandonment of Ukraine to Russia with SpyTalk podcast host Michael Isikoff. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min•Ep. 145
Veteran former senior CIA operations official Bill Murray talks with Jeff Stein about the challenges of countering aggressive Russian intelligence ops, from the Cold War to Trump II’s radical policy shifts toward Moscow. William D Murray - Vice-President and co-founder - Council on Intelligence Issues | LinkedIn Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy ...
Feb 21, 2025•39 min•Ep. 144
Former top FBI counterterrorism agent Chris O’Leary tells host Michael Isikoff how Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove was a diligent prosecutor of Jan. 6 rioters before he turned on his teammates at Trump's behest. Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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 c...
Feb 11, 2025•54 min•Ep. 143
Former Senior DHS Intelligence Counsel Spencer Reynolds talks with host Jeff Stein about the troubled past and uncertain future of the agency’s Intelligence & Analysis wing under President Trump. More from Spencer Reynolds https://www.brennancenter.org/experts/spencer-reynolds Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscribe to SpyTalk on Substack htt...
Feb 07, 2025•40 min•Ep. 142
Ronald Deibert of Citizen Lab tells host Michael Isikoff how his research firm has uncovered the shocking abuse of commercial spyware by foreign governments and spy agencies around the world, resulting in a proliferation of "Watergate-like” scandals. Follow our guest: Ron Deibert https://x.com/RonDeibert Chasing Shadows https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Chasing-Shadows/ The Citizen Lab https://citizenlab.ca/ https://x.com/citizenlab Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker...
Jan 31, 2025•50 min•Ep. 141
The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Jim Himes, tells host Michael Isikoff there is "zero evidence" TikTok is providing data on Americans to Beijing, plus talks about the "really, really scary" Jan. 6 pardons and more. Congressman Jim Himes Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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.spytal...
Jan 24, 2025•47 min•Ep. 140
Former senior CIA official and situation room Director Larry Pfeiffer goes inside the White House situation room with SpyTalk host Jeff Stein. Follow Larry Pfeiffer Larry Pfeiffer (@LarryPfeifferDC) / X The Hayden Center Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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 c...
Jan 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 139
Former Jan. 6 committee chief counsel and federal prosecutor Timothy Heaphy talks with SpyTalk podcast co-host Michael Isikoff about the president-elect's false claims about the Capitol riot and the major role social media played in that and the 2017 Charlottesville rally by white supremacists. He also recommends the FBI loosen its rules that restrict its ability to investigate social media posts. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/773012/harbingers-by-timothy-j-heaphy/ Follow Jeff Stein o...
Jan 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 138
Top former FBI counterspy executive and NYC Terrorism Task Force honcho Lauren Anderson addresses the looming uncertainty over “Day One,” January 20, with SpyTalk host Jeff Stein Lauren C. Anderson https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencandersonintl Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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 li...
Dec 20, 2024•47 min•Ep. 137
Anti-Assad activist Mouaz Moustafa in Damascus tells Michael Isikoff how he got advance word about the rebel offensive that would topple the Assad regime—including the hidden hand that foreign intelligence agencies may have played in laying the groundwork—and how the regime’s secret files may shed new light on the relationship that DNI-designate Tulsi Gabbard had with the Assad regime. Mouaz Moustafa https://twitter.com/SoccerMouaz Syrian Emergency Task Force https://setf.ngo/ https://twitter.co...
Dec 13, 2024•38 min•Ep. 136
Garret Graff, historian and journalist, explains why Trump's intention to install the fierce MAGA loyalist in charge of the U.S. government's premier law enforcement agency charged with thwarting terror attacks and protecting the nation's secrets endangers the bureau's mission for years to come. Garret Graff Garrett M. Graff https://twitter.com/vermontgmg Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTa...
Dec 06, 2024•49 min•Ep. 135
SpyTalk's Michael Isikoff talks to Chris Costa, former chief of counter-terrorism at the NSC and now executive director of the International Spy Museum, about the mounting threat of Russian hybrid warfare-- including acts of sabotage, arson, assassination and cyber intrusions-- and whether it is time to designate Putin's Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Costa also weighs in on President-elect Trump's pick of Tulsi Gabbard to be DNI and Sebastian Gorka as the new counter-terror chief at th...
Nov 29, 2024•41 min•Ep. 134
Tim Weiner, the Pulitzer-winning author of groundbreaking histories of the CIA, FBI and more, discusses Trump’s troubling nominees for top national security jobs with SpyTalk host Jeff Stein. Tim Weiner https://bsky.app/profile/tim-weiner.bsky.social Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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...
Nov 22, 2024•38 min•Ep. 133
National Security lawyer Mark Zaid discusses Trump's stunning selection as Florida congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General and what it might mean for his plans to target "corrupt actors" in U.S. intelligence and national security agencies who crossed him in the Russia probe. Mark Zaid https://twitter.com/MarkSZaidEsq Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://twitter.co...
Nov 15, 2024•53 min•Ep. 132
New Yorker staff writer Charles Bethea joins Jeff Stein to discuss his startling reportage on thousands of Americans preparing for a civil war or other countrywide disasters. Charles Bethea https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/charles-bethea Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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 list...
Nov 08, 2024•28 min•Ep. 131
Rep, Jamie Raskin tells SpyTalk why he wants DOJ to investigate whether Trump's son in law is serving as an unregistered agent of the Saudi government due to the $2 billion he's gotten from the Saudi wealth fund, as well as another newly discovered $87 million in "management fees." The feisty Maryland progressive also discusses his thoughts on the election and whether Trump is even eligible to serve as president under the 14th amendment. Jamie Raskin | Twitter October 24, 2024 The Honorable Merr...
Nov 01, 2024•38 min•Ep. 130
Extremism tracker Clara Broekaert talks about political violence in the lead-up to the 2024 election and what conditions have made violent political rhetoric possible. Clara Broekaert Clara Anna-Christine (@ClaraBroekaert) / X Clara Broekaert - The Soufan Group US Crisis Monitor - ACLED https://acleddata.com/us-crisis-monitor/#map Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https://tw...
Oct 25, 2024•39 min•Ep. 129
As president, Trump was known for his "bromance" with North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un, holding two summits in Singapore and Hanoi and engaging in a "love letter" correspondence with him that he took with him to Mar-A-Lago after he left office. But before that, journalist Zach Dorfman reminds us, Trump came perilously close to unleashing a nuclear strike on the country--an attack that, then Secretary of Defense feared, would "incinerate a couple of million people." In a SpyTalk podcast, Dorfman...
Oct 18, 2024•47 min•Ep. 128
The filmed game’s organizer Janessa Goldbeck joins host Jeff Stein to discuss the jarring results of the all-too-real exercise . Janessa Goldbeck https://twitter.com/jgoldbeck VetVoice Foundation https://vvfnd.org/ War Game https://wargamefilm.com/ Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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...
Oct 11, 2024•33 min•Ep. 127
Former FBI analyst and Hezbollah expert Matt Levitt says an attack on Iranian intelligence facilities - rather than nuclear sites- may be coming. Matthew Levitt https://x.com/levitt_matt Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God https://a.co/d/9Ln5srY Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker 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.s...
Oct 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 126
Can a good spy become a good politician? I mean, not as an undercover agent—spy agencies are pretty good at that—but in an overt way, in, say, the messy US Congress. Or, put another way, can the skills that a CIA officer employs in clandestine operations—gregariousness, empathy and, let’s face it, a learned talent for manipulating people, be put to good use in a place like a deeply polarized Congress? This week I’m putting those questions to Abigail Spanberger, a former member of the CIA’s cland...
Sep 27, 2024•27 min•Ep. 125
