Podcast appearances and mentions of john sipher

Bill Pulte, Donald Trump's new acting Director of National Intelligence and someone with zero prior experience, celebrated his new job with a massive purge of staff. The ODNI was created to protect Americans - is it now becoming Trump's personal detective agency? John Sipher, a former intelligence officer with 28 years of experience in the CIA, joins David Rothkopf to discuss the state of America's intelligence community and the devastating impacts of Donald Trump. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and Matt break down a packed few weeks in intelligence and geopolitics, opening with the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence — a departure framed officially around her husband's illness but widely read as an exit under pressure. Drawing on a Bulwark piece by former CIA officer John Sipher, they examine whether the ODNI was ever structurally sound enough to survive a politicized occupant, and what Gabbard's tenure — from her reversal on the IC's Iran nuclear assessment to her exclusion from senior meetings — reveals about what this administration actually wants from intelligence. From there, the episode turns to the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, where the photo-op framing papered over a sharper story: divergent definitions of "constructive strategic stability," a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan left unsigned, and a delegation of American CEOs carrying hat-in-hand business pitches to Washington's principal strategic adversary. They also examine a New York Times investigation into Chinese intelligence's recruitment attempt of a House committee staffer — a case that doubled as a window into Beijing's priorities in the weeks before the summit. Finally, an investigation into Russia's covert cyber warfare training program at a university near Moscow, and a Telegraph profile of Oleg Gordievsky's quiet final years in rural Surrey — including a regular table at a restaurant Chris knows all too well.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.Please share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/422c3bYouTube: https://youtu.be/DP0ha6QQ394Support Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSubscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comArticles discussed in today's episode "Tulsi Gabbard's Office Shouldn't Exist" by John Sipher | The Bulwark: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/tulsi-gabbard-office-shouldnt-exist-director-national-intelligence-9-11"Tulsi Gabbard's resistance to foreign wars amid Trump's aggression was her undoing" by Mohamad Bazzi | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/24/tulsi-gabbard-foreign-wars-trump"Tulsi Gabbard is showing why her job shouldn't exist" by David Ignatius | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/05/tulsi-gabbard-trump-dni-intelligence-agency/"China and the U.S. Agreed to ‘Strategic Stability' in Beijing. They Don't Define It the Same Way." by Zongyuan Zoe Liu | Council on Foreign Relations: https://www.cfr.org/articles/china-and-the-u-s-agreed-to-strategic-stability-in-beijing-they-dont-define-it-the-same-way"What did Trump and Xi accomplish?" | Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/fastthinking/what-did-trump-and-xi-accomplish/"He Offered a Lawmaker's Aide Quick Cash. Was He Spying for China?" by Dustin Volz | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/us/politics/china-us-spy-congressional-aide.html"Russia's top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling" by Pjotr Sauer & Shaun Walker | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/07/revealed-russia-top-secret-spy-school-hacking-western-electoral-interference"Revealed: The secret suburban life of Britain's greatest Cold War spy" by Samuel Montgomery | The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/26/revealed-the-secret-suburban-life-of-britains-greatest-cold/Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.netSecrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/Music by Andrew R. BirdPhotos by Kenny Holston/NYT, Heather Diehl/GettySecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with James Sherr, an honorary fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security in Tallinn, and John Sipher, a 28-year CIA veteran, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, a Senior Fellow at the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence and Policy at George Mason University, and the founder of Spycraft Entertainment. 

Real government secrecy, intelligence failures, and historic scandals created the conditions for today’s conspiracy culture. Pearl Harbor, The Red Scare, JFK, 9/11, QAnon - a small truth can explode into a dangerous paranoid belief in hidden power and control. Genuine conspiracies often make it harder—not easier—to separate fact from fiction. How do democracies survive when citizens no longer agree on what’s real? Watch Mission Implausible on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionImplausiblePod

John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea, former senior CIA officers and co-founders of Spycraft Entertainment, return to the show for a conversation with Matt and Chris about what Hollywood gets wrong about espionage—and what they're trying to do about it. They dig into the tropes that break the spell (the lone hero, the ditched tail, the torture-porn shortcuts), why real intelligence work is quieter, more bureaucratic, and more character-driven than the screen suggests, and how lazy spy fiction feeds the conspiracy theories they now debunk on their podcast Mission Implausible. Their conversation ranges across the economics of pitching subtlety to risk-averse studios, the moral gray zones that make for better drama than propaganda ever could, the "deep state" as misnomer, and the unsung assets who are the real heroes of most operations. Along the way: a bubble in Moscow for marital fights, a 16-year-old Yazidi girl who helped bring down ISIS, and why the Glomar Explorer remains the great white whale of the genre.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs.Learn more about Spycraft Entertainment: https://spycraftentertainment.com/Listen to John and Jerry's podcast, Mission Implausible: https://podcasts.apple.com/fm/podcast/mission-implausible/id1728340033Follow John on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johnsipher.bsky.socialPlease share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/401167YouTube: https://youtu.be/MhJxmS2MItQSupport Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspiesSubscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comConnect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.netSecrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD: https://filmsandpodcasts.co.uk/Music by Andrew R. BirdPhoto by Spycraft EntertainmentSecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

There is a rot in our national security agencies. The Department of Defense, Intelligence, State Department, DHS, and DoJ have been either hollowed out or weaponized to serve the interests of this fanatical administration. The disastrous war with Iran is only the first crisis of many that will come as a result. Intelligence veterans Marc Polymeropoulos and John Sipher join David Rothkopf to analyze the existential threats to these critical agencies and why more trouble is on the horizon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a rot in our national security agencies. The Department of Defense, Intelligence, State Department, DHS, and DoJ have been either hollowed out or weaponized to serve the interests of this fanatical administration. The disastrous war with Iran is only the first crisis of many that will come as a result. Intelligence veterans Marc Polymeropoulos and John Sipher join David Rothkopf to analyze the existential threats to these critical agencies and why more trouble is on the horizon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore breaks it all down with John Sipher, a 28-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service. John also served as a member of the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service and is the recipient of the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal.  These days, John is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, a Senior Fellow at the Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence and Policy at George Mason University, and the founder of Spycraft Entertainment. 

Adam talks to former CIA officers/current hosts of the Mission Implausible podcast John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea about their time at the Agency, connections between Trump and Russia, conspiracy theories they do and don't believe, what the catering at Langley is like, and so much more!

Drawing on her leadership roles with Planned Parenthood Global and humanitarian organizations in Africa, actor & activist Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot on Law & Order: SVU) describes how ill-conceived policy decisions —particularly the dismantling of USAID programs — have immediate, devastating consequences. Plus, is there any actual nation-building happening in Venezuela, why CIA doesn’t use honey traps and the truth about Area 51.

Original Air Date: 3/5/25 Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: 3/5/25 Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former senior CIA officer John Sipher joins Chris to break down what Western audiences get wrong about Russian intelligence—starting with what it's actually like to operate inside one of the world's most hostile counterintelligence environments. Sipher explains the KGB-to-Putin throughline, why Moscow treats intelligence as a frontline tool of regime survival, and how “active measures” and reflexive control shape Russia's political warfare abroad. He also pushes back on myths of intelligence work, digs into how the West misread Russia's strength and Ukraine's will to fight, and lays out what containment—and a post-Putin future—might realistically look like. The conversation closes with a sharp look at disinformation, conspiracy culture, and why Hollywood keeps getting espionage wrong. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. More about John and Spycraft Entertainment: https://spycraftentertainment.com/john-sipher Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/secretsandspies Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photo by Spycraft Entertainment Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

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 Sipherhttps://www.thecipherbrief.com/Risking a National Security Disaster by Ronald Kesslerhttps://www.spytalk.co/p/risking-a-national-security-disaster    Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Karen Greenberg on Twitterhttps://x.com/KarenGreenberg3Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Original Airdate: March 5, 2025 Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Airdate: March 5, 2025 Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 18, 2025; 6pm: President Donald Trump met at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss possible paths to ending the war in Ukraine. Both leaders said the next step would be a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Afterwards, leaders of France, the U.K., and other nations joined for a larger session, emphasizing the need to stand united behind Ukraine. John Sipher, a former CIA officer who served in Moscow, joins to discuss what's ahead. Plus, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the Jeffrey Epstein case that continues to haunt President Trump.

What happens when you sit down with a former CIA station chief who spent 28 years in the shadows protecting America? In this riveting conversation with John Sipher, we pull back the curtain on the secretive world of intelligence operations and examine the fragile state of American democracy.Seifer doesn't mince words about Vladimir Putin, describing him as a dangerous, manipulative former KGB officer who "is absolutely never above using lies, subversion, trickery, or manipulation to get what he wants." Having worked in Moscow under constant surveillance—where even his bathroom was monitored—Sipher provides a chilling firsthand account of Russian intelligence tactics and why Putin's relationship with Trump should concern every American.But it's Sipher's perspective on our current political climate that proves most illuminating. Drawing parallels between Trump's exploitation of rural-urban divisions and tactics used by authoritarian leaders he witnessed overseas, Sipher explains how entertainment has overtaken substance in politics: "Entertainment wins the day. Donald Trump was a businessman slash entertainer. He's probably more of an entertainer now than he's ever been in his life."Perhaps most moving is Sipher's recounting of foreign assets who risked everything—including carrying suicide pills to meetings—because they believed America represented something special. "These are foreigners in these countries essentially committing treason against their own country to help America. Those are heroes," he reflects, questioning whether America will maintain the moral standing that inspired such sacrifice.For anyone concerned about the future of democracy, national security, or understanding the hidden forces shaping our world, this conversation offers rare expert insights from someone who operated at the highest levels of intelligence. Listen now to hear truths that rarely leave the classified briefing room.https://thesteadystate.org/https://spycraftentertainment.com/john-sipherSubscribe to the podcast and join us as we continue bringing you conversations with remarkable individuals who help us make sense of our complex world.Support the showThe Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter https://wwwJackHopkinsNow.com

Last week’s dump of the remains of the JFK Assassination files were a complete dud (except for the sloppy non-redaction of social security numbers and the names of intelligence sources). Hollywood movie director Phil Robinson wasn’t surprised. For years, he’d grown up a JFK Assassination conspiracy theorist. But when he dug deep enough he found… nothing. Now he extols the sadly mundane truth — it was just Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. How did he climb out of this, the most famous of rabbit holes?

The first two months of Trump's term have been a tour de force of chaos, bizarre hires and indecipherable decisions. Conspiracy theories operate on both sides of the equation. They are attempts to find an underlying rationale for moves by Trump and Musk, often presuming nefarious motivations of self-interest. Conspiracy theories are also being used as a tool to justify actions that are unpopular or destructive. From USAID to Fort Knox to anything "deep state," are these false conspiracy theories deliberately fabricated as misinformation or are they the convictions of True Believers?

We continue with Gareth Gore, author of: Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. Opus Dei has worked behind the scenes for decades to build up political influence and power in the U.S., bankrolling many right-wing causes.

Opus Dei is a secretive, ultra-conservative Catholic sect. Gareth Gore uncovered how it pushed its radical agenda within the Church and around the globe, using billions of dollars siphoned from one of the world’s largest banks. His book is: Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church.

Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you're Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night's address to congress, it's clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Monday, March 3, and reports on the fallout from Donald Trump's heated Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump-Musk backlash. Plus, The New Yorker's Barry Blitt joins. John Sipher, Jason Johnson and Brooke Harrington also join.

MSNBC's Katie Phang hosts "The Beat" on Friday, February 28, and reports on Donald Trump's chaotic Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump's legal battles, and the Trump administration's handling of the surging Measles outbreak in Texas. John Sipher, Michael McFaul, Dr. Paul Offit, and Michael S. Roth join.

Chris and Matt discuss Dan Bongino's appointment as FBI deputy director, signaling a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement and raising alarms about political loyalty over experience while Trump's broader FBI purge faces internal resistance. Meanwhile, as the war in Ukraine enters its third year, polling challenges assumptions about the Global South's stance on the conflict, revealing a divide between government policies and public sentiment. In the Indo-Pacific, a new report warns that China's military modernization may be more about political control than combat readiness, despite its growing arsenal. And finally, former CIA officer John Sipher takes aim at Hollywood's spy fantasies, arguing that real intelligence work is more about trust and tradecraft than rooftop chases—just as Amazon's billion-dollar takeover of James Bond raises new questions about the franchise's future. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9H2nB56zRwQ Articles discussed in today's episode "How Dan Bongino Went From Infowars to FBI Deputy Director" by David Gilbert | Wired: https://www.wired.com/story/dan-bongino-fbi-deputy-director-infowars/ "Inside Patel's first week: Internal upheaval at the FBI – some of his own making" by Even Perez | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/politics/kash-patel-first-week-fbi/index.html "The Global South's Views on Ukraine Are More Complex Than You May Think" by Michael Karadjis | New Lines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/the-global-souths-views-on-ukraine-are-more-complex-than-you-may-think/ "Is China's military really built for war? New report questions Beijing's arms buildup" by Brad Lendon | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/16/china/china-military-readiness-rand-report-intl-hnk-ml/index.html "The Chinese Military's Doubtful Combat Readiness" by Timothy R. Heath | RAND Corporation: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA830-1.html "The Car Chase to Nowhere: Hollywood & Spies" by John Sipher | Tomorrow's Affairs: https://tomorrowsaffairs.com/the-car-chase-to-nowhere-hollywood-spies Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fultonmatt.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

Comedian Trae Crowder is from a tiny town in Tennessee, so he has a unique point of view on conservative, liberals, MAGA and especially J.D. Vance… what’s the deal with that guy?? Well, Trae knows a thing or two.

Edition No98 | 18-02-2025 - After the meeting between Russia and the US, questions but with few answers. QUESTION: Can you take us a little bit in the room today? What was the interaction like? How would you characterize the discussions? MR WITKOFF: It was positive, upbeat, constructive, everybody there to get to the right outcome, solution based. We discussed it afterwards. We couldn't have imagined a better result after this session. It was very, very solid.Matthew Miller @matthewamillerNegotiating an end to a war is easy if your plan is to surrender.John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.socialRussia is at its weakest in years. Putin is in a precarious situation. They are attacking western interests around the world and murdering Europeans. Why is Rubio bending a knee and showing weakness?David Frum @davidfrumWhen FDR struck an over-the-heads-of-eastern-Europe deal at Yalta in Feb 1945, Stalin had 300+ divisions in the field vs Nazi Germany. The impending unilateral Trump sellout of Ukraine occurs when Putin is battered and almost broke.¬ Garry Kasparov @Kasparov63This looks more like Molotov-Ribbentrop than Yalta. It's business, dividing up Ukraine for profit. And they will try and may succeed unless Europe acts quickly instead of just talks.----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN 10 Events in 10 months - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur first live events this year in Lviv and Kyiv were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run 10 events in 10 months (at a minimum). We may add more venues to the program, depending on the success of the fundraising campaign. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Steven Hassan was once sucked into The Moonies. He broke free and has devoted the subsequent 50 years to becoming and expert on mind control and cults and then using that knowledge to help others escape cults and rejoin their lives. Cults take many forms, but their tactics are very similar. Which brings us to MAGA. Does it fit the definition of a cult? If so, how are people indoctrinated and how can they be supported in leaving?

Previously, we talked with Tim Weiner about an actual U.S. government conspiracy, The Iran Contra Affair, and a conspiracy theory, the Iranian hostages October Surprise. It was almost kept undetected, and plenty of people escaped accountability. In a continuation of that conversation, we look at the many routes to our executive branch pulling off similar actions in secrecy. Specifically, the INCOMING executive branch, which seems to be being designed for it. And if it’s that doable, there must be so many that remain undiscovered.

Gus Russo’s research into the Kennedy Assassination is second only to The Warren Commission. He’s been to primary sources. He’s seen documents few ever have. And he’s ready to address the question of whether CIA was involved in the assassination. Here’s his answer: No. So why DO people still suspect CIA? And who else WAS involved? He’s got answers to that too. Also, why the government shouldn’t release the JFK files.

In our first live (sort of) episode, a former investigator for the Chicago District Attorney shares a connected story about Jack Ruby that has never been heard before. John & Jerry & Jon and their guest review the prevailing theories in the first of our occassional search for a conclusion to the biggest conspiracy theory of all time.

A.J. was recently a guest on the excellent podcast "Mission Implausible," hosted by former high-level CIA operatives John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea. Here is part of their conversation about puzzles and spy craft. Check out the full episode and subscribe to Mission Implausible on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! /// "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A.J. Jacobs (host of The Puzzler podcast and author of The Puzzler book) swaps tales of secret messages in the world of spycraft. But A.J. is an expert on many things, and another one of those areas is The U.S. Constitution (he's the author of the new-ish books The Year of Living Constitutionally). What are the conspiracy theories behind and about The Constitution? He also wrote The Year of Living Biblically, so there's stuff about that too. Long story short, it's a fascinating, multi-disciplinary adventure of an episode.

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: former CIA operatives and hosts of the "Mission Implausible" podcast, John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask Chat GPT” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often talk about government conspiracy THEORIES, but under Ronald Reagan, there was a bona-fide CONSPIRACY involving illegally selling arms to Iran in exchange for hostages, and then using that money to fund guerillas in South America. So… pretty complicated. If you don’t remember, the hearings captivated the country and almost got Reagan impeached. There’s also the theory that Reagan made a deal with Iran before his election to withold releasing the hostages to hurt Carter. Real Mission Implausible kind of stuff.

"Exvangelical" Drew McCoy (aka The Genetically Modified Skeptic) continue to explore how religion and conspiracies overlap. Are non-believers playing followers? What's Drew's personal journey to becoming the atheist and conspiracy buster he is now?

Drew McCoy, aka Genetically Modified Skeptic, is a fundamentalist Evangelical Christian turned agnostic/atheist. With John, Jerry and Adam, they explore the position of conspiracy theories throughout religion in general.

ENCORE PRESENTATION -- Two Simpsons legends explore the theory that The Simpsons either predicts the future or causes the future, perhaps in cahoots with the CIA. Then they ask John & Jerry inside-CIA questions they always wanted to know. (with Bill Oakley & David Silverman)

Adam, John & Jerry look at what's happening right now in Syria in terms of journalism and intelligence. They also update us on the newest development with Havana Syndrome.

Jerry and John, with Adam, doommonger about the future of our national security if Tulsi Gabbard becomes the Director of National Intelligence and Kash Patel becomes the FBI Director. What happens when someone unqualified and inexperienced and unable to pass a background check get put in the leadership of an enormous department that they don't trust?

Journalist Tom Nichols (The Atlantic) explains how discrediting expertise is used as a weapon in order to control (mis)information.

Comedian and all-around expert Adam Conover (Adam Ruins Everything,  Factually!) made a series about the government with Barack Obama called “T G Word.” How does he feel about its reliabilty? Why are people suspicious of it?

Forbes journalist Zach Everson spent much of Trump's previous presidency embedded in Trump Hotel in DC. John and Jerry learn more about The Emoluments Clause and all the ways that foreign power brokers were able to channel payments to Trump through his hotels... and could again.

Adam and John and Jerry do what everyone else in America is doing... try to game out what the election will mean. In this case, for the intelligence agencies, international cooperation and overall national security. So, like, not one of the super-light episodes. But still worth listening to!

How are the Russians getting Trump to do what they want? There are many theories, but we've reached our own conclusion.

Ever wonder how the CIA gets an informant to trust them? Do you want to know which movies get the CIA right? Former high-level CIA operatives John Sipher and Jerry O'Shea walk Zach and Donald through how they would craft fake conspiracies to help solve real crimes. Learn what kind of person the CIA is looking for and how you could become a member. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original Air Date: June 26, 2023 The dust is still settling from Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow that gripped the world and rocked the Kremlin. Many questions remain but one thing is certain. In the wake of Prigozhin's bold if seemingly ill-fated challenge to the authority of Russia's Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Putin is weaker today in the eyes of Russians, Ukrainians and the world. We discuss the consequences of that change with the Washington Post's Shane Harris, former CIA Moscow hand John Sipher, co-host former CIA operations officer Marc Polymeropoulos and co-host David Rothkopf. Join us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're taking time off for the holidays, so we reached into the Chatter archives for one of our favorites.In this episode from January 13, 2022, Shane Harris and David Priess teamed up to talk with John Sipher, a former senior intelligence officer who has gone Hollywood. With his partners at Spycraft Entertainment, John is bringing compelling and, yes, accurate stories about espionage to the screen. Before working in the entertainment industry, he spent 28 years in the CIA, where he served multiple overseas tours as a chief of station. Shane, David, and John talked about their favorite spy movies, the fine line between the espionage and action-adventure genres, and the kinds of stories they'd like to see more of. Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo, with engineering assistance from Ian Enright. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.