Focal Point

On today’s episode, Andy and Mike Baker break down Mexico’s president denying a Reuters report on the CIA’s covert role in the drug war.  Full Reuters Report: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-president-attacks-reuters-report-cias-role-countrys-drug-war-2025-09-12/ Buy Target Intelligence: PSYOP with Shawn Ryan: http://psyopshow.com/ Sponsors: Marek Health Take control of your health t...

On today’s episode, Andy and Mike Baker uncover the story of the Lotto Gang—a trafficking ring that used Airbnbs to hide victims across borders. Their crimes in Metro Atlanta led to multiple arrests, including a former NFL player. Andy and Mike also explore whether society is becoming increasingly apathetic to these crimes and the challenges of getting involved in suspicious situations. Focal Poin...

On today’s episode, Andy and Stefano Ritondale from @AllSourceNews discuss a reported 2019 SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea that allegedly aimed to intercept communications from Kim Jong-un—and went dangerously off course. Marek Health Take control of your health today! Head to https://www. MarekHealth.com and use code FOCALPOINT for 10% off at checkout. AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com...

On today’s episode, Andy Stumpf and Mike Baker, former CIA operations officer and national security expert, examine the ongoing debate over the potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine and what it means for global security. The conversation explores how these long-range weapons, capable of striking targets deep inside Russia, could change the dynamics of the war and increase the risk of...

On today’s episode, Andy welcomes back Stefano Ritondale from @AllSourceNews to discuss the dramatic rise in U.S. cocaine consumption and its impact on Mexican cartels. Cocaine use has surged by 154% in western states since 2019, fueling the power of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), led by Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to curb car...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with investigative journalist Stefano Ritondale (@AllSourceNews) to discuss recent U.S. military strikes on drug boats off Venezuela’s coast. Intelligence for these operations reportedly came from Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who recently cooperated with U.S. authorities. Stefano, who covers Latin American organized crime and U.S. foreign polic...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with former FBI agent Dan Brunner to discuss ICE’s reactivated access to Graphite, an Israeli-made spyware capable of infiltrating phones, reading encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal, and even activating microphones. Originally signed under Biden but paused for review, the $2 million contract has raised concern among civil liberties advocates. Critics warn th...

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with former FBI agent Dan Brunner to discuss the Pentagon’s suspension of a Microsoft program that allowed Chinese coders, under limited U.S. oversight, to work on Defense Department cloud systems. Secretary Pete Hegseth called it a “major security risk” and a “breach of trust.” The DoD is auditing all code written by Chinese nationals, issuing formal concerns to...

On today’s episode, Andy talks with Dan Brunner, a former FBI Special Agent with experience in counterintelligence, counter-narcotics, and international investigations. They break down the U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s accusations of regime change, and Washington’s reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.  Focal Point is an IRONCLAD O...

On today’s episode, Andy and Sarah Adams look at the arrest of Private First Class Taylor Adam Lee, a 22-year-old soldier at Fort Bliss charged with attempting to pass sensitive U.S. military information to individuals he believed were Russian officials. They discuss the risks insider threats pose to military security and how intelligence and counterintelligence agencies work to detect and prevent...

On today’s episode, Andy and CIA targeter Sarah Adams discuss Australia’s decision to formally recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly this September. They explore the conditions tied to recognition, Israel’s sharp response, and the domestic political calculations driving Canberra’s move. The conversation then turns to the bigger question of how growing international momentum t...

On today’s episode, Andy and CIA targeter Sarah Adams discuss Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s statement that U.S. troops will “never set foot” on Mexican soil. They break down the political context of her remarks, how they relate to reports of a secret U.S. directive authorizing potential military action against cartels, and the possibility of behind-the-scenes cooperation between the two co...

On today’s episode, Andy and former Green Beret and CIA operative Scott Mann break down reports that the Trump administration is working with Palantir to build a centralized citizen database. With critics from all sides warning of authoritarian overreach, they explore what this means for privacy, national security, and the future of civil liberties in America. Focal Point is an IRONCLAD Original S...

On today’s episode of Focal Point, Andy is joined by retired Green Beret and former U.S. Army Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel Scott Mann to discuss NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s recent warning: that a global conflict could erupt if China invades Taiwan while Russia attacks NATO’s eastern flank. Drawing on his two decades of experience in unconventional warfare and counterinsurgency, Scott...

On today’s episode, Andy and Bryan Callen discuss President Donald Trump’s announcement of new weapons support for Ukraine through NATO allies and his warning of secondary sanctions and 100 percent tariffs on countries purchasing Russian exports. They examine what this shift means for the ongoing conflict, how NATO is responding, and why some in Ukraine remain cautious. The episode also looks at t...

On today’s episode, Andy and Bryan Callen discuss growing frustration inside Trump’s base over the Epstein case. The DOJ now claims no client list exists, despite past statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi. As figures like Elon Musk, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon call for answers, Trump dismisses the controversy as political distraction. Andy and Bryan unpack the backlash, the shifting narrat...

On today’s episode, Andy and Katarina Szulc, investigative journalist and host of Borderland Dispatches, break down the violent civil war erupting within Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel. As El Chapo’s sons battle rival factions and reportedly align with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the fallout is reaching far beyond Mexico’s borders. With fentanyl production under pressure, Canada has becom...

On today’s episode, Andy and investigative journalist and Borderland: Dispatches host Katarina Szulc examine a recent case involving a Mexican drug cartel that allegedly hired a hacker to access surveillance cameras and phone data. The operation was reportedly used to locate and track an FBI informant in Mexico City. This conversation explores how the cartel may have gained access to sensitive sys...

Disclaimer: This interview was recorded on June 9, 2025. Please note that the conversation reflects information and events known at that time, and may not account for developments that have occurred since. On today’s episode, Andy and Mike Baker discuss the flamethrower attack at a pro-Israel vigil in Boulder, Colorado, where 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman—an Egyptian national whose visa had ex...

Chinese nationals were recently caught smuggling dangerous pathogens into the United States. What other threats are slipping through? Mike Baker and Andy Stumpf discuss the reality of a counterintelligence emergency. Focal Point is an IRONCLAD Original  SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/0y9k9Nd3WInD0oDrMKdELb SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foca...

On today's episode, Andy and Sarah Adams examine the case of Joseph Neumayer, a dual U.S.-German citizen arrested after allegedly attempting to firebomb the former U.S. Embassy site in Tel Aviv. Following his deportation by Israeli authorities, Neumayer was taken into custody at JFK Airport and now faces federal charges. Officials say he carried Molotov cocktails and made threats on social media d...

On today’s episode of Focal Point, Andy is joined by Sarah Adams—a former CIA targeting officer and co-author of Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy. They unpack a new threat landscape as suspected terrorist encounters drop at the southern border but spike at the U.S.-Canada line. With over 140 arrests at northern ports of entry this year, they examine what’s driving the shift, the rise in fentanyl smuggling...

On today’s episode, Andy is joined by former CIA targeter Sarah Adams to break down the arrest of Libyan national Faraj al-Hamasi in Germany. Faraj wasn’t just a lone attacker—he was part of al-Qaeda’s next U.S. homeland plot. Sarah exposes how al-Qaeda is using ISIS as cover, why Germany is misidentifying him, and how this connects back to the Benghazi attackers she once tracked. Focal Point is a...

On today’s episode, Andy and Bryan Callen discuss the State Department’s dramatic plan to cut 15% of its U.S. staff and shut down over 130 offices—a move Secretary of State Marco Rubio says is essential to modernize a bloated bureaucracy. But will this shakeup strengthen America’s diplomatic edge or leave it exposed on the global stage? Then, the guys dive into the tariff transparency debate, as A...

On today’s episode, Andy and Bryan Callen discuss Tulsi Gabbard’s move as Director of National Intelligence to launch the Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG)—a new task force aimed at investigating the weaponization of intelligence, rooting out deep-seated politicization, and exposing unauthorized leaks. They dig into whether the DIG can depoliticize the intelligence community or if it’s destined t...