SpyTalk, Jeff Stein

SpyTalk

News EN ↓ 216 episodes

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/

Author

SpyTalk, Jeff Stein

Episodes

Top Former CIA Russia Report Official Rejects Ratcliffe ‘Note’ Knocking U.S. Intelligence Analysis on 2016 Election 18.07.2025 49:29

Susan Miller, who captained 2016 election analysis, says there was ‘no coercion’ from CIA chief Brennan on Putin's interference—but was ‘pissed’ FBI insisted on Steele Dossier inclusion. 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 Tw...

CIA at Risk 02.07.2025 44:18

Former senior CIA ops manager Luis Rueda talks about an imperiled spy agency with host Jeff Stein. 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.c...

Tulsy Gabbard, Missing in Action 27.06.2025 41:50

Former National Intelligence Council chief Gregory Treverton tells SpyTalk’s Michael Isikoff he wonders why DNI Tulsi Gabbard still has her job - and why her agency should be “substantially” reduced in size. 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 Fol...

On the Brink 20.06.2025 38:49

Former Obama adviser Ned Price discusses Trump‘s options on Iran with SpyTalk hosts Jeff Stein & 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 ...

CIA AT RISK 14.06.2025 41:53

Trump-MAGA infestation of spy agency poses national security threat, senior CIA ops veteran Luis Rueda tells SpyTalk host Jeff Stein. Luis Rueda How to Take Greenland 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.c...

Buckley and the CIA 09.06.2025 58:00

Sam Tanenhaus, author of new biography of William F. Buckley, Jr., joins Michael Isikoff to discuss the conservative columnist's early role as a CIA spy and his longtime relationship with his one time agency boss, Watergate burglar Howard Hunt. Buy the book Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenb...

The Intel Mess 05.06.2025 29:40

Gabbard’s meddling with intel disqualifies her, Sen. Mark Warner says on SpyTalk podcast with 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 htt...

China Spy Worries + Russia 30.05.2025 31:18

Former top CIA exec Sue Miller talks all things espionage with Jeff Stein & Michael Isikoff. Susan Miller https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/susan-miller 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/ta...

Spy World Politicos 23.05.2025 54:35

“It’s not good” that ex-spooks are going public, former CIA officer Steve Cash tells the SpyTalk podcast, but “we’re terrified” by Trump. Steven A. Cash https://bsky.app/profile/cashsteven.bsky.social https://thesteadystate.org/ 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...

Trump’s Plane Won’t Fly with Rep. Jim Himes 16.05.2025 38:56

Rep. Jim Himes, top Dem on the House Intel Committee, talks with Jeff & Mike about the Qatar grift and more bad things going on under Tulsi Gabbard. 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 Su...

Air Fright 09.05.2025 37:48

Russia’s airliner sabotage ops are examined by science writer Jeff Wise and SpyTalk host Jeff Stein. Jeff Wise https://x.com/ManvBrain https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/inside-new-security-threats-in-the-skies? https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/aviation-flights-white-house-tcas-drones.html Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter https...

Letting Russia Off the Hook 29.04.2025 39:37

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 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 Subscrib...

The Last Spy Story of the Vietnam War 25.04.2025 56:39

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 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:...

The CIA, Iran and a Conspiracy of Silence 18.04.2025 52:40

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: h...

Insanity Claws 11.04.2025 34:15

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twit...

CIA Opened Oswald’s Mail! 03.04.2025 43:05

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: htt...

"There's not a day I do not think about those Americans" who died in Iraq 28.03.2025 1:01:07

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow S...

A Former CIA Spy Catcher Weighs Trump’s Russia Turn 21.03.2025 38:39

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https...

Vindman: Putin is "Toying" with Trump 15.03.2025 48:14

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Tw...

What's Ukraine Thinking? 07.03.2025 36:20

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https...

The Ghosts of Munich 26.02.2025 40:28

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter: https:/...

Trump’s CIA and Russia 21.02.2025 38:44

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 Karen Greenberg on...

Betrayal: Trump Justice Department’s War on the FBI 11.02.2025 54:01

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter: https://twitte...

How Might Trump Deploy DHS Intelligence? 07.02.2025 40:02

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 Karen Greenberg on Twitter https://x.com/KarenGreen...

A “Bonanza" of Spyware Abuses 31.01.2025 49:45

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 htt...