Target USA Podcast by WTOP

Va. Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and former CIA clandestine service member Douglas London discuss the surprising and concerning findings of the years-long investigation. They also look at new troubles that lay ahead. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Why did Russia interfere in the 2016 election? Why are they at it again in 2020? Marc Polymeropoulos spent the last years of his CIA career digging into why Russia is trying to destroy the U.S. He shares his thoughts with Target USA. Some of what he says may surprise you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

U.S. intelligence has shown evidence Russia is trying to interfere in the 2020 election. Former Director of National Security Jim Clapper says this time Russia, having learned from its mistakes in 2016, has become better at hiding its activities. He explains how. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Identity thieves are becoming more and more bold. Listen to this encounter; and learn how recognize them and how to stop them. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

China has had a really bad week and former House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Rogers says, this is likely the beginning of a very rough patch. Economic espionage, 5G, the Houston consulate closure, extradition treaties and trade limits are all facing China as the West shuts down its quest to dominate the world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

Douglas London, a retired CIA officer tells Target USA, it's "uncomfortable" watching the interaction between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, because it's "clearly a rather co-dependent, denial and deception campaign." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton joins Target USA to reveal details about his book, working in the Trump Administration, Russian bounties to kill US troops, Venezuela, Iran and North Korea. Also former Deputy National Security Advisor Mark Pfeifle discusses what the National Security Council should be doing to deal with the Russia “bounty” situation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19...

On June 16, North Korea destroyed the joint liaison office it operated with South Korea. Ambassador Joseph Detrani, former U. S. Special Envoy to North Korea, says that was significant and dangerous because the building was a symbol of peace between North Korea and South Korea. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my...

The US started nuclear talks with Russia this week in Vienna. They’ve concluded one round of discussions on one of the weightiest issues of our time -what to do with their weapons. Steve Andreasen, a consultant with the Nuclear Threat Initiative reminds us that Russia is still an existential threat to the US. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://...

American Paul Whelan, arrested and tried for what his family believes was a "set up", was sentenced to a long prison term this week. They say their only hope now is the U.S. government -which hasn't done anything to help -so far. But that may be changing now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

For decades, law enforcement and intelligence officials in the US have been trying to figure out and stop the PRC from stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Now, it may be game over for Beijing's IP thieves. Former Seal Team 6 member and CEO of Data Tribe, Mike Janke explains. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-s...

46 year old George Floyd died on a street in Minneapolis, with a police officer's knee on his neck. His brutal, gut-wrenching death was viewed around the world and may have ignited a new era of racial dialogue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

It was Nov 21, 2019, when a voice that will echo in the halls of American power for decades issued a stark warning to U.S. legislators and the millions that watched on television. Dr. Fiona Hill’s distinctive voice and profound, curated knowledge of Russian intelligence activities and tactics set the record straight during President Donald Trump’s impeachment hearing. She joins Target USA to sound...

For almost a decade, the only way for Americans to get into space was to buy a seat on a Russian rocket. That changes today. In her first broadcast interview USAF Secretary Barbara Barrett discusses the future of the US Space Force plus hostile actors in space, modernization of the Air Force and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

Is it possible the COVID-19 virus was already circulating in the U.S. in November? Noted pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek says, "It's not just possible, it's likely." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The US and China are on a collision course. It’s been taking shape for decades, but COVID-19 has brought this all to a head a lot sooner than most people imagined. We investigate it on this episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

For weeks now, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been out of sight, prompting many to believe he's dead or very ill. In this episode, Ambassador Joe Detrani, one of the world's preeminent experts on North Korea tells Target USA, Kim has been planning for this day. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Former CIA covert operative Robert Baer says US intelligence still doesn't know exactly where the COVID 19 virus came from. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a scholar and epidemiologist from John's Hopkins University says considering the dangerous nature of the virus, opening the country up to general activity too soon, could be a big mistake. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv...

With each passing day, the number of questions about the origin of the COVID-19 virus grows. First we heard it came from a snake, then we heard it came from a bat. So where did it come from? Former CIA officer and Chinese expert Nicholas Eftimiades points us in the right direction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

The whole world is waiting for the day that everything goes back to normal after this corona virus scare is in the rear view. Well, that’s not going to happen for a while. But after Russia and China, made grand plays for power during this crisis, David Kilcullen, a former soldier, military strategist and professor at Arizona State University tells Target USA, what could happen soon is a war; and t...

The leaders of the White House Coronavirus Task Force say as many as 240 thousand or more people in the US could die from this outbreak. On this episode, we talk with Beth Cameron, PhD, VP of Global Biological Policy and Programs at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. She’s the former senior director for global health security and bio defense on the White House National Security Council staff. She disc...

As the corona virus, known as COVID-19 sweeps the world, Target USA speaks with Robin Simcox, from Britain, Lao Petrilli of Italy and Eeva Eek Pajuste of Estonia to hear how they are impacted, and what the U.S. should expect. We also spoke to cyber security experts Rachel Tobac of Social Proof Security and Adam Meyers of Crowdstrike about measures teleworkers can take to protect themselves and the...

In 2007 Estonia was on its knees, the victim of a vicious Russian cyber-attack. Since that time Estonia has risen to its feet, dusted itself off and, in 2020, is now teaching the world how to deal with Russian aggression. Target USA sat down with the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid to hear firsthand how they do it, about the Three Seas Initiative and much more. See Privacy Policy at https:/...

Tomeu Vadell has been held in Venezuela -- along with four other Americans and one permanent U.S. resident -- by the government of Venezuela for 2 years and 112 days. In a sometimes emotional interview, Tomeu Vadell's wife Dennysse and his daughter Cristina opened up to Target USA about his detention, the harsh conditions and their pleas for help from the U.S. government. See Privacy Policy at htt...

From coronavirus to Russian aggression, the U.S. military is facing a lot of problems. The No. two official at the Pentagon sat down with Target USA to discuss the challenges and threat the military faces and the solutions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .