The Jordan Harbinger Show 344: Jonna Mendez | The Moscow Rules
Apr 28, 2020
Jonna Mendez, former chief of disguise in the CIA and co-author of "The Moscow Rules," shares thrilling Cold War insights. She recounts her experience as a surveilled operative, detailing the intense atmosphere in Soviet Moscow. Jonna explains how the U.S. had to completely rebuild its embassy due to infiltration risks and reveals the CIA's creative strategies for recruiting talent. The podcast further explores the evolution of disguise techniques and the psychological toll on spies maintaining their covers, blending captivating anecdotes with historical analysis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Life in Moscow During the Cold War
- Jonna Mendez worked in Moscow during the Cold War, under constant KGB surveillance.
- The KGB targeted Russians working with the CIA, leading to executions for treason.
Surveillance and Freedom
- The KGB's tight surveillance was possible due to the lack of freedom in the Soviet Union.
- Such control is impossible in free societies where individual rights exist.
US Embassy Bugging
- The US embassy in Moscow was built with prefabricated parts assembled by Russians, riddled with bugs.
- The US had to rebuild the embassy, while the Soviet embassy in D.C. was built by Soviets, potentially more secure.
