The Rest Is Classified 44. The Leak That Changed The World: Stealing State Secrets (Ep 2)
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May 6, 2025 Dive into the fascinating journey of Edward Snowden, from his tech-savvy youth to a controversial whistleblower. Discover how he accessed and leaked 1.5 million classified files while grappling with moral dilemmas. Explore the complexities of NSA's X-Keyscore data collection tool and the misconceptions surrounding it. Unravel the innovative tactics employed in digital whistleblowing and the challenges of maintaining anonymity. The podcast also teases upcoming interviews and exclusive content related to espionage.
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Snowden's Underground NSA Role
- Snowden worked undercover in a WWII-era underground NSA facility beneath a pineapple field in Hawaii.
- He was perceived as eccentric, often wearing a hoodie parodying the NSA logo and keeping a Constitution copy on his desk.
Motives Behind Bulk Downloading
- Snowden's downloading of NSA documents began shortly after a major conflict with his supervisors.
- His motives appear intertwined between ideological beliefs and personal grievance against the system.
Ignoring Whistleblower Channels
- Snowden had formal whistleblower protections and channels but chose not to use them for his leaks.
- His history shows willingness to complain internally but not responsibly handle top-secret information.
