SpyTalk
SpyTalk, Jeff Stein
SpyTalk lives at the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalist Jeff Stein, 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/
For more SpyTalk go to: https://www.spytalk.co/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 29, 2025 • 45min
Top House Intel Dem Plays Hardball with Gabbard
DNI ignored Jim Himes until he warned her on Section 702 Renewal.
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Aug 22, 2025 • 43min
Putin to Trump, Nyet
A veteran diplomat dissects Trump's failure to get Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Former Ambassador Daniel Fried, who spent years dealing with Putin's Russia, says it's time for Trump to "stare down" the dictator.
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Aug 16, 2025 • 1h 4min
Bondi Kills DoJ Domestic Terrorism Unit
Former top unit lawyer Tom Brzozowski provides SpyTalk with exclusive details.
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Aug 8, 2025 • 1h 5min
Inside the US-Cuba Spy Swap
The secret deal that temporarily suspended the Cold War is revisited by Foreign Policy Executive Editor Dan Ephron and SpyTalk host Michael IsikoffDan EphronSpy: The U.S., Cuba, and the Secret Deal That Ended the Cold War
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Aug 1, 2025 • 52min
Intel Battle Royale
Former top NSA, CIA & ODNI official Larry Pfeiffer discusses Tulsi Gabbard’s attacks on CIA handling of Russia election report with hosts Jeff Stein and Michael Isikoff
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Jul 24, 2025 • 55min
Massacre at the FBI
Special Agent Mike Feinberg tells how he was forced out in Kash Patel’s wholesale purge of FBI officials suspected of disloyalty to Trump.
Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Jul 18, 2025 • 49min
Top Former CIA Russia Report Official Rejects Ratcliffe ‘Note’ Knocking U.S. Intelligence Analysis on 2016 Election
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/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
7 snips
Jul 2, 2025 • 44min
CIA at Risk
Luis Rueda, a former senior CIA operations officer with 28 years of experience, discusses the precarious state of the spy agency. He delves into the complexities of U.S.-Iran relations and how political motivations shape military predictions in the Middle East. Rueda humorously critiques the absurd focus on places like Greenland while examining the CIA's ineffective drug war strategies. He highlights the challenges of loyalty within the intelligence community and the risks posed by espionage, emphasizing the need for trust in negotiations.
Jun 27, 2025 • 42min
Tulsy Gabbard, Missing in Action
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/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Jun 20, 2025 • 39min
On the Brink
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/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
