Secrets and Spies Podcast: Espionage | Global Issues | Current Affairs

A fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the collapse of a UK spy trial, and a damning new report on China’s exploitation of U.S. defense research—Chris and Matt unpack a pivotal few weeks in global politics and intelligence. They assess the Trump-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas, the role of Jared Kushner, Qatar, and Tony Blair in the deal, and why Netanyahu’s legal troubles could upend it all. In London, they break down how a high-profile Chinese espionage case unraveled, exposing gaps in the Official Secrets Act and Britain’s uneasy relationship with Beijing. And in Washington, Matt digs into a new Congressional report on U.S. taxpayer-funded defense research benefiting the PLA—from hypersonics, quantum computing, and AI—and the bipartisan effort to close those loopholes. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/3441b1 YouTube: https://youtu.be/N3XqFtU7TXY Articles discussed in today’s episode "How Trump Pushed Israel and Hamas to Yes" by Isaac Stanley-Becker and Vivian Salama | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/archive/2025/10/ceasefire-gaza-trump-israel-hamas/684529/ "Hamas Is Not Done Fighting" by Matthew Levitt | Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/palestinian-territories/hamas-not-done-fighting "White House Works to Preserve Gaza Deal Amid Concerns About Netanyahu" by Katie Rogers and Luke Broadwater | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/politics/trump-gaza-israel-netanyahu.html "The aide, the associate, the ‘Chinese agent’ – and the collapse of a long-awaited UK spy trial" by Dan Sabbagh and Amy Hawkins | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/20/collapse-uk-spy-trial-china-christopher-cash-christopher-berry "Witness statements in relation to alleged breach of Official Secrets Act on behalf of China" by Matthew Collins | Crown Prosecution Service: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/witness-statements-in-relation-to-alleged-breach-of-official-secrets-act-on-behalf-of-china "Fox in the Henhouse: The US Department of Defense Research and Engineering's Failures to Protect Taxpayer-Funded Defense Research" | US House Select Committee on the CCP: https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/reports/fox-in-the-henhouse What else we’re reading this week "A CIA Secret Kept for 35 Years Is Found in the Smithsonian’s Vault" by John Schwartz | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/science/kryptos-cia-solution-sanborn-auction.html "Charles Powell: Britain has always had to deal carefully with China" by Luke O’Reilly | The New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/10/charles-powell-britain-has-always-had-to-deal-carefully-with-china "Director General Ken McCallum gives threat update" by Ken McCallum | MI5: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/director-general-ken-mccallum-gives-threat-update "Dutch services share less information with the US: 'Sometimes we don't tell things anymore'" by Huib Mudderkolk | Volkskrant: https://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/nederlandse-diensten-delen-minder-informatie-met-de-vs-soms-vertellen-we-dingen-niet-meer~b4882f19/ "The Kremlin’s New Contractors: Inside Russia’s Market for Political Warfare" by Anton Shekhovtsov | Towers of Europa: https://shekhovtsov.substack.com/p/the-kremlins-new-contractors "Hostile states recruit youths for crime, Met warns" by James W. Kelly | BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q73312zlpo "Mysterious Aircraft Crash Near Area 51 Just Got Weirder" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/air/mysterious-aircraft-crash-near-area-51-just-got-weirder "Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data" by Andy Greenberg and Matt Burgess | WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/satellites-are-leaking-the-worlds-secrets-calls-texts-military-and-corporate-data/ "Trump Administration Authorizes Covert CIA Action in Venezuela" by Julian E. Barnes and Tyler Pager | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/trump-covert-cia-action-venezuela.html "Trump Is Turning Back the Clock on US Policy in Latin America" by Frida Ghitis | World Politics Review: https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-china-latin-america-trump/ "Why did the China spying case collapse?" by Will Barker | The Week UK: https://theweek.com/defence/why-did-the-china-spying-case-collapse Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photo by Pedro Pardo/AFP & Greg Barker/AFP Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Chris speaks with historian Dr. Jessica Douthwaite, co-curator of John le Carré: Tradecraft at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. They explore how le Carré—born David Cornwell—approached his extensive research, the selection process for the exhibition, and the political evolution reflected in his works. Jessica emphasizes le Carré’s identity as a writer who was also a spy, the collaborative nature of his writing process with his wife, and the contemporary relevance of his themes. They also discuss his novels’ impact on literature and society, and how le Carré’s creative legacy has reshaped modern spy fiction. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. Find more about John le Carré: Tradecraft: https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lecarre Buy the exhibition book, Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carré: https://bodleianshop.co.uk/products/tradecraft-writers-on-john-le-carre Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/33f804 YouTube: https://youtu.be/7bfYwun2aGo Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photo courtesy of Ralph Crane/Time-Life & Bodleian Library Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Former FBI agent Tim Carpenter led the Bureau’s Art Crime Team, chasing down everything from stolen masterworks to looted antiquities. In this conversation, he joins Chris to discuss his new book The Grave Robber, a gripping account of the biggest stolen artifacts case in FBI history. Tim recounts the investigation into Don Miller, an amateur collector who raided archaeological sites and kept human remains in his Indiana home, and reflects on how the FBI sought justice and cultural restoration in the aftermath. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global issues, and current affairs. Order The Grave Robber: https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-horizon/grave-robber/ Find more about Tim and his work outside the FBI: https://arguscpc.com/about/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-carpenter-271856202/ Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/33dcbf YouTube: https://youtu.be/ocW9TgUT0u0 Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos courtesy of HarperCollins and the FBI Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, cold war espionage and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

CNN’s Jake Tapper joins Matt to discuss his new book Race Against Terror, a gripping true story of the US hunt and prosecution of an al-Qaeda fighter named Spin Ghul. They trace the case’s origins in Italy and Afghanistan, its lessons about justice and accountability after 9/11, and what it reveals about how America wages its “forever war.” Tapper reflects on writing trauma without spectacle, the moral limits of the War on Terror, and the investigators who quietly uphold the rule of law amid politics and fear. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, global affairs, and current events. Order Race Against Terror, and see Jake’s tour schedule: https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/jake-tapper-books Follow Jake on Twitter/X: https://x.com/jaketapper Follow Jake on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jaketapper.bsky.social Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/33b7d5 YouTube: https://youtu.be/xgvzA0bCOKw Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photo by Elliott O'Donovan Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

This week, Chris and Matt break down Pete Hegseth’s speech at Quantico, where he and President Trump summoned 800 generals and admirals for what turned out to be a culture-war lecture on grooming standards and “wokeness.” They examine what it says about civil-military relations in Trump’s second term and the risks in treating the armed forces as a political prop. Then they turn to the Secret Service’s discovery of a massive SIM-card farm in New York linked to swatting threats and fraud, and what it reveals about the intersection of cybercrime, sabotage, and telecom vulnerabilities. From there, they look at how the US government shutdown is playing out inside the intelligence community—why frontline missions continue while contractors and support staff face furloughs that erode resilience. Finally, they discuss MI6’s launch of a new dark-web tool called Silent Courier, designed to encourage potential sources to walk in virtually, and weigh the promises and dangers of this digital era of espionage. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Train Like a Spy with SpyQ - Use this discount code for 10% off - SECRETS&SPIES10 Find out more information about SpyQ and register: https://www.spyq.co.uk/ John Le Carré: Tradecraft @ The Bodleian Library in Oxford 1st Oct  - 6th April https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lecarre Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/336e28 YouTube: https://youtu.be/CCXcBQkPtec Articles discussed in today’s episode "A Novice Defense Secretary Lectures the Brass on What It Takes to Win" by Greg Jaffe | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/us/politics/hegseth-military-officers.html "Trump Gave the Military’s Brass a Rehashed Speech. Until Minute 44." by Shawn McCreesh | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/us/politics/trump-military-brass-speech.html "Secret Service traced swatting threats against officials. They found 300 servers capable of crippling New York’s cell system" by John Miller & Celina Tebor | CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/23/us/swatting-investigation-server-network-discovered "Six key questions about the dismantled network capable of crippling New York’s cell system" by David J. Lopez | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/27/us/nyc-network-secret-service-investigation "'SIM Farms’ Are a Spam Plague. A Giant One in New York Threatened US Infrastructure, Feds Say" by Andy Greenberg, Lily Hay Newman & Matt Burgess | WIRED: https://www.wired.com/story/sim-farm-new-york-threatened-us-infrastructure-feds-say/ "The Shutdown and the Spies" by Jeff Stein | SpyTalk: https://www.spytalk.co/p/the-shutdown-and-the-spies "Silent Courier: UK intelligence service MI6 launches dark web portal to recruit foreign spies" by Nick Paton Walsh | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/18/europe/mi6-silent-courier-dark-web-spies-intelligence-intl What else we’re reading this week "After US strikes, Iran increases work at mysterious underground site" by Warren P. Strobel and Jarrett Ley | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/26/iran-underground-nuclear-us/ "Pete Hegseth Is Living the Dream" by Eliot A. Cohen | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/pete-hegseth-quantico/684423/ "The aide, the associate, the ‘Chinese agent’ – and the collapse of a long-awaited UK spy trial" by Dan Sabbagh and Amy Hawkins | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/20/collapse-uk-spy-trial-china-christopher-cash-christopher-berry "Rash of Russian breaches of NATO airspace brings calls for shootdown response" by John Vandiver | Stars and Stripes: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-09-22/nato-russia-airspace-violations-19180208.html "Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Air Combat Drone That Puts A Premium On Stealth" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/air/skunk-works-unveils-vectis-air-combat-drone-that-puts-a-premium-on-stealth "Russia is helping prepare China to attack Taiwan, documents suggest" by Catherine Belton and Christian Shepherd | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/26/russia-china-weapons-sales-air-assault/ Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by Doug Mills/NYT Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

On todays special podcast, Chris is joined by Gavin Stone and James Foster to discuss “Spy-Q,” a tradecraft-for-civilians training event that turns elicitation, deception detection, influence, behavioural profiling, resilience, and memory techniques into practical tools you can actually use.  Find out more information about SpyQ and register: https://www.spyq.co.uk/ Use this discount code for 10% off - SECRETS&SPIES10 Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

In this discussion, Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, reflects on his recent trip to war-torn Syria and his meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He reveals Sharaa's transformation from a jihadist leader to head of state. The conversation dives into the precarious balance of power amid sectarian violence, Israel’s military actions, and the looming threats from Kurdish forces. Zelin also provides insights on reconstruction challenges, economic revival prospects, and critical indicators to watch as Syria navigates its uncertain future.

In this week’s episode, Chris and Matt take another look at the political assault on the US intelligence community and its strain on Five Eyes, pushing partners to question sharing or holding information back, even as the core bonds endure for now. Chris then previews “Spy-Q,” a tradecraft-for-civilians training event that turns elicitation, deception detection, influence, behavioral profiling, resilience, and memory techniques into practical tools you can actually use. Finally, they unpack Israel’s audacious, long-range strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, the immediate blowback, and how Israeli intelligence refused to participate. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/32e18a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGwtAuQtA4I Spy Q event with Gavin Stone and James Foster Find more information and register: https://www.spyq.co.uk/ Discount code for 10% off - SECRETS&SPIES10 Articles discussed in today’s episode "The War on American Intelligence" by Matthew Savill | Royal United Services Institute: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/war-american-intelligence "Inside Israel’s Audacious Airstrike on Hamas Leaders in Qatar, a US Ally" by Dov Lieber, Summer Said & Lara Seligman | The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/inside-israels-audacious-airstrike-on-hamas-leaders-in-qatar-a-u-s-ally-89104bcd "Israeli intelligence agency balked at Netanyahu’s strike in Qatar" by Gerry Shih, Shira Rubin, Karen DeYoung & Souad Mekhennet | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/12/mossad-israel-qatar-strike-hamas/ "Israel Executes Unprecedented Strike On Hamas Leadership In Qatar" by Howard Altman & Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-executes-unprecedented-strike-on-hamas-leadership-in-qatar "Netanyahu spoke to Trump before Israel bombed Qatar" by Barak Ravid | Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/15/trump-netanyahu-call-israel-strike-qatar What else we’re reading this week "How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart" by David Phillips and Matthew Cole | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/us/navy-seal-north-korea-trump-2019.html "Homeland Needs To Be Able To Survive A 'Punch In The Nose' According To Former NORAD Chief" by Howard Altman | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/news-features/homeland-needs-to-be-able-to-survive-a-punch-in-the-nose-according-to-former-norad-chief "This Company Turns Dashcams into ‘Virtual CCTV Cameras.’ Then Hackers Got In" by Joseph Cox | 404 Media: https://www.404media.co/this-company-turns-dashcams-into-virtual-cctv-cameras-then-hackers-got-in Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters, Jacqueline Penney/AFP & IDF Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

On this week’s episode, investigative journalist Florian Flade joins Chris to uncover three little-known German intelligence operations from the Cold War and their aftermath: supporting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, secretly buying Soviet weapons from demoralized troops in East Germany, and covertly shipping GDR arms to Israel. Florian explains how these missions reflected Germany’s risk-taking intelligence culture, the close ties with allies like the CIA and Mossad, and the lessons they still carry for today as modern battlefields like Ukraine become testing grounds for foreign weaponry. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Follow Florian’s blog and connect on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/florianflade.bsky.social Twitter/X: https://x.com/FlorianFlade Blog: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/ Florian’s reporting discussed in the episode "When the BND Supported the Mujahideen" | Taggeshau: https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/wdr/bnd-mudschaheddin-101.html "Summer Rain in the Hindu Kush" | Verschlusssache: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/2021/09/06/sommerregen-am-hindukusch/ "Treasures of Steel" | Verschlusssache: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/2022/12/01/schatze-aus-stahl/ "The 'Agricultural Machinery Affair'" | Verschlusssache: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/2025/08/11/die-landmaschinen-affare/ "The BND and the Yom Kippur War" | Verschlusssache: https://ojihad.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/der-bnd-und-der-jom-kippur-krieg/ Please share this episode using these links Audio: https://pod.fo/e/329e4b YouTube: https://youtu.be/fYZClRjdEpY Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird Photos by Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.

Flags are flying across Britain—but behind the bunting lurks a far-right campaign. Chris and Matt kick off Season 10 with a look at "Operation Raise the Colours," the extremist-led push to turn patriotism into intimidation. From there, they move to Ukraine, where the US has signaled willingness to offer critical support to a potential European-led peacekeeping force, even as Trump hedges on a deal with Moscow. Next, Tulsi Gabbard ignites turmoil at the top of the intelligence community, revoking dozens of clearances—including an undercover CIA officer’s—raising fears of politicization and damage to US alliances. Finally, the guys head to New Zealand, where a soldier’s espionage case exposes ties to far-right groups and highlights how extremists exploit culture wars from both sides. Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs. Join Chris on a one-day podcast course Podcast Workshop Monday 22nd September 10am - 5pm @ The Guildford Institute: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1477046087609 Articles discussed in today’s episode "'Operation Raise the Colours' Organised by Well-Known Far-Right Extremists" by Joe Mulhall | Hope Not Hate: https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/22/operation-raise-the-colours-organised-by-well-known-far-right-extremists/ "US offers air and intelligence support to postwar force in Ukraine" by Henry Foy, Christopher Miller & Steff Chávez | The Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/66ec25a0-4af8-467f-9fbe-cf42de890a7e "Ukraine has unbreakable pledge from West with Trump's backing - Starmer" by Paul Kirby | BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxwl15w2qko "'Operation Raise the Colours' Organised by Well-Known Far-Right Extremists" by Joe Mulhall | Hope Not Hate: https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/22/operation-raise-the-colours-organised-by-well-known-far-right-extremists/ "Soldier admits spying against NZ by trying to give military base maps to foreign country" by Jeremy Wilkinson | The New Zealand Herald: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/soldier-admits-spying-against-nz-by-trying-to-give-military-base-maps-to-foreign-country/EJHSLUWH2JH65ERPPAZASVNBDY/ What else we’re reading this week "DOGE Targeted Him on Social Media. Then the Taliban Took His Family." by Avi Asher-Schapiro and Christopher Bing | ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/doge-musk-mohammad-halimi-institute-peace-taliban "Tehran’s Homeland Option: Terror Pathways for Iran to Strike in the United States" by Matthew Levitt | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point: https://ctc.westpoint.edu/tehrans-homeland-option-terror-pathways-for-iran-to-strike-in-the-united-states/ "Estonian citizens warned of spy games if they travel to Russia" by Eloise Hardy | The Parliament: https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/estonian-citizens-warned-of-spy-games-if-they-travel-to-russia "The choices facing Britain’s next MI6 chief" The Economist: https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/08/23/the-choices-facing-britains-next-mi6-chief Support Secrets and Spies Become a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies Buy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com Connect with us on social media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspies Facebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspies Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Follow Chris and Matt on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/mattfulton.net Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD. Music by Andrew R. Bird USAF Photo by Senior Airman Ali Stewart Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode examines the very topics that real intelligence officers and analysts consider on a daily basis through the lens of global events and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and journalists.