Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to Espresso Martini episode Four, which is our first podcast of 2023. On todays episode of Espresso Martini, Chris & Matt take a look at a coup plot in Germany that was discovered by the German authorities and they also take a look at the rising Covid numbers in China and the official denials coming from the ruling Communist Party. Related articles to the discussion: German Coup Plot: Germany arrests 25 accused of plotting coup https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63885028 The Motley Crew that Wanted to Topple the German Government https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/prince-putsch-and-his-gang-the-motley-crew-that-wanted-to-topple-the-german-government-a-07a32d7c-96e6-4b61-a282-9e9ab2ffa288 Is a far-right coup possible in Germany? https://www.dw.com/en/is-a-far-right-coup-possible-in-germany/a-64041643 Rise of Covid in China: China Covid: experts estimate 9,000 deaths a day as US says it may sample wastewater from planes https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/30/china-covid-experts-estimate-9000-deaths-a-day-as-us-says-it-may-sample-wastewater-from-planes How deadly will China’s covid surge get? Answers to that and more. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2022/12/31/china-covid-virus-evolution/ China's COVID vaccines: Do the jabs do the job? https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/30/1143696652/chinas-covid-vaccines-do-the-jabs-do-the-job Other Stories of note: Russian influencers at work in Germany https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-germany-influencers Clergymen or spies - Russian Orthodox churches used for espionage https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/31/world/europe/orthodox-church-ukraine-russia.html Suspected Neo Nazi Attacks on US power-grids https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/whos-attacking-our-power-grid/ Writing aids mentioned by Chris & Matt Scrivener https://www.literatureandlatte.com/ Trello https://trello.com/ Find out more about Matt and his book “Active Measures.”  https://mattfulton.net/ Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

On this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt take a look at the key stories from November in the world of espionage, geopolitics and intrigue.  They discuss the Crimean Bridge Attack, infighting among Putin’s allies, a Russian GRU officer who defected to Estonia, a spy trial at the Old Bailey and the hit Star Wars espionage series Andor. Links to articles discussed are below How Ukraine blew up the bridge - By James Glanz and Marco Hernandez – New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/17/world/europe/crimea-bridge-collapse.html The BBC on October 9th published an article By Paul Adamstitled “Crimean Bridge; Who or what caused the explosion” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63192757 Civil War among Putin Allies – Isabel Van Brugen - Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/leaked-fsb-letters-civial-war-putin-allies-prigozhin-kadyrov-1760455 Russian Spy Defects – Michael Weiss – Yahoo News https://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-ex-russian-spy-flees-to-the-nato-country-that-captured-him-delivering-another-embarrassing-blow-to-moscow-010049616.html?guccounter=1 British embassy security guard David Smith admits spying for Russia – Gordon Corera  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63602000 Swedish brothers charged as spies for Russia – Phelan Chatterjee BBC  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63601266 China & Iran hire PI’s to spy on dissidents in US -  By Benjamin Weiser and William K. Rashbaum – New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/13/nyregion/china-iran-private-detectives.html China’s new satellite hunting radar – Gabriel Honrada – Asia Times https://asiatimes.com/2022/11/chinas-new-satellite-hunting-radar-aims-to-blind-us/ Spy Among Friends – 8th Dec ITV X & BritBox in UK – MGM Plus in 2023 https://cultbox.co.uk/news/start-dates/a-spy-among-friends-trailer-for-the-drama-which-launches-itvx Andor - Available on Disney +  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV_series) Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

On this podcast episode, we are joined by author and journalist Dave Troy. Dave is an Investigative journalist addressing threats to democracy, and we discuss the possible ideological motivations behind Elon Musk’s recent purchase of Twitter, and it’s national security implications. Read Dave’s fantastic article: “No, Elon and Jack are not competitors. They’re collaborating” https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d You can find out more about Dave Troy and his work here: https://about.davetroy.com/ Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

On the second episode of Espresso Martini, Chris & Matt do their best to cover events from the jam pact month of October. Topics discussed Elon Musk takes over Twitter Russian espionage foiled in the US and Europe Mysterious Chinese "Police stations" have been discovered in UK, USA & Europe Spy Entertainment Links The Dry Cleaner is screening at the Horsham Film Festival on 30th November Tickets are available here: https://www.everymancinema.com/Booking/horsham/8814967 Articles discussed in the show: No, Elon and Jack are not “competitors.” They’re collaborating https://davetroy.medium.com/no-elon-and-jack-are-not-competitors-theyre-collaborating-3e88cde5267d Elon Musk Spoke to Putin Before Tweeting Ukraine Peace Plan: Report https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-blocks-starlink-in-crimea-amid-nuclear-fears-report-2022-10 US army doctor and wife charged with Russia spying  https://topsecretumbra.substack.com/p/its-raining-traitors Russians expelled from the Hague https://euobserver.com/world/156289 Chinese ‘police station’ in NYC that spies on dissenters run by shady charity on IRS blacklist https://nypost.com/2022/10/08/chinese-police-station-spies-on-dissenters-linked-to-shady-us-charity/ More on the police stations https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-police-china-london-glasgow-investigating-unacceptable-chinese-police-stations-in-britain/ Former RAF pilots in China training Chinese pilots to shoot down western aircraft https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/18/raf-pilots-chinese-military-law-change-james-heappey US charges alleged Chinese spies in telecoms probe case https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63378817 UK sent RAF pilots to teach Chinese counterparts and allowed students to attend British military colleges https://news.sky.com/story/uk-sent-raf-pilots-to-teach-chinese-counterparts-and-allowed-students-to-attend-british-military-colleges-12732462 Articles we did not get time to cover Wired: How the World Will Know If Russia Is Preparing to Launch a Nuke https://www.wired.com/story/russia-ukraine-nuclear-attack-surveillance/ Spy Talk: “A Bold New look at China’s Audacious Spies”  by Matt Brazil titled https://open.substack.com/pub/spytalk/p/a-bold-new-look-at-chinas-audacious?r=19kty&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web “Terror Granny” plotting German civil war to bring back the Kaiser https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/terror-granny-accused-of-plotting-german-civil-war-to-bring-back-the-kaiser/ar-AA12Ywv7 The Hunt for Phish: How Agents Netted a Terrorist Jewel Thief  https://www.coffeeordie.com/phish-isis-jewel-thief Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

Social Media Disinformation Mid Terms and Elon Musk with David Neiwert On this podcast episode, we are joined by author and journalist David Neiwert. David is an expert on the far-right, so he joins us to discuss online disinformation, the upcoming US midterm elections and the concerns about Elon Musk’s recent purchase of Twitter.  You can read David’s articles here: https://www.dailykos.com/users/david%20neiwert David is the author of a fantastic book called "Alt America: The Rise of the Alt-Right in the Age of Trump". You can get a copy here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2801-alt-america and you can listen to our 2018 interview with David about his book here: https://pod.fo/e/14f9f and our 2021 chat about the Jan 6th Insurrection: https://pod.fo/e/b2262 It’s a deep episode, so pour yourself your favourite drink, sit back and I hope you find it informative.  Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

On today's podcast, we are joined by former CIA officer and investigative journalist Frank Snepp.  Frank recently published an article titled "Stop Kvetching About Biden’s Afghan “Screw-Ups” – Kudos Are Owed”.  You can read it here: https://franksneppexclusives.com/?p=519 This is a detailed episode where I take a back seat and let Frank explain what he found.  In the last section of the podcast, we discuss the broader context of the evacuation and what it is like to play god in an evacuation, having to decide who can leave and who has to stay. It’s a deep episode, so pour yourself your favourite drink, sit back, and I hope you find it informative.  Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

We are joined by Matthew Orr, a Eurasian analyst at RANE, Risk Assistance Network & Exchange in this episode. We discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine and what to expect as winter settles in. We also look at Putin’s political motivations for the war and speculate on his future and what a Russia without Putin may look like. You can find out more about RANE here: https://www.ranenetwork.com/ And you can also read a few of Matthew’s reports in the links below: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/drivers-and-potential-threats-deepening-russia-turkey-ties https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/what-ukraines-victory-kharkiv-means-russias-war https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/bracing-protracted-war-ukraine-part-1-time-kyivs-side https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/bracing-protracted-war-ukraine-part-2-time-russias-side Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies   Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

In this episode, we are joined by Nick Lowles from Hope Not Hate.   Hope Not Hate is the real organisation behind ITV’s The Walk-In. Nick joins us to discuss the work of Hope Not Hate, and he gives us an overview of the far-right in Britain today.  We also discuss a Far Right plot by the terrorist group National Action to murder Labour MP, Rosie Cooper. That plot was foiled by a National Action member who objected to violence and became an informant for Hope Not Hate. The plot to murder Rosie Cooper has now been turned into an excellent ITV television drama called “The Walk-In.” Find out more about Hope Not Hate here: https://hopenothate.org.uk/ You can connect with Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lowles_nick Watch "The Walk-In" on ITV player here: https://www.itv.com/hub/the-walk-in/2a7556a0005 Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

In this episode, we are joined again by Dr Taras Kuzio, discussing the latest developments on Russia’s war against Ukraine.  Taras Kuzio is a professor of political science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and the author of Russian Nationalism and the Russian-Ukrainian War (2022) and Fascism and Genocide: Russia’s War Against Ukrainians (2023).  You can connect with him on Twitter https://twitter.com/TarasKuzio Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird) You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/  Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/  You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:    * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4

We have a brand new show on Secrets & Spies! Welcome to episode one of Espresso Martini. Once a month, Chris Carr & Matt Fulton will pick out stories that catch their eye about espionage, terrorism, geopolitics and pretty much anything that relates to the themes of the podcast. In episode one, we look at the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the beginning of September. According to "C", the head of MI6, Britain's foreign intelligence service, Queen Elizabeth was the longest serving reader of intelligence briefs.  We then look at a Russian Spy in Italy who tried to get close to service NATO members. We also take a look at Russia's latest citizen, Edward Snowden, who was a former employee of the CIA & NSA. Other topics discussed in the podcast are the nuclear threat from Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, Luxury Nuclear bunkers and the world's most famous spy, James Bond, celebrating 60 years on screen. Topics and links to articles discussed: Her Majesty's Secret Service becomes His Majesty’s Secret Service. Her Majesty the Queen dies after a 75-year reign. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/yorkshire-post/20220909/281547999727062 Russian Spy at NATO: Socialite, Widow, Jeweller, Spy: How a GRU Agent Charmed Her Way Into NATO Circles in Italy https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2022/08/25/socialite-widow-jeweller-spy-how-a-gru-agent-charmed-her-way-into-nato-circles-in-italy/ Snowden becomes a Russian citizen. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63036991 Ronald Pelton, a convicted spy for the Soviets, dies aged 80 https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/09/16/ronald-pelton-nsa-spy-dead/ The CIA turns 75! As part of the CIA’s 75 birthday celebrations, they opened up its refurbished museum to journalists:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63023876 Writing tips about uncertainty from a former CIA officer who worked on the Presidential Daily Brief https://medium.com/@aaronbman/writing-tips-from-the-pdb-conveying-uncertainty-ccf9769ee031 The growing nuclear threat posed by Putin https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/26/putin-nuclear-threat-bluff-us-biden-response/ Apocalypse hacking; Luxury nuclear bunkers for rich people https://www.cnet.com/science/features/inside-the-survival-condo-nuclear-bunker-protecting-the-ultrarich-hacking-the-apocalypse/ James Bond 60th https://variety.com/2022/film/global/james-bond-007-barbara-broccoli-michael-g-wilson-1235378239/ The Walk In In the UK on ITV, a new 5 part terrorist drama based on a true story called “The Walk In.” https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week40/walk Jack Ryan returns in December https://collider.com/jack-ryan-season-3-release-date-john-krasinski-prime-video/?utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=Echobox-CL&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1PT1ROgJb4mB08l1qb-LMH3IFFCHhCWzOyTWOsIpORjnQBFkum7wAh8sA#Echobox=1664374912 The Old Man on Disney plus in the UK https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/ Music on this podcast is provided by Andrew R. Bird (Andy Bird). You can check out his work here: https://soundcloud.com/andrewbirduk For more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.com/ Secrets and Spies is part of the Spy Podcast Network. Check out our other excellent spy-related podcasts here: https://www.spypodcasts.com/ You can support Secrets and Spies in a few ways:   * Subscribe to our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dg * Become a “Friend of the podcast”  on Patreon for £3 www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies * You can buy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996?asc=u Connect with us on social media  TWITTER twitter.com/SecretsAndSpies  FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/secretsandspies    Check out our short spy film “THE DRY CLEANER” which is now available to buy on Apple TV & Amazon Prime.  Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/j_KFTJenrz4