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SpyTalk

SpyTalk

SpyTalk, Jeff Stein 218 episodes Nov 4, 2026

SpyTalk covers the intersection of intelligence operations, foreign policy, homeland security, and military strategy. Hosted by veteran national security journalists Jeff Stein, Michael Isikoff, and Karen J. Greenberg, the podcast features exclusives from its roster of reporters, news about US and foreign spymasters, and interviews with policymakers and expert authors. It offers insights and scoops for both experts and laypersons interested in national security.

Episodes

Israel at a Crossroads
Israel at a Crossroads Nov 4, 2026 1:13:03 Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk on the past and future of Netanyahu, Hamas and Iran. Our guest:Brett McGurk | https://x.com/brett_mcgurk Brink by Brett McGurk | PenguinRandomHouse.com Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow SpyTalk on Twi
Deep Cover Sergeants
Deep Cover Sergeants Oct 30, 2026 59:50 National security reporter for the Washington Post Zachary Dorfman discusses the Pentagon’s plan for a deep-cover spy program.More from our guest:Zach Dorfman - The Washington PostPentagon looks to build a deep-cover spy program to confront China - The Washington Post Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Fol
How 9/11 Changed America
How 9/11 Changed America Oct 23, 2026 1:04:50 Janet Reitman’s The Inheritance is a portrait of 9/11’s devastating consequences,More from our guest:Janet Reitmanhttps://x.com/janetreitman https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2193929/janet-reitman/ Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3
Patel's Partisan Politics Imperils Lives (feat. Brian Driscoll)
Patel's Partisan Politics Imperils Lives (feat. Brian Driscoll) Oct 16, 2026 46:47 Brian Driscoll joins SpyTalk to discuss the circumstances of his dismissal from the FBI and how the Bureau’s current leadership is destroying the institution and making us less safe in the process.Driscoll was fired from the FBI shortly after he refused to fire agents based solely on their involvement in the January 6th and Mar-a-Lago investigations.Our guest:Brian DriscollFollow Jeff Stein on Twi
Chinese Dupe or Spy?
Chinese Dupe or Spy? Oct 9, 2026 49:46 CNBC’s Eamon Javers weaves a cautionary tale for US officials.More from Eamon Javers | https://www.cnbc.com/eamon-javers/https://x.com/EamonJaversFollow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://twitter.com/talk_spy Subscri
An Assassination on Embassy Row
An Assassination on Embassy Row Oct 2, 2026 56:01 Investigative reporter John Dinges tells how Henry Kissinger failed to prevent Chile’s 1976 murder of Orlando Letelier in downtown D.C.More from John DingesWhen Terrorists Struck in the Heart of Washington, D.C. | SpyTalk Books by author John Dinges Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg
The Tech Bro Gods of War
The Tech Bro Gods of War Sep 25, 2026 54:55 Sharon Weinberger on how Big Tech is fueling the future of war.Sharon Weinberger talks about her latest book Valley of DeathHow Big Tech Is Fueling the Future of War.Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://tw
Terror’s New Faces
Terror’s New Faces Sep 18, 2026 1:00:35 A greater array of better-armed threats confronts the US than on 9/11.Terrorism and insurgency expert Bruce Hoffman joins the podcast to discuss the current state of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates in the worldMore from Bruce Hoffmanhttps://x.com/hoffman_bruce https://www.cfr.org/experts/bruce-hoffman Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | htt
25 Years of Counterterrorism
25 Years of Counterterrorism Sep 9, 2026 1:11:09 Peter Bergen on the triumphs and tragedies wrought by 9/11.More from our guest:https://www.peterbergen.com/ His latest book:All the Presidents' Wars Twenty-Five Years of America's War on Terror - Bookshop.org US Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenG
How to Recruit a Traitor
How to Recruit a Traitor Sep 4, 2026 55:58 Former CIA operations officer and member of CIA's Senior Intelligence Service (SIS-3) turned author, Jim Lawler joins Micheal to discuss real world espionage, spy recruitment, and his latest spy novel.The Traitor’s Tale by Jim Lawler Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | ht
U.S. Adversaries Exploit Intel Failures
U.S. Adversaries Exploit Intel Failures Aug 28, 2026 43:40 Former CIA Chief Learning Officer Steve Hirsch tells how Russia, China, and Iran exploit the cracks in US intelligence.More From Stephen Hirsch | https://stephenhirsch.com/ Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/KarenGreenberg3 Follow SpyTalk on Twitter | https://t
The World's First Super-terrorist
The World's First Super-terrorist Aug 21, 2026 53:09 Joby Warrick joined SpyTalk to talk about “The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World’s First Super-Terrorist.”Check out the book:The JackalThe Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's FirstMore from Joby WarrickFollow Jeff Stein on Twitter | https://twitter.com/SpyTalker Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter | https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow Karen Greenberg on Twitter | https://x.com/Ka

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