"CIA Reports Officer, Russian Yacht Watcher, Satirist” – with Alex Finley

Summary

Alex Finley (Twitter; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss life as a CIA Reports Officer turned author. She lives in Barcelona.

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

Her take on CIA analysts vs. case officers 

Information and disinformation in fact and fiction 

Ukraine, the 2016 election and the Russian historical playbook 

The regularity even mundanity of much of daily intelligence life 

Reflections

Being an American in Barcelona 

Viewing your own country from outside the goldfish bowl

And much, much more…

Episode Notes

Alex Finley spent 6 years in the CIA as a Reports Officer - whom she describes as a bridge between the case officers and analysts. She is author of a trilogy of novels on the exploits of fictional CIA officer Victor Caro. Her most recent book, Victor in Trouble, completes the series (…or does it?) by looking at Russian influence operations and the contemporary intelligence landscape through a satirical lens. 

She now lives in Barcelona, Spain - and yes, apparently it’s as awesome as it sounds! – and she is the voice behind #YachtWatch, which tracks and exposes the activities of Russian oligarchs and their superyachts. 

And…

Satire is often described as fitting into three categories: Horatian, which offers light comedy and social commentary (e.g., Pride & Prejudice, Parks & Rec, The Colbert Report); Juvenalian, a darker and more abrasive take that can often take the form of speaking truth to power (e.g., Animal Farm, American Psycho, South Park) and Menippean, which casts moral judgement on beliefs or generic character flaws (e.g., Alice in Wonderland, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Saturday Night Live). Which one does Alex use? 

Quote of the Week

"There, there were points where I found myself in the middle of nowhere, West Africa. And there are these moments where…how did I end up here? This makes zero sense. And then there were the bureaucratic Catch-22s." – Alex Finley.

Resources

*Andrew’s Recommendation*

Who are the Russian Oligarchs? (2022)

A great visulacapitalist.com infographic - but if you want to go understand how they can afford their superyachts, start here

*SpyCasts*

CIA Officers Turned Authors – David McCloskey & James Stejskal (2022)

NSA, CIA, Author - Alma Katsu (2021)

Victor in the Rubble – Alex Finley (2016)

*Beginner Resources*

A Brief History of Spy Fiction, Stella Rimington, Crime Reads, (2018) [short essay]

An Introduction to Satire, Jackson School District (n.d.) [2-page guide]

Russia’s Top Five Disinformation Narratives, State (2022) [webpage]

Books

Victor in Trouble, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2022)

The Revenge of Power, M. Naim (St. Martin’s, 2022)

Active Measures, T. Rid (Picador, 2021)

The Misinformation Age, C. O’Connor & J. Weatherall (YUP, 2020)

Victor in The Jungle, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2019)

Victor in The Rubble, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2016)

Great Spy Stories from Fiction, A. Dulles (Harper, 1969)

Articles

The Russian Firehose of Falsehood, C. Paul & M. Matthews, RAND (2016)

Yellow Journalism, PBS (n.d.)

Videos

The Spy Writers You Love to Read, SPY (2019) 

Russian Active Measures: Past, Present & Future, CSIS (2018)

The Strategy Behind Russia’s Disinformation Campaigns, DW News (n.d.)

Meet the KGB Spies Who Invented Fake News, NYT (n.d.)

Reports

Combatting Targeted Disinformation Campaigns, DHS (2019)

Primary Sources

Disinformation: Russian Active Measures, Senate Intelligence Committee (2017)

KGB Active Measures in SW Asia in 1980-82, Wilson Center

Primary Source Collections

Rumor Control Project Documents, Library of Congress 

*Wildcard Resource*

A Clockwork Orange (1962) [novel]

A short, sharp satire that ruminates on the nature of society and free will – it will stay with you for a long time to come

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