With Scott Morrison’s lawyers attempting to have Cabinet documents declassified prior to his appearance at the RoboDebt Royal Commission, we take a good hard look at what Cabinet documents really are and why they’re so protected. Why is it so controversial that Scomo is calling for their release? How often do they find their way into the public domain? And how did one of the biggest Cabinet breaches in Australian history give David’s comedy career a boost? The Chatham House Rule applies to everything you hear in this weeks episode.

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With the Wagner Group, the paramilitary outfit run by "Putin's Chef", making headlines over its role in the Ukraine conflict, this week we take a look at the world of  mercenaries. The commodification of war is a growth industry and it turns out hiring armies is more the historical norm. What does this mean for national militaries moving forward? Who are the big players and where can they be found? And why didn't David ever get recruited into the world of corporate espionage? Make sure you're locked and loaded for this one!

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This week we are joined by the AFR's Ukraine correspondent Misha Zelinsky (no relation) to talk about his time in Ukraine. What is the mood on the ground? Where does the incredible resolve of the Ukrainian people stem from? And what can you expect to happen when you walk into the home town of your presidential namesake and ask in Australian-accented Russian "Can anyone tell me about Volodimir Zelensky?" A fascinating interview with someone who has truly been there and done that in the hottest spot on the planet. Not to be missed!

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After the announcement that the recent hack of Medibank's database was most likely Russian cyber criminals, we take a look at Russia's cyber capability. How interlinked are Russian cyber intelligence assets and the criminal fraternity? Just how good is the Russian cyber warfare machine? And what is Australia doing to counter this growing threat? Make sure your firewall is fully up to date for this weeks ep!

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The typical spy is non-descript, discrete and stays out of the limelight, so it’s surprising how many celebrities spent their time in the shadows working in the seedy world of espionage. International chefs, sports stars, criminals, crooners and more than a few actors played a part in many an intelligence operation that changed the course of history, and some very nearly paid with their lives. Who knew Hollywood could really be so bad ass?

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So where did the coronavirus come from? With Vanity Fair and Pro Publica publishing the clinching proof that Covid likely came from a lab, only to have the article debunked within minutes of publication, we thought it's time to truly discuss it. Was it a badly run lab or an unhygienic wet market that spawned Covid? Is there any chance that we will ever know the truth? And just how difficult is it to remain completely impartial when your podcast co-host believes you to be a radical bolshevik with ideological blinkers blinding you from anything but what you want to see? This ep is going to get messier than a butcher breaking down a racoon dog carcass!

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With the 20th National Congress of the China Communist Party over and Xi Jin Ping now locked in (possibly for life) as President, we take a deep dive into a dark and threatening Xi. In a life that started as a feted prince of Mao’s revolution, to the harsh punishment he had to bear after his father’s fall from favour, to his dogged rise through the CCP ranks, Xi’s life seems to follow a single-minded path of service to the party and a ruthless rise to the top. What does it mean for the world? How does the criticism of Xi and China play into Xi’s plans? And just what do swallows have to do with everything?
Welcome to the (communist) party that never ends in this ep!

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Since the days of pirate ships “false flags”have been used to justify military operations, coups and suppression of the citizenry, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the current conflagration in Ukraine. With gas pipelines bursting and bridges burning, and everyone pointing fingers at everyone else, we take a look at what constitutes a false flag, how they have been used throughout history, and just which flags are doing what in Eastern Europe. Be prepared to hoist your colours this week

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With a population with nearly 40% of its population under the age of 25, we should probably now more about Islamic Republic of Iran than we do, so this week, we're heading off the Middle East to see what we can learn. How did Iran wind up where it is? What is fuelling the growing protests in its urban centres? And what is the future for its authoritarian Islamic government?
Keep your head covered for this ep.

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Part 2 of our interview with CIA veteran Marc Polymeropoulos, where we dive into his life living with Havana Syndrome, the mysterious illness/injury that US spies and diplomats have been suffering. Is it an attack or just a coincidence? Marc gives us his theory and we also have chat about Ukraine, Putin and where that whole sorry mess might end. Be sure to stand well back if you're microwaving popcorn this week!

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