Russia’s latest covert warfare escalations take center stage in this week’s Espresso Martini. Chris and Matt unpack the emergence of the GRU’s Department of Special Tasks, a new clandestine unit coordinating assassinations, sabotage, and hybrid warfare operations against the West. They also break down an alarming report on a Russia-linked Telegram network inciting terrorism and hate crimes in the UK—just another front in Moscow’s war of destabilization. Plus, listener questions on the dilemmas of counterterrorism, the future of Five Eyes under Trump, and top spy books, both fiction and non-fiction.

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O_uErvzy13o

"A New Spy Unit Is Leading Russia’s Shadow War Against the West" by Bojan Pancevski | The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/russia-spy-covert-attacks-8199e376

"A Russia-linked Telegram network is inciting terrorism and is behind hate crimes in the UK" by Gregory Davis | Hope Not Hate: https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/02/10/exclusive-a-russia-linked-telegram-network-is-inciting-terrorism-and-is-behind-hate-crimes-in-the-uk/

In this episode, we share some of our favorite spy books—both fiction and non-fiction. Whether you’re looking for deep dives into real-world espionage or classic spy thrillers, these picks have you covered.

Chris’s Picks: A mix of gripping true stories and classic spy fiction, covering Cold War betrayals, intelligence tradecraft, and covert operations.

Fiction: Agents of Innocence (David Ignatius), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (John le Carré), Ashenden (W. Somerset Maugham), The Deceiver (Frederick Forsyth), Damascus Station (David McCloskey)

Non-Fiction: Next Stop Execution (Oleg Gordievsky), The Art of Intelligence (Henry Crumpton), The Black Banners (Ali Soufan), The Good Spy (Kai Bird), Spy Master (Helen Fry)

Matt’s Picks: Essential reads on espionage, covert ops, and spycraft—plus some of the genre’s best novels.

Fiction: The Cardinal of the Kremlin (Tom Clancy), The Sum of All Fears (Tom Clancy), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (John le Carré), The Honourable Schoolboy (John le Carré), Smiley’s People (John le Carré), The Quiet American (Graham Greene)

Non-Fiction: Spycraft (H. Keith Melton), Rise and Kill First (Ronen Bergman), Relentless Strike (Sean Naylor), Killer Elite (Michael Smith), The Targeter (Nada Bakos), Dead Drop (Jeremy Duns), The US Intelligence Community (Jeffrey Richelson)

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Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets & Spies takes you deep inside the world of espionage, terrorism, and international intrigue. Each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.

In this episode of Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt unpack the latest intelligence, national security, and espionage stories shaping current affairs. First, they examine Trump’s push to classify Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, the spike in U.S. surveillance flights over Mexico, and whether covert military action is on the table. Then, they break down the NSA’s sweeping deletion of 27 “banned words,” including “bias” and “inclusion,” raising serious concerns about politicized intelligence failures. They also dig into Trump’s demand for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for U.S. aid and what it signals for Kyiv’s future. Finally, they assess Iran’s unconventional new drone carrier, the Shahid Bagheri—a floating experiment in asymmetric warfare or just a high-risk PR stunt?

Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of espionage, geopolitics, and global affairs.

https://youtu.be/hofbhGOk21o

"How Trump Could Use Military Force Against Cartels In Mexico" by Howard Altman | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/news-features/how-trump-could-use-military-force-against-cartels-in-mexico

"RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/air/rc-135-rivet-joint-surveillance-jet-just-flew-unprecedented-mission-off-mexico

"US spy planes hunt for intel on Mexican drug cartels as surveillance flights surge near border" by Avery Schmitz, Katie Bo Lillis, Priscilla Alvarez & Natasha Bertrand | CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/10/politics/us-spy-planes-mexican-drug-cartels/index.html

"The NSA's "Big Delete" by Judd Legum & Rebecca Crosby | Popular Information Substack: https://popular.info/p/the-nsas-big-delete

"Trump says he wants Ukraine’s rare earth elements as a condition of further support" by Zeke Miller | Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-europe-rare-earth-russia-war-9af06a9f17dbaa49a05dcba3a3363977

"Iran’s Wacky Aircraft Carrier Has Entered Service" by Joseph Trevithick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/sea/irans-wacky-aircraft-carrier-has-entered-service

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies is an enthralling spy podcast that guides listeners on an immersive journey into the hidden realm of espionage, terrorism, geopolitics, and international intrigue. Expect insight into the world of news, politics, and current affairs through the lens of espionage & geopolitics. Guests include former spies, authors, and experts.

A mid-air collision over the Potomac sheds light on secret doomsday evacuation plans for Washington, Trump’s looming FBI purge sparks major internal pushback, and Syria’s new government wants Russia to extradite Assad—but will Putin give him up? Plus, Iran explores a cruder path to a nuclear weapon.

https://youtu.be/kCOSZCdLbyE

"Mid-Air Collision Shines Light on Doomsday Plans for Nation’s Capital" by Joseph Trevithick | The Warzone: https://www.twz.com/air/mid-air-collision-shines-light-on-doomsday-plans-for-nations-capital

"FBI Agents Are Stunned by the Scale of the Expected Trump Purge" by Shane Harris | The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/trump-fbi-revenge-firings/681538/

"Kremlin refuses to comment on report Syria asked for Assad to be extradited" by Ketrin Jochecová | Politico: https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-refuses-comment-report-syria-bashar-assad-extradition/

"Russian spy ship fire exposes poor state of Mediterranean fleet, say experts" by Julian Borger | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/01/russian-spy-ship-fire-exposes-poor-state-of-mediterranean-fleet-say-experts

"Iran Is Developing Plans for Faster, Cruder Weapon, US Concludes" by David Sanger & Julian E. Barnes | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/iran-nuclear-weapon.html

https://podcast.feedspot.com/spy_podcasts/

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies is an enthralling spy podcast that guides listeners on an immersive journey into the hidden realm of espionage, terrorism, geopolitics, and international intrigue. Expect insight into the world of news, politics, and current affairs through the lens of espionage & geopolitics. Guests include former spies, authors, and experts. 

Hello, everyone. We hope you are well. 

Matt and I are keen to get listener questions on future Espresso Martini Episodes.

So, if you have a question or topic you would like us to discus email us here: [email protected]

In your email, please include: 

Adverts are essential to keeping Secrets & Spies running. We have received feedback that there have been some repetitive adverts, and we have reached out to our online hosting service to see what can be done about that. We apologise for any irritation caused. 

We are now offering our new episodes advert-free on Patreon, so if you do want to get rid of adverts and are happy to directly support the show, please go to www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies And depending on which level you pick, you will get a coffee cup or set of coasters.

Thank you so much for your support.

Keep an eye out for our next Espresso Martini, which will drop on Saturday, 1st Feb.

Have a great weekend.

All the best

Chris & Matt

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Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this episode, we look at the horrific Southport murders that have sparked debates on mental health and the nature of terrorism, South Korea's plunge deeper into its worst political crisis in decades, and Trump’s new national security team scrambles to save ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon—while his rhetoric stirs fresh controversy. Plus, a Russian spy ship plays cat-and-mouse near UK waters, a daring Dutch gold heist stuns investigators, and why spy thrillers are making a big comeback in an age of distrust.

Listen ad-free on Patreon and directly support the show: http://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpies

"How red flags over Southport killer were repeatedly missed" by Sean Seddon & Ian Aikman | BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78w7nlwz9po

"South Korea’s Impeached Leader is Indicted on Insurrection Charges" by Choe Sang-Hun | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/26/world/asia/south-korea-yoon-indicted-martial-law.html

"South Korea’s Leadership Crisis, Explained" by Choe Sang-Hun | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/world/asia/south-korea-impeachment-yoon-explained.html

"Trump team avoids Middle East escalation in first weekend in office" by Barak Ravid | Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/27/trump-middle-east-gaza-lebanon-israel-ceasefires

"UK warns Putin after Russian spy ship seen near British waters" by Becky Morton, Jonathan Beale & Damian Grammaticas | BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjv7qgpw28o

"Thieves use explosives to steal gold 'masterpieces' from Dutch museum" by Ian Aikman | BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxkpnnlpdvo

"'The baddies reflect the worries of today’: How TV spy thrillers are booming in an age of distrust" by Laura Martin | BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250124-why-tv-spy-thrillers-are-booming-right-now

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Chris and Matt break down Trump’s sweeping pardons for January 6th rioters, including violent offenders, and what it means for the rule of law and rising political violence in the US Then, the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has Syria at a crossroads—will it descend into chaos or find a path to stability? Plus, they explore Marc Polymeropoulos’ insights on opportunities for the US in Syria, along with the roles of Iran, Russia, and Turkey. Finally, how the CIA and Ukrainian intelligence quietly forged one of America’s most valuable partnerships.

https://youtu.be/n3SCep-l9Y0

You can listen to our final episode of Extra Shot here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extra-shot-video-120721511

"Trump pardons upend massive Jan. 6 prosecution by freeing rioters and dismissing cases" by Richer, Kunzelman & Khalil | AP News: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-pardons-jan-6-f6e23bcd84eaed672318c88f05286767

"Trump's imminent pardons will green-light another wave of far-right violence" by David Neiwert | The Spyhop: https://davidneiwert.substack.com/p/trumps-imminent-pardons-will-green

"Syria’s New Era & Its Opportunities for the US" by Marc Polymeropoulos | New Lines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/syrias-new-era-and-its-opportunities-for-the-us/

"The Syria Fiasco As Seen From Moscow" by Sergei Melkonian | Carnegie Endowment Diwan: https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2024/12/the-syria-fiasco-as-seen-from-moscow

"How the CIA and Ukrainian intelligence secretly forged a deep partnership" by Patrick Reevell | ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/International/cia-helped-rebuild-ukraine-intelligence-russia-invasion/story?id=116909361

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

On today’s episode, Matt is joined by another leading counterterrorism researcher, Aaron Zelin. Aaron has spent years studying the global jihadi movement, focusing on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. They explore the resurgence of the Islamic State following its territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria in 2017, and the evolving threat the group poses to the United States and other countries—from recent attacks in Iran, Russia, and New Orleans, and the organizational restructuring that’s made them rather resilient. Unpack these critical issues with one of the foremost experts in the field.

Read Aaron’s work for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/aaron-y-zelin

Read Aaron’s Substack, Jihadology+: https://www.jihadologyplus.com

Read Aaron’s past work for Jihadology: https://jihadology.net

"A Globally Integrated Islamic State" by Aaron Zelin | War on the Rocks

"Remaining, Waiting for Expansion (Again): The Islamic State’s Operations in Iraq and Syria" by Aaron Zelin | The Hudson Institute

Follow Aaron on Twitter/X: https://x.com/azelin

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

On this episode, we delve into the world of intelligence with Julian Fisher, a renowned intelligence specialist and author. We explore the covert yet powerful skills of influence and persuasion honed by intelligence officers to elicit cooperation from even the most hardened individuals. Discover how these techniques can be ethically adapted to achieve your personal and professional goals. Julian, the founder of Africa Integrity, a leading private intelligence company, and the face of the Channel 4 TV series 'Spies' in 2017, brings a unique perspective to this fascinating conversation.

Find out more about “Think Like A Spy” here: https://julesfisher.com/book/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JFcgWnwEiqc?si=HnPbNXW0Fs-dgO5c

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Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this episode, Sam Liechtenstein from RANE (Risk Assistance Network + Exchange) joins us to dissect their annual geopolitical forecast. We discussed a range of pressing issues, including:

To find out more about RANE and its annual global forecast, please visit their website here: https://www.ranenetwork.com/

Support Secrets and Spies

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Secrets and Spies is produced by Films & Podcasts LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

In this conversation, Chris and author Henry Hemming delve into the intricate world of espionage during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, focusing on the roles of spies, informants, and key figures like Frank Hegarty and Freddy Scappatici. They discuss the political landscape that led to Operation Banner, the evolution of the IRA, and the cultural stigma surrounding informers. The conversation also highlights the challenges faced by intelligence operations and the moral complexities involved in espionage.

Get a copy of “Four Shots In The Night” here: https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/henry-hemming/four-shots-in-the-night/9781529426786/

Find out more about Henry Hemming and his work here: https://henryhemming.com/

Check out our past interview with Henry about his book “Our Man In New York”: https://pod.fo/e/ca367

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/OWmWkMq3hqM

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Music by Andrew R. Bird