In late May, a New York Times investigation revealed that Russia was churning out deep cover operatives from Brazil for years until a CIA tip and sharp Brazilian policework led to their capture and escape. 

But what exactly is “deep cover” and when and how is it best used?

On this episode of Straight from the Shoulder, Jack and Julia chat to uncover: 

• The historic and contemporary motivations and methods behind the latest Russian effort
• The pros and cons of operating under deep cover
• How and if other nations are using deep cover 
• The implications for human intelligence (HUMINT) moving forward

In this episode, Jack and Julia discuss the US officials' Signal chat group debacle and why Jack thinks that there’s value in formality when it comes to government decision-making. Tune in for unique insights on:

• How government decisions of import typically get made, and what, if anything, is different about this Signal conversation.
• The evolution of secure communications and what’s lost - and gained - when technology makes communicating easier than ever.
• If the speed of technology is translating into the speed of decision-making at the highest levels, and if this is putting us at risk.

Join us for a history-informed, non-partisan conversation on this critical and timely topic!

2025 began with a tragic, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans that serves as a disturbing reminder of the enduring terrorism threat both at home and abroad. Join Jack and Julia as we discuss the evolution of terrorism over the past several decades, and what we should be watching out for today. On this episode, we’ll consider:

• How the threat to the homeland has evolved since 9/11, and the role of US agencies and citizens in advancing our collective security
• The rise and threat of ISIS-K-- the ISIS affiliate group based in Afghanistan that was responsible for the most significant terrorist attacks of 2024
• The differences between lone wolf and coordinated attacks and how the two are connected through global events and borderless ideologies

In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 US elections, global leaders are recalibrating their political strategies and vying for President Trump’s good favor. But what can we expect over the course of the next two months before Trump takes office, and what’s the broader outlook for global stability?

Join Jack and Julia for a discussion about how President Trump’s second term is already resonating and impacting policy decisions on both the domestic and international fronts. On this episode, we’ll consider:

• The new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and what, if anything, government leaders can learn from business leaders
• If “America First” implies “America Alone” and if Washington will be able to reestablish a bipartisan approach to foreign policy
• Implications for China as a global economic powerhouse, and the possibility of ceasefire agreements in Eastern Europe and throughout the Middle East

Devine, J. (2024, October 11). Opinion: Trump or Harris? Whoever wins will lose wars without bipartisan consensus. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/10/11/trump-harris-china-russia-iran-monitor-election/75555336007/
*Mentioned 0:07:34:70

On the cusp of the 2024 US presidential election, only one thing looks certain: the next US president is going to inherit two major ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. And right now, these wars appear to be expanding, not shrinking.

Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about these ongoing conflicts and what their outcome might mean for the future of global security. On this episode, we’ll consider:

• The latest status of the fight between Russia and Ukraine
• How the politics of regional states and global alliances are evolving and impacting the battle
• The role of diplomacy and what it might take to have an upcoming period of peace in both Ukraine and the Middle East

Betrayal is a complicated act of “deliberate disloyalty” that can shock and unravel the fabric of any relationship. But when an intelligence officer is caught working for the other side, the damage is amplified - shattering the hard-won trust among colleagues and spy agencies that’s essential to doing effective intelligence work. The reasons why an officer might defect, however, can vary widely and have implications of their own.

Join Jack and Julia for a colorful conversation about what motivated historic double agents like Kim Philby and Aldrich “Rick Ames” to defect, and the consequences of their betrayal.

On this episode we’ll discuss:

• Why the famous British intelligence officer Kim Philby chose to defect and how he managed to get away with it for so long
• Jack’s take on the motivations of fellow CIA officer Rick Ames – including personal insights as to why Ames defected
• The dangerous impact of high-level intelligence betrayals on both individual lives and global operations

Hollywood serves as a powerful recruiting mechanism for spy agencies like the CIA- using the screen to glamorize the work of intelligence operatives worldwide- but it also contributes to some of the biggest misunderstandings of what spies do and how they operate. Join Jack and Julia for a fun and enlightening conversation about what Hollywood gets right- and what it gets wrong- in its portrayal of the spy-world.

 On this episode we’ll discuss:

• What’s real and fake about James Bond and other famous spy movies – replete with anecdotes of Jack’s fame-studded encounters.
• The essential but unglamourous aspect of teamwork in accomplishing real-world intelligence operations.
• How Hollywood’s ideas for seemingly unrealistic spy technology can inspire what happens off-screen.
• If Hollywood’s portrayal of the spy-world ultimately helps or hurts the work of clandestine organizations.

Many Americans now consider disinformation to be a key national security threat, and disinformation topped the World Economic Forum’s list of short-term global risks for 2024. But what’s the history of disinformation and how is it increasingly interfering in international relations and eroding the trust of civilian populations? Are democratic nations simply more susceptible to disinformation? Whose responsibility is it to limit the influence of disinformation and can we mitigate the threat moving forward?

Join Jack and Julia as we examine the role and challenge of disinformation. On this episode we’ll discuss:

• What counts as disinformation and its historic role in intelligence operations 
• Examples of what makes an effective disinformation campaign and when it might backfire
• Personal and political strategies for uncovering disinformation and moving closer to a true understanding of what’s happening in the world

Given that hostage taking is again in the spotlight after the October 7 Hamas attacks, what is the latest status of Washington’s hostage policy? What can we learn from a review of the past several decades of hostage crises worldwide? And is it possible for Americans to avoid hostage situations in the coming years, even while tensions between democratic and non-democratic countries appear to be on the rise? 

Join Jack and Julia for a thoughtful discussion about the recent history of hostage taking, where we grapple with the question of how to best respond to the threat, and what the future might hold. On this episode, we’ll consider:

• The evolution of hostage threats to US citizens- from Latin America to the Middle East
• How and why the United States has historically decided to respond to hostage takers, and the use of both policy and force in deterrence
• Why democratic societies are more susceptible to hostage crises in the first place, and what this means for our collective future

“How is the world being reshaped by two active wars involving US allies in Europe and the Middle East? And what will the outcome of these conflicts mean in terms of the world we want to live in? Join us for a thoughtful discussion about these destabilizing global conflicts, where we grapple with the question of what’s really at stake. On this episode, we’ll consider:

• The broader implications of supporting Ukraine and what’s currently happening in Washington
• Parallels between the wars in Ukraine and Israel
• The role of intelligence in mitigating violent outbreaks and how and why intelligence failures have an outsized impact on global stability