S9 Ep45: Espresso Martini | India Eyes Retaliation, a Mysterious Russian Satellite, and New Saudi Links to 9/11

Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

This week, Chris and Matt unpack surging tensions between India and Pakistan following a devastating terror attack in Kashmir—will India retaliate, and could it spiral out of control? Then, new evidence links a Saudi national to 9/11, reigniting old questions about the kingdom’s role in the plot and whether a reckoning is overdue. They also explore a malfunctioning Russian military satellite, possibly a testbed for a space-based nuclear weapons program, and what it means for Starlink and future great power conflicts. Finally, a tragic and bizarre story: a CIA deputy director’s son is killed in Ukraine, fighting for Russia.
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Articles discussed in today’s episode

"India-Pakistan Tensions On Verge Of Erupting After Deadly Terror Attack" by Howard Altman | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/news-features/india-pakistan-tensions-on-verge-of-erupting-after-deadly-terror-attack

"Pakistan warns of an Indian attack, while quietly urging de-escalation" by Shaiq Hussain and Rick Noack | The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/30/pakistan-india-kashmir-pahalgam-conflict/

"What 9/11 evidence unsealed in court reveals years after the attacks" by Cecilia Vega, Aliza Chasan, Richard Bonin, and Mirella Brussani | CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bayoumi-september-11-evidence-60-minutes/

"Russian satellite at centre of nuclear weapons allegations is spinning out of control, analysts say" by Joey Roulette | Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/russian-satellite-linked-nuclear-weapon-program-appears-out-control-us-analysts-2025-04-25/

"Is Russia’s Cosmos 2553 satellite a test for a future orbital nuclear weapon?" by Theresa Hitchens | Breaking Defense: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/is-russias-cosmos-2553-satellite-a-test-for-a-future-orbital-nuclear-weapon/

"Son of CIA deputy director was killed while fighting for Russia, report says" by Andrew Roth | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/25/michael-alexander-gloss-cia-russia

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Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.