Best The Cipher Brief Podcasts (2025)

1
Face Scans, Fake Pills, and Fire in the Parliament 5:54

1d ago5:54

5:54

Today’s global dispatch decodes 22 urgent stories in SNAP-format clarity: AI adoption stalls without hands-on help Japan’s rising news avoidance BBC begins charging U.S. users Mossad’s Iran raid spooks China China builds CRISPR-less gene editors Ecuador recaptures fugitive gang lord “Fito” France shoots down Iranian drones UK store uses facial tech…

1
Cipher & Glacier: 27 Rapid-Fire Flashes – June 26 2025 5:42

2d ago5:42

5:42

Ohmbudsman Digest — Show Notes Episode: Cipher & Glacier: 27 Rapid-Fire Flashes – 26 June 2025 What’s Inside A whirlwind tour of five continents in 27 SNAP-formatted briefs: Africa’s 30× cybercrime surge Chatbots siphoning a third of news clicks Billionaires’ ten-year $6.5 trillion windfall China’s vision for a planet-spanning green grid Swiss glac…

1
Vapes, Visas, and Voltage: Ten Cracks in the System 5:55

3d ago5:55

5:55

From police transparency tools to climate stress, from crypto heists to biosecurity drills—today’s episode tracks global systems under strain. Highlights include: • A facial recognition site that unmasks LAPD officers • Asia warming twice as fast as the global average • BYD’s EV shipping surge amid trade pressure • Record heatwaves testing the U.S.…

1
Shockwaves & Safeguards: From Tokara Tremors to AI Exploits 5:17

4d ago5:17

5:17

In today’s Disguised‑SNAP edition, we unpack: • A subtle new attack that manipulates AI guardrails • Canada’s pivot to EU defense funding amid U.S. instability • Salt Typhoon’s Cisco exploit and Canada’s telecom breach • China’s trade reshuffle: hi-tech to EU, less to U.S. • 57 Colombian soldiers kidnapped in drug-war zones • Google’s multi-layered…

1
A Practitioner’s Guide to Cocktail Tradecraft 27:46

5d ago27:46

27:46

Writing a book was something former senior CIA Officer Rob Dannenberg never thought he’d do, but as he started reflecting on the ways he and his former colleagues would celebrate the successful recruitment of a new agent or the end of an operation that he couldn’t talk about, he started thinking about the cocktails he and his colleagues would order…

1
Hormuz, Hackers, and Heatwaves: June 23 Brief 5:33

5d ago5:33

5:33

Nine miniature dispatches. One fast scan of global disruption, tension, and transition: 🔹 Japan warms to avocados 🔹 Hitler’s crisis playbook revisited 🔹 Iran eyes Hormuz chokehold 🔹 Macron urges de-escalation post-strike 🔹 Oxford suffers 21-year data breach 🔹 Spain bends NATO’s defense rules 🔹 Church bombing shakes Damascus 🔹 France’s music fest ma…

1
War Walls, Ghost Fleets, and Virtual Threats 6:08

8d ago6:08

6:08

Today’s digest spans 27 sharp takes on a shifting world—from battlefield repositioning to data breaches and geopolitical pivots. Your hosts deliver signal-only summaries of the most urgent headlines from six global fronts: 🔹 Israel seals Al-Aqsa amid Iran war 🔹 China’s neutron “flashlight” changes particle warfare 🔹 Denmark’s robotic saildrones pat…

1
Janky Web, Empty Silos, and Drone Wars: June 19 Digest 5:51

9d ago5:51

5:51

Ohmbudsman Digest – June 19, 2025 Title: Janky Web, Empty Silos, and Drone Wars Today’s 5-minute rundown features: • 40,000 hacked cameras leaking global footage • Threads turns into a literal echo chamber • Weddell seal collapse confirms ice loss • Facebook dumps passwords for passkeys • Japan traces China’s carrier maneuvers • Iran goes offline a…

1
Hitting the Panic Button on Rare Earth Minerals 31:34

10d ago31:34

31:34

Rare Earth minerals might not be at the top of your panic list today but when it comes to U.S. national security, it’s an issue that has the potential to have the greatest impact on both our way of life and our future security. It was on the agenda at the recent G7 meeting where world leaders agreed to prioritize a joint strategy to protect critica…

1
Hypersonic Shields, Heatwaves, and the New Warfronts 6:16

11d ago6:16

6:16

🎧 Show Notes — Ohmbudsman Digest: June 14, 2025 Episode: “Hypersonic Shields, Heatwaves, and the New Warfronts” Today’s global roundup spotlights a shifting international order under intense pressure—from weather extremes to warfare reconfigurations: Iran replaces Gaza as Israel’s primary military front, with embassies closed amid fears of retaliat…

1
Fault Lines and Firewalls: Friday’s Global Pressure Points 6:29

15d ago6:29

6:29

Today’s Ohmbudsman Digest Podcast maps the seismic pressures cracking through politics, tech, and geopolitics: • Apple patches a zero-day iPhone bug exploited in global spyware attacks. • A lone survivor walks away from a fatal Air India crash. • China launches the AG600 amphibious aircraft for strategic deployments. • Cuba’s students revolt over s…

1
June 12: Rusty Threats, Razor Variants, and Rare Earth Reserves 6:04

16d ago6:04

6:04

Today’s episode confronts a planet unsettled—by new pandemics, online hate, regulatory shifts, and military brinkmanship. • Israeli troops receive coffee with a violent slogan—public reaction splits. • The “Nimbus” COVID variant emerges with sharper symptoms and rising case counts. • Brazil’s high court dismantles tech platform immunity—will others…

1
Ground Truth on Ukraine’s Tech War 21:09

17d ago21:09

21:09

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians have used every resource available to fight back. From aid packages and weapons systems acquired from western allies to mobilizing every sector of society to bring innovation to the fight, Ukraine has stayed alive largely because of its adaptations of technology and its inge…

1
June 11: ICE at the School Gates, Predator in the Skies 5:44

17d ago5:44

5:44

In today’s Ohmbudsman Digest: – Predator drones fly over LA protests as press freedoms erode – Airline passenger data quietly sold to Homeland Security – GitHub leaks Trump’s sweeping AI government plans – Riots erupt in Northern Ireland; bombs detonate in Colombia – Massive weather systems batter South Africa – ConnectWise certificate swap dodges …

1
June 10, 2025 - Wings Down, Walls Up: Surveillance, Storms, and State Power 5:56

18d ago5:56

5:56

Today’s Ohmbudsman Digest Podcast unpacks 30 major stories reshaping our world: A Las Vegas shooting traced to YouTube feuds Google’s phone number exploit puts millions at risk Saudi Arabia launches an oil price war BYD destabilizes the EV market Canada pivots away from U.S. defense reliance China builds Egypt’s new capital AI tools disabled during…

1
June 9, 2025 - Desperation, Drones, and Deployment 5:36

19d ago5:36

5:36

From YouTube mortgage myths and AI surveillance tools to troop deployments in LA and water shortages in Kabul, this episode covers today’s most urgent developments across politics, tech, climate, security, and social movements. Highlights include: YouTube conspiracy videos mislead UK homeowners Anthropic’s classified AI tools go live for U.S. intel…

1
June 6, 2025 – AI Load, EV Fires, Telecom Intrusions, and HIV Hope 5:02

22d ago5:02

5:02

Today’s Ohmbudsman Digest tracks 20+ signals across global power, biotech, cyber conflict, and digital realignment. From a promising HIV breakthrough in Australia to a transpacific cable deal in Chile, the day’s briefings cover both hard infrastructure and soft erosion. China aligns AI growth with green energy. Italy admits domestic surveillance. A…

1
Taking Midway with Martin Dugard 30:53

23d ago30:53

30:53

Martin Dugard is an enormously prolific, best-selling author. In addition to ten mega-million selling books co-authored with Bill O’Reilly, He has authored a fistful of books about World War II including “Taking London,” “Taking Berlin” and “Taking Paris.” Now he is back with “Taking Midway: Naval Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle That Turned t…

1
Why China’s Data Centers Should Concern You 28:38

26d ago28:38

28:38

Beijing has long said that it aims to be the world’s technology leader but the rate at which it is building data centers – and how it’s using them - is raising alarms in national security circles. State Secrets Podcast host Suzanne Kelly is talking with SCSP Senior Director of Intelligence Chip Usher, SCSP Director of Intelligence Libby Lange and P…

1
Adapting CIA Training to Survive in Hollywood 29:44

2M ago29:44

29:44

Former CIA Officer Rodney Faraon served in some pretty fascinating roles at CIA – including as a daily briefer to former director George Tenet and as Chief of the unit that dealt with Chinese and Taiwanese relations. Since retiring, he’s kept his analytic hat on as a Partner at Crumpton Global but he also took a turn toward Hollywood and did what m…

1
Inside CIA’s Mission to Maximize Technology 32:59

2M ago32:59

32:59

CIA veteran Sheetal Patel helped stand up and then lead the spy agency’s Transnational and Technology Mission Center in 2022, at a time when there was no longer any denying that more outreach to the private sector and a better grasp of the technologies that were available had to become more of a focus if the Agency was to maintain its strategic adv…

1
The Paranormal Ranger 35:35

2M ago35:35

35:35

From 2007 – 2012, the Pentagon secretly funded a small program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program tasked with investigating reports of military encounters with Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. In 2020, the Defense Department launched a new unit called the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force led by the U.S. Navy. And in 2…

1
One Man’s Journey from CIA to Hollywood Consultant 28:58

2M ago28:58

28:58

Former CIA Officer Gus Kangas knew from his time in the ROTC in college, that he wanted to be an Intelligence Officer. But a convergence of mission, technology, COVID and a CIA tragedy turned him in the direction of embracing Hollywood storytelling techniques, which later opened the door to him becoming a consultant on the Paramount+ show, “The Age…

1
How AI & Images are Impacting U.S. Intelligence 20:18

2M ago20:18

20:18

Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth sits at the helm of the Intelligence Agency that is helping war fighters and Intelligence analysts better understand the world and what’s beyond it. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) works intensely with the private sector to bring the most critical technological advances to the mission – not just here o…

1
The Determined Spy 32:16

3M ago32:16

32:16

Veteran journalist Douglas Waller is out with a new book “The Determined Spy: The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner. We will talk with Waller about his fascinating examination of the life of a brilliant man who was a standout member of the World War II OSS, one of the founders of the CIA, and a combatant in the nascent Cold War. …

1
The Russian Diplomat’s Wife 30:14

3M ago30:14

30:14

Ken Dekleva is no ordinary spy novelist. Not by a long shot. He is a doctor who served as a Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist with the State Department for 14 years. He is a Senior Fellow at the George HW Bush Foundation for US-China Relations, and a Salzburg Global Fellow. He brings his special insights to the fore in his third novel “The Russ…

1
Why We’re Still at War with Russia 33:48

3M ago33:48

33:48

Despite efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to warm U.S. relations with Moscow amid negotiations for Russia to end its war in Ukraine, Russian sabotage operations, active measures and Gray Zone activities are continuing around the world. Moscow has mastered the art of engaging in operations that push right up to the edge of war, without really c…

1
National Security Hollywood Style 49:08

3M ago49:08

49:08

When Walter Parkes co-wrote the movie War Games in 1983, he had no idea what he had launched. The movie about a teen hacker played by Matthew Broderick examined what might happen if someone breached the security systems around U.S. nuclear weapons. As it turned out, then-President Ronald Reagan saw the movie and asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff at t…

1
Raiding The Admiral’s Bookshelf 36:27

3M ago36:27

36:27

Admiral Jim Stavridis isn’t just a prolific writer – having written a number of both fiction and non-fiction books since retiring from the military where he served as former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe at NATO – he’s also an avid reader. His latest book, The Admiral’s Bookshelf brings those two worlds together as she shares the 25 books that h…

1
China Keeps Breaking Barriers on Artificial Intelligence 19:57

4M ago19:57

19:57

In this conversation, former Senior CIA Execuvite Chip Usher discusses the recent advancements made by the Chinese AI lab DeepSeq, particularly its new AI models that rival those of American companies like OpenAI. Usher, now the Senior Director for Intelligence at the Special Competitive Studies Project, explains the significance of these developme…

1
The Traitor’s Tale 40:37

4M ago40:37

40:37

James Lawler was a highly-decorated CIA officer who conducted some legendary textbook level operations for the Agency. He now excels as a novelist and is out with his third work of fiction “The Traitor’s Tale: A Novel of Treachery Within the CIA.” We will talk with Lawler not only about the book – but about his career and how his art sometimes imit…

1
Story of a CIA Wife 29:04

4M ago29:04

29:04

In "Story of a CIA Wife," Rosie Mowatt-Larssen shares her journey from Germany to the United States, where her life took an unexpected turn when her husband joined the CIA. Suddenly immersed in a world of secrecy, Rosie grappled with anxiety and doubt as she adjusted to her husband's covert career. We will talk with her about the unique challenges …

1
Secret Servants of the Crown 43:43

5M ago43:43

43:43

Dr. Claire Hubbard-Hall has broken the code on how to discover and report on the remarkable history of women who have silently served British intelligence over the years. In her book “Secret Servants of the Crown: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence” (published in the U.S. on February 25, 2025, tells heretofore untold tales of the real wome…

1
Former DEA Official Explains the New Terrorist Designation for Cartels 30:53

5M ago30:53

30:53

In this conversation, Mike Vigil discusses the recent designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, a move he says is largely symbolic with little real impact on the cartels' operations. He highlights the complexities of U.S.-Mexico relations, the ongoing fentanyl crisis, and the risks of military escalation. Vig…

1
The Seismic Impact of Artificial Intelligence 25:50

5M ago25:50

25:50

Few people have the perspective that Lt. Gen Mike Groen (ret.) has when it comes to Artificial Intelligence and the impact it has and will have in the national security space. Before retiring from the military, Lt. General Groen served as Director of the Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Today, he’s ringing the alarm about AI. The mi…

1
The Eurasian Century 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

Hal Brands, a renowned expert on global affairs, talks with us about his new book: “The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World. Brands argues that Eurasia’s strategic geography can illuminate the contours of rivalry and conflict in today’s world. We will talk with him about what can be learned from Eurasian wars o…

1
Professional Courage - Telling It Like It Is 44:17

6M ago44:17

44:17

To say that retired Army Major General Jack Leide had a remarkable military career would be an understatement.. He has been inducted into four different halls of fame - the US Military Attaché Hall of Fame, the US Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s “Torch Bearers Hall of Fame” and the Army Foreign Area Officer Hal…

1
Target: Start Up: How Entrepreneurs in Tech are Targeted for Espionage 39:47

6M ago39:47

39:47

Michael Casey is Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the part of the Director of National Intelligence that leads and supports the counterintelligence and security activities of the U.S. Government. NCSC produces the National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States and includes the National Insider Threat Tas…

1
The Penguin Press Publisher’s Perspective 31:31

6M ago31:31

31:31

Scott Moyers is a veteran executive of the publishing industry. Today he is Vice President and Publisher of Penguin Press. He has acquired and edited countless bestsellers – including many authored by Cipher Brief experts. He was also director of the New York office of the Wylie Agency – one of the most prominent and influential literary agencies i…

1
Giving Back to the Intelligence and Military Communities 31:31

6M ago31:31

31:31

The Cipher Brief has been honored to support a number of non-profit organizations over the years that have made giving back their mission – especially in the national security world. In this episode of State Secrets, we’re welcoming David Kramer, a self-described ‘regular guy who wanted to give back’ and Jeremy Morton, a former special operations o…

1
Jack Carr’s Transition from Navy SEAL to Author 59:49

7M ago59:49

59:49

Thriller writer Jack Carr didn’t just serve 20 years in the elite Navy SEALS teams – retire and write a book about his experiences. He retired from a career of service (as a sniper) and then followed his ‘other’ passion – writing. His first book, The Terminal List is now an Amazon Prime television series starring Chris Pratt. Since then, he’s writt…

1
Former Trump Ambassador on Why Ukraine ‘Must’ Win 32:53

7M ago32:53

32:53

Cipher Brief Expert and former Senior CIA Officer Glenn Corn is asking the questions of former Governor James Gilmore as this week’s guest host. Gilmore served as Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe under the first Trump Administration and says it’s critical that Ukraine wins this war.…

1
The Case for Overhauling the Department of Defense 39:36

7M ago39:36

39:36

The Hon. Gilman Louie has had quite the career in national security, one that – despite his family’s background of service – he wasn’t exactly planning on. Now the co-founder and managing partner of America’s Frontier Fund, a phone call early in his career set him on a path that would lead to a 30+ year career “in the business” as they say. Louie’s…

1
Mystery and Intrigue in 1930s Shanghai: Marty Petersen on the Creation of “City of Lost Souls” 31:10

7M ago31:10

31:10

Long-time CIA officer Marty Petersen is an acknowledged expert on Asia. He is a current Cipher Brief exert who writes frequently on Asian matters. But rather than focusing on modern day China policy for once, he has just published his first novel: City of Lost Souls which is set in 1932 Shanghai and tells of a private detective who helps a young wo…

1
On a Collision Course with China 26:44

7M ago26:44

26:44

Beijing is building its largest military since the 1930s and Matt Pottinger and his colleagues at Stanford are deeply concerned. First as a former journalist, and then as former Deputy National Security Advisor in the first Trump Administration, Pottinger has been watching what Chinese President Xi Jinping both says and does - for decades. He expla…

1
Yes, We’re in a National Security Crisis 37:22

8M ago37:22

37:22

Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and author Steve Blank thinks way outside the Washington DC beltway. The Stanford Professor who teaches courses on lean start-ups, innovation and the art of entrepreneurship – also blogs regularly. It may not be a state secrets that one of his blogs published earlier this year about why large organizations struggle with …

1
Admiral Stavridis Navigates The Restless Wave 43:29

8M ago43:29

43:29

Admiral Jim Stavridis (Ret.) is out with his fourteenth book, The Restless Wave - a tale of historical fiction taking place during World War II. Cover Stories co-host Suzanne Kelly caught up with the retired Admiral for a Cipher Brief Book Club virtual meeting to talk about just how much of ‘himself’ was written into his main character – about what…

1
The Accidental Joe: A Spy Novel That Really Cooks 25:10

9M ago25:10

25:10

Tom Straw is a former Top 40 radio disc jockey, TV weathercaster, and someone who has written and executive produced prime time and late night TV shows. He is also a best-selling writer of crime novels (under the pseudonym “Richard Castle,”) so friends like to say he can’t keep a job. For his latest gig he has served up a spy novel called “The Acci…

1
The Government Agency that actually is trying to get inside your head: Understanding DCSA’s Mission 45:01

9M ago45:01

45:01

The Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency touches more than 90% of the personnel security background checks that help determine whether a job candidate receives a security clearance. But the agency has other missions as well, all focused on enhancing national security. State Secrets podcast host Suzanne Kelly talks with Director David Cattl…

1
Might of the Chain 29:47

10M ago29:47

29:47

We talk with retired Navy Rear Admiral Mike Studeman about his book “Might of the Chain: Forging Leaders of Iron Integrity about why trust in leaders in the public and private sector has sunk to all-time lows and his formula for restoring and keeping that trust.Drawing on his naval experience (and heritage) Studeman explains how every person in an …

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