Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine

Latest Episodes:

Ep 9: Post-Truth Nov 11, 2020

Show notes

By undermining trust in facts and institutions, Donald Trump hasn’t just charted a new path for American government — he has followed a playbook perfected by Vladimir Putin. Host Tim Weiner is joined by John Brennan, former director of the CIA; journalist Masha Gessen; and his daughter Emma BB Doyle, who works in food justice and thinks he might be wrong about everything. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 8: Crossfire Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

In 2014, Russia began carrying out a new kind of Internet-based political warfare. It was an attack so brazen and so novel that American intelligence did not understand it until it was too late. Host Tim Weiner is joined by New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt, former FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok, and CNN analyst Asha Rangappa. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 7: Perfect Weapons Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

Russia develops new tools for political warfare in the 21st century, making Estonia and Ukraine victims of a new kind of combat - cyberwarfare - and laying the groundwork for an attack against the United States in 2016. Host Tim Weiner is joined by former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre Merle Maigre, and cybersecurity analyst Kenneth Geers. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 6: The Cold Peace Oct 21, 2020

Show notes

The Cold War finally ends, but a series of American actions in the 1990s lay the groundwork for renewed tensions. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Andrei Kozyrev, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1996, and Doug Wise, a CIA veteran and former Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 5: The Department of Disinformation Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

The KGB specialized in fake news, and its Department of Disinformation successfully spread lies around the world. But starting in the 1980s, America began to fight back. Host Tim Weiner is joined by two members of that fight, Dr. Kathleen Bailey and Dr. John Lenczowski. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 4: The Italian Job Oct 07, 2020

Show notes

In 1948, Italy has an important national vote and so begins one of the CIA's finest traditions: foreign election interference. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Professor Victoria de Grazia and journalists Maurizio Molinari and Paolo Mastrolilli. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 3: Poland is Not Yet Lost Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

The story of the CIA’s secret support for the Solidarity movement in Poland. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Polish political activist Jacek Bendykowski, former Director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and author Seth Jones. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 2: Wilderness of Mirrors Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

The story of James Jesus Angleton, an obsessive reader of poetry who became the CIA’s chief of counterintelligence, and grew obsessed with the threat of Soviet moles infiltrating American institutions. Host Tim Weiner is joined by former CIA officers John Sipher and Rolf Mowatt-Larssen and former KGB officer-turned-journalist Alexander Vassiliev. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 1: Agents of Influence Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

In the series premiere of Whirlwind, host Tim Weiner tells the story of Samuel Dickstein, an American Congressman who turned out to be working for the enemy as an “agent of influence.” Joined by guests Alexander Vassiliev, a former KGB officer turned journalist; Leon Panetta, former CIA director; Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, former CIA intelligence officer; and journalist Catherine Belton, Tim explores the possibility that there’s an “agent of influence” in the White House today. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

Ep 0: Welcome to Whirlwind, Season One Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

Season One of Whirlwind is a 10-part documentary podcast franchise that tells the story of how the United States sped the collapse of the Soviet Union, how American political warfare sputtered and died in the 21st century, how Vladimir Putin struck blows against American power and influence beginning in 2007 – and how the next president could strike back. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects.

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