Change Agents with Andy Stumpf

Energy Weapons, the CIA, and Rising Threats from Iran and China

4 snips
Mar 25, 2026
Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA case officer and operations leader who faced Havana Syndrome after 26 years in the Intelligence Community. He discusses suspected directed energy attacks, agency denial and cover-ups, struggles for medical care and accountability, risks of proliferation to Iran and China, and calls for transparency and reform.
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ANECDOTE

CIA Officer Hit With Havana Syndrome In Moscow

  • Marc Polymeropoulos woke in a Moscow hotel with severe migraine, vertigo, tinnitus and cognitive loss after a December 2017 trip.
  • Symptoms matched Havana Syndrome cases and forced him to retire in July 2019 after fighting the CIA for care.
INSIGHT

Cover Up Stemmed From Operational And Political Fears

  • The CIA initially dismissed anomalous health incidents to avoid disrupting operations and confronting Russia, creating a de facto cover-up.
  • That cover-up hampered care, discouraged overseas assignments, and soured morale across the intelligence community.
INSIGHT

DOD Procurement Confirmed Device Existence

  • Multiple outlets report the U.S. obtained a Russian device from black market sources and tested it at Army Research Labs, giving concrete proof the technology exists.
  • That development forced internal IC reassessments despite previous denials.
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