March 5, 2026 - Matthew Petti | Stephen Wertheim | Robert Baer

In 'The Devil We Know,' Robert Baer draws on his intelligence experience to analyze Iran's rise as a regional power and the motivations behind its foreign policy. He explores Tehran's relationships with proxy groups, its strategic aims across the Middle East, and the ways U.S. policy has interacted with Iranian ambitions. Baer combines on-the-ground anecdotes, historical context, and policy critique to argue for a realistic understanding of Iran's capabilities and intentions. The book offers insights into intelligence operations and the complexities of confronting a state that blends ideological goals with pragmatic strategy. It serves as both a memoir of engagement and a policy-oriented assessment of how to deal with Tehran.

Robert Baer's 'The Fourth Man' recounts the search for a KGB mole at high levels of the CIA and examines the broader implications for U.S. -Russia intelligence relations. Combining investigative reporting with insider perspective, Baer traces the origins and consequences of penetration by Soviet-era intelligence into Western agencies. The narrative situates the mole hunt within the context of Russia's transformation and the rise of Vladimir Putin, highlighting how espionage shaped geopolitical outcomes. Baer weaves personal anecdotes from his intelligence career with documentary evidence to paint a picture of betrayal, counterintelligence challenges, and evolving Russian tactics. The book offers both a gripping espionage story and a cautionary analysis of modern intelligence vulnerabilities.