Robert Baer

Robert Baer, former CIA Middle East officer and analyst, Matthew Petti, Iran reporter who covers Persian and English media, and Stephen Wertheim, Carnegie foreign‑policy scholar, discuss the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. They explore why the strikes happened, how Iranians are reacting on the ground, risks of open-ended regime-change aims, and the regional and global consequences of escalating conflict.

Robert Baer, former CIA case officer and author, offers intelligence analysis. Liz Oliva-Fernandez, Cuban reporter, documents hospital struggles under sanctions. Brace Belden, activist/journalist, shares firsthand reporting from Havana. They discuss Russia delivering oil to Cuba, harsh effects of sanctions on healthcare, hospital blackouts and scarce medicines, and U.S. policy choices shaping humanitarian outcomes.

Former US Ambassador Manuel Rocha is charged with secretly serving as a Cuban agent. Discussing the seriousness of intelligence threats, former CIA officer Robert Baer explores the implications for national security, the challenges of catching long-standing spies, and the potential damage caused by a former intelligence officer. The podcast also touches on efforts to fix Florida's Everglades and includes sponsor messages from Lisa and Oxfam.

Robert Baer, a former CIA officer and expert on espionage, delves into the unsettling case of Manuel Rocha, a U.S. diplomat charged with spying for Cuba. Baer unpacks the hidden dangers of domestic espionage, recalling notorious incidents like Aldrich Ames. He emphasizes the critical need for effective vetting processes and the vulnerabilities inherent in U.S. intelligence. The discussion reveals the chilling reality of betrayal from within and the ongoing impact such breaches have on national security.

Former CIA officer talks about the search for a Russian mole within the CIA, while a diplomatic historian discusses Russia's blockade of Ukrainian wheat exports and its impact on food shortages. The podcast also explores espionage activities, the controversy surrounding a book about a suspected mole, and the need for rethinking food security policies.