SNAFU with Ed Helms

In 1971, a courageous group of activists broke into an FBI office and stole files containing J. Edgar Hoover's deepest, darkest secrets. How did their actions forever upend everything Americans knew about their country's most powerful law enforcement agency?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Executive Producer Ed Helms comes a new podcast, Broomgate: A Curling Scandal. Over the course of six episodes, semi-professional curler and fully professional comedian John Cullen (Blocked Party) is exposing the unbelievable, never-before-told scandal that rocked the sport of curling. Yes, curling. Listen here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a captivating discussion, Rachel Maddow, a prominent journalist and host of the Ultra podcast, reveals the dark attempt by Nazi sympathizers to undermine American democracy during World War II through the Great Sedition Trial of 1944. She explores the complexities of historical narratives and the importance of acknowledging overlooked events to understand today's political climate. Rachel also addresses the connections between anti-Semitism, racism, and modern authoritarianism, emphasizing the power of storytelling in grasping these enduring issues.

Jack Barsky, a former KGB sleeper agent turned author, shares riveting tales from his double life infiltrating the U.S. during the Cold War. He discusses the intense training KGB operatives underwent and his personal journey from Soviet ideology to American life. Barsky unveils the complexities of identity, the paranoia of Soviet operations, and the haunting stakes during Able Archer '83—a moment when miscommunication nearly led to nuclear conflict. His reflections highlight the power of love in redefining one's identity after espionage.

Bonus Episode – Ed speaks with actor Matthew Broderick, and director John Badham about their time on the seminal 1983 classic, “WarGames” and how it played a part in the cultural zeitgeist of the Cold War. Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finale of Snafu: Season One! The holy grail of classified Able Archer documents is finally revealed. Will it hold the answers we seek? Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheer terror about the near disaster recedes over time, and intrigue sets in. Competing theories emerge as Nate Jones and others uncover reports that have been buried in archives for decades. Time casts a new shadow on Gordievsky and Rupp’s Able Archer heroics. Myth, propaganda, and reality melt into one big cloudy soup. Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lt. General Leonard Perroots faces down the single most critical decision of his career: to escalate, or not? He knows the situation is bad, but he has no idea just how bad. The man’s got the fate of the world in his hands. Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Opening day for Able Archer 83. The Soviets have front row seats to NATO’s autumn military exercises. Tens of thousands of soldiers are playing pretend war in West Germany. The Soviets are NOT enjoying the show. And then… the war game actors begin ‘launching’ nukes. Holy sh*tballs, this is not looking good. The spies try to thwart disaster, and one man is faced with a cataclysmic decision. Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The situation is getting dire. Mind games and twitchy nerves lead to tragedy in Russian airspace. Finger-pointing only makes it worse, and any chance for real diplomacy flies out the window. As we hurtle toward November ‘83, a glitchy missile detection system almost spells disaster. Produced by FilmNation and Pacific Electric Picture Co. in association with Gilded Audio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.