Target Usa Podcast By Wtop

Investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov has tracked the rise of Putin’s propaganda machine from the inside; and paid the price in exile. In this gripping conversation, he connects the dots between Russia’s early media crackdowns and the chilling parallels unfolding in the United States today. From late-night comedy to Pentagon press restrictions, Soldatov explains how free speech erodes step by step; and what Americans must do to fight back. This episode is both a history lesson and a warning: freedom of expression isn’t lost overnight; it’s chipped away until silence becomes the norm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Russia is turning up the pressure on NATO’s doorstep. Estonia says three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets stormed into its airspace over the Gulf of Finland, lingering for twelve minutes in what Tallinn calls a “brazen and deliberate” violation. It’s the fourth breach this year, but the first involving multiple high-performance fighters—and NATO isn’t brushing it off, especially not Estonia. Krisjan Prikk, Estonia's ambassador to the U.S., explains what happened and the consequences.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode we look at how Immigration and Customs Enforcement is believed to have access to Graphite—powerful spyware capable of silently hacking smartphones and reading encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal. At issue is what Graphite can do, the legal red lines it risks crossing, and what it means for civil liberties inside the U.S. if you carry a phone. Joining us are Eric O'Neill, a former FBI counterintelligence operative, author, and current national security strategist with Nexasure, and Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions and former White House Chief Information Officer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are two headline-grabbing incidents—the overnight Russian drone incursion into Poland and the explosion of eight Polish gas tankers on a train in Lithuania—part of the same campaign? Dr. Artis Pabriks thinks so. The former Latvian Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister, now chairman of the Northern Defence Policy Centre, joins us to explain why he believes the events are connected and why he holds Russia responsible. He also lays out what NATO can do next.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we’ve got two big stories.First, we continue our Greenland story. Denmark says covert influence operations aren’t just the work of Russia or China anymore—they’re happening inside the Western alliance. Investigators there allege Americans tied to Donald Trump tried to stir separatist sentiment in Greenland. Now we're hearing there are people from another country involved in this. Greenland MP Pipaluk Lynge joins us.And second, BUT a really big story as well, a cyber campaign with global reach; it’s called Salt Typhoon. A sweeping Chinese operation that pierced America’s telecommunications backbone, siphoning off call records, texts, and even audio from high-level officials, political campaigns, journalists—and ordinary citizens. Emily Odom, Cyber Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the FBI's Washington field office, explains.Two different fronts, one common thread: covert operations shaking the foundations of trust and security.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ

Denmark has done something almost unheard of: it hauled in the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen to demand answers—after uncovering evidence that people tied directly to Donald Trump have been running secret influence operations in Greenland. The allegation? That these operatives tried to stir up a movement in Greenland—a territory of Denmark—to break away and open the door to U.S. control. Danish officials call it “completely unacceptable,” likening it to planting a fifth column inside an allied nation. Niels Fastrup, who broke the story for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, joins us. And we hear from Pipaluk Lynge, a Member of Parliament in Greenland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska—three hours of high-stakes talks that produced no ceasefire, no sanctions relief, and no concrete deal. We hear President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in their own words. Then break down the much-talked-about event with members of Parliament from Ukraine Ivanna Kympush-Tsintsadse and Halyna Yanchenko. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A major geopolitical summit is coming up in Alaska this week between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with top European leaders to send a strong message to them—Ukraine's map will not be redrawn at a meeting that doesn't include them. On this episode, Trump explains his thinking, experts discuss Putin's objective, and a Ukrainian tells us exactly what Ukrainians are thinking.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Latvian Defense Minister Dr. Artis Pabriks joins us with a stark warning: the West still misunderstands Russia’s long-term ambitions—and its slow, fragmented response to the war in Ukraine is already reshaping Europe’s future. From Belarus’s silent absorption to NATO’s fragile cohesion, Pabriks argues the stakes couldn’t be higher.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a seismic allegation, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claims former President Barack Obama “led a coup attempt” against Donald Trump—accusing him of directing the intelligence community to fabricate the Russia collusion narrative to overturn the 2016 election. In this episode, we scrutinize Gabbard’s charge against the historical record, including testimony from former DNI James Clapper and findings from years of bipartisan investigations. Is this a long-suppressed truth coming to light—or a dangerous rewriting of history? We dig deep into the evidence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this explosive episode, we dive into Chinese Espionage: Operations and Tactics—a chilling exposé by Nicholas Eftimiades, a 35-year veteran of the CIA, DIA, and State Department. Eftimiades pulls back the curtain on China’s massive, evolving spy machine—revealing how Beijing is quietly infiltrating America’s power grids, research labs and even targeting young U.S. military personnel online. It’s espionage without borders—covert, relentless, and already inside. If you think the threat is far away, this episode proves it’s already knocking at the door.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer is assassinated in broad daylight—five shots, close range, in the middle of Kyiv. Within hours, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launches a manhunt. Days later, they kill two suspects tied not only to Russia’s FSB but also to a U.S.-founded extremist group now operating from inside Russia.In this episode, Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project, navigates us through the shadow war playing out across Eastern Europe, where the lines between war, terrorism, espionage, and state power are blurring.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker didn’t mince words—Putin has effectively given U.S. Presient Donald Trump “the middle finger,” rejecting every offer of peace Trump has put on the table. From lifting sanctions to restoring Russia’s global status, Trump tried to cut a deal. But Putin isn’t interested. He’s doubling down—escalating attacks on Ukraine, brushing off diplomacy, and chasing an imperial legacy soaked in blood. With over 100,000 Russian troops dead this year alone, even Putin’s allies—Iran, North Korea, and China—are starting to question his grip. This war isn’t just grinding on—it’s accelerating toward a geopolitical rupture.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we cover the deadliest escalation between Iran and Israel in years. Beginning June 13, Iran launched up to 350 ballistic missiles and drones in waves that pounded Israeli cities through June 16. Civilian areas were hit hard—28 people killed, including children and a Holocaust survivor, and hundreds injured in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Rehovot, and Rishon LeZion. This wasn’t routine retaliation—it marked a dangerous shift into a wider conflict. And today, we bring you voices from inside two different bomb shelters—two very different perspectives on fear, resilience, and what this war feels like from the ground in Israel. We also have an update on where Iran's nuclear program stands.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Estonia’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jonatan Vseviov, joins us for a candid conversation on Russia’s failed war objectives, shifting strategies, and the growing threat to Europe’s eastern flank. We explore how Estonia and its allies are countering Kremlin influence—and why the fight for Ukraine is a fight for global stability.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two men. One war. And a war of words that could dictate the terms of a new world order. Trump calls Putin crazy. Putin fires back—calls Trump emotional. Trump warns he’s playing with fire. But behind the insults is a deeper conflict—one that could tip the scales of history. At the center: Ukraine. Not just a battlefield, but a test of resolve, ego, and global power. This is where rhetoric meets reality—and the consequences are deadly. Former CIA covert operative Robert Baer explains what drives Vladimir Putin.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s most dangerous fleet isn’t on any navy’s registry—it sails in the shadows. Russia’s so-called shadow oil fleet is a rogue armada of unflagged, uninsured, barely seaworthy tankers hauling sanctioned crude across the globe. Estonia’s Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs, Kerli Veski, explains what it is, how it works and why it's a problem.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.