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State Secrets

158 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 81 ratings

State Secrets is a weekly interview podcast featuring Cipher Brief experts and national security leaders.

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Episodes

Tyler Cowen on America's Diminishing Economic Power

October 22, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 21.7 MB

There are many issues on the world stage, but on this episode of 15 Minutes, we focus on two of them: national security and economy. Although not often associated with one another, economic and national security interests frequently align. How does the U.S. generate the funds to pay for military power?  And in turn, how do wars and terrorist attacks affect a country’s economy? Tyler Cowen, economic professor at George Mason University, spends 15 Minutes with The Cipher Brief’s Internatio...

The Life of a Hostage with Joseph Cicippio

October 15, 2017 18:00 - 16 minutes - 16.4 MB

In September 1986, American Joseph Cicippio was abducted in Beirut by captors thought to be linked to Hezbollah. Held until his release in December 1991, Joe was moved to more than 20 locations and chained to another American hostage for four of those years. Here, he spends 15 Minutes with Leone Lakhani and describes how he coped, his views on U.S. hostage policy, and why he has no bitterness towards his captors, even after his ordeal.

Delving into the Drone Program with Brett Velicovich

October 08, 2017 18:18 - 19 minutes - 28.3 MB

At the young age of 33, Brett Velicovich has probably held more positions than someone could in a lifetime: Former US Army Intelligence, humanitarian, business owner, author and drone expert.   Brett recently released his book Drone Warrior: An Elite Soldier’s Inside Account of the Hunt for America’s Most Dangerous Enemies. And the title really does say it all, offering readers an inside view into the world of drone warfare, and the toll it takes on the people who control the UAVs.   ...

Discussing Security Threats & Border Control with Congressman Will Hurd

October 01, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 25.1 MB

Whether it’s the Equifax data breach, border security or Russian state-sponsored election hacking, identifying current and emerging technologies to secure public and private infrastructure is a critical priority for the U.S. government.  The Cipher Brief’s Deputy Director of Analysis, Bennett Seftel spends 15 Minutes with U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) who talks about takeaways from his years working as a CIA operations officer and offers his thoughts on current issues: why a border wa...

Rüdiger Lentz on Russia, Populism, and German Politics

September 25, 2017 15:04 - 13 minutes - 20.3 MB

A resurgent Russia, along with broader economic and social trends, is shaking up politics across the U.S. and Europe. Populist parties, like Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), that are supported by Vladimir Putin’s Russia, are challenging the status quo. The AfD came in third in Sunday’s election in Germany, significantly gaining on the two major parties and winning seats in parliament for the first time. For now, the political center in Germany still holds, with Chancellor Angela ...

Examining Cyber Warfare with Alexander Klimburg

September 17, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 20.7 MB

Military and intelligence professionals around the world view cyberspace and the internet differently. In the West, cyberspace is thought of as a facilitating agent, one that can be leveraged for espionage, disruption and sabotage. In more autocratic regimes, cyberspace is a mode of political control and influence of narratives, both domestically and abroad. To get deeper insight into the matter, the Cipher Brief’s cyber and technology analyst Levi Maxey spoke with Alexander Klimburg, Direct...

Michael Leiter (Part 2): Aftermath of Osama bin Laden

September 10, 2017 18:00 - 12 minutes - 12.4 MB

On the 16th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Leone Lakhani spends 15 minutes with Michael Leiter, who was Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center from 2007 to 2011. Mike worked closely on the hunt for Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader behind the 9/11 attacks. Here, he shares rare insight on the operation that killed bin Laden in May 2011.

Bob Work on Technology Innovation at the DOD Part II

September 05, 2017 09:31 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MB

In Part II of Suzanne Kelly’s interview with Bob Work, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense, Suzanne digs deeper into the challenges Bob faced in ushering new technology into the Defense Department - as well as the relationship between the public and private sector - when it comes to innovation. 

Bob Work on Technology Innovation at the DOD Part I

September 05, 2017 09:30 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MB

Artificial Intelligence, cyber warfare, C4I network grids: just a few of the things that Bob Work was keeping the Department of Defense updated and innovating on during his time as the Deputy Secretary of Defense. This week, The Cipher Brief brings you a special treat for the holiday week, two podcast interviews between Bob and CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly.  In Part I, Bob and Suzanne discuss some of the biggest challenges he was facing in his position, most especially, convincing the cul...

Escobar to Cali: Tracking the World’s Most Notorious Traffickers with Javier Peña

September 01, 2017 15:57 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MB

This week Leone Lakhani spends 15 Minutes with Javier Peña, a former drug enforcement agent, who was instrumental in bringing down the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Peña and his partner Steve Murphy – both depicted in the Netflix series Narcos – track the life and eventual demise of Escobar, as consultants on the show. Season 3 of Narcos enters a new chapter in the war on drugs, following the brutal Cali Cartel. While Peña didn’t consult on this season, he did track the Cali t...

Michael Leiter (Part 1): Countering Extremism in Today’s America

August 27, 2017 18:00 - 20 minutes - 27.5 MB

Much of the emphasis of fighting violent extremism in the U.S. is on the Islamist or Jihadist threat. But the attack in Charlottesville earlier in August, was a reminder that other elements, including right-wing extremist groups, are also at play. Have these types of groups been ignored? What are the challenges of counter-terrorism in today’s America? Leone Lakhani speaks to Michael Leiter, former Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center to find out.    On the 16th Anniversary o...

Jake Sullivan on the Iran Deal & The Future of American Foreign Policy

August 20, 2017 18:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB

Former National Security Advisor to Joe Biden, Former Deputy Chief of Staff in the State Department, Former Director of Policy Planning, Senior Advisor during the Iran Nuclear Negotiations, Top Foreign Policy Advisor to Hillary Clinton during her campaign, and now, a professor at Yale and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Jake Sullivan has lead a busy life, but he recently took time to sit down with the Cipher Brief's CEO and Publisher Suzanne Kelly to discus...

H. Keith Melton on Cuba’s “Acoustic Attack”

August 13, 2017 18:30 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MB

The U.S. State Department recently revealed that some government employees working in the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba were sent home due to symptoms resembling a concussion, with at least one employee suffering from hearing loss. State Department officials have said this was an “acoustic attack,” using sonic devices outside the range of audible sound that were placed either inside or outside the diplomats’ residences. This week, The Cipher Brief’s Kaitlin Lavinder spends 15 minutes with H. ...

Rob Joyce on White House Cybersecurity

August 08, 2017 22:14 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief’s CEO and Publisher Suzanne Kelly spends 15 minutes with Rob Joyce, the White House cybersecurity coordinator. Prior to his role in the new administration, Joyce was chief of the NSA’s elite hacking unit named Tailored Access Operations. Joyce now leads the government’s coordination of all things cyber, a big job to take on considering the number of agencies, departments, and threats. Suzanne spoke with Joyce about his role, and what he sees as the biggest cyber t...

Best of Special Featuring Jason Matheny, Director of IARPA

July 30, 2017 18:00 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief brings you a special best of episode of one of our most fascinating guests, Jason Matheny, Director of IARPA, the research branch for the intelligence community that works on ways to tell the future. The Cipher Brief’s CEO and Publisher, Suzanne Kelly, spoke with Jason about what exactly IARPA does, what keeps him up at night, and if there’s ways to predict political instability and unrest.

Ambassador James Dobbins on America's Future Abroad

July 23, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 20 MB

A U.S. ambassador to the European Union, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, envoy to Kosovo, Bosnia, Haiti, and Somalia: James Dobbins has had years of experience representing U.S. interests abroad. Along with his numerous positions, he was also lead negotiator to the Bonn Agreement, which re-created the state of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion. In this week’s 15 Minutes podcast, The Cipher Brief’s Fritz Lodge speaks with Ambassador Dobbins about his experiences as ...

Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ives on Russia, Fake News, and Twitterbots

July 16, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 24.4 MB

It’s a rough time for liberal democracies – with fake news and election hacking creating a growing erosion of trust in governments. Estonia, a small country in eastern Europe and previously under the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence, was hit by a wave of cyber attacks in 2007, which many believe Russia orchestrated. Since then, Estonia and former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves have been focused on building up cyber defenses. This week, The Cipher Brief’s Kaitlin Lavinder spends 15 minutes ...

Secretary Ray Mabus on Innovation in the Navy

July 09, 2017 18:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB

The U.S. Navy protects our seas around the clock. But what else does the Navy do? It innovates – a lot. Ray Mabus, who was Secretary of the Navy under both Obama Administrations and held that post longer than anyone since World War I, created a fully green fleet during his tenure. Now, 65 percent of energy on navy bases around the world comes from non-fossil fuels. This week, The Cipher Brief’s Kaitlin Lavinder spends 15 minutes with Secretary Mabus, who was previously the Governor of Missis...

15 Minutes with Former Members of the Armed Services

July 02, 2017 18:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief celebrates Independence Day by looking back at interviews we did with men who have served this country in the Armed Forces. From Robert 'Buzz' Patterson, air force pilot and military aide to President Clinton, to Senator John McCain, a former naval pilot and POW, to Jack Keane, a retired four-star general, these men worked tirelessly for the greater good. 

Secretary James on Space Based Missile Defense

June 25, 2017 18:00 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MB

As the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force under President Obama, one of Deborah Lee James' principal concerns was U.S. advancement in space. She believes its mission-critical for the United States to better protect its satellite communications and missile warning systems. The Cipher Brief's Fritz Lodge joined Secretary James for a discussion on the role of U.S. armed forces in space - and some of the game-changing advancements that may come soon in space-based missile defense. 

Sandy Grimes on the Rick Ames Mole Hunt

June 18, 2017 18:00 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MB

From 1985 to 1994, CIA officer Aldrich Ames was actually a spy for the Soviets. At the time of his arrest in ’94, he had compromised more CIA assets than any other mole in history. This week, The Cipher Brief’s Leone Lakhani spends 15 minutes with former CIA officer Sandy Grimes, who was instrumental in uncovering Ames. She had worked beside him as a young officer with the CIA’s Soviet bloc division. Here, she shares her personal experiences with Ames and why she believes he was such a valua...

Scott Carpenter on Using Technology to Stay Safe Online

June 11, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MB

There’s seldom a day that we don’t hear about cyber attacks, hacks, and how governments and the general public should protect against cyber threats or criminals. One company says its mission is to use technology to do just that: keep people safe online. The company’s called Jigsaw. It’s a technology incubator created by Google. But how do they do it? The Cipher Brief’s Leone Lakhani spends 15 minutes with Jigsaw’s Managing Director Scott Carpenter to find out.

Ali Soufan on Death of Bin Laden & Rise of ISIS

June 04, 2017 18:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief's Suzanne Kelly spends 15 Minutes with Ali Soufan. Ali is a former FBI special agent, who recently wrote The Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of Bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State. What's unique about the book is that he wrote it like a novel, to bring the readers into the world of Bin Laden and help them better understand it. So how did he come up with the idea?

Trailblazers in National Security

May 28, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief looks back at five groundbreakers in the national security space. Each in his/her own right has blazed a trail for others to follow — in policy, spycraft, and law enforcement. From Pentagon pioneer Michele Flournoy to Steve Murphy, who co-led the demise of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, take 15 Minutes to hear from some of the leaders and change-makers in national security and intelligence. To listen to the full podcasts with each of these trailblazers, search...

Senator John McCain on NATO & The Balkans

May 21, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MB

How important are the Balkans to U.S. national security? The region remains volatile, with ethnic and socioeconomic tensions rising, and increased Russian meddling in internal affairs. So, this week, The Cipher Brief's Kaitlin Lavinder spends 15 Minutes with Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who recently returned from a trip to the Balkans. He also voted in March for the state of Montenegro to become NATO's newest member. Here, he tells Kaitlin what...

JJ Messner on the 2017 Fragile States Index

May 14, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MB

What is the most stable country in the world? Which is the most fragile? What determines those qualities? This week, The Cipher Brief’s Leone Lakhani spends 15 Minutes with JJ Messner, Executive Director of The Fund for Peace, which projects the annual Fragile States Index. Judged on 12 indicators – based on social, economic and political factors – the index ranks 178 countries from the most fragile, to the least. So, which countries ranked the highest in 2017? And why does it matter?

Milo Medin on Innovative Solutions in Defense

May 09, 2017 19:38 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MB

In a world of evolving threats, how can the United States innovate to stay ahead in the national security space? That’s a question The Cipher Brief's CEO Suzanne Kelly puts to Milo Medin, a member of the Defense Innovation Board, an initiative set up by former Defense Secretary Ash Carter in 2016. Milo, who is also Google’s Vice President of Access Services, speaks to Suzanne about potential solutions, on the sidelines of Georgetown University’s “Hacking 4 Defense” innovation panel.

CrowdStrike's Adam Meyers on Identifying Cyber Criminals

April 30, 2017 18:00 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer Leone Lakhani speaks to Adam Meyers from the cyber-security firm CrowdStrike. As the Vice President of Intelligence, Adam heads a team that identifies the perpetrators of cyber-crimes, both in the private and public sectors. CrowdStrike helped to identify the hackers behind the Democratic National Committee's email leaks last year, and more recently the mastermind behind the Kelihos Botnet. Leone speaks to Adam about the challenges and procedur...

Michele Flournoy on the Most Pressing U.S. Security Challenges

April 23, 2017 19:14 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly spends 15 minutes with Michele Flounoy, CEO & Founder of the DC-based think tank the Center For a New American Security (CNAS). She was formerly the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. When President Barack Obama nominated her for the position, she was the highest-ranking woman in the Pentagon’s history.   After President Donald Trump’s election, General James Mattis asked her to be his Deputy Secretary of Defense, a position ...

Jonna Mendez on Mastering Disguise & Illusion at the CIA

April 16, 2017 19:29 - 15 minutes - 22 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Jonna Mendez, who spent 27 years at the CIA, eventually becoming the Chief of Disguise. She’s also a founding board member of the International Spy Museum, where she aims to educate people about the world of espionage. Here, Jonna educates Leone on how she learned from Hollywood makeup artists and magicians, to master illusion and disguise.

Carmen Medina on Diversity at the CIA

April 09, 2017 18:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Carmen Medina, former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence and a long-time advocate of diversity in the Agency. She’s also the co-author of Rebels at Work, a book in which she shares the virtues of being a rebel in the workplace. A self-styled rebel herself, Carmen tells Leone how she shook up the Agency, and why she sees the world differently.

Michael German on Fighting Violent Extremism

April 02, 2017 18:00 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief’s Fritz Lodge speaks to Michael German, author of “Thinking Like a Terrorist” and a former undercover FBI agent, who infiltrated white supremacist groups in the 1990s. Fritz asks Michael how his experiences shaped his understanding of terrorism and how to best fight violent extremism both at home and abroad.

James Mitchell on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

March 26, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 20.6 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief's Senior National Security Editor Steve Hirsch speaks with James Mitchell, a psychologist - and author of Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying to Destroy America. Along with his partner John Bruce Jessen, James carried out debriefings of high profile detainees like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, on behalf of the CIA from 2002 to 2009. Together they created what's known as "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques"...

Robert "Buzz" Patterson on Using the Nuclear Football

March 19, 2017 18:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB

This week The Cipher Brief’s Leone Lakhani speaks to Robert “Buzz” Patterson, who held the “Nuclear Football” for President Bill Clinton. If the United States faces an imminent threat from a foreign power, did you know the President can order a nuclear attack at a moment’s notice? How? One option is by using the “Nuclear Football.” The Football – also known as the President’s Emergency Satchel – is a briefcase that accompanies the President, at all times. So what’s in it? And how does it wor...

Former NATO Dep. Secretary General Alexander Vershbow

March 12, 2017 18:00 - 12 minutes - 16.7 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief's National Security Reporter and Europe Analyst Kaitlin Lavinder speaks with Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO (2012-2016). A changing external threat environment, internal security concerns, and the rise of populist anti-EU political parties leave Europe in a vulnerable position in 2017. Alexander tells Kaitlin how NATO can play a vital role in European security, and how the United States plays an indispensable role. 

John Nixon on Interrogating Saddam Hussein Part II

March 05, 2017 19:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MB

This week The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to John Nixon, author of “Debriefing The President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.”  John was the first CIA analyst to question the Iraqi leader after his capture. He specialized in profiling world leaders for the CIA and spent much of his career studying Saddam.  In the second part of the interview, John describes the interrogation process, and the challenges of analyzing high-profile targets like Sa...

John Nixon on Interrogating Saddam Hussein Part I

February 26, 2017 19:00 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MB

This week The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to John Nixon, author of “Debriefing The President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.”  John – who spent much of his career profiling Saddam – was the first CIA analyst to question the Iraqi leader after his capture.  In the first part of the interview, John describes his thoughts when he finally came face-to-face with the Iraqi leader, what he uncovered about the weapons of mass destruction, and his vie...

Spy Museum's Vince Houghton on How Spies Shaped History

February 19, 2017 23:30 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MB

This week The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Vince Houghton, the curator and historian for The International Spy Museum. With all the intrigue and mystique surrounding the world of spies, the museum attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But as Vince tells Leone, its main mission is to educate the public about the real-life world of espionage – and how spies have shaped the course of history.  

Georgetown's Chris Taylor on Hacking for Defense

February 12, 2017 23:30 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Makhani speaks to Chris Taylor, who leads a course at Georgetown University called "Hacking for Defense". Despite the name, the course isn't just about cyber threats; it uses unique new methodology to find solutions to pressing challenges in national security, brought directly to the class by U.S. government agencies. 

Quilliam's Haras Rafiq on Countering Extremism

February 05, 2017 23:30 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Haras Rafiq, CEO of Quilliam—a UK-based organization whose mission is to counter extremism, in every form. Much of its work surrounds counter-messaging Islamism by creating alternatives and empowering moderate Islamic voices. Leone spoke to Haras about how Quilliam conveys its message.

David Priess on the Untold Story Behind the President's Daily Brief

January 29, 2017 23:30 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to David Priess, a former CIA analyst and author of The President's Book of Secrets, which shares the untold stories and historical perspectives of the president's daily intelligence briefing. Press, who served during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, once worked as a daily intelligence briefer for the CIA himself. He speaks to Leone about the types of details that go into the President's Daily Br...

Antony Blinken on the Diplomatic Challenges Ahead

January 22, 2017 23:30 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Antony Blinken, who served as Deputy Secretary of State under the Obama Administration. As Donald Trump takes office, Leone asks Antony for his views on the diplomatic and security challenges facing this administration. From Russia to North Korea… Syria and Iraq.

Mary Aiken on Cyberpsychology

January 15, 2017 23:30 - 21 minutes - 29.6 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney speaks to Mary Aiken, advisor to Interpol and author of The Cyber Effect. Fionnuala talks to Mary to explain cyber-psychology and the impact of the internet on human behavior.

Corin Stone on Evolving Role of the NSA

January 08, 2017 23:30 - 11 minutes - 16.1 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani speaks to Corin Stone, Executive Director of the National Security Agency. Leone asks Corin about the evolving role of the NSA amid new threats including cyber crime. 

Steve Grobman on Cyber Threat Fight

January 01, 2017 23:30 - 14 minutes - 19.4 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney sits down with Steve Grobman, Chief Security Officer with the Intel Security Group. When it comes to America's security in the cyberspace, the U.S. government and the private sector haven't always seen eye to eye. Fionnuala talks to Grobman about how best to cooperate to the two sectors. 

Suzanne Spaulding on Cyber Security Policy

December 25, 2016 23:30 - 16 minutes - 22.1 MB

This week The Cipher Brief's Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney sits down with Suzanne Spaulding, Under-Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. Fionnuala talks to Suzanne about the development and execution of cyber security policies in the federal government. 

Rob Richer, former Associate Deputy Director for Operations, CIA

December 18, 2016 23:30 - 9 minutes - 9.17 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief’s Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney talks to Rob Richer, former CIA Associate Deputy Director for Operations and formerly chief of Russian Operations, about Donald Trump’s rejection of a recent CIA finding that Russia helped him win the White House,. She asks him for his opinion on Russia’s objectives and how it conducts itself in the field of espionage.

Fmr. CIA Officer & Satirist Alex Finley

December 12, 2016 02:33 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

This week, The Cipher Brief’s Executice Editor Fionnuala Sweeney speaks to Alex Finley, a former CIA officer who served in West Africa and Europe. Alex has gained a niche cult following with the publication earlier this year of her satirical novel, ‘Victor in the Ruble’ which depicts the trials and tribulations of an overseas CIA counter-terrosim officer whose biggest enemy turns out to be Agency red tape. Alex, not her real name, discusses the impact a Trump administration might have on the...

Gen. Jack Keane on Gen. Mattis

December 02, 2016 15:01 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MB

This week, In a post–election special edition, The Cipher Brief's Executive Editor Fionnuala Sweeney talks to Jack Keane, retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Army Staff. Fionnuala asks General Keane for his insight on President-elect Donald Trump's choice of retired General James Mattis (whose name Keane recommended to the transition team) as Secretary of Defense. 

Steve Murphy of "Narcos" (Part 1)

December 02, 2016 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB

This week, in a special edition of 15 minutes, The Cipher Brief’s Executive Producer and Reporter Leone Lakhani talks to Steve Murphy, one of the DEA agents who was instrumental in bringing down Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Murphy and his partner Javier Pena were depicted in the Netflix series Narcos, during their hunt for Escobar. To mark Escobar’s death anniversary, Leone sits down with Murphy for a special edition of 15 minutes. In the first part of the interview, she asks him how m...