Target USA Podcast by WTOP
Latest Episodes
Target USA -- Ep. 191 | The Fog of Espionage Part 4: Conclusion
In this series we've learned that there are more than three million spies around the world eyeing the U.S. We've examined who they are and the tactics they use. A former U.S. agent gave us a glimpse into a day in the life of American...
Target USA – Episode 190 | The Fog of Espionage Part 3: A day in the life of a spy
What's it like to be an American spy? There are two scenarios: an American who is spying for the U.S. government, and an American overseas who’s running spies. Either way, it’s a complicated, dangerous and nerve-wracking experience....
Target USA -- Episode 189 | The Fog of Espionage Part 2: Cuba -- small country, perhaps the most dangerous spies
Russia and China are espionage powerhouses, but a tiny nation may be the most dangerous of all. Cuba has run an extensive spying operation inside the U.S. for decades and, according to sources, continues to this day. One of its spies was...
Target USA -- Episode 188 | The Fog of Espionage Part 1: Dragons and poisonous snakes
Peering through the still lingering haze of the Cold War, U.S. intelligence officials and their allies have detected murky, ominous crisis sweeping the planet. As the mist of an uncertain future, driven by new “Great Power” conflicts, roll...
Target USA -- Episode 187: Congress gets involved in attempts to free an American from a Russian prison
On the prior episode, we got news that Paul Whelan -- who's being held in a Russian prison on espionage charges -- had been injured and had complained about rough treatment by guards. Since news from his family about his worsening condition...
Target USA Episode 186 -- American held in Russian custody on espionage charges suffers injury
Paul Whelan has been held in Russia’s notorious KGB-era prison, Lefortovo, since December of 2018. He’s allegedly committed espionage. No evidence has been presented. No indictment has been handed up and despite public ridicule, Russia’s...
Target USA Episode 185 -- DHS intensifies efforts to prevent mass attacks and fear in communities
There have been four mass shootings since July. Forty four people have died. Brian Harrell, assistant director of the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency, tells Target USA they're taking action.
Target USA -- Episode 184: Islamic State group faces a big hurdle as it tries to reconstitute
Since its so-called "caliphate" collapsed in October 2018, the Islamic State group has remained a threat. It’s killed more than 400 people in worldwide terror attacks. Colonel Scott Rawlinson, spokesman for U.S.-led Operation Inherent...
Target USA -- Episode 183: Russian operatives harass, intimidate American journalists in Africa
The potency of Clarissa Ward’s reporting from the Central African Republic for CNN is undeniable. We talk with her about the dangerous proposition of trying to uncover the exploits of “Putin’s Army,” better known as the Wagner group, a...
Target USA -- Episode 182: Interview with Philip Mudd, author of 'Black Site: The CIA in the Post-9/11 World'
During an event recorded in front of a live audience at D.C.'s Politics and Prose bookstore and punctuated by light moments and difficult questions from the audience, host JJ Green interviewed author Philip Mudd about the hours and...