Podcasts · Government · News

Foreign Office with Michael Weiss

The DSR Network

90 episodes

Foreign Office is a weekly interview podcast hosted by Michael Weiss, from New Lines Magazine and Free Russia Foundation, dedicated to those ever-relevant subjects of Russian intelligence operations and active measures. Featured guests include prominent historians and scholars, journalists, diplomats, and ex-spies.

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. Compelling Investigation Suggests Havana Syndrome Points to Russian Operatives

    · 44 min

    Investigative journalists Christo Grozev, Roman Dobrokhotov and Michael Weiss have been looking into the Havana Syndrome since 2020. They initially approached the topic skeptically, questioning the capability of any…

  2. To Catch a Spy in Estonia - A Conversation with Toomas Ilves and Dan Hoffman

    · 1 h 02 min

    Last week, reports surfaced of a teacher in Estonia who was charged with spying for Russia. Host Michael Weiss discusses this as well as the state of the Russia/Ukraine war with former President of Estonia Toomas…

  3. The Future of the Middle East

    · 56 min

    All eyes are on Israel and Gaza as the conflict threatens to spread throughout the region. But how have the key regional actors responded? Michael Weiss is joined by Faysal Itani, the Director of the New Lines…

  4. Behind the Front Lines in Ukraine - A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Tingle

    · 1 h 00 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Dr. Anthony (Tony) Tingle, Program Director of the Institute for Future Conflict at the United States Air Force Academy where he oversees research on regional conflict and military…

  5. The Ukraine War - Where Are We and Where Do We Go From Here?

    · 46 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Australian Retired General Mick Ryan. Mick is a military analyst who served in the ADF for more than 35 years and was commander of the Australia Defence College. He is the author of War…

  6. The Death of Yevgeny Prigozhin: A Foreign Office Special Episode

    · 55 min

    On this special episode of Foreign Office, Michael is joined by Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian investigative journalist, political scientist and former activist and Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist…

  7. Sweden’s Role on the International Stage: A Conversation with Martin Kragh

    · 59 min

    Sweden is set to join NATO as Turkey drops their objections. They’ve also been staunch supporters of Ukraine in the effort against Russia. To understand Sweden’s role on the international stage, Michael speaks with…

  8. Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West

    · 1 h 07 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Calder Walton, Assistant Director of the Belfer Center's Applied History Project and Intelligence Project at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of the book, “Spies: The Epic Intelligence…

  9. The Ukraine Counteroffensive, Cluster Munitions and Putin: A Conversation with Ambassador Kaimo Kuusk

    · 45 min

    This week, Michael sits down with Estonia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Kaimo Kuusk, who has been in the post since 2019. Ambassador Kuusk will soon become the Ambassador to Lithuania, but before he takes his new post, he…

  10. An In-Depth View of the Prigozhin Led March on Moscow with Pierre Vaux

    · 1 h 18 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Pierre Vaux, a researcher specializing in open-source investigations, conducting digital forensic analysis of hostile state activity, disinformation and extremism. As a journalist, he has…

  11. From the Archive: Foreign Office #25. A 21st Century SMERSH

    · 27 min

    Michael Weiss is on assignment this week. In light of this weekend's events, we're bringing you an episode from the Foreign Office archive. Bellingcat's Christo Grozev on what the latest disclosures out of Bulgaria…

  12. Vatnik Soup: A Conversation with Pekka Kallioniemi

    · 49 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Pekka Kallioniemi, a postdoctoral researcher working in the field of human-computer interaction at Tampere University. He is the creator and author of Vatnik Soup, a Twitter thread series…

  13. On the Ground In Ukraine with James Rushton

    · 54 min · Explicit

    Michael’s guest this week is James Rushton, a journalist at Yahoo News who is covering the Ukraine-Russia war from his home in Kyiv. He’s been reporting amidst air raid sirens and other challenges and is extremely…

  14. Is the Ukraine Counter-Offensive Imminent?

    · 51 min

    Michael’s guest this week is Jennifer Cafarella, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Jennifer and her team of analysts have been providing detailed reports and interactive…

  15. A Comprehensive Look at Wagner and Prigozhin

    · 52 min

    This week, Michael’s guest is Jack Margolin, an independent journalist and researcher with a particular focus on private Russian military companies, including Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner Group. Michael and Jack…

  16. Foreign Office with Michael Weiss: A Conversation with Andrei Kozyrev

    · 47 min

    This week, Michael’s guest is Andrei Kozyrev, who was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation under President Boris Yeltsin. In his position, he was credited with developing Russia's foreign…

  17. The Ground Truth: What's Really Going On in Ukraine?

    · 42 min · Explicit

    After a brief hiatus, host Michael Weiss is back, fresh off a trip to Ukraine. He, along with special guest, former CIA Intelligence Officer Marc Polymeropoulos, discuss what's actually happening in Ukraine from…

  18. The Battle for Bahkmut: A Conversation with Sir Lawrence Freedman

    · 51 min

    This week, host Michael Weiss sits down with Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at Kings College, London and author of a new book, “Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to…

  19. #72. Mykola Bielieskov on Bakhmut and much more

    · 47 min

    Michael Weiss discusses the strategic importance of Bakhmut and the large Ukrainian military strategy with Mykola Bielieskov, Research Fellow at National Institute for Strategic Studies under UA President/senior…

  20. Foreign Office #71. Kinzinger on 1/6, Ukraine and the GOP

    · 56 min · Episode 71

    The former Illinois Representative talks war — both abroad and at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  21. Foreign Office #70. Prigozhin and Wagner and Trolls—Oh My

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 70

    Renee DiResta of the Stanford Internet Observatory on the latest attempts to retcon Russia’s election interference Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  22. Foreign Office #69. The View from Kyiv

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 69

    Yahoo contributor James Rushton and 'The Killer in the Kremlin' John Sweeney on covering the war from Ukraine and what to expect next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  23. Foreign Office #68. Will Ukraine Get F-16s?

    · 44 min · Episode 68

    U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jahara Matisek explains the debate around sending Western jets to Kyiv. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  24. Foreign Office #67. Why Russia's War Is In Even Worse Shape Than It Looks

    · 38 min · Episode 67

    Eliot Cohen, Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, explains why he's optimistic Ukraine will win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  25. Foreign Office #66. “Putin’s Folly”

    · 1 h 07 min

    Author Owen Mathews on his latest book Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin’s War Against Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  26. Foreign Office #65. On Ukraine's Military Adaptability

    · 42 min · Episode 65

    Gen. Mick Ryan explains how Ukraine has handled Western weapons platforms, and why it's wisely gone back to a war of "corrosion" against Russian forces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  27. Foreign Office #64. The Kyvian Reshuffle

    · 33 min · Episode 64

    What’s behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s sacking of his SBU chief and Prosecutor General? Ukrainian journalist Viktor Kovalenko explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  28. Foreign Office #63. The Fellas of NAFO

    · 36 min · Episode 63

    How a dog avatar became a meme that chased a Russian ambassador off Twitter (for a while). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  29. Foreign Office #62. On Coups and Illegals

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 62

    Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropolous discusses the capture of a GRU illegal trying to infiltrate the ICC -- and whether or not former National Security Adviser John Bolton could really plan a "coup." Learn more…

  30. Foreign Office #61. The Battle of Donbas

    · 50 min

    War reporter Danny Gold on his time at Ukraine’s eastern front Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  31. Foreign Office #60. What is Wrong With Germany?

    · 58 min

    Benjamin Tallis explains the Sholz government's wobbliness on Ukraine and why old habits die hard in Berlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  32. Foreign Office #59. How Mapmaking Explains Conflicts

    · 55 min

    Nathan Ruser combined open source intelligence and cartography to offer a more precise and explanatory visual of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  33. Foreign Office #58. What Ukraine Has -- And What It Still Needs

    · 39 min

    James Rushton, an independent national security analyst, on the Western weapons systems sent to help Ukraine defend the Donbas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  34. Foreign Office #57. The Russian Dissident in Jail

    · 26 min

    Evgenia Kara-Murza talks about her husband Vladimir's latest arrest in Moscow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  35. Foreign Office #56. How Military Analysts Got Russia's War So Wrong

    · 53 min

    Phillips O'Brien, a professor a strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, on why so many overestimated Russia's military capability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  36. Foreign Office #55. On Ukraine's Non-Neutrality

    · 33 min · S1 E55

    Olexander Scherba, Ukraine's former ambassador to Vienna, on why his country will never be like Austria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  37. Foreign Office #54. Putin’s Purge

    · 34 min · S1 E54

    Russian journalists Andrei Soldatov on how the FSB’s Fifth Service is taking the blame for failure in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  38. Foreign Office #53. On Defending Kyiv

    · 29 min

    Pavlo Kalyuk, the community organizer for Podil, explains why he isn't leaving Ukraine's besieged capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  39. Foreign Office #52. Our Man in Kyiv

    · 27 min · S1 E52

    British journalist John Sweeney reports from Ukraine's besieged capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  40. Foreign Office #51. The view from Ukraine

    · 39 min · S1 E51

    Agnieszka Legucka recently returned from Eastern Ukraine, offers her perspective of what happens next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  41. Foreign Office #50. Information war as a prelude to real war

    · 58 min · S1 E50

    Peter Pomerantsev and Vladislav Davidson discuss the messaging about an intending Russian invasion of Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  42. Foreign Office #49. Russia Prepares the Battlespace in Ukraine

    · 47 min · S1 E49

    Hybrid War Expert Liubov Tsybulska on how Russia’s “imminent” invasion is already underway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  43. Foreign Office #48. A Likely Attack

    · 46 min · S1 E48

    Robert Lee, a Russian military analyst, says Putin's buildup at Ukraine's borders means only one thing: an invasion is coming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  44. Foreign Office #47. The Crisis in Kazakhstan

    · 47 min · S1 E47

    Human rights lawyer Steve Swerdlow and scholar Diana Kudaibergenova on the recent turmoil in the Central Asian republic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  45. Foreign Office #46. Putin’s Expendables

    · 46 min · S1 E46

    Journalists Holger Roonemaa and Mattias Carlsson discuss their joint investigation with @foreignoffpod into the notorious Russian mercenary corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  46. Foreign Office #45. The Case Against Assange

    · 50 min · S1 E45

    National security attorney Mark Zaid explains the US government’s indictments of the Wikileaks founder, history of the Espionage Act, and why this case is unique. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

  47. Foreign Office #44. The State of Iraq

    · 47 min · S1 E44

    Newlines Institute senior analyst Rasha Al Qeedi dissects the results of the last election and how the country has changed since America's invasion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  48. Foreign Office #43. Once Bitten, Twice Bold

    · 1 h 00 min · S1 E43

    Ambassador Daniels Fried on why the US keeps making the same mistakes with Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  49. Foreign Office #42. How the Kremlin Manipulates the Anti-Money Laundering System

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E42

    Attorney Jonathan Reich explains how financial safeguards against criminality are being used to target Russian dissidents and exiles from Putin's regime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  50. Foreign Office #41. Why the American Right Loves Orban

    · 46 min · S1 E41

    Hungarian writer Peter Kreko explains how a Central European country of ten million became the lodestar for a new breed of North American conservative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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