Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
@secretsandspies.bsky.social
A transatlantic spy podcast exploring the world of espionage, terrorism, geopolitics, and intrigue | Co-hosted by @chriscarrfilm.bsky.social and @mattfulton.net | linktr.ee/secretsandspies
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New Episode: Author Stephen Bates joins Chris to tell the story of Maundy Gregory, the fixer who literally sold British honours. How did he get away with it—and what does it reveal about cash, peerages, and the health of UK democracy?
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
New Twist In Effort To End The War In Ukraine
(But Putin doesn't like it. So who will the US back?)
www.twz.com/news-feature...
(But Putin doesn't like it. So who will the US back?)
www.twz.com/news-feature...
New Twist In Effort To End The War In Ukraine
After outright rejecting a previous draft of highly controversial deal points, Zelensky appears more amenable to a new one.
www.twz.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 AM
New Twist In Effort To End The War In Ukraine
(But Putin doesn't like it. So who will the US back?)
www.twz.com/news-feature...
(But Putin doesn't like it. So who will the US back?)
www.twz.com/news-feature...
Zelensky welcomes amendments to proposed peace plan
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Volodymyr Zelensky warns against giving away territory to Russia, as latest Ukraine talks end
There was optimism following the talks in Geneva, but no details emerged on how to bridge the huge divide between Moscow and Kyiv over territory and security guarantees.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Zelensky welcomes amendments to proposed peace plan
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
On the Internet No One Knows You’re a “MAGA patriot” in Lagos
By @noupside.bsky.social
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
By @noupside.bsky.social
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
On the Internet No One Knows You’re a “MAGA patriot” in Lagos
On X's new location feature...
agentsofinfluence.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
On the Internet No One Knows You’re a “MAGA patriot” in Lagos
By @noupside.bsky.social
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
By @noupside.bsky.social
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
Statement by Trump administration confirms longstanding suspicions that Musk-led agency is on its way out
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
That doesn’t exist’: Doge reportedly quietly disbanded ahead of schedule
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Judge dismisses cases against ex-FBI boss James Comey and NY attorney general Letitia James
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Live updates: Judge dismisses against James Comey and Letitia James
A judge rules the US attorney, who brought the case against Trump's political foes, was improperly appointed.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Judge dismisses cases against ex-FBI boss James Comey and NY attorney general Letitia James
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
Trump administration's proposed Ukraine-Russia peace plan now 19 points: Ukrainian official
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Trump administration's proposed Ukraine-Russia peace plan now 19 points: Ukrainian official
The initial 28-point peace plan now has 19 points, according to the official. It is unclear what points were removed.
abcnews.go.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Trump administration's proposed Ukraine-Russia peace plan now 19 points: Ukrainian official
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday have escaped.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fifty children escape after mass school abduction in Nigeria
The raid on a Christian school came amid a surge of attacks by armed groups in the African nation.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday have escaped.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
However Trump added: "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS," Trump wrote earlier on his Truth Social platform, also blasting European countries for not doing enough to stop the war, but offering no direct condemnation of Moscow. — So it’s not going that well!
November 24, 2025 at 2:51 AM
However Trump added: "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS," Trump wrote earlier on his Truth Social platform, also blasting European countries for not doing enough to stop the war, but offering no direct condemnation of Moscow. — So it’s not going that well!
US and Ukraine report 'good progress' in Geneva talks on ending the war
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
US and Ukraine report 'good progress' in Geneva talks on ending the war
Ukrainian, American and European officials are holding talks in Geneva on Sunday over Donald Trump's proposed 'peace' plan, which many view as tilted in Russia's favor.
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 AM
US and Ukraine report 'good progress' in Geneva talks on ending the war
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
A century before today’s donor rows, Maundy Gregory turned titles into a marketplace. In our latest episode, Stephen Bates explains how he monetised access to power and why his story still echoes in modern cash-for-honours scandals.
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A century before today’s donor rows, Maundy Gregory turned titles into a marketplace. In our latest episode, Stephen Bates explains how he monetised access to power and why his story still echoes in modern cash-for-honours scandals.
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
🎧 pod.fo/e/357dd4
🎥 youtu.be/RkBRVAO8kXY
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer | CNN
Earlier this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to build Europe’s strongest army – a tall order for a country whose military has undergone years of neglect.
www.cnn.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Germany wants to build Europe’s strongest army – a new conscription bill is moving that closer
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/e...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
Tether tokens found to facilitate scheme that enables sanctions evasion and launders money for the Kremlin
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort, investigators say
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
It isn't even clear that the Kremlin likes this plan
NEW: Russian officials and state media continue to set information conditions to reject the US-proposed 28-point peace plan, indicating that the Kremlin is actively conditioning the Russian people to not accept anything less than a full victory in Ukraine. 🧵(1/8)
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar112225
Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar112225
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
It isn't even clear that the Kremlin likes this plan
Reposted by Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
Sex trafficking on Meta platforms was both difficult to report and widely tolerated. Instagram’s former head of safety testified that when she joined Meta in 2020 she was shocked to learn the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the “trafficking of humans for sex.”
7 Allegations Against Meta in Newly Unsealed Filings
Court filings allege Meta tolerated sex trafficking, hid harms to teens, and prioritized growth over user safety for years.
time.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Sex trafficking on Meta platforms was both difficult to report and widely tolerated. Instagram’s former head of safety testified that when she joined Meta in 2020 she was shocked to learn the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the “trafficking of humans for sex.”
In Ukraine's 'kill-zone', robots are a lifeline to troops trapped on perilous eastern front
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How robots are a lifeline to troops on Ukraine's eastern front
Land drones are increasingly the only means of transporting supplies to the embattled city of Pokrovsk.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
In Ukraine's 'kill-zone', robots are a lifeline to troops trapped on perilous eastern front
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tommy Robinson supporters are turning to Christianity, leaving the Church in a dilemma
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why Tommy Robinson supporters are turning to Christianity
The Church of England is grappling with what to do about followers of the far-right figure embracing faith.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Tommy Robinson supporters are turning to Christianity, leaving the Church in a dilemma
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
According to the former Trump adviser, 'This White House wants Ukraine to capitulate to Russian demands to end this war, without proper consideration of all the factors at play.'
www.lemonde.fr
November 23, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Fiona Hill, geopolitical strategist: 'The US is giving Russia tremendous influence over Europe'
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
US operations against Venezuela to begin within days.
Covert ops the first move.
Covert ops the first move.
www.reuters.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
US operations against Venezuela to begin within days.
Covert ops the first move.
Covert ops the first move.
Reposted by Secrets & Spies Podcast: Global Affairs | Intelligence
Clown show.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a call to senators, confirmed the so-called 28-point “peace plan” was actually a Russian wishlist and is “not the administration’s position”. Nor is there any threat to cut off weapons or intelligence to Ukraine.
November 23, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Clown show.
China in ‘covert and calculated’ effort to recruit MPs and peers, minister says
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China in ‘covert and calculated’ effort to recruit MPs and peers, minister says
Dan Jarvis gives Commons statement after MI5 alert about LinkedIn profiles of Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:52 PM
China in ‘covert and calculated’ effort to recruit MPs and peers, minister says
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...