Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine

Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine

Written and narrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tim Weiner, Whirlwind: America, Russia & Ukraine examines the ongoing war in Ukraine, the worst war in Europe since WWII, in interviews with decorated, high-ranking CIA veterans who have led the American intelligence war with Russia for decades. These experts explain how Putin laid the groundwork for attacking Ukraine using deception and disinformation, how Russian disinformation has been amplified by American media figures and politicians, and how American political warfare can undermine Putin and the Kremlin. Whirlwind is an Audacy original presented in partnership with Tim Weiner and Jigsaw Productions.

Episodes

Ep 0: Welcome to Whirlwind, Season One

September 2, 2020 • 2 mins
Season One of Whirlwind is a 10-part documentary podcast franchise that tells the story of how the United States sped the collapse of the Soviet Union, how American political warfare sputtered and died in the 21st century, how Vladimir Putin struck blows against American power and influence beginning in 2007 – and how the next president could strike back. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologu...
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Ep 1: Agents of Influence

September 23, 2020 • 55 mins
In the series premiere of Whirlwind, host Tim Weiner tells the story of Samuel Dickstein, an American Congressman who turned out to be working for the enemy as an “agent of influence.” Joined by guests Alexander Vassiliev, a former KGB officer turned journalist; Leon Panetta, former CIA director; Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, former CIA intelligence officer; and journalist Catherine Belton, Tim explores the possibility that there’s an “agen...
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Ep 2: Wilderness of Mirrors

September 23, 2020 • 58 mins
The story of James Jesus Angleton, an obsessive reader of poetry who became the CIA’s chief of counterintelligence, and grew obsessed with the threat of Soviet moles infiltrating American institutions. Host Tim Weiner is joined by former CIA officers John Sipher and Rolf Mowatt-Larssen and former KGB officer-turned-journalist Alexander Vassiliev. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Project...
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Ep 3: Poland is Not Yet Lost

September 30, 2020 • 59 mins
The story of the CIA’s secret support for the Solidarity movement in Poland. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Polish political activist Jacek Bendykowski, former Director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and author Seth Jones. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-pol...
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Ep 4: The Italian Job

October 7, 2020 • 36 mins
In 1948, Italy has an important national vote and so begins one of the CIA's finest traditions: foreign election interference. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Professor Victoria de Grazia and journalists Maurizio Molinari and Paolo Mastrolilli. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-p...
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Ep 5: The Department of Disinformation

October 14, 2020 • 52 mins
The KGB specialized in fake news, and its Department of Disinformation successfully spread lies around the world. But starting in the 1980s, America began to fight back. Host Tim Weiner is joined by two members of that fight, Dr. Kathleen Bailey and Dr. John Lenczowski. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https:...
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Ep 6: The Cold Peace

October 21, 2020 • 47 mins
The Cold War finally ends, but a series of American actions in the 1990s lay the groundwork for renewed tensions. Host Tim Weiner is joined by Andrei Kozyrev, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1996, and Doug Wise, a CIA veteran and former Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects. To learn more about listener data and...
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Ep 7: Perfect Weapons

October 28, 2020 • 47 mins
Russia develops new tools for political warfare in the 21st century, making Estonia and Ukraine victims of a new kind of combat - cyberwarfare - and laying the groundwork for an attack against the United States in 2016. Host Tim Weiner is joined by former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre Merle Maigre, and cybersecurity analyst Kenneth Geers. In partnership with Ca...
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Ep 8: Crossfire

November 4, 2020 • 50 mins
In 2014, Russia began carrying out a new kind of Internet-based political warfare. It was an attack so brazen and so novel that American intelligence did not understand it until it was too late. Host Tim Weiner is joined by New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt, former FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok, and CNN analyst Asha Rangappa. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a production of Prologue Projects....
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Ep 9: Post-Truth

November 11, 2020 • 56 mins
By undermining trust in facts and institutions, Donald Trump hasn’t just charted a new path for American government — he has followed a playbook perfected by Vladimir Putin. Host Tim Weiner is joined by John Brennan, former director of the CIA; journalist Masha Gessen; and his daughter Emma BB Doyle, who works in food justice and thinks he might be wrong about everything. In partnership with Cadence13, Jigsaw Productions and a prod...
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Ep 10: Counterforce

November 18, 2020 • 56 mins
As the United States moves on from the Trump presidency, it begins adjusting to meet the demands of 21st century geopolitics. In the final episode of the series, host Tim Weiner is joined by Linda Robinson, a a senior international/defense researcher at the RAND Corporation, and David Sanger, the chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, to discuss deep fakes, cyberattacks, and the future of political warfare. In partn...
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Welcome to Whirlwind, Season 2

April 12, 2022 • 2 mins
Russia is committing atrocities, destroying cities and killing thousands of civilians in Ukraine. But Putin’s dreams of conquest are being shattered – first and foremost by the will of the Ukrainian people – but also by American counter-efforts. And now, as Ukraine fights for freedom, democracy, and truth, so does the world. In two new episodes, C13Originals re-teams with Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author...
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Part 1: The Invisible War

April 13, 2022 • 36 mins
Four CIA veterans explore how American intelligence is shaping the battlefield in Ukraine--and taking the fight to Russia. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Part 2: Empire of Lies

April 13, 2022 • 35 mins
As the war rages in Ukraine, experts examine the power of information and disinformation in the battle between democracy and autocracy--in Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Introducing About A Boy: The Story of Vladimir Putin

October 5, 2023 • 3 mins
In the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is always seen as one of two things: KGB spy or judo master. But to anyone who’s ever lived in the Soviet Union, Putin is something else entirely: a street kid. Join journalist Julia Ioffe as she explores how Putin’s childhood taught him lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.co...
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