Inside Russia’s Spy Factory in Brazil: Deep-Cover Operatives Targeting the U.S.

On this episode, Andy sits down with Yaakov Katz, veteran journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, to unpack the hard lessons of October 7th and the evolving threats in the Middle East. Katz draws on three decades of reporting on Israeli defense and military affairs to explain how Hamas transformed from a fringe insurgency into a formidable force, the blind spots within Israel’s defense establishment, and the unintended consequences of overreliance on the Iron Dome. He also examines Iran’s deepening ties to Hamas, the intelligence gaps inside Gaza, and the ethical dilemmas of modern warfare in urban environments.  Katz’s forthcoming book, While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, will be released on September 2, 2025 Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared (Megaphone only)  Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode , Andy talks with Jack Barsky, a former KGB spy, who lived undercover in the United States during the Cold War. Barsky details how the Soviet Union recruited and trained him, the high-stakes challenges of creating a new American identity, and the constant pressure of balancing a normal life with espionage. He recounts the dramatic moment the FBI caught up with him, the tactics he used to escape the KGB’s grip, and what his story reveals about the hidden world of Russian intelligence. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Michael Schwirtz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national security reporter for The New York Times. They discuss a recent investigation that uncovered a Russian “spy factory” in Brazil, where spies created credible long-term identities under the Illegals program. These operatives are trained to conduct deep-cover missions targeting countries including the U.S. Schwirtz also explains the challenges intelligence agencies face with modern technology, the role of Brazilian authorities in uncovering these spies, and the complexities of international spy swaps. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared  Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Andy and former Green Beret and CIA operative Scott Mann break down reports that the Trump administration is working with Palantir to build a centralized citizen database. With critics from all sides warning of authoritarian overreach, they explore what this means for privacy, national security, and the future of civil liberties in America. Focal Point is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors:  Marek Health Take control of your health today! Head to https://www.MarekHealth.com and use code FOCALPOINT for 10% off at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of Change Agents, Andy speaks with journalist Max Read about the evolution of rationalism and the emergence of the Zizians, a splinter group with radical beliefs. The conversation explores the origins of the group, the role of its central figure Ziz, and the intersection of technology, ideology, and identity. They also examine the dynamics of online communities, the influence of militant veganism within the group, and what the rise of the Zizians suggests about the broader rationalist movement and its place in Silicon Valley. To Visit Max’s substack: https://maxread.substack.com/ Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Andy talks with Glenn Chafetz, former CIA analyst and expert on strategic culture and national security. They discuss the evolution of nuclear weapons policy, the role of trust and treaties in international relations, and how changing global alliances are affecting stability. Glenn draws on his experience to provide context on nuclear proliferation and its implications for the future of global security. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors:  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Andy speaks with national security expert Nicholas Eftimiades about the recent arrest of two Chinese nationals charged with acting as unregistered agents of China’s Ministry of State Security. The pair allegedly targeted U.S. Navy personnel and gathered intelligence on military sites across multiple states. Drawing from decades of experience in the CIA, DIA, and State Department, Eftimiades explains how China’s intelligence operations function, why the U.S. military is a key focus, and what this case signals about the broader landscape of Chinese espionage efforts inside the United States. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors:  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared (don’t put it on Youtube, megaphone only) Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Andy talks with Cory Gautereaux—Army veteran and founder of The G.O.A.T. Initiative—about what he’s uncovered along remote sections of the southern border. From finding discarded passports from countries like China and Venezuela, to accessing a smuggler’s Chinese phone, to identifying stretches of the border that remain completely unguarded, Cory shares raw details from the ground.  To find out more about the GOAT Initiative, visit:  https://thegoatinitiative.org/ Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared  Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Andy sits down with Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a leading expert on Iran sanctions and U.S. foreign policy. Dubowitz has advised multiple U.S. administrations and lawmakers on strategies to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities. The conversation covers the evolution of U.S.-Iran relations, the effectiveness and limitations of sanctions, and the impact of domestic political divisions on international strategy. Dubowitz also examines the importance of historical context and discusses the potential role of supporting internal dissent within Iran as part of a broader policy approach. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors:  Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode originally aired on January 3, 2024. On today's episode, Andy sits down with Nick Bryant, an investigative journalist, podcaster, author, and expert on human trafficking who is credited with helping to expose the widespread abuse of Jeffrey Epstein and his criminal associates. He is also the author of the book The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Powerbrokers Child Abuse & Betrayal. His new book, The Truth About Watergate: A Tale of Extraordinary Lies and Liars, will be released on Jan. 15.  He is also the Director of the organization Epstein Justice. Learn more here ⁠https://epsteinjustice.com/⁠ Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices