S8 Ep57: Inside the blockbuster US-Russia prisoner swap with Shane Harris

On today’s episode, Washington Post national security reporter and friend of the show, Shane Harris, joins Matt to discuss last week's historic prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, securing the release of several prominent journalists and pro-democracy activists. Shane dives into his reporting on the swap, detailing months of delicate negotiations, who the Russians got in return, and touches on the complicated question of whether these exchanges incentivize autocrats like Putin to take hostage more Westerners and journalists to extract concessions from their governments.Read Shane’s work for The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/shane-harris/Follow Shane on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaneharrisFollow Shane on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@shanewharrisReporting and groups discussed in the episode"Inside the deal that led to a blockbuster prisoner swap between US, Russia" by Shane Harris, Yasmeen Abutaleb & Souad Mekhennet: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/08/01/deal-us-russia-prisoner-swap/Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.orgJames Foley Legacy Foundation: https://jamesfoleyfoundation.orgSupport Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3: www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996 Subscribe to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDVB23lrHr3KFeXq4VU36dgFor more information about the podcast, check out our website: https://secretsandspiespodcast.comConnect with us on social mediaX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SecretsAndSpiesInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesBlue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpies Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.