S9 Ep43: Espresso Martini | Hegseth on the Ropes, Putin’s Diplomat Spy, and Listener Questions

This week, Chris and Matt unpack the deepening chaos at the Pentagon as Pete Hegseth’s tenure as secretary of defense continues to spiral. From more leaked strike plans on Signal to staff purges and his wife sitting in on sensitive meetings, the dysfunction is reaching new lows. Then, a little-known Russian spymaster emerges as a key player in Ukraine peace talks, just as far-right ideologues inside Russia insist on total victory at any cost. Plus, listener questions on Europe’s military independence, Bulgaria’s role in Russian espionage, and the EU’s Orbán problem.Subscribe and share to stay ahead in the world of intelligence, geopolitics, and current affairs.Please share this episode using these linksAudio: https://pod.fo/e/2cd1a9YouTube: https://youtu.be/p2hm0KZYiYkArticles discussed in today’s episode"Info Hegseth shared with wife and brother came from top general's secure messages" by Courtney Kube & Gordon Lubold | NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/info-pete-hegseth-shared-wife-brother-came-top-generals-secure-message-rcna198838"Under Hegseth, Chaos Prevails at the Pentagon" by Greg Jaffe & Helene Cooper | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/us/politics/hegseth-chaos-pentagon.html"The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary" by Tom Bowman & Quil Lawrence | NPR: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/21/nx-s1-5371312/trump-white-house-pete-hegseth-defense-department"Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat" by Greg Jaffe, Eric Schmitt & Maggie Haberman | The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/politics/hegseth-yemen-attack-second-signal-chat.html"Two top Pentagon officials placed on leave in leak probe" by Daniel Lippman & Jack Detsch | Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/caldwell-pentagon-leaks-00291735"Real reason Pete Hegseth's wife Jennifer Rauchet won't let him out of her sight …and the secret nickname she has earned from Pentagon staffers" by Susan Greene | Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14636555/pete-hegseth-wife-jennifer-rauchet-pentagon-secret-nickname-staffers.html"Who is Sergey Beseda, Russian spy handler leading talks with US?" by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent: https://kyivindependent.com/sergey-beseda-russias-negotiator-in-saudi-arabia-and-his-role-in-ukraines-war/"The Russian Nationalists Pushing for Ukraine’s Destruction" by Giovanni Pigni | New Lines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/the-russian-nationalists-pushing-for-victory-in-ukraine/"Sweden’s Bigger Badder Gripen Fighter Packs A Lot Of Punch In An Incredibly Efficient Package" by Jamie Hunter | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/39081/swedens-bigger-badder-gripen-fighter-packs-a-lot-of-punch-in-an-incredibly-efficient-package"Escalating Trade War Raises Questions Over Canada’s F-35 Future" by Thomas Newdick | The War Zone: https://www.twz.com/air/escalating-trade-war-raises-questions-over-canadas-f-35-future"A Weak Link in NATO? Bulgaria, Russia, and the Lure of Espionage" by Mark Kramer | Davis Center for Russian & Eurasian Studies: https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/insights/weak-link-nato-bulgaria-russia-and-lure-espionageThanks for listener questions from Julie, Sam, and Richard!Support Secrets and SpiesBecome a “Friend of the Podcast” on Patreon for £3/$4: https://www.patreon.com/SecretsAndSpiesBuy merchandise from our Redbubble shop: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/60934996Subscribe 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 mediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/secretsandspies.bsky.socialInstagram: https://instagram.com/secretsandspiesFacebook: https://facebook.com/secretsandspiesSpoutible: https://spoutible.com/SecretsAndSpiesFollow Chris and Matt on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/fultonmatt.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/chriscarrfilm.bsky.socialSecrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.Music by Andrew R. BirdPhotos by Eric Lee/NYT and Sgt. 1st Class Marisol Walker/US ArmySecrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.