Best Communist Part Of The United States Podcasts (2025)

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From Intel Officer to White House Adviser: A Chat with The Museum’s Executive Director 35:03

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18h ago35:03

35:03

This week we spoke with the International Spy Museum's Executive Director, Colonel Chris Costa. His decades-long career in the intelligence community spanned multiple continents, running sensitive operations in Panama, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he earned two Bronze stars for his human intelligence contributions. Later, Costa advised Navy…

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“America’s Gatekeeper”: A Conversation with DCSA’s Director David Cattler 32:00

8d ago32:00

32:00

Born out of a major Chinese cyberattack that stole personal information from millions of federal government employees, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency calls itself ‘America’s Gatekeeper.’ Now five years into its existence, it’s responsible for overseeing most of the security clearances for government personnel and contractors. D…

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Russia's Fake Identity Assembly Line in Brazil 33:44

15d ago33:44

33:44

When a Russian spy was arrested in Brazil in 2022, authorities were shocked to discover that he seemed to have a real birth certificate and authentic citizenship documents. The incident sparked a multi-year investigation that uncovered a network of Russian operatives living and working in Brazil – Their false identities supported by genuine documen…

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Breaking the Silence: Coming Out in the CIA 34:42

22d ago34:42

34:42

Emerging alongside Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare in the 1950s was the Lavender Scare: Widespread panic and paranoia over the inclusion of gay personnel in the federal government. Their perceived dangers led to the terminations and forced resignations of thousands. Fast forward to 1988 – Tracey Ballard, who worked at the CIA, headed in to take a polyg…

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A Conversation with House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman 34:56

29d ago34:56

34:56

What should the US Intelligence Community prioritize domestically and overseas, and how should the work be done? We sat down with Congressman Rick Crawford, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to learn his perspective on these questions. The conversation emphasized the growing threat of China’s influence in the West, t…

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Ghost Stories: The Hunt for Russian Spies in the US 33:15

1M ago33:15

33:15

In the early 2000s, the FBI uncovered a team of Russian operatives who had been living double lives in the United States. They were posing as professors, journalists, financial planners, real estate and travel agents, all while sending information back to Moscow. Now, 15 years after they were arrested, Alan Kohler, the former Assistant Director of …

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The Secret Navy and Their Hunt for a Nazi Sub 36:06

1M ago36:06

36:06

How do you catch an enemy’s submarine … and then make it vanish? That’s what the U.S. Navy’s elusive Tenth Fleet planned, as it tracked down Germany’s U-505 submarine. The mission came right before the Allies ran ashore on the beaches of Normandy in World War II. Historian Alexander Rose draws on long classified documents and intercepted transmissi…

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How Are Shifting Priorities Impacting National Security in America? 29:18

2M ago29:18

29:18

Most Americans would agree that the United States should be protected, but from whom … and how? Dr. Donell Harvin, the former Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the District of Columbia, says the U.S. is taking its eye off the ball - focusing its large domestic intelligence apparatus in a direction that is politically expedient, but no…

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Sharing Intelligence: Challenges between US and Ukraine 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

After Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. rushed to create a secret center that set targets for the Ukrainians to destroy. But the counteroffensive of 2023 failed to achieve its goals. So, what went wrong? New York Times reporter Adam Entous spent more than a year reporting on this story. He joins SpyCast host Sasha Ingber to talk abo…

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Stories From the President's Daily Brief 25:34

2M ago25:34

25:34

Conflict has been escalating between two nuclear powers–India and Pakistan. It started in April, after India blamed Pakistan for supporting militants who carried out a massacre in Kashmir. President Trump offered to help defuse the tensions.Throughout history, India and Pakistan’s hostility has been documented in the President's Daily Brief, a high…

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The Minions: Putin's Expendable Spies 32:36

2M ago32:36

32:36

They were a spy cell like no other — operating from quiet British suburbs, hailing from Bulgaria, and working on behalf of Russia. Their handler dubbed them “The Minions,” and their plots stretched across Europe and spanned honeytraps, abductions, and murder. At the time of this recording, six have been convicted and await sentencing. To parse out …

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Escalation: Tracking the US-Ukraine Relationship 40:43

3M ago40:43

40:43

The United States and Ukraine have had a long, complicated history that has been defined by just as much partnership and collaboration as hesitation and disagreement. This dynamic is laid bare in the 7-part podcast series ‘Escalation,’ produced by our partners at Goat Rodeo, with the national security publication Lawfare. In April 2025, The Interna…

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Where the ‘West V. Russia’ Plot Begins 34:17

3M ago34:17

34:17

Why does Vladimir Putin often say that the West is conspiring to weaken Russia? Historian James Crossland traces this narrative back to a British intelligence officer and a failed assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin in 1918. The story is featured in his new book, Rogue Agent, from Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Rober…

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Ep. 11: Queering Anarchism, Part 3: Queer Theory, New Hierarchies, and the Internal Cops We Create 2:06:41

3M ago2:06:41

2:06:41

The Counter-Revolutionary Book Club is a defiantly anti-communist series dedicated to dissecting and analyzing the far left's most audacious texts and ideas. Explore a curated collection of documents and podcasts in the Book Club section, where intellectual resistance begins. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Reading: Queering…

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Ep. 10: Queering Anarchism, Part 2: Marriage Is Violence, Gender Is a Weapon 2:36:37

3M ago2:36:37

2:36:37

Queering Anarchism: Marriage Is Violence, Gender Is a Weapon This episode of the Counter-Revolutionary Book Club takes a blowtorch to Queering Anarchism, a radical anthology blending queer theory with anarchist politics. We cover: Ryan Conrad’s unhinged attack on gay marriage as a neoliberal trap J. Rogue’s call to dismantle feminist universals thr…

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DOGE Layoffs and the Counterintelligence Threats They Pose 33:22

3M ago33:22

33:22

Government employees were dismissed with startling swiftness and sweeping in the midst of the Trump administration's relentless pursuit to pare down the federal workforce. The sheer number of fired personnel and the manner in which US officials let them go have led to concerns that disillusioned former employees may share what they know with foreig…

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Ep. 9: Queering Anarchism, Part 1. Introduction. 1:14:26

3M ago1:14:26

1:14:26

Reading: Queering Anarchism, edited by C.B. Daring, J. Rogue, Deric Shannon, and Abbey Volcano Sections Covered: Preface by Martha Ackelsberg + Editors’ Introduction 🔥 What We Read This episode kicks off our series on Queering Anarchism—an anthology that merges radical queer theory with anarchist politics. We covered the Preface by Martha Ackelsber…

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Taiwan: China’s Testing Ground for Intelligence Operations 32:11

3M ago32:11

32:11

It's no secret that China has recently stepped up political and military pressure on the democratically governed island of Taiwan. But then, there are the Chinese Communist Party's covert efforts: Recruiting from the inside, gathering intelligence, and exerting influence. Executive Director of the Global Taiwan Institute Russell Hsiao breaks down B…

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Introducing Targeted 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

Targeted uncovers harrowing stories of people who have been singled out and systematically dismantled—whether for political reasons, personal vendettas, or simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each episode deep dives into the tactics used against someone, the devastating consequences, and the remarkable lessons they’ve learned in …

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Understanding Chinese Espionage Through 900 Cases 31:43

4M ago31:43

31:43

Nicholas Eftimiades’ 34 year career in government spanned the CIA, State Department and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He's published three books that examine the structure, methodology and operations of China's intelligence services. This, he says, led a Chinese communist newspaper to declare him an enemy of the state in the ‘90s. Now, Nick is r…

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Ep. 8: The Gender Accelerationist Manifesto 2:05:24

4M ago2:05:24

2:05:24

“Death to gender. Freedom to the queers.” That’s how this one starts—and it only gets more extreme from there. In this episode of the Counter-Revolutionary Book Club, we dive into the Gender Accelerationist Manifesto, a modern queer Marxist war plan calling for the total abolition of gender, capitalism, the nuclear family, and even queerness itself…

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Remembering The CIA’s Mind Games 33:44

4M ago33:44

33:44

Sidney Gottlieb was one of the CIA’s star chemists during the Cold War. As head of MKUltra, he ran a brazen—and deadly—program aimed at mind control. Gottlieb and fellow scientists tried to keep the work secret by destroying files, but historian John Lisle has new details from the six boxes that remained untouched. He shares insights and reflection…

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Ep 7. Against the Gendered Nightmare (Part 4) 2:13:39

4M ago2:13:39

2:13:39

We’re tackling Part 4 of Baedan: Against the Gendered Nightmare, the anarchist manifesto that gleefully dismantles the binary, while weaving its vision of a queer utopia through the threads of anti-civilizational chaos. It’s a love letter to erasing boundaries and torching the structures of the world as we know it—so naturally, we’re here to decons…

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From Covert to Overt: Valerie Plame on political retaliation 32:58

4M ago32:58

32:58

Valerie Plame’s clandestine life made headlines in 2003 after her CIA cover was leaked to the press. Her husband, an ambassador, had gone to Niger to investigate whether yellowcake uranium had been transferred to Iraq to make weapons of mass destruction. He publicly challenged the Bush administration on what we now know was false intelligence. Vale…

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Ep 6. Against the Gendered Nightmare (Part 3) 2:19:09

4M ago2:19:09

2:19:09

We’re tackling Part 3 of Baedan: Against the Gendered Nightmare, the anarchist manifesto that gleefully dismantles the binary, while weaving its vision of a queer utopia through the threads of anti-civilizational chaos. It’s a love letter to erasing boundaries and torching the structures of the world as we know it—so naturally, we’re here to decons…

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Eyes on The Ground: The National Resistance Front in Afghanistan 31:25

4M ago31:25

31:25

After the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, the National Resistance Front rose up to defy them. We spoke with their leader Ahmad Massoud, who has overseen hundreds of military and intelligence-gathering operations. He’s following the footsteps of his father, who led his own resistance group, the Northern Alliance, until members of Al Qaeda …

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From NFL to Espionage: The Story of Ernest Cuneo 27:33

4M ago27:33

27:33

He was an American spy before an American spy agency existed. NFL player Ernest Cuneo, a little known first generation Italian American, worked with British intelligence to convince the United States to join World War II, and helped lay the groundwork for modern day espionage. Thomas Maier traces Cuneo’s extraordinary life in his new book, The Invi…

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Debriefing from the Ukrainian Front 29:54

5M ago29:54

29:54

A fourth year of war in Ukraine begins. But for Lt. Col. Kyrylo Berkal, who’s been fighting since Russia first invaded in 2014, the battle for his country has raged much longer. Now, he’s second in command of the elite Third Assault Brigade, which has played a major role in critical battles against Russia and continues to develop new technologies t…

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How did Harriet Tubman operate as a spy? 32:33

5M ago32:33

32:33

She’s known for helping to free people through the Underground Railroad, but Harriet Tubman was also a spy during the Civil War. And with the intelligence she collected, the Maryland native became the first woman to lead men into battle on gunboats down the Combahee River in South Carolina. The Combahee River Raid destroyed several vital Confederat…

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What's next for Kim Jong Un? 32:52

5M ago32:52

32:52

North Korea is growing more dangerous, but no U.S. administration has been able to crack the code on its leader Kim Jong Un. Now, there’s even less incentive for Kim to negotiate because of the support he’s getting from Russia. So what will Kim do next, and where is he vulnerable? Jung H. Pak, a former CIA analyst who served as the country’s top di…

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Ep 5. Against the Gendered Nightmare (Part 2) 2:08:06

5M ago2:08:06

2:08:06

We’re tackling Part 2 of Baedan: Against the Gendered Nightmare, the anarchist manifesto that gleefully dismantles the binary, while weaving its vision of a queer utopia through the threads of anti-civilizational chaos. It’s a love letter to erasing boundaries and torching the structures of the world as we know it—so naturally, we’re here to decons…

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Campus Cloak-and-Dagger: Spies Targeting American Universities 29:47

5M ago29:47

29:47

For decades, colleges and universities have been a destination for espionage. Especially in recent years, the use of international students and faculty as spies on American campuses has been particularly daunting. Why do intelligence services, both foreign and domestic, target colleges and universities? And what is there to gain on these campuses? …

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Agent Zo: The woman who defied the Nazis and Communists 30:52

6M ago30:52

30:52

Agent Zo was the only female Polish resistance agent to reach London as a courier during WWII and the only female member of Poland's fabled 'Silent Unseen' paratroopers. Yet despite having researched Poland's wartime resistance movement, many of us have never heard of her. Why? If you liked this episode, check out these links: Agent Zo: The Extraor…

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Ep 4. Against the Gendered Nightmare (Part 1) 1:52:49

6M ago1:52:49

1:52:49

We’re tackling Part 1 of Baedan: Against the Gendered Nightmare, the anarchist manifesto that gleefully dismantles the binary, while weaving its vision of a queer utopia through the threads of anti-civilizational chaos. It’s a love letter to erasing boundaries and torching the structures of the world as we know it—so naturally, we’re here to decons…

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How will President Trump handle intelligence in his second term? 32:47

6M ago32:47

32:47

Now that President Trump has been inaugurated, what can we expect for the intelligence community? On his first full day in his first term, he visited the CIA to voice support. But he has also displayed deep skepticism and accused spy agencies of undermining him. Beth Sanner is a highly decorated, retired career intelligence officer who briefed Trum…

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How do you fool Russian Intelligence? 28:13

6M ago28:13

28:13

Former intelligence officer Bryan Stern describes the tradecraft he used on Russian intelligence and military services to rescue an American imprisoned in Russian-occupied Ukraine. If you liked this episode check out these links to more hostage rescue stories: SpyCast - James Foley: Journalist, ISIS Hostage, Son – with His Mother Diane Foley Operac…

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EP 3: Polyamory and Queer Anarchism: Infinite Possibilities for Resistance (Live Recording) 58:37

6M ago58:37

58:37

In this episode, we tackle Susan Song’s Polyamory and Queer Anarchism: Infinite Possibilities for Resistance. The document isn’t just an intellectual critique—it’s a manifesto for redefining relationships, gender, and sexuality as weapons against capitalism. Yes, you read that right: they think your love life is the frontline of the revolution. Son…

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EP 2: Toward The Queerest Insurrection by the Mary Nardini Gang (Live Recording) 1:10:49

6M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

The Counter-Revolutionary Book Club is a defiantly anti-communist series dedicated to dissecting and analyzing the far left's most audacious texts and ideas. Explore a curated collection of documents and podcasts in the Book Club section—where intellectual resistance begins. The podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Nothing scream…

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EP 1: Introduction To The Counter-Revolutionary Book Club 15:34

6M ago15:34

15:34

A defiantly anti-communist deep dive into the radical left's playbook. Welcome to The Counter-Revolutionary Book Club—where we answer the question, "What's worse than 1984?" Dive into the most dystopian texts you’ve ever encountered—except these aren’t sci-fi nightmares. They’re straight from real life. From queer Marxism to gender abolition, anarc…

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Introducing the New Host: Sasha Ingber 20:19

7M ago20:19

20:19

Introducing the new host of SpyCast, Sasha Ingber! In this week’s episode, Sasha joined Erin in a conversation about her career and the future of the International Spy Museum’s flagship podcast. Now entering it’s 19th year, SpyCast will relaunch on January 14th with brand new episodes, featuring exciting spy stories and the latest intelligence from…

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From the Vault: “The 75th Anniversary of the CIA” – with former Director Robert Gates 1:12:55

7M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

Summary Robert Gates (Website; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the CIA. He served 8 U.S. presidents. What You’ll Learn Intelligence His reflections on the CIA at 75 How the CIA’s story intersected with his own His take on the organization’s strengths and weaknesses The complex intl. environment the CI…

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“An Imperial History of the CIA” – with Hugh Wilford 1:03:58

7M ago1:03:58

1:03:58

Summary Hugh Wilford joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book. Hugh is a professor, author, and leading CIA historian. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Imperial influences on American intelligence Key figures in CIA history “Wild” Bill Donovan & British influence Groton School’s impact on CIA leaders Reflections Inherited history Challengin…

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“The Battlefield Tour Guide” with Bob Shaw 58:54

7M ago58:54

58:54

Summary Robert Shaw joins Andrew to discuss his experience working as an accredited Battlefield tour guide. Bob’s career in the British Army spanned over 25 years. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Becoming a battlefield tour guide IEDD and Intelligence Work in Northern Ireland Hypothetical WWIII scenarios Special Forces, TECHINT, & the Bin Laden Raid…

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“Two Decades at the International Spy Museum” – with Anna Slafer 1:02:03

8M ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Summary Anna Slafer (LinkedIn, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the history of the International Spy Museum. Anna was one of SPY’s first employees when the museum opened in 2002. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Building the International Spy Museum Milton Maltz: the visionary behind SPY The role of historians and curators Creating exhi…

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Leadership & The United States Pacific Command with Ret. Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield 1:06:14

8M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Summary Lieutenant General Anthony Crutchfield (Ret.) (LinkedIn, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his time as the Deputy Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command. PACOM covers 52% of the globe. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The role of intelligence in military operations Ethical dilemmas in command decisions Reflections on t…

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“Applying Intelligence to Business Strategy” with Jonathan B. Smith 1:01:42

8M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Summary Jonathan B. Smith (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the application of intelligence to entrepreneurship. Jonathan is an entrepreneur, author, and business strategist. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Building high-performance teams Case officers vs. entrepreneurs Networking and overcoming operational challenges Curiosity as …

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Katja Hoyer, The Berlin Wall, Life in East Germany and The Cold War 1:08:45

8M ago1:08:45

1:08:45

The interview with Katja Hoyer, author of Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany, delves into her in-depth exploration of East Germany’s history and complex identity as a nation shaped by ideological commitment and state control. Hoyer, a historian initially from East Germany and currently based in the UK, describes her unique perspective, livi…

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“The Skinny on Cuban Intelligence” – with Counterintelligence expert Ean Forsythe 1:10:02

8M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Summary Ean Forsythe joins Andrew to discuss the history of Cuban intelligence. Ean is the Counterintelligence and Security Center Chair at the National Intelligence University. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The history and evolution of Cuban intelligence Case studies, including Ana Montes, Kendall Meyers, and the Cuban Five Counterintelligence st…

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Bellingcat: An Intelligence Agency for the People with Eliot Higgins 1:07:27

9M ago1:07:27

1:07:27

Summary Eliot Higgins (X; Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the work of Bellingcat. Eliot founded the open-source investigative website in 2014. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Bellingcat’s approach to “investigative journalism” The rise of OSINT as a tool of journalism Bellingcat’s relationship with intelligence agencies Case studies…

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Sir William Browder, Murder, Corruption and Vladimir Putin's Russia 57:18

9M ago57:18

57:18

Sir William Browder, author of 'Red Notice' and 'Freezing Order,' discusses his involvement in Russia and his fight against corruption and human rights abuses. He shares how he became interested in Russia due to his family background and desire to rebel against his communist upbringing. Browder explains his experience as a foreign investor in Russi…