The NOT SO SECRET Moscow Mission: Why the CIA is in Russia | Ep.14

CIA Director Ratcliffe's secret Moscow visit0:27

• John Kiriakouspeculation

  Ratcliffe is likely asking Russians to ease attacks on Ukrainian civilians and offering to carry messages to end the conflict.

Historical precedent for CIA directors conducting secret diplomacy1:15

Kiriakou asserts that CIA directors frequently undertake secret diplomatic missions when official diplomats are constrained, citing his own experiences and historical examples like Vernon Walters. He recounts Walters threatening Ethiopia's leader with nuclear weapons to secure a tortured CIA officer's release, illustrating the high-stakes, off-the-books nature of such missions.

South Carolina and Alaska Senate primary results12:30

Darlene Graham won the South Carolina Republican Senate primary 52-48 despite Trump campaigning for her against a fellow MAGA Republican, and Kiriakou asserts the seat will remain Republican. In Alaska, Mary Peltola placed first in the nonpartisan primary, but both Dan Sullivans advanced, making the race a toss-up critical for Democratic Senate hopes.

Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting18:12

Trump signed an executive order creating a federal citizenship list to restrict mail-in voting and directed the Postal Service not to deliver ballots to those not on the list, which Kiriakou asserts is patently illegal and unconstitutional because elections are run by states. The Supreme Court temporarily lifted some legal hurdles for the White House, but a lower court ban remains, creating a legal standoff as ballots must be mailed soon.

Brennan Center study on voter fraud rates20:47

Kiriakou cites a Brennan Center study finding voter fraud accounted for only 0.0003% to 0.0025% of votes cast in 2016, with only seven arrests nationwide, all involving multiple votes for Trump. He concludes there is effectively no voter fraud, contradicting the justification for voting restrictions.

U.S.-Canada tariff war escalation23:06

• John Kiriakouassertion

  Presidents cannot constitutionally impose tariffs; only Congress has that power.

• John Kiriakouspeculation

  Trump appears to be winging the tariff strategy without a clear plan.

• Ontario Premier Doug Fordclip

  Ford told Trump to kiss his rear end in an undiplomatic manner.

• Prime Minister Mark Carneyclip

  Canada could inflict far more economic pain on the U.S. than vice versa.