SpyCast
Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0000The Espionage News Cycle A Conversation with SPYs Aliza Bran
Summary
Aliza Bran (LinkedIn, Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter;LinkedIn) to discuss her role as Media Relations Manager at the International Spy Museum. Aliza is a D.C. native and graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.
What Youll Learn
Intelligence
The media and intelligence
International Spy Museum Artifacts
Espionage fact vs. fiction
The history of The International Spy Museum
Reflections
Creativity & Ingenuity
Growing up in the DMV
And much, much more
Episode Notes
Aliza Brans passion and excitement for the world of SPY is contagious. Around the office of the International Spy Museum, Aliza is known for her cheerful demeanor, quick wit, and intensely creative mind. Shes been working at SPY for six years now, four of those years as our Media Relations Manager.
How does Aliza navigate the ever-changing media landscape and represent the International Spy Museum on this worldwide stage? What are Alizas favorite memories, artifacts, and exhibits from SPY? What makes her love this work so much, and what skills do you need to build a career in media relations? Tune in to find out.
And
Aliza has been particularly busy these past few weeks covering the news surrounding the Chinese
Spy Balloon. For a taste of Alizas work, find articles and video on the subject that she orchestrated here, here, here, and here.
Quote of the Week
Part of it for me is knowing that we live in a very polarized world right now and I want to have a sense of our full audience, which is everyone. So I'm going to look at stories, places that aren't natural fits for where I tend to go. Because if people go there to read the news, I want to know what they're reading, I want to know what interests them. I want to know what people are excited about, worried about, looking at. Aliza Bran.
Resources
*SpyCasts*
My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2021)
*Beginner Resources*
What is Media Relations?, Nancy Shenker, ClearVoice (2021) [Blog Post]
Paid vs. Owned vs. Earned Media: What's the Difference?, Indeed (2021) [Article]
Books
The Good Assassin, S. Talty (Mariner, 2020)
The Alice Network, K. Quinn (William Morrow, 2017)
Articles
Deadly Women, Dirty Laundry, and a Shootout With The IRA, Reaper Feed (2020)
Video
Former CIA Operative Explains How Spies Use Disguises, WIRED (2019)
Meet a Former CIA Chief of Disguise, Atlas Obscura (2020)
Alias, ABC (2001-2006)
Artifacts from SPYs Collection
Scrotum Concealment
Aston Martin DB5
Iron Concealment Device
*Wildcard Resource*
Check out the Refinery29 article that features Alizas SPY expertise applied to the collection and analysis of Taylor Swift-related intelligence.
The Fox News Rundown
Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000China Is Challenging America On Multiple Fronts. Are We Ready?
Following the takedown of a Chinese
Spy Balloon earlier this month, three additional aerial objects have been found occupying U.S. and Canadian airspace. Instead of waiting days before destroying them, as was the case with the first balloon, the U.S. military shot them down immediately, assuming they also belonged to China. However, President Biden has since announced that the origins and intentions of these objects are unknown and may have nothing to do with Chinese surveillance. As many Americans remain confused due to the unknown identities of these objects & fearful as China becomes an increasingly aggressive threat, many lawmakers are calling for increased transparency & directness from the White House. Congressman Mike Waltz joins the Rundown to discuss why the Biden Administration must be "honest and forthright" when speaking about U.S.-China relations with the public, why he supports aiding Ukraine in their year-long fight against Russia, and his response to the train derailment impacting several families in East Palestine, Ohio.
Political experts are predicting a presidential rematch in 2024. If former President Trump wins the GOP nomination, he could face President Biden in a rare rematch. However, this would not be the first showdown of its kind. Professor of History at Pepperdine University Edward Larson joins the Rundown to look back at some of the other times this has happened in American history, and which candidates were able to come out successful.
Plus, commentary from Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family.
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Sat, 18 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000From Washington: Nikki Haley Makes Her Case For The White House
With former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley announcing her candidacy for the presidency, she is the first Republican primary challenger to former President Donald Trump. The former South Carolina Governor laid out her case for the White House in her announcement, citing her strong national security credentials, proposing Congressional term limits, and a cognitive test for politicians over the age of 75.Co-founder and President of RealClearPolitics Tom Bevanjoins to discuss what the presidential hopeful needs to do to gain traction in the race, how she can separate herself from former President Trump, and how she shapes up against other potential candidates.
Three unidentified flying objects have been shot down since the Chinese
Spy Balloon was intercepted off the coast of South Carolina. While more has been learned about the balloon sent from China, many questions still remain about the other three objects. In addition to national security threats at hand, Congress is also inching closer to the deadline to increase the debt ceiling.FOX News Channel Congressional Correspondent Aishah HasnieandSenior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergramdiscuss the week that was on Capitol Hill.
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Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000Rep. Emmer Talks A Need for National Security Transparency
Less than a week after a Chinese
Spy Balloon made its way through U.S. airspace, two more suspicious objects were found occupying the sky over Alaska and Canada over the weekend. Unlike the first balloon that remained in the air for days before being shot down, President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered that the two be shot down on Saturday. Though the Pentagon has not officially confirmed if these objects were balloons, a senior U.S. official has confirmed that they were, leaving many Americans feeling more on edge -- as additional national security threats could have been navigating through U.S. territory. On the Rundown, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) explains why he believes the White House must prioritize transparency when dealing with national security threats like these and how the House 'China Select Committee' will work to combat China's "brazen disregard" for the U.S. He also discusses House Oversight priorities, the continued debate over the debt limit, and how he's enjoying his new role in Congress.
Police departments across the country are under scrutiny again, and with it comes conversations about police reform and critique of the police in general. Authors James Patterson and Matt Eversmann have teamed up once again to write a book that captures the real-life experiences of the police officers who risk their lives to protect and serve their communities. Patterson and Eversmann join the Rundown to discuss their new book, 'Walk the Blue Line' that gives an honest perspective on what it is like to be a police officer in America. They discuss how the book aims to give readers a chance to understand cops, the difficulties they face on the job and the uplifting stories that come with it.
Plus, commentary by former White House speechwriter and Fox News Contributor Marc Thiessen.
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Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000From Washington: A Rowdy State Of The Union Calls For Concern
President Joe Biden delivered his annual State of the Union Address at the Capitol on Tuesday evening and the response from Republicans was not one of approval, denying his claim that suggested GOP lawmakers intend to cut social security and Medicare as a part of budget cuts. Later in the week, Congress received new information regarding the Chinese
Spy Balloon's capabilities and what the FBI is learning as they analyze pieces after it was shot down last week.FOX News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergramshares his reporting on the State of the Union and how our relationship with China may be affected.
This week, big tech was on trial in front of The House Oversight and Accountability Committee for allegedly hiding the Hunter Biden laptop story on Twitter back in 2020. Republican lawmakers claim that the nation's intel agencies and the FBI in particular are being "weaponized" to target everyday Americans' right to freedom of speech. Now, the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government is attempting to expose any abuse of power.Chief Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner and FOX News Contributor Byron Yorkreveals his perspective and says whether he thinks the committee will amount to any progress.
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Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000Fmr CIA Officer on China: The "21st Century Cold War" Has Begun
The Senate Foreign Relations committee grilled the Department of Defense in Thursdays hearing over the recent discovery of a Chinese
Spy Balloon floating above the US for several days. Reports show this balloon was just one aspect of a larger aerial surveillance program from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, which has been spying on multiple countries all around the globe. Dan Hoffman, retired CIA Senior Clandestine Services Officer and FOX News Contributor joins the Rundown to break down how Chinas pattern of brazen espionage over the past several decades and why their communist economy incentivizes China to steal intellectual property and intelligence. Hoffman also explains what China is currently doing to spy on the US and the reality of a modern-day Cold War.
This year, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes will be making history at the Super Bowl as the first two Black starting quarterbacks. Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams knows the significance of this game. In 1988, Williams was the first Black quarterback to start and win in an NFL championship game. Now the Senior Advisor to the Washington Commanders, Doug Williams, joins the Rundown to preview Sunday night's game, and he explains why it is so significant in terms of racial representation. Later, he takes us back to discuss what it was like to lead Washington to victory in the unforgettable Super Bowl 35 years ago.
Don't miss the good news with Tonya J. Powers.
Plus, commentary by FOX News Legal Analyst Gregg Jarrett.
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Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000President Biden's State of the Union Address Hits Key Points. . .But Were There Key "Absences"?
Last night President Biden gave his State of the Union address, where he emphasized a desire for bipartisanship to address issues like the opioid crisis, the nations debt, and a need for police reform. Though the President's speech took on a positive tone, as he expressed his optimism about the country's low unemployment rate and recovery from COVID-19, many Americans were surprised the President did not dedicate more time to talking about the Southern border, the recent Chinese
Spy Balloon found traveling in U.S. airspace, and inflation. On the Rundown, Fox News Audio Political Anchor and National Correspondent Jared Halpern and Axios Senior Political Correspondent Josh Kraushaar explain why this year's State of the Union address seemed more "animated" than many past speeches due to how both parties and the President interacted with one another. They also discuss what "absences" they believe the President left out of his speech and share their reaction to the Republican's response by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Weeks before the 2020 presidential election, Twitter suppressed the New York Post's reporting of suspicious contents found on Hunter Biden's laptop. At the time, the story was dismissed as "Russian misinformation." Today, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee will hold a hearing involving Big Tech's censorship of content related to Hunter Biden's laptop as they launch their investigation into the Biden family's business dealings. Howard Kurtz, host of Media Buzz on the FOX News Channel and the Media Buzz Meter podcast, joins the Rundown to discuss whether social media and mainstream news outlets mishandled the Hunter Biden story as well as some key reporting during the 2020 election.
Plus, commentary by Jimmy Failla, host of "Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla."
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Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000Bill Hemmer On What To Expect From Biden's State of the Union Address
President Biden will give his State of the Union address on primetime TV tonight. In his speech, the President is expected to tout the success of the economy following the January jobs report. Others believe he will use the address to hint at a run for a second term in office. With many Americans dissatisfied with their financial standing, can tonight's speech change the President's low approval rating? Co-anchor of America's Newsroom, Bill Hemmer joins the Rundown to discuss what viewers can expect in tonight's State of the Union address, clues suggesting President Biden is setting the stage for a reelection campaign, and who to expect in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries.
On Monday, the US began recovery efforts of China's
Spy Balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina this past weekend. The fallout of China's exposed espionage has made waves in Washington and increased already-tense US-China relations. This week, Congress is set to hold hearings about the economic threats posed by China just as President Biden is set to deliver his nationally televised speech about America's strength and success. Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) on the House Foreign Relations Committee joins the podcast to explain key missteps in this handling of the balloon situation, what kind of intelligence China could have gained from this, and what the US must do to confront threats posed by China.
Plus, commentary by the host of 'The Ben Domenech Podcast,' Ben Domenech.
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Mon, 06 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000What Took So Long?: GOP Blasts US Response to Chinas Spy Balloon
Many questions are being fired at the Biden Administration after a Chinese balloon believed to be spying on the U.S. stayed in American airspace for several days. Though it was eventually shot down by the U.S. military over the weekend, Republican lawmakers are now demanding to know why the administration allowed a national security threat to remain in American territory for days on end. This comes right before the Presidents annual State of the Union address, where President Biden will likely lay out his plan for the coming year and tout his successes. However, after a year of high inflation, rising crime, and national security concerns, many Americans are curious to see if the President will offer any solutions to these issues. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joins the Rundown to discuss his questions regarding how the U.S. government handled the Chinese
Spy Balloon, what he expects the President will focus on in his State of the Union address, and the three bills he has introduced to promote American energy independence.
Most economists expected job growth to slow down in January. They were wrong. In fact, the 517, 000 new jobs added last month were seen as a shock to most forecasters who thought the labor market was starting to weaken. But is there actually a downside to all the new Help Wanted signs?Wall Street Journal associate editor and Fox News contributor John Bussey digs into the numbers, explains what this means for all the current recession speculation, and how this report poses new challenges to the Federal Reserve and their effort to get inflation under control.
Plus, commentary from former Executive Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, Peggy Grande.
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Sun, 05 Feb 2023 23:00:00 -0000Extra: America Faces A Bevy Of Global Threats. Is Our Military Ready?
From China to Ukraine, to the Middle East, the Biden Administration is currently dealing with a lot of international hot spots.
Last week, on the FOX News Rundown, National Security Council White House Coordinator John Kirby joined host Jessica Rosenthal to discuss the global 'threat landscape.'
Kirby reacted to issues including an Air Force General's recent prediction that America would go to war with China in the next few years. He also discusses the ongoing debate over supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion and coming to a nuclear deal with Iran.
The conversation, however, did take place before a Chinese
Spy Balloon was detected in US air space.
Due to time limitations, we could not include all of the discussion in our original segment. On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear our entire interview with National Security Council White House Coordinator John Kirby, and get a better idea of how the Biden Administration is navigating a list of conflicts and why he is confident the US military is prepared to deal with any threat facing America.
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Sat, 04 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000From Washington: Can Speaker McCarthy Strike Debt Limit Deal?
On Wednesday, President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy discussed the nation's looming debt ceiling crisis for the first time. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, yielded no agreements on how the government should move forward to raise the country's debt limit. Although the White House expressed that both leaders have a "shared duty" to avoid a default, President Biden has maintained that he will not negotiate with the GOP to resolve the economic issue at hand.FOX News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergramdiscusses his takeaways from the meeting, what legislation can be passed before the deadline on the default, and the relationship dynamics between the President and Speaker.
This week, the Pentagon found and tracked a suspected
Spy Balloon sent by China into United States airspace. On Friday, China's Foreign Ministry made a statement apologizing, calling the device a civilian "airship." Pentagon Spokesman General Patrick Ryder said Friday that the U.S. Military would not specify the location of the balloon, but that it did not pose a threat to anyone on the ground.FOX News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffinexplains how the breach of airspace puts diplomacy at risk, what message China is sending, and how it impacts the country's already tense relationship with China.
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