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This is Deep State Radio, coming to you direct from our super secret studio in the third sub basement of the Ministry of Snark in Washington DC and from other undisclosed locations across America and around the world.

Hello and welcome to the podcast. It's that time of the week again for our spy show.

I'm your host David Roscoff and I am joined by co-host as every week, the charming and delightful Mark Polymeropolis. How are you doing, Mark?

I'm good, charming and delightful. I like that. But we have to just make a quick mention that today is the CIA's 76th birthday.

I don't even know what to say about that or other more than one has a love hate relationship with a place where I worked.

It's a dysfunctional family, but in the end, one of the best jobs in the world. But I guess I will say happy birthday to my old place sort of.

Wow. That's very touching. You know, that's as deep as I get.

It's really beautiful. We are joined also by wonderful guest, Julia Yafi, who is leading authority on Russia's relations, a founding partner and the Washington correspondent for Puck.

Previously, she served as senior editor for the New Republic, was a staff writer at the Atlantic covering politics and world affairs and a correspondent for GQ.

And she's great. And one of my favorite guests on any show, even shows I'm not on just to watch.

And I think the first time, Julia and I did a podcast together, it may have been the very first podcast ever done. I mean, it was like the dawn of time.

Wow. So welcome, Julia. Thanks for having me.

You know, on this show, we talk about things related to intelligence and espionage, but I think the real, I mean, so whatever role you play in that, I, you know, I mean, if you wish to discuss it, we can.

But I think that Mark was drawn to having you on to talk a little bit about Russia. So I want to turn it to Mark and you can frame this as you will.

Sure, sure. And first of all, a huge thanks to Julia for coming on. I mean, I, when I first met Julia, I think one of the, what I said to her and, and before we dive into the substance, I got to get her reaction.

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