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Sources & Methods

From CIA Officer to Governor: Abigail Spanberger on intelligence and politics

Sources & Methods

NPR

Politics, News

4.9919 Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary


Virginia governor-elect Abigail Spanberger will be the first woman and the first former CIA officer to lead the commonwealth.

Host Mary Louise Kelly talks to Spanberger about her unconventional career path that took her from Langley to D.C. and now to Richmond, and how some of her skills from gathering intelligence come in handy in politics. 

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, it's Mary Louise. A quick word before today's episode.

0:04.3

2025 is almost over. And at NPR and our local stations, we are excited to begin a new year.

0:11.5

This year was tough. The loss of federal funding for public media attacks on the free press.

0:17.0

Despite it all, we are not shying away from our jobs, not shying away from exercising the

0:22.4

critical right to editorial independence guaranteed by the First Amendment. With your support,

0:28.3

at NPR, we will continue our work without fear or favor. And we will continue to bring you

0:33.7

episodes of this show. They keep you updated on the biggest national security news

0:37.8

of the week with our team of veteran reporters and guests who know the Natsuk world firsthand.

0:44.2

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0:49.4

support is right now. If you're not a supporter, you can become one right now, before the end of the year,

0:54.7

at plus.npr.org. Sign up to unlock a bunch of perks, things like bonus episodes, and more from

1:01.6

across NPR's podcasts. Plus, you get to feel good about supporting public media while you listen.

1:08.1

In the year on a high note, invest in a public service that matters to you.

1:12.4

Visit plus.npr.org today. Thank you. Here's the show.

1:19.2

My dad used to say all the time when we were kids, there's no higher calling than service to country.

1:23.7

And that is true because the stakes are so high.

1:28.6

The incoming governor of Virginia will be the first woman to lead that state.

1:33.5

She is also ex-CIA, prompting me to wonder what skills might be transferable.

1:40.4

I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

1:41.6

This is sources and methods from NPR.

1:46.3

In our current era of division, when it can feel hard to get people to agree on anything,

1:52.4

and that is before you mention politics, Abigail Spanberger was elected governor of Virginia by a double-digit margin.

...

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