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Sachi, don't you think the genre of, like, spy movies and TV shows are kind of skewed

towards how overly competent they are?

But really, there's no way it's as glamorous or chic as like James Bond or whatever.

I think most spies are probably pretty mundane people. That's how they're getting away with it, you know? Yeah, I mean,

ultimately they are just government workers who, as we know from real life and this show, get away

with quite a lot. I would be bad at that job. I would love to tell everybody everything.

Well, today, I'm going to tell you the story

of a double agent so gross and incompetent

that he basically failed his way

to the center of U.S. Russia relations

during the Cold War.

And he did so much damage,

even spy agencies had to admit they fucked up.

It's a gloomy February morning in 1994 in an upscale neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia.

Rosario Ames is putting on makeup while her young son plays in the next room.

Rosario is in her early 40s with dark eyes, a sharp jawline, and short curly hair.

Her husband, Aldrich Ames, who goes by Rick, walks into the room.

He says he's been called into work even though it's President's Day weekend.

...