The Rest Is Classified

Are groups linked to the Islamic Republic recruiting spies on Telegram to coordinate anti-semitic attacks in Europe? How are Jordanian people feeling about the war in Iran? And why is anti-western sentiment reaching new heights in the Middle East?

Listen as David McCloskey is joined by award-winning CNN International Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh, to discuss her latest reporting on how what appear to be Iran-linked groups are using social media to recruit individuals to carry out surveillance and attacks on Jewish communities.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Six Americans are hiding out as Canadian houseguests in Tehran. To get them out, the CIA will invent a Hollywood film studio that does not exist.

In this episode, David and Gordon examine how the CIA worked with Hollywood to plan a daring escape from revolutionary Iran during the hostage crisis.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most audacious rescue operations the CIA has ever run. It begins with a mob at the gates of the US Embassy in Tehran, six diplomats slipping out a side door, and a man painting a wolf in a studio above his garage in rural Maryland.

Listen as David and Gordon tell the true story of Argo.

-------------------

THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts.

-------------------

Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How worried are Baltic countries about the threat from Russia? Would the US protect its NATO allies from Putin? And what is happening on the Estonian border?

Last weekend, Gordon headed to the annual Lennart Meri security conference in Estonia to speak with experts from across the world about the security challenges the region is currently facing. Listen as he speaks with journalists, former presidents, and former NATO intelligence analysts about what is happening across the Baltics.

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was Iraq WMD one of history’s biggest intelligence failures? Why couldn’t Saddam Hussein prove he has destroyed his weapons of mass destruction? And what is the legacy of the Iraq War in the Middle East?

Listen as David and Gordon conclude their investigation into Iraq WMD and analyse what has been learnt from the decision to go to war with Iraq.

-------------------

Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community.

Just go to ⁠⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠⁠.

-------------------

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠

Video Editor: Joe Pettit

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe

Producer: Becki Hills

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices