Inside Russia’s Spy Factory in Brazil: Deep-Cover Operatives Targeting the U.S.

Change Agents with Andy Stumpf • August 13, 2025

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Guests

Guest Role Confidence Extraction Method Actions
Michael Schwirtz Guest 90% RULES Login to Follow

Description

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with Michael Schwirtz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national security reporter for The New York Times. They discuss a recent investigation that uncovered a Russian “spy factory” in Brazil, where spies created credible long-term identities under the Illegals program. These operatives are trained to conduct deep-cover missions targeting countries including the U.S. Schwirtz also explains the challenges intelligence agencies face with modern technology, the role of Brazilian authorities in uncovering these spies, and the complexities of international spy swaps.

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