Month: January 2025

I had a heart attack* two days before Thanksgiving, an all too clear reminder that nothing lasts forever. So to mark my privileged existence on God’s Green Earth, I decided to offer the SpyTalk-curious a deal that will outlive me: a half-off forever subscription for readers who’ve been following along without a financial commitment. But you’ve got to hurry: It expires at 12:01 am tonight, Jan. 2.

Here’s the thing: We love all our readers, but only paying subscribers allows me to feature the work of our veteran investigative reporters, writers and analysts, all of whom had decades of award winning careers at places ranging from the Associated Press, Newsweek, and Time to The Washington Post. (You can read more about them here.) As a matter of principle, SpyTalk pays its contributors, unlike some other natsec-oriented sites. It’s not a lot, but it’s up there with the fees for Op-ed pieces at the likes of the New York Times.

Unlike the others, the intelligence world is our only focus. And with momentous changes afoot with the incoming administration, we hope you’ll want to stick with us.

As I wrote two days ago, by the looks of it, we can be sure of only one thing as 2025 opens: Chaos, as a whole new raft of … let’s say, unusual … nominees for top roosts in the new administration’s national security team come under Senate scrutiny en route to their hoped-for offices in Langley, Va., Ft. Meade, Md., the Pentagon and 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (FBI headquarters).

Dismantling the legendary “Deep State” seems to be a priority. That and evicting our fine female warriors from cockpits, tanks and special warfare units. You’ll want to follow our takes on these would-be arsonists and their threatened burn-down-the-house policies during their journeys around the capital.

So, hey, those of you who’ve not yet taken the paid-subscriber plunge, do yourself a favor and take advantage of this one-of-a-kind invitation to be part of the growing SpyTalk community of veteran journalists, sharp-eyed readers and well informed commentators.

You won’t be sorry (and if you are I’lll send your money back). Meantime, act now, and I thank you in advance. Just click here.

Happy 2025!

*I got to the hospital in time to prevent damage to my heart—thanks to DC’s fire and ambulance crews and the fine doctors and nurses at George Washington University Hospital. Word to the wise: If the pain in your chest spreads to your left arm, call 911.