The Spy Who Outsmarted the KGB

Newsthink March 30, 2025
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Brilliant people shaping our world. Hi, I'm Cindy Pom, and before starting Newsthink, I worked as an international correspondent in Paris and London, contributing to CBS News and Canada's CBC News, CTV News, and Global News. But I wanted to tell in-depth stories that aren't always given the attention they deserve. So, I decided to go independent. Thanks for joining me on this journey of discovery! For business and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Video Description

Oleg Gordievsky escaped Moscow in the trunk of a car. Try https://brilliant.org/Newsthink/ for FREE for 30 days, and get 20% off your annual premium subscription. I highly recommend Ben Macintyre’s The Spy and the Traitor: https://a.co/d/5JSx0Kv My video on CIA mole Aldrich Ames: https://youtu.be/DP7x6Zs1gP0 Special thanks for permission to use Safeway shopping bag image: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403676562845 Chapters: 0:00 A Mole Inside the KGB 1:22 Preventing Nuclear Armageddon 2:17 KGB Bloodline and Early Spy Training 2:38 Gordievsky’s Awakening 4:25 MI6 Makes Contact in Copenhagen 5:13 Gordievsky Turns Against the Soviet Union 5:58 A New Life and a New Love 6:29 Preparing the Escape Plan: Operation PIMLICO 7:18: The London Assignment 7:55 The KGB’s Nuclear Paranoia 8:25 Able Archer and the Brink of WWIII 8:47 How Gordievsky Prevented Nuclear War 9:38 CIA Agent Aldrich Ames Betrays Gordievsky 10:36 Sending the Escape Signal 11:43 The Daring Escape 14:41 Leaving His Family Behind 15:30 A Bittersweet Family Reunion 15:43 Life in hiding and Final Years 16:20 Today’s Sponsor: Brilliant Follow Newsthink on X https://x.com/Newsthink Newsthink is produced and presented by Cindy Pom https://x.com/cindypom Grab your Newsthink merch here: https://newsthink.creator-spring.com Support Cindy on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/Newsthink Sources: Century House, former MI6 headquarters (1964–1994): Peter Jordan via Wikimedia Commons Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO): Victoria 959, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Colorized Berlin Wall image 1: By Noir, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Colorized Berlin Wall image 2: Nancy Wong, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Prague Spring Soviet tank: By Engramma.it - Engramma.it, n. 64, agosto 2008, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Soviet panel buildings: By Lesless - Own work (аналоговый снимок), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Arne Treholt image: By Ole-Christian Bjarkøy - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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