Spooked audiobook

Focused on "Russiagate" and some related private investigation/opposition research firms, rather than a really broad or comprehensive study of the intelligence and research industries. Does a great job of making everyone in the industry seem like a scumbag, which is fairly realistic. I'm much more familiar with the counterintelligence and technical signals intelligence/counterintelligence side, and with open source intelligence, but the book seems pretty in line with other information and contacts I've had. The dividing line between an effective journalist and a "private spy" is really about intent, more than methods.

How can I suggest this book? It's well written, well researched and spot on. The problem is, if you distrust the media, this thing is going make you suicidal. I have ZERO respect for journalists. I find them stupid and not worth listening to. If you think like me, we don't know the half of it. This book makes journalists out to be the scum of the earth.

OMG. Your worst fears about the media are not fearful enough. Hard not to be angry about professional malpractice and lack of remorse.

Over the past decade, private spies have been utilized by companies & political parties to invade our personal spaceThis book is a deep dive into the private spying business, which consists of ex-intelligence officers, former journalists and other people in need of a job. These individuals are influencing elections, the news media and the fortunes of companies by uncovering dirtThe author demonstrates the underhanded tactics that these private spies utilize, including hacking personal electronic devices, lying to gain access to documents, misrepresenting themselves, and intimidating witnesses through the threat of lawsuits and blackmail.The examples used in the book to showcase the power of private spies to tip the scales in favour of their employer are well-known as we have began to realize just how pernicious companies and individuals like Black Cube, the Trump Organization and Harvey Weinstein have beenThe book concludes with a call for news media and journalists to provide unbiased information. Reporters must break their pact of secrecy with private spies as we have a right to know when any material was provided by an operative.Definitely check out this great book!

Informative work on Simpson, Steele and the Russian "dossier" on Trump, on the blurred lines between journalism, legal affairs, lobbying in DC and corruption, with the rise of Erik Prince's private armies. The best is where Meier throws much needed light on the shadows and shade surrounding Christopher Steele and the genesis of the document used to impeach Trump in the first trial.At times, too much inside baseball.

An interesting take on the Russia, Russia, Russia story with some good information about the tangled web woven by former intelligence, private spies, journalists, three letter agencies, and the purveyors of narratives formerly called news.It's also a vindication for people who thought the Steele Dossier was kinda sus.

Thoughtfully provacative and reads like a thriller. It doesn't give you the whole picture of the corporate intelligence industry but focuses on how this secretive sector played a role in the controversial Steele Dossier. There are also lessons for journalism on how this period marked one of the profession's lowest points in modern times.