Welcome to the Dark State, a subscription only podcast which examines the security threats facing the modern world. 

Each week we look at the ever changing threat landscape in conversation with security experts, scientists and academics.
 
You can subscribe to the Dark State on Patreon and iTunes, or listen to some free episodes posed on Soundcloud, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

Welcome To The Dark State

John Mooney speaks to Iain Turner of Balaclava Street, the acclaimed blog which provides a unique insight in the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Turner provides an insight into the secret history of the loyalist paramilitary group and discusses its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The UVF: From 1966 to the Northern Ireland Protocol

Afghanistan has been lost to the Taliban. Will it once again become a safe haven for Islamic terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and its affiliates. Might the US withdrawal inspire a new generation of jihadists. If so, what are the consequences for the West?

John Mooney speaks to Bruce Hoffman, the acclaimed author, critical thinker and expert on terrorism and counter-terrorism. He is a Professor at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Afghanistan: The Consequences

Natia Seskuria is an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. She also served at the Office of the National Security Council of Georgia and is a lecturer in Russian Politics. She discusses the invasion of Ukraine, info wars and the threat posed by the Kremlin to Georgia with John Mooney.

Ukraine, Info Wars and Georgia

The Garda Commissioner Drew Harris hosted an event at Dublin's Gresham hotel to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural meeting to establish An Garda Síochána following Ireland's declaration as a Republic. 
This event consisted of historical talks on the foundation of An Garda Síochána followed by a panel discussion entitled "Has An Garda Síochána lived up to the ideals of those who met in this hotel 100 years ago?” The panel consisted of Commissioner Harris, Dr. Liam Mc Niffe, Michael Staines, Nora Owen, Nóirín O Sullivan and Sergeant John Reynolds.
The Dark State would like to sincerely thank the staff at the Garda Press Office for facilitating the broadcast of this podcast.

An Garda Síochána: 100 years Keeping People Safe

John Mooney talks to Tom Jarvis of Myanmar Witness about the organisation's use of open source intelligence to investigate war crimes and human rights abuses in the Southeast Asian country.

Myanmar, war crimes and OSINT

John Mooney talks to Michael O'Toole about the international manhunt for Daniel Kinahan and the leadership of his cartel. Full episode available to subscribers on Patreon and Apple Podcasts

The Fugitives: The hunt for the Kinahan cartel

What are the consequences of Russia's decision to conscript young men to fight in Ukraine? And what are the consequences for European and indeed Irish security. John Mooney discusses the issue with Prof Neil Robinson.

Russia's mobilisation: Analysis

Dr Lance Davies of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst provides an assessment of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Winter is Coming: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

John Mooney talks to Tim O'Connor, one of the four members of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC), the statuatory body which monitors the progress being made to end paramilitarism in Northern Ireland. 

O'Connor discusses the IRC's fifth report and why its encouraging the Irish and British governments to engage with paramilitary organisations to bring about their disbandment.

Talking to the Terrorists: Dissident Republicans

Many of the podcast's supporters asked for this episode on Hezbollah and the murder of Private Seán Rooney to be made available for everyone to hear to counter the ongoing disinformation campaign on his murder. 

John Mooney talks to Hanin Ghaddar of the Washington Institute about Hezbollah and its alleged involvement in the brutal murder of Private Seán Rooney. Ghaddar discusses Hezbollah, its ideology, complex relationship with Iran and the worsening security situation in south Lebanon where Irish troops are serving with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). 

She also offers her views on how Ireland, the EU and the international community should react to Rooney's murder. Ghaddar is a Friedmann Fellow in The Washington Institute's Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant.

Hezbollah: The murder of Private Seán Rooney

John Mooney discusses the anti-immigration protests taking place across Ireland with Dr Orla Lynch of University College Cork.

Understanding Ireland's Anti-Immigration Protests

John Mooney and Aaron Edwards of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst provide analysis on the New IRA attack on DCI John Caldwell.

The New IRA's Race to Kill

John Mooney talks to Eoin McNamara about Finland's membership of the Alliance

Finland Joins Nato: Analysis

John Mooney talks to Joanne Stocker, a defence analyst at Storyful about the leaking of highly classified US intelligence documents.

Leaked! (Free Episode)

Reposting this episode of the Dark State from last year which covered the not so secret agreetment which allows the Royal Air Force to protect Irish skies. Our guest is George Allison of the UK Defence Journal who spoke about Ireland's inability to patrol its own airspace.

Air Defence, Air Space

Liu Jianchao, a senior figure in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who stands accused of heading up the illegal repatriation of pro-democracy activists who oppose the regime, visited Ireland last month to meet a government minister, politicians and a think tank. What was the purpose of his visit? 

John Mooney talks to Laura Harth of Safeguard Defenders.

Beijing's latest efforts to make friends in Ireland

John Mooney and Aaron Edwards of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst discuss the accidential disclosure of information about all of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serving officers and staff. What are the ramifications?

PSNI Data Breach

John Mooney talks to Roy McComb, the former deputy director of Britain's National Crime Agency about the fallout from the online publication of the names, ranks and posting of every police officer and police staff in Northern Ireland.

The PSNI in Crisis

Why do criminals seek out attention and publicity?

Briefing: John Gilligan

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) says morale is on the floor promptring gardai to retire early or in some cases resign. John Mooney talks to Laura Young about why she quit the force.

Why I Quit The Force

There have been many different IRAs but where does the name come from and when did it become associated with terrorism. John Mooney talks to Dr Séan Ó Duibhir.

The IRA: The Origins Of A Name

John Mooney talks to Barry Flynn about Operation Harvest, the IRA Border Campaign 1956 - 1962. Flynn is the author of Soldiers of Folly.

Operation Harvast: The IRA Border Campaign

John Mooney talks to the Fianna Fail senator Lisa Chambers on the likely appointment of an external candidate to protect Ireland's national security.

Ireland's Unfolding National Security Crisis

John Mooney talks to Aaron Edwards of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst about the UVF statement ordering its East Belfast Brigade to stand down.

Disbanded: UVF East Belfast

The Far Right managed to encourage hundreds of people to engage in violence and looting in Dublin city on Thursday night. Gardai were attacked, buses set on fire and shops looted. John Mooney speaks to Ciaran O'Connor from the Institute for Stratedgic Dialogue about what happened, how it was organised online and what's likely to happen next.

Dublin Burns

Join host John Mooney for a compelling conversation with Eoin Keary of Edgescan as they delve into the critical landscape of cybersecurity in Ireland. Keary also sheds light on Edgescan's mission to fortify Irish businesses against cyber threats and shares his expert projections, forecasting the emerging cyber threats anticipated to surface in 2024.

Safeguarding Ireland: A Deep Dive into Cybersecurity

John Mooney speaks to the former government advisor and Irish Times columnist Gerard Howlin about the government's handling of immigration. Will anti-immigrant campaigners run for election and eat into the Sinn Fein vote? This is the first of two podcasts on the issue.

The Politics of Immigration

John Mooney talks to Calder Walton, one of the world’s leading intelligence and national security scholars, about his ground-breaking book, Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West. 

The conversation extends beyond historical analysis as Walton draws pertinent parallels to the present geopolitical landscape, offering valuable insights and lessons applicable to the contemporary challenges posed by the ascendance of China. 

This podcast promises a rigorous exploration of espionage history and its enduring relevance to ongoing global dynamics.

Spies: A Century of Espionage

In this episode of The Dark State, John Mooney talks to Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, authors of God, Guns, and Sedition: Far Right Terrorism in America. 

The guests provide an overview of their book, exploring the roots and contemporary manifestations of white supremacy. They discuss the perception of white supremacy as a threat to democracy, its evolution over time, and the role of technology in spreading its ideologies. It also examines how the American Far Right is influencing similar movements across the world.

Ware debunks common misconceptions, highlighting the violent nature of groups like the KKK, while Hoffman explores the intersection of white supremacy with other extremist movements. They also touch upon recruitment strategies and the international dimensions of white supremacist movements. 

This show is a must listen episode for anyone interested in the influence of the American Far Right on Irish anti-immigrant groups.

The United States of Extremism

In this episode of The Dark State, John Mooney is joined by James Nixey, an expert in international relations and security affairs at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, to dissect the looming threat posed by Russia to Europe and its implications for Ireland. 

From Russia's geopolitical goals to the role of hybrid warfare and Ireland's vulnerabilities, this episode explores the complex dynamics of European security and Ireland's position within it.

Russia's Threat to Europe and Ireland

The Dark State is an influential podcast about the security threats facing modern Ireland and the world. The podcast is hosted by the journalist John Mooney, who interviews experts on organised crime, terrorism, national security and defence to bring you an inside perspective on the most pressing issues of the day. 
Subscribers can access new episodes on Apple Podcasts and Patreon. Some episodes are made freely available to promote a better understanding of security issues.

The Dark State Podcast

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