Cold War #274 – Witch Hunt (interview)

Cold War #274 – Witch Hunt (interview)

Author: Cameron Reilly & Ray Harris November 20, 2024 Duration: 1:03:57

Today we interview Andrea Balis & Elizabeth Levy, co-authors of the book “Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare”, a cutting-edge look into a pivotal moment in US history: McCarthy’s infamous “witch hunt” for communists during the 1950’s Red Scare.


Dive deep into the decades-long geopolitical standoff that shaped our modern world with Cam & Ray's Cold War Podcast. Hosts Cameron Reilly and Ray Harris unpack this complex period not with dry academic detachment, but with a lively, conversational approach that’s both deeply researched and genuinely entertaining. Their long-form discussions delve into the pivotal events, secret operations, and towering personalities behind the Iron Curtain and beyond, offering a detailed narrative you won’t find in standard textbooks. What you’ll hear is an engaging blend of sharp analysis and humor, often venturing into NSFW territory as they explore the absurdities and intense realities of the era. This history podcast feels more like a compelling conversation between two knowledgeable friends, making the intricate strategies of deterrence and the shadowy world of espionage accessible and surprisingly funny. Each episode builds a comprehensive picture, from the origins of the tension to its final thaw, ensuring listeners come away with a richer understanding of how this global conflict continues to echo today. Settle in for a thorough and offbeat exploration that proves learning about nuclear brinkmanship and proxy wars can be as engaging as it is enlightening.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Cam & Ray's Cold War Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Cold War #275 – 1983 (Interview) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:08
Some people have said 1983 was the most dangerous year in human history. On four separate occasions, the U.S.A. and the USSR nearly ended up in a hot nuclear war. Soviet leaders apparently became deeply worried that the…
Cold War #268 – The CIA and Tibet (Tibet Part I) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:31
We all know that Tibet and China have a history, and that the U.S.A. is always in the middle of it. But you may not know that The United States recognizes Tibet to be part of the People’s Republic of China or that the UK…
Cold War #265 – The CIA Green Light (Operation Ajax part XXIII) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:18
In early 1953, Churchill initiated a plan with the CIA to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh, involving key figures like General Sahedi and the Rashidian brothers. Aided by disinformation campaigns, the Shah fled…
Cold War #264 – “C” not “M” (Operation Ajax part XXII) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Ever wondered why the heads of MI6 are called “M”? Well they aren’t. They are called “C”. It all started with Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who signed his docs with a green “C.” This guy was a true legend—a retired Navy m…
Cold War #260 – Mo Oil Mo Problems (Operation Ajax part XVIII) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
As Mossadegh wins the hearts and minds of Americans and the world, the British re-elect Churchill who considered Mossadegh “an elderly lunatic bent on wrecking his country and handing it over to the communists.” HOW TO L…
Cold War #256 – Divorce  (Operation Ajax part XIV) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:18
The British PM sends a fascist Catholic member of the British elite, Sir Richard Stokes, to talk to Moss the Boss. Mossadegh says he wants a divorce. As he’s leaving Iran, Harriman meets with the Shah and “suggests” it m…
Cold War #252 – Mossa-Mania (Operation Ajax part X) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:28
After the assassination of Razmara, Mossadegh’s oil committee voted unanimously to nationalise the AIOC. Iran went crazy for Mossadegh. It was Mossa-Mania. The British were furious and tried to appoint a new Prime Minist…
Cold War #248 – Iranian Kryptonite (Operation Ajax part VI) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:18
Mossadegh had two non-negotiables that drove his political game. First, he was a die-hard believer in the rule of law, which put him on a collision course with autocrats like Reza Shah. Second, he was all about Iranian s…
Cold War #243 – Operation Ajax (I) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:20
In this episode, we delve into the history of Iran, focusing on the US’s role in ending democratic rule in 1953 and installing Mohammad Reza Shah’s dictatorship, a fact well-known in Iran but only admitted by the US in t…