If You're Listening

From almost complete obscurity, Nigel Farage rode a wave of British anger to take his idea of leaving the European Union from a fringe fantasy to a mainstream cause.But as Farage rose from community hall meetings to primetime TV debates, he found himself increasingly allied with Vladimir Putin.This is the story of how Mr Brexit came to recognise Putin's power and how it could help his cause.

German leader Angela Merkel was the most powerful woman in the world.Which is why Putin was determined to take her down.His campaign started by playing on her famous fear of dogs... and ended with the biggest migrant crisis the world had seen.

When is an invasion not an invasion? When Putin's propaganda machine is involved, sowing false narratives, confusion and fear. From Putin's motorcycle gang to his 'little green men' and his hip-hop loving head of misinformation, Russia tried everything to convince the West it wasn't invading Ukraine.The propaganda push worked - sort of, and tells us a lot about the misinformation Russia has gone on to do in the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power declaring he would kill his terrorist enemies, even if they were in the toilet at the time.His transition from spymaster to President came in the midst of apartment bombings, and brutal crackdowns on those he held responsible.He learned that having an enemy to fight makes you a popular leader.The turbulent first years of his Presidency tell us a lot about why he has picked a fight with the West.

The residents of the sleepy English town of Salisbury woke up one morning to find their town in chaos. Russian agents had attempted to assassinate a traitor with a terrifying weapon, in a brazen chemical attack on British soil. But the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal is only one step in a series of events which began five years ago and may help bring about Brexit, and the impeachment of a US President.Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening begins in Salisbury, to tell the whole story of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 5-year attack on the western world.

The Russian campaign to meddle in the 2016 US Election was only part of President Vladimir Putin's big plan.Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening looks at where the scheme to destroy western democracies began, the damage it's done, and where it might end.

It's the meeting at a fancy wine bar in London that sparked the Mueller investigation.Some say it was a boozy, alcohol-fuelled drinking session where a clever spy tricked a Trump official into divulging information about Russia.Others say it was a brief encounter where a Trump official naively blurted something to a senior diplomat.So what is the truth?For the first time, both people at the meeting - George Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer - reveal what really happened that night.Here's one spoiler: they agree they both had a gin and tonic.So pull up a chair and grab a drink, because this story gets weird.

Robert Mueller has investigated the relationship between former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.Deripaska is an aluminium tycoon with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Manafort tried to funnel secret insider information about the Trump election strategy to him.Was that information then used by Russia to influence the election?The story behind the last remaining collusion question.

Lawyer Don McGahn was on the Trump train from the beginning.But the dream job of White House Counsel quickly turned into a nightmare, as he slowly fell out of favour with the President.Then one night McGahn was forced to make a choice of historic proportions: help Trump potentially commit a crime or resign.McGahn has found himself the centre of attention, as his testimony to Robert Mueller implicates the President in possible obstruction of justice.

When Julian Assange was arrested last week, the only camera to capture it was Russian broadcaster RT.It's the latest event in a long relationship between the Wikileaks founder and the state-sponsored network.Assange has denied working with Russian military hackers to influence the US election.But what does Robert Mueller know about Assange’s links to Russia?

Everyone who meets Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak ends up in deep trouble. But what if that was the point?Robert Mueller seems to have found no evidence that the Trump campaign were willing participants in the criminal Russian effort to disrupt the 2016 election.But what if the Trump campaign were unwitting targets of a spy operation, led from the Russian EmbassyWere they tricked into taking pointless but suspicious-looking meetings - which the media and FBI would discover and investigate?

Affable Englishman Rob Goldstone was literally in the room for the infamous Trump Tower Meeting, and he was with Donald Trump the weekend of the mythical "pee tape".But when you look at the rest of the characters involved in the Trump/Russia saga - Republican operatives, Trump family members and Russian spies - Rob Goldstone seems like the odd man out.He puts a lot of his story down to accidents and misunderstandings, but is that all there is to it?You can get a link to the full interview on our website.

An undercover Australian journalist from Al Jazeera spent three years inside the National Rifle Association of America. He wasn't the only one trying figure it out. Simultaneously, a Russian secret agent was trying to infiltrate the NRA.She is now the only Russian secret agent behind bars for Russia's meddling in the election, and could hold the key to understanding Putin's plans.

After 22 months Mueller's report has dropped. But it hasn't been made public - yet.US Attorney General Bill Barr has the report in his hot hands - and according to him - Mueller found no evidence of collusion.But who is Bill Barr? And can we trust his summary of Mueller's findings?

We end the season with the head of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election - Robert Mueller.He's been taking down key players, circling closer and closer to Donald Trump.But can he finish before the President shuts him down?This is our last deep dive into a key character in the Russia investigation for this season, but we'll keep you updated with Trumpdates every time an important development in the story breaks.Keep an eye on your feed.Want to get in touch? Email [email protected].

Michael Cohen is called Donald Trump's personal lawyer, but really he's a "fixer" - a man who solves problems for the boss.It all came unstuck when investigators probed into hush money payments he made to a model and a porn star.He pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts, and announced he was happy to tell the truth to anyone who asked for it.So what information will he give up and should Trump be worried?Want to get in touch? Email [email protected].

Felix Sater's life is a mystery.He went to jail for stabbing a guy in the face, he was involved with the Russian Mafia, and was an informant for the CIA.He also helped Donald Trump build his property empire. So are there any secrets? And what does he know?

Donald Trump's business flourished with the 80s real estate boom and bled money when the recession hit.These days no one really knows how much he really has.Why the secrecy?Today, the story of the Trump Organization, and when Russian money might have ended up in his pocket.

Former FBI director James Comey is both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton's biggest nightmare.He's the grandson of a cop with a dogged commitment to integrity, independence and note taking.But could his integrity be what cost Hillary Clinton the election? And did it cause Donald Trump to commit a crime?

General Michael Flynn was a high ranking defence official and a Democrat before he joined up with Donald Trump.He's now accused of planning a kidnapping, acting illegally as an unregistered foreign agent, and found guilty of lying to the FBI.Why was he allowed to stay in the White House when he was compromised by the Russian Government?

Jared Kushner was in charge of getting his father-in-law Donald Trump elected president.He was a young property developer with no political experience and crushing debts.And he went from one family besieged by scandal, to another.So who is this man prepared to defend first, his father, then his father-in-law?Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

An army of professional Russian trolls tried to change the outcome of the 2016 US election from a four storey building in St Petersburg.Did the dirty trickster Roger Stone help them? And was the Troll Factory ultimately successful?Language warning: This episode contains some swearing.You can get in touch at [email protected].

Hacking, leaking, and the spreading of chaos.How Russian Government hackers timed a Democratic National Committee email leak with Hillary Clinton's biggest scandal.This week, we find out how Russia stepped over the line and tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election.This is the ninth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at [email protected].

In 2016 Don Jr took an ill-fated meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower.The meeting is a pivotal moment in the entire story of Trump and Russia and has since been called "treasonous" and "unpatriotic".So is the meeting it a smoking gun or was it all just a waste of time?This is the eighth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at [email protected].