A Behind-the-Scenes Look at What Went Into the Biggest Prisoner Swap

KCBS Radio In Depth

The news hit on the first day of August of the largest prisoner swap between the United States and Russia since the Cold War. It was a deal involving 24 people - including journalists, political dissidents, suspected spies, among others - and after months of negotiations with other European countries who released Russians in their custody as part of the exchange.

KCBS In Depth host Mary Hughes is joined this week by KCBS Radio’s Mike DeWald and they are going to delve deeper into what may have been going on behind the scenes to make this prisoner swap happen, what this means for U.S. and Russia relations going forward, and if another trade of this magnitude could happen again.

To help with all this, we’re speaking with Larry Pfeiffer, former senior director of the White House Situation Room, former chief of staff to Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden and now, director of the Michael Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security.