Magda Long
@magslong.bsky.social
Researching intelligence, all things covert 🕵️👀, and hybrid warfare.
@rorycormac.bsky.social and I had a fantastic time with @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social on @theteamhouse.bsky.social - we talked #CovertAction; how and why states use it; and what we might miss if we apply the US approach too narrowly elsewhere. Watch it on #YouTube or listen on your fave #podcast app
Not going to leave you hanging during the holidays. Tonight we have a @theteamhouse.bsky.social episode with @magslong.bsky.social and @rorycormac.bsky.social about how various Intel agencies approach covert action.
youtu.be/j5cCGxOpR8w?...
youtu.be/j5cCGxOpR8w?...
How Different Countries Execute Covert Action
YouTube video by The Team House
youtu.be
December 28, 2025 at 9:07 AM
@rorycormac.bsky.social and I had a fantastic time with @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social on @theteamhouse.bsky.social - we talked #CovertAction; how and why states use it; and what we might miss if we apply the US approach too narrowly elsewhere. Watch it on #YouTube or listen on your fave #podcast app
Reposted by Magda Long
We're wrapped for 2025 on @theteamhouse.bsky.social. Three upcoming episodes before the new year, one with @rorycormac.bsky.social and @magslong.bsky.social about covert action, another with a 5th SFG/75th vet, and another with Anthony Vinci of the DIA and NGA.
December 18, 2025 at 11:04 PM
We're wrapped for 2025 on @theteamhouse.bsky.social. Three upcoming episodes before the new year, one with @rorycormac.bsky.social and @magslong.bsky.social about covert action, another with a 5th SFG/75th vet, and another with Anthony Vinci of the DIA and NGA.
Reposted by Magda Long
Delighted *Entangled Alliances* @cornellupress.bsky.social is sharing company with excellent works by Thomas Gidney, Eric H. Cline & @magslong.bsky.social in @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social's collection of New Books in Diplomatic History. 📚
open.spotify.com/show/0MIbXiv...
open.spotify.com/show/0MIbXiv...
December 18, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Delighted *Entangled Alliances* @cornellupress.bsky.social is sharing company with excellent works by Thomas Gidney, Eric H. Cline & @magslong.bsky.social in @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social's collection of New Books in Diplomatic History. 📚
open.spotify.com/show/0MIbXiv...
open.spotify.com/show/0MIbXiv...
Reposted by Magda Long
My @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social podcast with @markstout.bsky.social, @magslong.bsky.social, and @rorycormac.bsky.social is now available. Learn more about covert action here:
newbooksnetwork.com/covert-action
newbooksnetwork.com/covert-action
Magda Long et. al., "Covert Action: National Approaches to Unacknowledged Intervention (Georgetown UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social podcast with @markstout.bsky.social, @magslong.bsky.social, and @rorycormac.bsky.social is now available. Learn more about covert action here:
newbooksnetwork.com/covert-action
newbooksnetwork.com/covert-action
Reposted by Magda Long
📜 It was a great opportunity to highlight research we published at @rusi.bsky.social in '24 on #gigeconomysabotage, w/ @kloosha.bsky.social @magslong.bsky.social @patrickbury.bsky.social.
👥 It was excellent to appear alongside the expert voices of #SO15 Dom Murphy, @matthewrr.bsky.social & others.
👥 It was excellent to appear alongside the expert voices of #SO15 Dom Murphy, @matthewrr.bsky.social & others.
December 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
📜 It was a great opportunity to highlight research we published at @rusi.bsky.social in '24 on #gigeconomysabotage, w/ @kloosha.bsky.social @magslong.bsky.social @patrickbury.bsky.social.
👥 It was excellent to appear alongside the expert voices of #SO15 Dom Murphy, @matthewrr.bsky.social & others.
👥 It was excellent to appear alongside the expert voices of #SO15 Dom Murphy, @matthewrr.bsky.social & others.
Reposted by Magda Long
The European Political Community could prove to be a useful format of last resort should the EU or other European multilateral institutions become blocked or neglected by a rising far right.
The European Political Community can be more than an ‘unidentified political object’
The EPC is helping to forge an awareness of shared European strategic interests. It should now set itself the clear task of redesigning Europe’s strategic security architecture.
www.chathamhouse.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The European Political Community could prove to be a useful format of last resort should the EU or other European multilateral institutions become blocked or neglected by a rising far right.
Reposted by Magda Long
Just finished editing the terrorist financing news roundup coming out later this week....and there's a fun little nugget in there that has inspired me to re-share my initial look at the Wagner Group's web of companies:
newsletter.insightthreatintel.com/p/wagner-gro...
newsletter.insightthreatintel.com/p/wagner-gro...
Wagner Group's Web of Companies
This week, Insight Intelligence is taking a look at Wagner Group - a Russian private military corporation that functions as a proxy for the Russian state.
newsletter.insightthreatintel.com
September 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Just finished editing the terrorist financing news roundup coming out later this week....and there's a fun little nugget in there that has inspired me to re-share my initial look at the Wagner Group's web of companies:
newsletter.insightthreatintel.com/p/wagner-gro...
newsletter.insightthreatintel.com/p/wagner-gro...
Reposted by Magda Long
Excited to see Covert Action: National Approaches to Unacknowledged Intervention, in the wild at #APSA2025. My contribution: Israel's Mossad and Covert Action: Immigration, Counter-Proliferation, and Assassination. Edited by @rorycormac.bsky.social @magslong.bsky.social @markstout.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Excited to see Covert Action: National Approaches to Unacknowledged Intervention, in the wild at #APSA2025. My contribution: Israel's Mossad and Covert Action: Immigration, Counter-Proliferation, and Assassination. Edited by @rorycormac.bsky.social @magslong.bsky.social @markstout.bsky.social
@rorycormac.bsky.social @markstout.bsky.social @dvanp.bsky.social
@jgmaber.bsky.social @paulmcgarr.bsky.social @dianabolsinger.bsky.social
It arrived!
Super excited about our edited volume on #covertaction! And extremely grateful to our contributors and reviewers for their hard work and support!
@jgmaber.bsky.social @paulmcgarr.bsky.social @dianabolsinger.bsky.social
It arrived!
Super excited about our edited volume on #covertaction! And extremely grateful to our contributors and reviewers for their hard work and support!
September 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
@rorycormac.bsky.social @markstout.bsky.social @dvanp.bsky.social
@jgmaber.bsky.social @paulmcgarr.bsky.social @dianabolsinger.bsky.social
It arrived!
Super excited about our edited volume on #covertaction! And extremely grateful to our contributors and reviewers for their hard work and support!
@jgmaber.bsky.social @paulmcgarr.bsky.social @dianabolsinger.bsky.social
It arrived!
Super excited about our edited volume on #covertaction! And extremely grateful to our contributors and reviewers for their hard work and support!
Reposted by Magda Long
👀 SIS/MI6 are the last of the UK's agencies to join social media in an official capacity, following on from MI5 and GCHQ.
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
September 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
👀 SIS/MI6 are the last of the UK's agencies to join social media in an official capacity, following on from MI5 and GCHQ.
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
Cheeky reference to spy fiction vs reality here ⏬️
www.instagram.com/reel/DOVSo5J...
Reposted by Magda Long
New addition
Journal article: Unveiling Russian intelligence failures in the Ukraine conflict: a strategic culture perspective by Huw Dylan, Elena Grossfeld (published 22-08-2025)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2025.2544460
Journal article: Unveiling Russian intelligence failures in the Ukraine conflict: a strategic culture perspective by Huw Dylan, Elena Grossfeld (published 22-08-2025)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2025.2544460
doi.org
August 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
New addition
Journal article: Unveiling Russian intelligence failures in the Ukraine conflict: a strategic culture perspective by Huw Dylan, Elena Grossfeld (published 22-08-2025)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2025.2544460
Journal article: Unveiling Russian intelligence failures in the Ukraine conflict: a strategic culture perspective by Huw Dylan, Elena Grossfeld (published 22-08-2025)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2025.2544460
Reposted by Magda Long
New batch of emails from Russia's disinformation campaign, which added Chancellor Merz of Germany to its list of targets, which has previously focused on Moldovan president Maia Sandu and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
August 26, 2025 at 8:47 AM
New batch of emails from Russia's disinformation campaign, which added Chancellor Merz of Germany to its list of targets, which has previously focused on Moldovan president Maia Sandu and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Reposted by Magda Long
IISS: 'The Scale of Russian Sabotage Operations Against Europe’s Critical Infrastructure' www.iiss.org/research-pap...
The Scale of Russian Sabotage Operations Against Europe’s Critical Infrastructure
This IISS paper assesses Russia’s unconventional war on Europe, focusing on sabotage of critical infrastructure, from military sites and energy grids to communications and undersea cables, testing the resilience of European governments and societies and challenging NATO/EU deterrence.
www.iiss.org
August 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
IISS: 'The Scale of Russian Sabotage Operations Against Europe’s Critical Infrastructure' www.iiss.org/research-pap...
💥Very excited to report that @thecipherbrief.bsky.social published my article "When States Go Mob"! #OrganizedCrime networks are force multipliers and a structural scaffolding in the #grayzone reshaping the global security environment. Pse. have a look!👇 www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
When States Go Mob: The Criminalization of Modern Statecraft
OPINION — In the fall of 2021, an FBI informant received a chilling offer: $300,000 to assassinate former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton. The would-be hitman posed as a drug cartel enforce...
www.thecipherbrief.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
💥Very excited to report that @thecipherbrief.bsky.social published my article "When States Go Mob"! #OrganizedCrime networks are force multipliers and a structural scaffolding in the #grayzone reshaping the global security environment. Pse. have a look!👇 www.thecipherbrief.com/gray-zone-cr...
Reposted by Magda Long
Another writer and broadcaster just offered “Fakers” is “Monty Python meets Le Carré” … exactly what I was going for! Absolutely buzzing 😀
Asking for pre-publication endorsements is something I find very nerve-wracking (anyone else?!?) but a top comedian, writer and broadcaster just said “Fakers” is “laugh out loud” funny!
Absolutely buzzing! It’s out next spring.
Absolutely buzzing! It’s out next spring.
August 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Another writer and broadcaster just offered “Fakers” is “Monty Python meets Le Carré” … exactly what I was going for! Absolutely buzzing 😀
Reposted by Magda Long
I wrote this week on a new IISS report tracking suspected Russian sabotage in Europe. It shows a quadrupling in incidents between 2023 & 2024, as well as a more recent lull. That could indicate a change in Russia's calculus—or just a temporary pause.
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
Russian sabotage attacks surged across Europe in 2024
This year’s apparent lull may be the calm before another storm
www.economist.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I wrote this week on a new IISS report tracking suspected Russian sabotage in Europe. It shows a quadrupling in incidents between 2023 & 2024, as well as a more recent lull. That could indicate a change in Russia's calculus—or just a temporary pause.
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...
Reposted by Magda Long
NOW OPEN ACCESS: Briant, Emma L. & Wanlass, A. (2018). "A Ménage à Trois for the Digital Age: Strategic Leaks, Propaganda and Journalism," in Corneliu Bjola & James Pamment. Countering Online Propaganda and Vioent Extremism: The Dark Side of Digital Diplomacy. www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edi...
A digital ménage à trois | 4 | Strategic leaks, propaganda and journal
This chapter introduces readers to scholarly and popular debates regarding strategic leaking, propaganda and journalistic reporting. It focuses on political,
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351264082-4/digital-ménage-trois-emma-briant-alicia-wanless
July 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
NOW OPEN ACCESS: Briant, Emma L. & Wanlass, A. (2018). "A Ménage à Trois for the Digital Age: Strategic Leaks, Propaganda and Journalism," in Corneliu Bjola & James Pamment. Countering Online Propaganda and Vioent Extremism: The Dark Side of Digital Diplomacy. www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edi...
Excited to support MA in Applied Security & Strategy (MStrat) @exeter.ac.uk Strategy and Security Institute geared twrds professionals in defence, diplomacy, intelligence & policy to sharpen their strategic thinking & decision-making skills. Sep. 2025 apps open - 🔗 www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Applied Security and Strategy MA | Postgraduate Taught | University of Exeter
www.exeter.ac.uk
June 26, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Excited to support MA in Applied Security & Strategy (MStrat) @exeter.ac.uk Strategy and Security Institute geared twrds professionals in defence, diplomacy, intelligence & policy to sharpen their strategic thinking & decision-making skills. Sep. 2025 apps open - 🔗 www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Reposted by Magda Long
Come do a PhD at @forsvarshogskolan.bsky.social. You could be supervised by some of my fantastic colleagues while working in a vibrant, pluralistic & highly engaged research environment.
These positions are fully salaried & come with a research budget of 30k SEK a year fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
These positions are fully salaried & come with a research budget of 30k SEK a year fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
PhD students in War Studies
The Department of War Studies conducts research and education in the subject of War Studies. The department consists of about 160 employees and has about 1000 students and participants in commissioned
fhs.varbi.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Come do a PhD at @forsvarshogskolan.bsky.social. You could be supervised by some of my fantastic colleagues while working in a vibrant, pluralistic & highly engaged research environment.
These positions are fully salaried & come with a research budget of 30k SEK a year fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
These positions are fully salaried & come with a research budget of 30k SEK a year fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Reposted by Magda Long
‼️ Hidden Bear: The GRU hackers of Russia's most notorious kill squad
As The Insider discovered, Unit 29155, the Kremlin’s most notorious black ops squad, also fielded a team of hackers that tried to destabilize Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
As The Insider discovered, Unit 29155, the Kremlin’s most notorious black ops squad, also fielded a team of hackers that tried to destabilize Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Hidden Bear: The GRU hackers of Russia’s most notorious kill squad
Russian GRU Unit 29155 is best known for its long list of murder and sabotage ops, which include the Salisbury poisonings in England, arms depot explosions in Czechia, and an attempted coup d’etat in ...
theins.press
May 31, 2025 at 5:11 PM
‼️ Hidden Bear: The GRU hackers of Russia's most notorious kill squad
As The Insider discovered, Unit 29155, the Kremlin’s most notorious black ops squad, also fielded a team of hackers that tried to destabilize Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
As The Insider discovered, Unit 29155, the Kremlin’s most notorious black ops squad, also fielded a team of hackers that tried to destabilize Ukraine before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Reposted by Magda Long
May 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Magda Long
The Swedish Defence University advertises a postdoc focused on ”narrative geopolitics” - or how widespread and emotionally charged narratives influence international security, great power relations, and geostrategic rivalry. Deadline August 31:
fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Postdoc with a focus on narrative geopolitics
Description The postdoctoral position is part of the interdisciplinary research environment on narrative geopolitics, established with funding from the Swedish Armed Forces. The role involves interdis
fhs.varbi.com
May 23, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The Swedish Defence University advertises a postdoc focused on ”narrative geopolitics” - or how widespread and emotionally charged narratives influence international security, great power relations, and geostrategic rivalry. Deadline August 31:
fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
fhs.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Reposted by Magda Long
Sweden probes suspected spy reportedly linked to resignation of security adviser
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Sweden probes suspected spy linked to security adviser resignation
The suspect under investigation has reportedly served as a senior Swedish diplomat and been stationed at several embassies around the world. #EuropeNews
www.euronews.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Sweden probes suspected spy reportedly linked to resignation of security adviser
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Reposted by Magda Long
We delighted to share that our latest book review has been published! Ashleigh Percival-Borley reviews two recent significant volumes on the history of women in British wartime intelligence: Helen Fry's Women in Intelligence and Claire Hubbard-Hall's Her Secret Service. ➡️ doi.org/10.1080/1833...
Women in intelligence: the hidden history of two world wars; Her secret service: the forgotten women of British intelligence
Published in Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (Ahead of Print, 2025)
doi.org
May 13, 2025 at 10:29 AM
We delighted to share that our latest book review has been published! Ashleigh Percival-Borley reviews two recent significant volumes on the history of women in British wartime intelligence: Helen Fry's Women in Intelligence and Claire Hubbard-Hall's Her Secret Service. ➡️ doi.org/10.1080/1833...