Episode

The Puppet Masters: Kermit Roosevelt and the Art of the Coup

Podcast: Spy Craft
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Duration seconds: 290
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Summary

How did a single CIA officer with a suitcase full of cash topple a democratically elected prime minister? This episode deconstructs the tradecraft used by Kermit Roosevelt Jr. to orchestrate the downfall of Mohammad Mosaddegh. We analyze the recruitment of local "influencers," the use of paid protesters, and the creation of "black" propaganda to flip the Iranian public. Discover how the CIA and MI6 turned a failing mission into a blueprint for regime change that would be studied by intelligence agencies for the next 70 years.