Prisoner Swap Between U.S., Allies, and Russia

NPR's Leila Fadel discusses Washington's role in securing a large prisoner swap between the U.S., its allies, and Russia since the Cold War.

U.S.-Russia Prisoner Exchange

Several American citizens and a green-card holder were released from Russian custody in a massive swap of political prisoners involving the United States and Russia. This is the biggest U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange since the Cold War.

Tensions between North and South Korea

North Korea has been launching trash-filled balloons toward South Korea, prompting the nation to blast messages and K-pop music back using high-powered loudspeakers. The conflict dates back to the Cold War.

Connection Between UFO Sightings and Nuclear Sites

A new study suggests a connection between UFO sightings and nuclear sites from 1945 to 1975, indicating possible intentional surveillance of America's nuclear capabilities by extraterrestrial intelligence. The study analyzed over 500 well-supported UFO cases during the Cold War era, focusing on sightings near nuclear installations. The findings suggest that UFOs showed interest in different phases of nuclear weapon development, from production plants to missile silos, and even allegedly deactivated nuclear missiles. The research team plans to continue studying this connection into the modern era.

The Greenbrier's Secret Underground Bunker

The Greenbrier luxury resort in West Virginia houses a secret underground nuclear bunker built to hold the entire US Congress. The bunker, known as 'Project Greek Island', was constructed from 1959 to 1962 and remained hidden for 35 years. It was never used in an emergency and was decommissioned in 1992, now serving as a data storage facility.

Chesapeake 1000 and its involvement in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse cleanup

The Chesapeake 1000, a massive crane, is involved in cleanup efforts after the fatal collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The crane was originally used in a secret CIA mission during the Cold War to recover a sunken Soviet submarine in the Pacific Ocean.

Cleanup Process for Baltimore Bridge Debris and Cargo Ship Dali Incident

A floating crane known for its role in a Cold War intelligence mission has arrived to help clean up debris from the Baltimore bridge collapse. The cargo ship Dali caused the collapse, resulting in six deaths. The crane, Chesapeake 1000, has a long history and is described as the largest crane on the Eastern seaboard. The cleanup process is ongoing to prevent further environmental damage from spilled oils and hazardous substances.