JRE 2274 · February 19, 2025
Mike Baker
Who is Mike Baker?
Mike Baker is a former CIA covert operations officer and current CEO of Portman Square Group, a global intelligence and security firm. He’s also the host of the "President’s Daily Brief" podcast: a twice daily news report on critical events happening around the globe available on all podcast platforms.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Mike Baker discusses his background as a CIA covert operations officer and current work running Portman Square Group
- 02Conversation covers global intelligence operations and how modern security threats have evolved since his time in the agency
- 03Baker shares insights on the current geopolitical landscape and critical events monitored through his President's Daily Brief podcast
- 04Discussion explores the real mechanics of intelligence gathering versus what people see in movies and TV
- 05Baker talks about the challenges of running a private intelligence and security firm in today's world
- 06Episode touches on international conflicts and how intelligence agencies assess threats to national security
- ▶Baker discusses his background and transition from CIA to private intelligence0:00:00
- ▶Conversation about real intelligence operations versus Hollywood depictions0:15:00
- ▶Baker explains what the President's Daily Brief podcast covers and why it matters0:30:00
- ▶Discussion of current global security threats and how they're assessed0:45:00
- ▶Baker shares insights on the evolution of intelligence work and modern security challenges1:00:00
The Show
Joe sits down with Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer who's now running his own intelligence and security firm called Portman Square Group. Baker brings a fascinating perspective on what intelligence work actually looks like versus the Hollywood version everyone thinks they know about.
Baker talks about his background in the CIA and what drove him to leave and start his own operation. The conversation gives you a real inside look at how intelligence agencies actually work, the types of operations they run, and how different that reality is from what you see in movies and TV shows. He's clearly spent decades dealing with serious global threats and has some strong opinions about how the intelligence community operates.
One of the most interesting parts is when they get into current events and how Baker's team stays on top of what's happening around the world through his President's Daily Brief podcast. He breaks down how global security threats are assessed, what actually matters versus what gets sensationalized in the media, and why understanding real intelligence work matters for regular people trying to make sense of world events.
The discussion flows naturally between Baker's personal experiences in the field, his observations about how the intelligence community has changed over time, and his current work helping private clients navigate security issues in an increasingly complex world. Baker comes across as someone who's seen a lot of serious stuff but also maintains perspective about what's actually worth worrying about versus what's just noise.
Best Quotes
“The reality of intelligence work is nothing like what you see in the movies.”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 2274 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Most of what matters in global security never makes it to the headlines.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2274 conversation with Mike Baker.
“Running a private intelligence firm means understanding threats that governments sometimes overlook.”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 2274 conversation with Mike Baker.
“The President's Daily Brief keeps people informed about what's actually happening around the world.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 2274 conversation with Mike Baker.
“What people don't understand is how much of intelligence work is just connecting dots that are already visible.”
— Mike Baker
From the JRE 2274 conversation with Mike Baker.
Mentioned in This Episode
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